cdc-rfa-jg-26-0113-rev9_AMENDED_7.6.26.pdf

Division of Global Health Protection

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Last modified July 6, 2026. Review updates.

Preventing global health threats by strengthening surveillance systems to accelerate outbreak detection, notification, and response Opportunity number: CDC-RFA-JG-26-0113

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 8

Agency priorities 11

Program description 14

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 32

Get registered 33

Find the application package 34

Help applying 34

Need help? 34

Step 3: Build Your Application 35

Application checklist 36

Application contents and format 38

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award 49

Application review 50

Award notices 52

Step 5: Submit Your Application 53

Submission and deadlines 54

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 56

Post-award requirements and administration 57

Contacts and Support 63

Before you begin 3

Modifications 66

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up to date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 8

Agency priorities 11

Program description 14

Basic information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Global Health Center

Division of Global Health Protection

Making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous by strengthening global health security through surveillance, prevention, and response with a focus on developing robust and resilient systems for early detection and response.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Preventing global health threats by strengthening surveillance systems to accelerate outbreak detection, notification, and response

Opportunity number:

CDC-RFA-JG-26-0113

Assistance listing:

93.318: Protecting and Improving Health Globally: Building and Strengthening Public Health Impact, Systems, Capacity, and Security

NOFO version: Modified

Key dates

Application submission deadline: July 15, 2026

Expected award and start date:

September 30, 2026

We will inform you of your application status by the end of August 2026.

Summary This NOFO focuses on protecting Americans from global health threats across three strategic areas:

• Strengthening Early Warning Surveillance.

• Developing or enhancing electronic tools and interoperable surveillance systems.

• Improving how surveillance data is used for action.

This NOFO will support global health security partners to implement surveillance activities that speed up outbreak detection and response, enhance regional and national health system capacities, and strengthen and expand global health partnerships.

Funding details Funding type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total NOFO funding for Year 1: $3,000,000 This is the expected total Year 1 funding for all awards made under this

NOFO.

Expected awards: 1 – 2 The number of awards is subject to available funds and program priorities.

Exact amounts for each award under this NOFO will be determined upon award.

We plan to award projects for five 12-month budget periods for a five-year period of performance.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding strategy

Funding amounts We encourage you to apply for the expected total NOFO funding for Year 1.

For Year 1, applicants must submit separate budgets and work plans for all three components, not exceeding each component ceiling, although only Component 1 core activities are expected to be funded initially and Components 2 and 3 may be approved but unfunded pending future availability of funds.

Funding amounts for Years 2 through 5 will be set at continuation. We will continue funding based on:

• Availability of funds.

• Evidence of satisfactory progress, as documented in your required reports.

• The determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

Component funding Overview

We fund all Global Health Security (GHS) cooperative agreements using component funding. You must apply for all components and include a budget and work plan for each. Note: For the purposes of this NOFO, component 1 is considered the core component, meaning it supports baseline GHS activities that are not dependent on emergency funding. This does not change the requirement that applicants apply for all components.

Component funding allows us to provide funding as it becomes available. To do so, we fund sets of activities by project (such as emergency or routine), when necessary.

CDC may fund one or more of your components to start the budget period, and then consider other components based on available funding later. If we can’t yet fund your other components, we will designate the remaining components as “approved but unfunded.” This allows us to award more funding later. We include approved but unfunded components for public health emergencies in all awards. These components are funded when a disease outbreak or other public health emergency requires additional funding.

Component 1 is for activities related to core global health security priorities.

When funding is available, this NOFO will support activities for a moderate

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

(component 2) or a substantial (component 3) response to a disease outbreak or other public health emergency.

The emergency components follow the same logic model, with identical overarching strategies and activities.

Setting up components

You must set up your components in your application. While preparing your application:

• Review the expectations for Year 1 activities in the strategies and activities section.

• Group your activities under the anticipated components. Only include the activities planned for Year 1.

◦ Component 1: Core Global Health Security priorities

◦ Component 1 ceiling: $1,500,000

◦ Component 2: Rapid, small-scale response to infectious disease outbreaks or other public health emergencies

◦ Component 2 ceiling: $2,500,000

◦ Component 3: Rapid, large-scale response to infectious disease outbreaks or other public health emergencies

◦ Component 3 ceiling: $3,500,000

This NOFO is structured with three components, the first of which will be activated at the beginning of a budget year. The second and third components will be activated if future funds become available. You must apply for all three components to be eligible for future funding of components.

For information on how to incorporate component funding into your application, see the following sections:

• Budget narrative

• Component funding instructions for SF-424A

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Eligibility Statutory authority This program is authorized under:

• Section 307 of the Public Health Service Act [42 USC 242l].

• Section 301(a) [42 USC 241(a)] of the Public Health Service Act.

Eligible applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• State governments.

• County governments.

• City or township governments.

• Special district governments.

• Independent school districts.

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized).

• Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.

• Native American tribal organizations, other than federally recognized tribal governments.

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses.

• Small businesses.

• Foreign or non-U.S. based entities.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Other required qualifying factors

Delivery location You must conduct the project in these focused regions and countries:

• Central and South America: Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

• East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

• Eastern Europe/Central Asia: Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine.

• Middle East: Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt.

• South and Southeast Asia: Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam.

• Central and Southern Africa: Cameroon, Dem. Rep. Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia.

• West Africa: Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone.

You may propose additional related strategies and activities to achieve the expected outcomes. You may also submit an application supporting activities in any country but are encouraged to submit a proposal that covers at least three of the stated regions and/or countries.

Responsiveness criteria We will review your application to make sure it meets these requirements.

These are the basic requirements you must meet to move forward in the competition. We won’t consider an application that:

• Is from an organization that doesn’t meet all eligibility criteria. See requirements in Eligibility.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Proposes research activities. See the definition of research.

• Requests funding that exceeds the applicable Year 1 component ceilings described in the Funding Strategy section.

• Exceeds the 60-page limit for the project narrative. (See the Project narrative section for what counts toward the page limit.)

• Does not include all components.

• Is not in English.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-31.html

• Includes a budget or budget narrative that uses a currency other than U.S. dollars.

• Does not respond to or is outside the scope of this NOFO.

See the Application checklist to understand which elements of your application are part of the responsiveness criteria.

Application limits You must follow these limits on the number of applications your organization can submit.

Under this NOFO, you may submit only one application under your organization’s UEI.

Cost sharing and matching funds This program has no cost-sharing or matching funds requirement. We will not consider cost-sharing fund contributions during your application review.

However, if you submit voluntary cost-sharing funds and we fund your project, we will require you to report on these funds.

Post-award requirements Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Agency priorities Required alignment with CDC priorities The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Priorities when authorized (for a full description of the CDC Priorities, please follow the provided hyperlink).

Funded activities must:

• Align with CDC’s core priorities by demonstrating a commitment to gold-standard science, transparency, and evidence-based practices.

• Support CDC’s mission to protect Americans from infectious and chronic diseases, strengthen public health systems, and advance innovation in health data and infrastructure.

• Contribute to rapid, science-driven responses to health threats, promote global health leadership, and adhere to principles of integrity, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and federal priorities.

Consistent with CDC’s values, in carrying out any project funded under this NOFO, the recipient must adhere to the following principles where consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

• A commitment to gold-standard science and ensuring trust, transparency, and credibility: To build trust and improve CDC’s ability to lead during health crises, CDC will increase transparency, be more accountable, and follow strict, gold-standard scientific practices that are open, unbiased, and based on clear evidence.

• A commitment to global leadership: With staff in 63 countries and supporting 20 more, CDC’s Global Health Center:

◦ Fights HIV, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases, and emergency and refugee health.

◦ Detects health threats early, sends response teams, trains health workers, and provides personal protective equipment, vaccines, and medicines.

◦ Tests disease samples from around the world to prepare for flu and other serious outbreaks.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://www.cdc.gov/about/cdc/index.html

◦ Has strengthened systems to better protect people at home and abroad after the COVID-19 outbreak.

• A commitment to ensuring rapid, evidence-based responses to crises:

During public health emergencies, ensuring rapid, science-driven responses is critical to minimizing harm, maintaining public trust, and restoring stability. To meet this goal, CDC must continue to strengthen its emergency response systems by:

◦ Streamlining internal processes.

◦ Improving risk communication strategies.

◦ Ensuring that laboratory capacity is fully equipped and tested—capable of rapidly developing and deploying scalable diagnostics during crises.

◦ Embedding structures for real-time learning, independent after-action reviews, and the application of lessons learned will ensure that each crisis response is smarter, faster, and more effective than the last.

• A commitment to vaccine safety and efficacy research: CDC will apply “gold-standard” science to all of its vaccine safety and effectiveness research. It will make vaccine data, research methods, and related datasets publicly available through simple data use agreements to improve transparency, accountability, and trust.

• A commitment to advancing our understanding of the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), and chronic disease: CDC conducts research and works with partners to better understand the causes of autism spectrum disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders, and chronic diseases. It will use new and existing data to study the rise in these conditions, including the increase in autism diagnoses from 1 in 150 to nearly 1 in 31 over the past 25 years.

• A commitment to modernizing public health infrastructure and enhancing our approach to health data: CDC will modernize public health infrastructure to create a faster, more efficient health system that can detect and respond to outbreaks in real time. This effort includes:

◦ Replacing data silos with integrated systems.

◦ Using advanced technology.

◦ Strengthening partnerships with states to ensure shared responsibility and strong local health data systems.

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◦ Emphasizing collaboration across federal and state partners, resilient and adaptable systems, and accountability for funded programs to ensure they align with these priorities and federal requirements.

• Conflicts of interest: CDC will deprioritize funding programs with conflicts of interest and ensure its work is based on transparent, unbiased science.

• Immigration: CDC funds will not be used to support or encourage illegal immigration, consistent with federal law.

• Protecting life and the family: CDC funds will not be used to support elective abortions, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, and will promote maternal health, the dignity of life, and strong families.

• Ending disorder on America’s streets: CDC will prioritize evidence-based programs that reduce homelessness, drug use, and public disorder. It will support comprehensive services for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorder. CDC will deprioritize housing first strategies, harm-reduction or safe consumption sites, or related activities. To the extent allowable by federal law, CDC intends to give priority to grantees in States and municipalities that have laws and policies that support and enforce CDC’s priorities.

• Gender ideology and protecting children: CDC will not fund medical interventions for minors seeking gender transition and will define sex based on biological criteria.

• DEI: CDC will deprioritize DEI initiatives based on group identity and focus on merit-based, evidence-driven approaches to improve health outcomes.

• Parental rights: CDC will support policies that protect parental authority, promote transparency, and give parents greater control over their children’s education.

The recipient must demonstrate ongoing compliance with the full description and listing of CDC values and priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation.

Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other enforcement actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 CFR Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award. The full CDC Priorities Statement can be found here: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Priorities.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

Program description Background, overview, and related work The problem The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imagines a world where all Americans are protected from global health threats. However, new infectious diseases, and other public health threats like COVID-19, Ebola, and mpox continue to threaten global health security.

These threats highlight the need to:

• Accelerate outbreak detection and response.

• Build and enhance the capacities of public health surveillance systems.

• Improve early warning capacity.

In many countries, gaps in public health infrastructure, workforce capacity, and data integration negatively affect timely detection and response to these health threats.

This NOFO builds on the foundational work of CDC-RFA-GH21-2174:

Enhancing Global Health Security: Strengthening Public Health Surveillance Systems and Preparedness Globally, which focused on emergency preparedness globally by strengthening surveillance systems. Findings from this expiring NOFO highlight the importance of integrating and improving interoperability of different surveillance systems (e.g. Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS)), between surveillance and laboratory networks, and with other sectors (e.g. animal and environmental health).

Lessons learned:

• The need for best practices.

• Country and regionally tailored approaches.

• Using digital tools to improve data quality and timeliness.

• Establishing sustainable solutions that are easy to maintain long-term for country and regional-specific needs.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

The approach This NOFO builds on lessons learned from previous initiatives and existing frameworks, and adopts a comprehensive approach to strengthening public health surveillance systems globally by:

• Strengthening Early Warning Surveillance for timely detection, notification, and response to public health threats.

• Working with electronic tools and interoperable systems to improve data linkages, response, and use.

• Improving how surveillance data can be used for action.

The rationale for this approach comes from evidence that integrated and interoperable surveillance systems improve data quality, timeliness, and the ability to effectively detect and respond to public health threats.

Desired outcomes The specific outcomes this NOFO aims to achieve include:

• Enhanced interoperable surveillance systems that can detect, notify, and respond to public health threats in a timely manner.

• Improved surveillance data quality, completeness, timeliness, and use for public health action.

This NOFO targets areas that may pose a greater threat to Americans, with a demonstrated need for help with surveillance capacity, including those disproportionately affected by infectious diseases and public health emergencies.

Public health priorities and strategies Your funded activities must also align with CDC’s global health priorities.

These priorities guide how we build, carry out, and evaluate our global health work. We use it to measure progress and impact and make informed decisions about global health activities across CDC. The goals include:

• Stop health threats at their source before they spread to the United States and other countries.

• Contain disruptive outbreaks of disease across the globe.

• Use global data to prevent and mitigate disease in the United States and other countries.

• Save lives and improve health globally.

To make progress on these goals, we encourage you to:

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

• Strengthen national public health bulletins, health alert notices, CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and Health Alert Network, and other emergency risk communication strategies.

• Share timely, credible, useful public health information with healthcare and public health professionals locally and nationally within our partner countries.

• Develop civil registration, vital statistics systems, and mortality surveillance systems so our partner countries know what is causing deaths in their population and whether interventions to reduce them are working.

• Additionally, the effectiveness of your work should be demonstrated in results from timeliness analyses (like the 7-1-7 framework) for early detection and response. For example, the 7-1-7 target provides a standardized benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of outbreak detection and response systems globally. The framework outlines a timeline to aim for in response to a suspected outbreak:

◦ Within 7 days of emergency: Detect the outbreak.

◦ Within 1 day of detection: Notify public health authorities and start the investigation.

◦ Within 7 days of notification: Begin responding effectively to the emergency.

• We also recommend using these supporting strategies and frameworks:

◦ CDC’s strategy for improving GHS, based on three core parts of the agency’s mission to protect public health worldwide:

▪ Prevent.

▪ Detect.

▪ Respond.

◦ Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) framework.

◦ The Department of State America First Global Health Strategy.

◦ United States Global Health Security Strategy.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.cdc.gov/global-health/topics-programs/global-health-security.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/security/index.htm https://globalhealthsecurityagenda.org/ https://www.state.gov/america-first-global-health-strategy/ https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/09/america-first-global-health-strategy

Purpose The purpose of this NOFO is to strengthen public health surveillance around the world, to:

• Prevent, detect, notify, and respond to public health emergencies at their source.

• Protect the health of all Americans by improving Early Warning Surveillance.

• Enhance integrated and interoperable electronic disease surveillance platforms.

• Support the use of surveillance data for public health action.

Approach Program logic model The following logic model includes the expected strategies under this NOFO.

The logic model also includes the program’s expected outcomes. Outcomes are the results that you intend to achieve and usually show the intended direction of change, such as increase or decrease.

The asterisked (*) outcomes are those we expect you to achieve or substantially contribute to during the five-year period of performance. You must report on these outcomes.

Not all outcomes apply to all strategies. The table shows how they apply. You will use these outcomes as a guide for developing performance measures.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Table: Strategies and outcomes

Strategies and activities Short-term outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long-term outcomes

Strategy 1:

Strengthen Early Warning Surveillance for timely detection, notification, and response to public health threats.

Enhanced data collection tools and protocols for Event- Based Surveillance (EBS) and Indicator- Based Surveillance (IBS) resulting in more accurate and timely data.*

Sustained or increased alignment of surveillance systems with best practices and global and regional frameworks.*

Increased number of countries with established plans for information sharing and action across health systems to respond to public health threats.*

Increased surveillance capabilities with the integration of EBS and IBS systems for better detection of public health threats.*

Increased implementation, institutionalization, and use of event management systems.*

Improved timeliness and accuracy of detection, notification, and response of public health threats.*

Increased speed of outbreak detection and response to priority events and diseases that threaten global health security.*

Established sustainable frameworks for surveillance that continuously adapt to emerging health threats and incorporate lessons learned from past experiences.*

Surveillance and laboratory interoperable platforms are sustained, government-owned and responsive.*

Established new and strengthened existing partnerships that increase the reach and effectiveness or response to public health threats.

Expansion of capacity for preventing the spread of cross-border threats. This could include collaborations on surveillance for

Strategy 2:

Develop/enhance electronic tools and interoperable systems to improve data linkages, response, and use.

Countries have increased routine linkage of core data sets with improved data quality, use, and interoperability.*

Countries have increased integration and/or interoperable data exchange between surveillance and laboratory systems to accelerate

Countries use functional data systems to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies.*

Increased scale and utilization of electronic decision-support tools that integrate surveillance and laboratory data.*

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

Strategies and activities Short-term outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long-term outcomes detection and confirmation.*

Integration of relevant laboratory processes and data into surveillance, including targeted testing, sequencing, and metagenomics.

communicable disease for international travelers at ports of entry.

Strategy 3:

Improve the use of surveillance data for action.

Established or improved adherence to surveillance reporting standards and minimum data elements, facilitating more consistent data collection and reporting.*

Early implementation of outbreak and alert thresholds within existing surveillance systems, leading to quicker identification of potential public health threats.*

Improved implementation of comprehensive operational plans for routine monitoring and evaluation of surveillance systems, focusing on data quality, timeliness, and completeness.*

Improved integration of outbreak and alert thresholds leading to faster detection and response times at both national and sub-national levels.*

Targeted, sustainable training programs are embedded within surveillance system operational plans.*

Strategies and activities This section elaborates on the strategies described in the logic model by providing expected activities for Year 1 and details about how we expect you to implement your program.

You may propose additional related strategies and activities to achieve the expected outcomes. You may also submit an application supporting activities

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 in any country but are encouraged to submit a proposal that covers at least three of the stated regions and/or countries.

Strategy 1: Strengthen Early Warning Surveillance for timely detection, notification, and response to public health threats.

Activities:

• Enhance Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) systems by using global best practices to help detect, notify, and report unusual health events.

• Use global and regional frameworks to improve Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS).

• Enhance routine monitoring of priority diseases and conditions for early warning.

• Incorporate targeted sequencing or metagenomic sequencing capacity.

• Help integrate EBS and IBS through approaches like collaborative surveillance across sectors (e.g., human, animal, environment, border health), event management systems, and alignment with established regional frameworks such as Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response (IDSR).

Strategy 2: Develop/enhance electronic tools and interoperable systems to improve data linkages, response, and use.

Activities:

• Support interoperable systems expansion and development across all levels and sectors to improve how information is processed, shared, and used.

• Help develop electronic decision-support tools that use surveillance and laboratory data to assist detection, notification, and response capabilities.

• Help surveillance interoperability implementations transition to government-owned national systems for ongoing maintenance and IT data governance. Institutionalize data protection, cybersecurity and privacy protocols, and legal frameworks.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20

Strategy 3: Improve the use of surveillance data for action.

Activities:

• Help develop, adapt and implement operational plans for routine monitoring and surveillance systems evaluation. Focus on data quality, process completion, and timeliness. Establish or support adherence to surveillance reporting standards and use cases to enhance preparedness for and control of public health threats, including defining minimum data elements for reporting.

• Help strengthen and integrate outbreak and alert thresholds within IBS systems to accelerate detection, notification, and response at the national and sub-national level.

• Address surveillance, informatics, and data science training needs. Make sure that learning is incorporated into routine operations, aligned with best practices, and consistent with implementation plans for long-term sustainability.

We expect you to provide copies of and/or access to all data, software, tools, training materials, guidelines, and systems you develop under this NOFO to the Ministry of Health, CDC, and other relevant stakeholders for appropriate use consistent with underlying authorities.

Related guidance Your activities under this project should follow CDC’s global health priorities.

You might also be asked to follow other strategies, guidance, or planning documents that are released later.

Geographic focus If the program or GHS priorities change during the period of performance, you may be asked to change the geographic area of your activities.

Outcomes We expect you to achieve or substantially contribute to the outcomes asterisked ( * ) in the logic model by the end of the five-year period of performance. You will be expected to report on these outcomes.

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Organizational capacity You must include a heading in your project narrative titled “Organizational capacity.” In this section, briefly describe your organizational capacity to carry out these strategies and activities.

You must also provide supporting documentation in your attachments. See the attachments section for full instructions.

Collaborations If funded, we will expect you to collaborate with:

• Other CDC Operating Units (OUs):

◦ In addition to the CDC Global Health Center (GHC) Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) you may work with other CDC OUs such as the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), the Office of Readiness and Response (ORR), etc.

• Other CDC-funded organizations:

◦ You will work with other CDC-funded implementing partners/ recipients that could include Federal Ministries of Health (MOH), Provincial Departments, multi-lateral organizations, Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and universities. Activities planned and implemented under this NOFO should be complementary, not duplicative, and support other CDC-funded organization efforts

• Organizations not funded by CDC:

◦ You will work primarily and directly with partner governments, specifically with the Federal MOH and Provincial Departments working towards this NOFO’s objectives. Other stakeholders may include multi-lateral organizations, other USG agencies, NGOs, universities, civil society, and the private sector. We will help you identify and connect with other partners that also work in this area.

Activities planned and implemented under this NOFO should be complementary, not duplicative, and support existing efforts funded by other sources.

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Data, monitoring, and evaluation CDC strategy CDC collects and reports on indicators to measure progress toward achieving the activities and outcomes. CDC will also use results for program planning, improvement, accountability, and reporting. CDC will share the results with key parties.

CDC will work with you throughout the life of this award to ensure that all activities and expected outcomes align with your strategies and goals, and those of the U.S. government.

Your strategies and goals will be monitored and evaluated. You should dedicate some of the NOFO’s funds to evaluate and monitor the performance of your project. You and CDC will agree on the final funding amount, but we expect that you will dedicate approximately 5 to 10% of your project’s funding to monitoring, reporting, and evaluation activities.

Required performance measures While completing your work plan, identify indicators within the partner-level indicator list that best align with your proposed activities for each component.

You can find the separate list within the application package on grants.gov.

These indicators are your performance measures. You will also include these indicators in your initial evaluation and performance measurement plan (EPMP). If awarded, we will work with you to finalize the partner-level indicators that will best measure your funded strategies and activities. We will provide a more detailed description of the indicators when you are awarded.

You will report on your performance measures in the annual progress report.

While you will be responsible for reporting on your partner-level indicators, you can use additional indicators to assess your program. You’re encouraged to propose additional relevant indicators that you will monitor over the course of the project.

Evaluation and performance measurement plan You must submit an initial draft of your EPMP plan with your application. In your EPMP, you will identify which of the partner-level indicators you plan to report on in your annual performance report). These indicators will be finalized with CDC.

You must submit a more detailed plan within the first six months of the award. See Reporting.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23

Be sure to align your EPMP with host country, agency, and program requirements and priorities.

Include the following elements in your evaluation and performance measurement plan:

Methods Describe how you will:

• Collect the performance measures.

• Respond to the evaluation topics.

• Use evaluation findings for continuous program quality improvement.

• Incorporate evaluation and performance measurement into planning, implementing, and reporting project activities.

Additionally, explain:

• How key program partners will participate in the evaluation and performance measurement process.

• How feasible it will be to collect appropriate evaluation and performance data.

• How you will share evaluation findings with communities and stakeholders.

• Other relevant information, such as performance measures you propose.

Data management plan For all public health data you plan to collect, you must have a data management plan (DMP). For a definition of “public health data” and more information about CDC’s policy on the DMP, see Data Management and Access.

You must submit an initial draft of your DMP with your application. You will submit a more detailed plan within the first six months of the award. See Reporting.

Submit your DMP with your application and include:

• The data you will collect or generate, and what its sources will be.

• Who can access the data and how you will protect and secure it.

• Data standards that explain what documentation the released data will have. Documentation should describe collection methods, what the data represents, and data limitations.

• Archival and long-term data preservation plans.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 24 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html

• Any reasons why you cannot share data collected or generated under this award with CDC. These could include legal, regulatory, policy, or technical reasons.

• How you will update the DMP as new information becomes available over the life of the project. You will provide updates to the DMP in annual reports.

In addition to the other requirements listed, also include:

• Cybersecurity plans.

• How you will protect personally identifiable information (PII) when you collect, store, transfer, and use this data.

• How you will remove information from the data that could reveal participants’ identities (de-identify the data) in intermediate and final data sets.

CDC will inform you of data you need to share with us and how and when it should be shared.

Evaluation activities You must carry out at least one evaluation for each cooperative agreement during your funding.

The evaluation can be one of these:

• A process evaluation, which measures:

◦ How you delivered the services.

◦ What worked and what did not.

◦ The differences between who you intended to serve and who you actually served.

◦ Who could access your services.

• An outcome evaluation, which measures how the intervention affected changes in knowledge, attitudes, or behavior.

• An economic evaluation, which measures:

◦ How much the intervention cost.

◦ What caused these costs.

◦ Cost effectiveness.

◦ Efficiency.

◦ The economic impact of the intervention.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 25

Describe:

• The type of evaluations (process, outcome, and/or economic).

• Key evaluation questions these evaluations will address.

• Other information, such as measures and data sources.

Dissemination of evaluation results By the end of the period of performance, your evaluation and performance measures will yield findings to demonstrate the value of your projects. You will disseminate these findings through the Annual Performance Report (APR).

You are expected to pursue additional dissemination in public domains and through informal channels. Dissemination channels could include:

• Local and international conferences and forum abstract presentations.

• Conference poster displays.

• Public health and global health journals.

• Manuscripts.

• Bulletins.

• Reports.

• Presentations to technical working groups and stakeholder meetings.

• Other approved products in print and electronic media, including websites and newsletters.

Program interest holders will be the primary intended users of your evaluation results and findings.

CDC and interest holders will use your evaluation findings during the five-year project period to share and implement key recommendations to strengthen program implementation, effectiveness, sustainability, and continued improvement after the award ends.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 26

Work plan You must provide a work plan for each component for your project. For each component, provide a detailed work plan for the first year and a high-level work plan for later years. The work plan connects your performance outcomes, strategies and activities, and measures. It provides more detail on how you will measure outcomes and processes. A sample work plan is provided below.

Table: Sample format

Activities you will implement

Progress or process measures from the data, monitoring, and evaluation section

Relevant period of performance outcomes from the outcomes section

Responsible position or party

Completion date

Strategy 1:

1.

2.

3.

Strategy 2:

1.

2.

3.

Paperwork Reduction Act Any activities involving information collection from 10 or more individuals or organizations may require Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval. The PRA requires review and approval of the information collection by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). For further information to determine if a proposed activity requires PRA approval, contact your project officer.

Collections include items like surveys and questionnaires. If you have collections requiring PRA approval, CDC is responsible for working with OMB to gain the approval.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 27

For more information about CDC’s requirements under PRA see CDC Paperwork Reduction Act Compliance.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75. You can find details in HHS Summary of Regulatory Changes, which is posted in the Grants.gov Related Documents tab for this opportunity.

General guidance

• Your budget is arranged in eight categories: salaries and wages, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other (includes consultant costs), and indirect costs.

• You may use funds only for reasonable program purposes consistent with the award, its terms and conditions, and federal laws and regulations that apply to the award. If you have questions about this determination, ask the grants management officer.

• Generally, you may not use funds to purchase furniture or equipment.

Clearly identify and justify any such proposed spending in the budget.

• All requests for funds contained in the budget should be stated in U.S. dollars.

• Cost increases due to changes in exchange rates are allowed if enough funding is available. If an increase in the exchange rate would reduce the scope of the project or cause you to need more federal funding, you must get prior approval for exchange rate fluctuations.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

See also program-specific limitations.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 28 https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/ https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://ecfr.io/Title-45/Part-75 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=13f24ea1f961f5f0d14b87ec1b39b25f&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:45:Chapter:A:Subchapter:A:Part:75:Subpart:E:Subjgrp:39:75.440

Unallowable costs You may not use funds for:

• Research.

• Clinical care, except as allowed by law.

• Pre-award costs, unless we give you prior written approval.

• Other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships:

◦ Publicity or propaganda purposes, including preparing, distributing, or using any material designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before any legislative body.

◦ The salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or executive order proposed or pending before any legislative body.

◦ See Anti-Lobbying Restrictions for CDC Recipients [PDF - 985KB].

• For guidance on some types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated. Learn more at CDC Budget Preparation Guidelines [PDF - 1.6MB].

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

Enclose a copy of the current approved rate agreement in your attachments.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs. This rate is 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

Foreign organizations and foreign public entities Indirect costs on awards to foreign organizations and foreign public entities performed fully outside of the U.S. and its territories may be paid to support the costs of complying with federal requirements.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 29 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/Anti-Lobbying-Restrictions.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/budget-preparation-guidance.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

This rate is fixed at 8% of MTDC exclusive of tuition and related fees, direct expenditures for equipment, and subawards in excess of $25,000.

Negotiated indirect costs may be paid to the American University, Beirut, and the World Health Organization.

See 2 CFR § 300.414.

Other indirect cost policies As described in 2 CFR 200.403(d), you must consistently charge items as either indirect or direct costs and may not double charge.

Indirect costs may include the cost of collecting, managing, sharing, and preserving data.

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. As of January 2026, the salary rate limitation is $228,000. We will update this limitation in future years.

Program income If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. If applicable, the disposition of program income must have written prior approval from the Grants Management Officer. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

Program-specific limitations

Human and animal subjects restriction CDC requires you to use protocols for technical review and for review of your institutional plans to protect human or animal subjects if you plan to create public reports based on:

• Collecting data from people, animals, or personal records.

• Collecting and testing laboratory specimens.

We will not provide funds to implement these activities until you have obtained all necessary approvals of your institutional protocols. We may provide funds for preparatory activities (such as protocol development, training, equipment, reagents, and site preparation) before protocol approval.

To make sure you have funds available, your budget and narrative should indicate which activities are preparatory.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 30 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300/subpart-E/section-300.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.403(d) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.307

You must submit data collection protocols required for the release of these funding restrictions to the CDC Global Health Center, Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) Science Office within six months of being notified of these restrictions. You must submit these protocols by the end of the first budget year at the latest. You can submit requests for exceptions to these deadlines in writing to the project officer.

You should obtain all protocol approvals by the end of the next budget period after the award or continuation has been made, unless you have received an exception.

Host country laws and regulations If funded, we expect you to follow applicable host country laws and regulations related to the strategies under this NOFO. If there are conflicts with this award, contact the grants management officer.

Program income prior approval If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. If applicable, the disposition of program income must have written prior approval from the Grants Management Officer. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

Expanded authority For more information on expanded authority and pre-award costs, see the HHS Grants Policy Statement and speak to the grants management contact.

Pre-award costs may be allowable as an expanded authority, but only if we authorize the costs.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 31…