rfa-ck-26-036_v7.pdf

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Division of Global Migration Health

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due November 5, 2026

US Travelers Health Research, Surveillance, Communication, and Outreach Network Opportunity number: RFA-CK-26-036

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 10

Program description 13

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 25

Find the application package 26

Get registered 26

Help applying 27

Step 3: Build Your Application 28

Application checklist 29

Application contents and format 30

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award 34

Application review 35

Award notices 43

Step 5: Submit Your Application 44

Submission requirements and deadlines 45

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 47

Post-award requirements and administration 48

Contacts and Support 54

Before you begin 3

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 November 5, 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 7

Agency priorities 10

Program description 13

Basic information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Division of Global Migration Health

Protect U.S. residents traveling internationally by improving access to timely health information before, during, and after travel.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts Opportunity name:

US Travelers Health Research, Surveillance, Communication, and Outreach Network

Opportunity number: RFA-

CK-26-036

Activity code: U01

Assistance listing: 93.084

NOFO version: Original

Key dates Application submission deadline:

November 5, 2026

Required letter of intent deadline:

September 15, 2026

Expected scientific review dates:

December 15, 2026

Expected secondary review dates:

January 12, 2027

Expected award date:

September 1, 2027

Expected start date:

September 30, 2027

Expiration date:

December 7, 2026

See Submit your Application for other submission requirements and deadlines that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The NOFO supports CDC’s efforts to protect U.S. residents traveling internationally. The goal is to help U.S. travelers with pre-travel preparation, access to timely health information while traveling, and timely research on health conditions.

The project will:

• Improve access to high quality travel preparation information for both healthcare providers and travelers.

• Collect health information before, during, and after travel through innovative electronic medical record (EMR), web, and mobile phone applications.

• Build on this platform to conduct timely research on emerging health threats, including:

◦ Enrollment of prospective cohorts.

◦ Developing and evaluating advanced diagnostics.

◦ Cost-effectiveness and optimization evaluations.

This NOFO will support research and surveillance activities in a network of clinics that provide pre-travel health services to people with travel destinations outside of the United States, focusing on travelers at high risk for illness or injury while travelling.

During pre-travel visits, this system will anonymously collect specific data on travelers visiting international destinations. This NOFO will encourage high-risk travelers to seek pre-travel health consultations from a clinician to prepare them for a healthy return.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

This will also contribute to the travel medicine scientific evidence base.

Examples of contributions may include:

• Prospective traveler cohort studies.

• Use of novel diagnostic techniques to estimate risks to travelers.

Many international travelers see a primary care clinician or another medical specialist for pre-travel consultations instead of a clinician who specializes in travel medicine.

This NOFO will also increase the awareness of travel medicine among primary care providers and provide them with appropriate tools in advising international travelers with up-to-date recommendations.

Funding details Funding type: Cooperative agreement

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

Period of performance: 5 years in 12-month budget periods.

Application type: New

Expected total program funding over the performance period: $5,000,000

Expected total program funding per budget period: $1,000,000

Expected funding per applicant per budget period: $1,000,000

Maximum award amount per budget period: $1,000,000

Minimum award amount per budget period: $750,000

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility 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.

• Bona fide agents applying on behalf of state, territorial, local, and tribal government organizations.

Note: Bona fide agents must submit documentation that demonstrates their arrangement with the eligible applicant. See Other Attachments form.

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 application deadline.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

• Requests a budget amount exceeding the ceiling of $1,000,000 per year and/or total budget of $5,000,000 as described in Funding Details section above.

• Exceeds the 12-page limit for the Research Strategy.

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.

You may submit only one application per institution. Each institution must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

Qualifications for principal investigator or project director We invite anyone who has the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to carry out the proposed research as a project director or principal investigator (PD/PI) to work with their organization or institution to apply.

You should:

• Ensure that the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers are well suited to the project.

• Demonstrate an ongoing record of accomplishments and strong publication record in travel medicine.

• Demonstrate that investigators have complementary and integrated expertise with an appropriate leadership approach, governance plan, and organizational structure for a collaborative or multi-PD/PI project.

• Demonstrate that investigators have a successful track record in public health research.

• Provide evidence of past collaborations among the proposed research team and with collaborating research sites.

• Provide evidence of nationwide collaboration with clinical sites.

• Demonstrate the research team includes a multidisciplinary group of investigators representing epidemiological, laboratory, clinical, and health economics expertise.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Cost sharing and matching funds This program has no cost-sharing requirement, meaning you do not need to contribute to the costs of this project.

If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we won’t consider it during review. If you receive an award, we will include your voluntary commitment in the award, and you must report on the 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 9

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:

◦ Works to prevent disease and advance emergency response

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://www.cdc.gov/about/cdc/index.html

• 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.

◦ 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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

• Conflicts of interest: CDC will not support 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 not support 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 not support 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.

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/gender-dysphoria-report.pdf

Program description Background As global travel grows, so does the potential of spreading infectious diseases.

Rapid research is critical to inform traveler preparation.

Pre-travel health consultation gives healthcare providers an opportunity to educate patients about:

• Reducing the risk of illness and injury during travel.

• Recommended vaccinations.

• Drug prophylaxis.

• Preventive measures for diseases such as yellow fever and malaria.

Travel to international destinations has increased among U.S. residents, including travel to areas with higher risks of infectious disease or with higher risk activities, such as adventure travel.

Healthcare providers must assess the possible risks for travelers visiting such destinations and the risks the traveler might encounter during travel.

High-risk travelers of concern include, but are not limited to, the following:

• U.S. residents traveling to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) abroad.

• U.S. students studying abroad.

• Very young or very old travelers, and travelers with underlying health conditions at higher risk for acquiring an illness during travel.

• Travelers visiting destinations at increased risk for infections such as sub- Saharan Africa, south Asia, and parts of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Research and surveillance This NOFO supports research and surveillance activities in a network of clinics providing pre-travel health consultations for people with travel destinations outside the United States, including travelers at high risk for illness or injury while on travel.

These clinics will utilize an electronic medical record (EMR) template pre-travel health consultation system. This system helps healthcare providers provide essential recommendations during the pre-travel medical encounter.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

During the pre-travel visit, this system anonymously collects specific data exclusively on travelers visiting international destinations. Collection of these anonymous data from travelers continues to inform CDC’s recommendations by providing data on travelers at higher risk, and those traveling to high-risk destinations. Recommendations also include available preventative services travelers could utilize.

High-quality, accessible materials Many of these high-risk travelers do not visit clinicians trained in travel medicine. This NOFO will develop high quality, accessible materials to help primary care providers prepare their patients for and alert travelers to health risks during travel. Clinic-based data collection will be complemented by:

• Web-based tools and resources to help primary care clinicians give destination-specific guidance.

• Mobile applications to share information with travelers and collect anonymized health and geolocation data from those who opt in.

These tools will also allow enrollment of travelers in prospective study cohorts.

Related work International travelers provide insight into public health and infectious disease threats globally. CDC has built partnerships with international networks of travel clinics through the GeoSentinel program to conduct surveillance and research among returning international travelers.

This NOFO complements that work by improving pre-travel preparation and conducting prospective research on travelers. This research may include collecting samples before, during, and after travel.

Better preparation lowers the risk of travelers contracting infectious diseases during travel and prevents importation and spread of disease in the United States.

Research regarding international travelers at multiple sites is limited. This complementary package maintains a surveillance and research platform that has been rapidly activated to support responses for COVID-19, dengue, and oropouche, among others.

Additional information on related work may be found here: Research and Surveillance | Travelers’ Health | CDC

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/partners https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/partners

Purpose The purpose of this NOFO is to:

• Increase the proportion of international travelers who receive a pre-travel health consultation with recommended preventative services.

• Improve the quality of the health care advice during pre-travel health consultations.

• Increase access to timely health information while traveling.

This NOFO will help international travelers reduce their personal risk of illness or injury and prevent pathogens from being introduced into the US.

Approach This NOFO funds research and surveillance activities in a network of domestic clinics that provide pre-travel health services to people with travel destinations outside of the United States, especially those at high risk for illness or injury while travelling.

Innovation These clinics will use an innovative suite of EMR, web, and mobile tools to:

• Support healthcare providers in providing pre-travel recommendations.

• Share timely, location-specific information with travelers during travel.

• Collect anonymous health data and specimens (as needed), during the pre-travel visit, during travel, and after travel.

This program will also:

• Encourage high-risk travelers to seek pre-travel health consultations.

• Strengthen the travel medicine scientific evidence base. Examples of studies may include:

◦ Prospective traveler cohort studies.

◦ Geospatial, economic, and genomic analyses.

◦ Use of novel diagnostic techniques to quantify risks to travelers.

◦ Timely research questions motivated by outbreak responses.

Your application should describe how the proposed research introduces novel ideas, approaches, or technologies. Be sure to:

• Explain how your project challenges and shifts current research or clinical practice paradigms by using novel:

◦ Theoretical concepts.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

◦ Approaches or methodologies.

◦ Instrumentation.

◦ Interventions.

• Describe whether your concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions are new to a field of research or new in a broad sense.

• Discuss any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts.

• Show that your proposed research is both innovative and has potential for concrete applications that are of value to public health.

• Include economic modeling, with foci on evidence for and impact of interventions as well as outcomes.

Environment Your application should describe the scientific environment and resources that will support the proposed project.

• Explain how the scientific environment will contribute to the probability of success.

• Describe the institutional support, equipment, and other physical resources available to the investigators.

• Highlight project benefits, such as:

◦ Unique features of the scientific environment.

◦ Features of existing work/platforms that could be built on.

◦ Subject populations.

◦ Collaborative arrangements.

• Describe how key stakeholder will be involved throughout the research process.

• Identify critical partnerships or collaborations.

• Include a description of the traveler population seen in partner clinics and explain how it supports the objectives of this NOFO.

Objectives and outcomes This section includes the outcomes we expect you to report progress on and achieve within the period of performance if you receive funding.

This program fills knowledge gaps and improves disease prevention by collecting robust and methodologically standardized data over time from

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 multiple traveler populations. Risk is quantified by location, activity, and population. It also ensures information is up to date and scientifically reliable.

Longitudinal comparison of data is possible as people’s behaviors, the range and virulence of pathogens, and available interventions change.

You should address the following objectives:

Conduct research and surveillance Conduct research and surveillance activities in an active network of clinics providing pre-travel health services to people with travel destinations outside the United States, including those travelers at high-risk.

• Maintain electronic, mobile application or web-based pre-travel health consultation resources that are user-friendly to both clinicians and travelers.

• Update resources to account for the changing epidemiology of diseases.

◦ Include travel health warnings and notices for specific destinations.

◦ Include vaccination or medication recommendations.

• Recruit and add travel providers to the network, as appropriate, to include high-risk travelers in their patient catchments.

◦ Include providers that have a high volume of patients traveling to destinations outside of the United States.

• Conduct data collections, analyses, evaluations, and publications of anonymous data collected on travelers during the pre-travel consultation.

◦ Identify and address the fundamental gaps in pre-travel preparation of travelers, especially those at high risk.

• Collect data in real time to rapidly respond to disease outbreaks.

• Study high-interest pathogens (including high-transmission pathogens and those with high levels of antimicrobial resistance). Topics may include:

◦ Applying high throughput technology and rapid diagnostics to identify chains of transmission.

◦ Behavioral factors impacting transmission and ways to interrupt these transmission chains.

◦ Evaluating proposed interventions for effectiveness and economic impact using economic modeling and outcome analyses.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Outreach plan for travelers Your application should include programs that provide outreach to travelers to international destinations, especially those at high-risk, and encourage them to seek pre-travel health consultations.

Methods might include direct or indirect contact with international travelers through:

• Departments of health.

• Travel agents.

• Academic organizations.

• Web-based or mobile tools.

• Community organizations.

Outreach plan for healthcare providers Your application should include programs that outreach to healthcare providers who do not see travelers on a regular basis, and who have limited knowledge of travel medicine.

• These may include primary care providers or specialists whose patients mention travel plans during visits for other health concerns.

• Methods might include direct or indirect contact with traveler’s healthcare providers through:

◦ Departments of health.

◦ National associations of healthcare providers.

◦ National conferences.

◦ Existing professional networks with both travel medicine providers and non-expert travel medicine providers (e.g., same hospital system).

◦ Ethnic medical associations.

◦ Web-based or social media outreach.

Investigator-initiated studies You may include investigator-initiated studies on travelers’ health, including, but not limited to:

• Longitudinal epidemiologic and demographic data collection.

• Specimen collection.

• Laboratory testing.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

Collaborations Collaborations and partnerships that you may identify in your outreach plan for travelers could include:

• State and local departments of health.

• Community-based non-governmental organizations and networks.

• Travel agents.

• Houses of worship.

• Personal service providers.

Collaborations and partnerships you may identify in the outreach plan for healthcare providers could include:

• State and local departments of health.

• National associations of health care providers.

• National conferences.

• Existing professional networks with both travel medicine providers and non-expert travel medicine providers (e.g., same hospital system).

• Ethnic medical associations.

Research collaborators may include:

• Community or academic health systems.

• Private and public universities.

• Reference laboratories.

Evaluation and performance measurement You should include measurable goals and aims based on a five-year research project period. You should include the evaluation and performance measurement as the following:

• Establish specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-phased (SMART) project objectives for each activity described in the application’s project plan.

• Develop and implement project performance measures that are based on specific programmatic objectives.

• Create and use an evaluation plan.

We’ll work with recipients to finalize these plans after the award starts.

Recipient must submit an annual progress report showing project activities and outcomes based on the overall research goals and timeline.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19

For more information, see the reporting requirements.

Paperwork Reduction Act Any activities involving information collection from 10 or more individuals or organizations may require the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval. The PRA requires review and approval of the information collection by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

To determine if a proposed activity requires PRA approval, contact your scientific and research contact. 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.

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

Translation plan Applications should include how the results and findings of the project will be tailored for the appropriate audience when disseminated.

• Scientific results should be prepared for a clinical or scientific audience.

• Outcome results for travelers should be prepared in plain language.

• The recipient should publish the project’s research and surveillance findings as well as outcomes, as appropriate.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS will adopt 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 All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate;

racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

• 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 these purposes, ask the grants management specialist.

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

• 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.

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

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

◦ 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.

Unallowable costs You may not use funds for:

• 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, Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 administrative action, or executive order proposed or pending before any legislative body.

See Anti-Lobbying Restrictions for CDC Recipients.

For guidance on some types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see 2 CFR 200.420, Considerations 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.

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 Other Attachments Form.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). 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.

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 update this limitation when it changes.

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. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/Anti-Lobbying-Restrictions.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.420 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)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.403(d) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-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.

Public health data We require that awards include the needed costs and methods to share public health data. You may include the reasonable cost of sharing or archiving public health data as part of your requested budget for first-time or continuation awards. For more information, see Data Management and Access.

Human subjects We will restrict funds related to conducting research involving human subjects until the appropriate assurances and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals are in place. To lift the restrictions, we require copies of all current local IRB approval letters, local IRB-approved protocols, and CDC IRB approval letters, when applicable.

If the proposed research project involves more than one institution and will be conducted in the United States, we expect you to:

• Use a single Institutional Review Board (sIRB) to conduct the required ethical review.

• Include a single IRB plan in your research plan and PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form, unless either of the following is true:

◦ Review by an sIRB would be prohibited by a federal, tribal, or state law, regulation, or policy.

◦ You provide a compelling justification based on ethical or human subject protection issues or other well-justified reasons.

Do not duplicate information in the research plan form and the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form.

In your research plan, discuss the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses of your proposed research. Use the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form to provide detailed information for human subjects studies and clinical trials.

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23 https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-grants-policy-statement-october-2024.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html

We will review and approve exceptions in accordance with 45 CFR part 46 and, as applicable, 21 CFR part 50 and 21 CFR part 56, or we may place a restriction on the award.

Note: The sIRB requirement applies to participating sites in the United States.

Foreign sites participating in CDC-funded, cooperative research studies do not need to follow the requirement for sIRB.

For more information, please consult the scientific and research contact listed for this NOFO.

Statutory authority Public Health Service Act, Sections 301(a) [42 USC 241(a)] and 317(k)(2) [42 USC 247b(k)(2)], as amended.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 24 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-50 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-56

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 26

Get registered 26

Help applying 27

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov or eRA ASSIST and search for opportunity number RFA-CK-26-036. After opening the opportunity, select the “package” tab to see the forms.

We recommend that you select the Subscribe button from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for help.

Get registered You must be registered in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov to apply. You can review the requirements and get started on developing your application before your registrations are complete.

SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 26 https://grants.gov/search-grants https://public.era.nih.gov/assist/public/login.era?TARGET=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.era.nih.gov%3A443%2Fassist%2F https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

eRA Commons You must register in eRA Commons. Your senior and key personnel must also register and affiliate their accounts with your organization’s account.

Register at least four weeks before the application deadline.

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Help applying For help with the application process and tips for preparing your application, see How to Apply on our website and the Research Instructions for NIH and Other PHS Agencies [PDF].

If any instructions differ from those in this NOFO, follow the instructions in this NOFO.

For other questions, see Contacts and Support.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 27 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://public.era.nih.gov/commonsplus/public/login.era?TARGET=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.era.nih.gov%3A443%2Fcommons https://www.cdc.gov/grants/applying/index.html https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 29

Application contents and format 30

Application checklist You must follow the research instructions [PDF] to complete your application.

In this section, we also provide NOFO-specific guidance for some forms.

Make sure that you have everything you need to apply:

Form Required for

PHS 398 Research Plan form All applications.

SF-424 (R&R) All applications.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement form All applications.

SF-424 (R&R) Other Project Information All applications.

SF-424 (R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations All applications.

SF-424( R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile All applications.

R&R Budget form or HS 398 Modular Budget form

All applications.

• Include only one of these forms, not both, in your application.

• The modular form is typically used by domestic organizations requesting $250,000 or less per budget period in direct costs.

R&R Subaward Budget Attachments form If your application proposes subawards.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information All applications.

PHS Assignment Request form Optional.

Other Attachments form All applications.

Report on overlap If applicable.

Bona fide agents documentation If applicable.

Indirect cost agreement If applicable.

See submission requirements and deadlines to see if there are other requirements beyond the application itself.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 29

Important: public information

When filling out your SF-424 form, pay attention to Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project.

We share what you put there with USAspending. This is where the public goes to learn how the federal government spends their money.

Instead of just a title, insert a short description of your project and what it will do.

See instructions and examples.

Application contents and format You must follow the research instructions [PDF] in the How to Apply:

Application Guide unless this NOFO says otherwise. We strictly enforce these requirements. If you do not follow them, we may delay or not accept your application for review.

See responsiveness criteria to make sure you meet all requirements.

As you build your application, keep the review criteria in mind.

PHS 398 Research Plan form You will use the PHS 398 Research Plan form to complete your research plan.

You will upload each of the following parts of the form as a separate attachment.

Some parts may not be required for your application. We provide guidance here and in the Application Guide.

Follow all instructions beginning on page 80 of the research instructions [PDF]. We note additional instructions in this NOFO.

Introduction This section only applies to resubmission or revision applications. Do not include this section if you are submitting a new or renewal application.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 30 https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82400 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82400 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82400 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf#page=80 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf#page=80

Research plan section To complete this section use the instructions beginning on page 82 of the research instructions [PDF]. The parts for this section include:

Parts Required for Page limit

Specific aims All applications. 1 page

Research strategy All applications. 12 Page Limit

Organize your research strategy under three headings:

• Significance.

• Innovation.

• Approach.

Describe the proposed research plan, including staffing and timeline.

To complete this section use the instructions beginning on page 86 of the research instructions [PDF]. The parts for this section include:

Parts Required for Page limit

Vertebrate animals If you answer “Yes” to the question “Are Vertebrate Animals Used?” on the R.220 - R&R Other Project Information Form.

None

Select agent research If your proposed activities involve the use of select agents at any time during the proposed period of performance.

None

Multiple PI/PD leadership plan If you designate multiple PD/PIs (on the R.240 - R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Form).

None

Consortium and contractual arrangements

If you include any consortiums or contracts in your budget.

None

Letters of support All applications. None

Resource sharing plans All applications. None

Other plans All applications. None

Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources

All applications. None

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 31 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf#page=82 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf#page=86

Other plans: Data management plan For all public health data you plan to collect, a data management plan (DMP) is required. For a definition of “public health data” and other key information, see Data Management and Access on our website.

Submit your DMP in the Other Plans section of your PHS 398 Research Plan and include:

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

• Whether there are reasons why you cannot share data collected or generated under the award with CDC. These could include legal, regulatory, policy, or technical concerns.

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

• Data standards that explain what documentation released data will have.

That documentation should describe collection methods, what the data represent, and data limitations.

• Archival and long-term data preservation plans.

• 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. For more information about CDC’s policy on the DMP, see Data Management and Access Requirement at CDC’s website.

Appendix We allow only limited appendix materials. Follow all the appendix instructions detailed on page 94 of the research instructions [PDF].

Do not use the appendix to get around page limits. You may attach up to 10 PDF documents in the appendix. Additionally, you can include up to three publications that are not publicly available.

Budget form To develop your budget, see CDC’s Budget Preparation Guidelines.

Be sure to follow the guidance in funding policies and limitations.

The budget can include both direct costs and indirect costs as allowed.

Other Attachments form You will use the Other Attachments form to upload the following attachments.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 32 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf#page=94 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/Budget-Preparation-Guidance.pdf

Report on overlap File name: Report on overlap

You must provide this attachment only if you have submitted a similar request for a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to another funding source in the same fiscal year and that request may result in any of the following types of overlap:

Programmatic

• They are substantially the same project.

• A specific objective and the project design for accomplishing it are the same or closely related.

Budgetary

• You request duplicate or equivalent budget items that are already funded by another source or requested in the other submission.

Commitment

• Given all current and potential funding sources, an individual’s time commitment exceeds 100%, which is not allowed.

• We will discuss the overlap with you and resolve the issue before award.

Bona fide agent documentation File name: Bona fide agent

A bona fide agent is an organization eligible to submit an application on behalf of another organization.

If you are applying as a bona fide agent of a state, territorial, tribal, or local government, you must attach a legal, binding agreement from the government as documentation of your status as their agent.

Indirect cost agreement File name: Indirect cost agreement

If you include indirect costs in your budget using an approved rate, include a copy of your current agreement approved by your cognizant agency for indirect costs (2 CFR 200.1). If you use the de minimis rate, you do not need to submit this attachment.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3.