Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health

The goal is to fund nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated capability, expertise, resources, national reach, and track record to strengthen governmental public health system's infrastructure and core services through provision of capacity bu

The goal is to fund nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated capability, expertise, resources, national reach, and track record to strengthen governmental public health system's infrastructure and core services through provision of capacity building assistance (CBA). CBA is defined as activities that strengthen and maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to sustain or improve system, organizational, community, or individual processes and competencies. CBA activities will focus on seven strategies: 1) health systems infrastructure; 2) leadership and workforce; 3) data and information systems; 4) communication and information technology; 5) partnerships; 6) laws, including statutes and regulations, and policies; and, 7) programs and services. In the long-term, the CBA provided will help improve public health capacities and capabilities that ensure a current, competent, and connected public health system, and enable delivery of the 10 essential services.

Organizations deemed eligible to apply must also meet responsiveness criteria as outlined in the "Additional Information on Eligibility" in the NOFO to which applications are submitted.

Beneficiaries include state health departments; tribal health organizations; local health departments; the District of Columbia; U.S. Territories; and other components of the public health system. The general public will also serve as beneficiaries.

Project funds will be used for costs associated with providing capacity building assistance to strengthen the infrastructure of State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial public health agencies and other components of the public health system. For the purposes of this program, "other components of the public health system" refers to specific professional constituencies (i.e., epidemiologists, community health nurses, health education and promotion specialists tribal health leaders, chronic disease directors, health information specialists, Medicaid/Medicare Directors, state/local public health financial officials, etc.) or key components of the public health system (i.e., community and neighborhood health centers, public health and primary care delivery systems, community and faith-based organizations, public health and accreditation boards, public health institutes, primary care residency programs, health insurance consortia, family/social services programs, maternal/child health associations, etc.). Recipients may only expend funds for reasonable program purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies (including training materials), and services, such as contractual. Applicants will be required to participate, comply, and cooperate with CDC for any reporting requirements stipulated by, or mandated for, the receipt of funding.

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 on the review criteria described in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs). In general, the review and selection process of complete and responsive applications to the NOFO consists of determination of the scientific and technical merit by objective or peer review, availability of funds, and relevance of program priorities and the priorities of CDC.

After review and approval, a Notice of Award (NoA) will be prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public. Initial awards provide 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, award requirements, and special conditions, if any.

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

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 1 to 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.