Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC)

The purpose of this program is to protect the public health and safety of the American people by enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to effectively detect, respond, prevent and control known and emerging (or re-emerging) infectious disea

The ultimate goal of the ELC is to prevent the transmission of future outbreaks of known and emerging (or re‐emerging) infectious diseases while reducing the exposure to current infectious disease threats. This is achieved by enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to effectively detect, respond to, control, and prevent known and emerging (or re‐emerging) infectious disease threats.

To maximize the impact of available funding, the ELC program has chosen to leverage the legislative authorities associated with this funding to limit recipients to those meeting the population thresholds described below. Working with recipients of sizeable populations allows ELC to take advantage of economy of scale in implementing programs and reducing the marginal cost of additional resources added per population served. This strategy allows ELC to reach the greatest number of people for its budget while also balancing the need for direct support to some of the United States' largest cities and counties. Pursuant to 42 USC 300hh-31, eligible applicants include: 1. The 51 State health departments or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia. 2. Local health agencies or their bona fide agents, if they serve a city population of 1.5M or more (i.e., Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia). If the city does not have a public health department, then the county covering the jurisdiction may apply (i.e., Los Angeles, CA covered by Los Angeles County and Phoenix, AZ covered by Maricopa County). 3. All U.S. territories and affiliates in the Caribbean and Pacific (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands). *Population for county and city jurisdictions. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division - Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties in the United States: April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021 - Release Date: March 2022.

Direct beneficiaries include all 50 states, Washington, D.C., 6 largest local health departments (Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Maricopa County, Arizona; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau or their bona fide agents.

Financial and technical resources are intended to be utilized for non-research activities that (1) strengthen epidemiologic capacity; (2) enhance laboratory capacity; (3) improve information systems; and (4) enhance collaboration among epidemiology, laboratory, and information systems components of public health departments. Activities may include those that enable a public health organization to establish and maintain a capable and qualified workforce, achieve modern and well-equipped public health laboratories, implement up-to-date health information systems, and institute systems that foster communication and appropriate integration across epidemiology, laboratory, and health information systems. Federal Financial Assistance (FA) and Direct Assistance (DA) are authorized.

Funds may not be used for research or clinical care. Funds may not be used for construction-related costs. Other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, no funds may be used for (1) publicity or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or use of any material designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before any legislative body; or (2) 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 Additional Requirement (AR) 12 for detailed guidance on this prohibition and additional guidance on lobbying for CDC awardees). Funds awarded to recipients are fully discretionary and funding levels are determined each fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with a period of performance of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

Applications will be evaluated based on: (1) strength of the proposed work plan that includes quantitative process and outcome measures; (2) adequate and clear information to enable the reviewer to gain a reasonable understanding of the applicant's recent and current efforts to address the issues; and (3) provide a realistic plan with activities that can be achieved in the budget period. Other criteria will be listed in the program and project sections within the funding opportunity announcement.

Applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit and receive support. CDC will not review incomplete and non-responsive applications. Applications that are complete and responsive will undergo an objective/technical review process, receive a written critique and be scored according to the published review criteria. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) from the CDC Office of Grants Services (OGS). The NOA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NOA will be signed by an authorized OGS Grants Management Officer. Initial award provides funds for the first budget period (usually 12 months) and the NOA will indicate support recommended for the remainder of the project period, allocation of Federal funds by budget categories, and special conditions, if any.

Check Grants.gov for any relevant NOFO information regarding processes for applying for assistance.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov (opens in new window)(opens in new window). 1. For the first year of the 5-year period of performance, the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is published on Grants.gov. Recipients must complete an application and submit in Grants.gov by the posted deadline. 2. For years 2 through 5, also referred to as continuation funding years, the continuation guidance is published in GrantSolutions for ELC recipients to request financial assistance for the upcoming budget period. The deadline for application is posted in the guidance. 3. ELC recipients may also request additional funds to address emerging issues (e.g., outbreaks) by submitting a recipient-initiated request for supplemental funding at any time during the current budget period.

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 5 years. After initial awards, and subject to availability of funds, projects may be continued non-competitively contingent upon satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports) and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.