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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Preventing global health threats by strengthening surveillance systems to accelerate outbreak detection, notification, and response."

2) Which agency is offering this funding?

The opportunity is offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the CDC Global Health Center (GHC).

3) What type of funding mechanism is this?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means CDC expects substantial involvement during implementation, including technical collaboration and ongoing coordination with the awardee(s).

4) What is the main purpose of the program?

The overall intent is to strengthen global health security by improving how public health surveillance is designed, staffed, connected to laboratory networks, and used for real-world decision-making. The aim is to help countries and regions find outbreaks faster, report them sooner, and respond more effectively.

5) Is this opportunity focused on a single disease?

No. The program is framed around broad, adaptable surveillance capacities intended to detect infectious diseases and emerging threats, rather than focusing on one specific disease area.

6) What outcomes is CDC trying to achieve through this NOFO?

Based on the description, CDC is seeking improvements that lead to faster outbreak detection, earlier notification/reporting, and more effective response. The program also aims to reduce cross-border risks and limit the likelihood that local events escalate into public health events of international concern (PHEICs) or other major global health disruptions.

7) What is the NOFO number and CFDA listing provided?

The NOFO is numbered CDC RFA JG 26 0113, with CFDA 93.318.

8) How many awards does CDC anticipate making?

The opportunity anticipates making 2 awards.

9) What is the application closing date?

The original closing date listed is 2026-07-15.

10) What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?

The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the summary, which typically indicates that a specific maximum is not stated there. Applicants are expected to rely on the full NOFO for budget guidance and expectations.

11) What are the six core activity areas emphasized in the NOFO?

The NOFO emphasizes six core activity areas:

• Strengthening public health surveillance systems (structure, coverage, data flow, and performance of routine and event-based surveillance)
• Improving the surveillance workforce (skills for detection, reporting, analysis, and response at national and subnational levels)
• Strengthening the interface between surveillance and laboratory systems (confirmation testing, specimen referral pathways, and data exchange)
• Reinforcing emergency surveillance preparedness (surveillance readiness to scale during crises with clear triggers, roles, and procedures)
• Enhancing electronic disease surveillance platforms and systems (modernizing/expanding digital tools for faster reporting, alerting, and analysis)
• Improving use of surveillance data for public health action (turning data into decisions such as investigations, resource allocation, risk communication, and policy changes)

12) What does "strengthening surveillance systems" mean in this program?

In the context provided, it refers to improvements to the overall structure, coverage, data flow, and performance of routine and event-based surveillance, with a focus on operational performance that supports quicker detection and response.

13) What kinds of workforce activities are supported?

The opportunity prioritizes improving the surveillance workforce by building practical skills for detection, reporting, analysis, and response across national and subnational levels, along with workforce development opportunities that leave lasting capability in-country.

14) Why is the laboratory interface a specific focus area?

The NOFO highlights that faster and more reliable confirmation testing, strong specimen referral pathways, and effective data exchange between epidemiology and laboratory teams are essential for trustworthy alerts and timely outbreak control.

15) What is meant by "emergency surveillance preparedness"?

It refers to having the surveillance components ready to scale during crises, including clear triggers, roles, and procedures that can be activated during outbreaks or other health emergencies.

16) What does the NOFO say about electronic or digital surveillance systems?

It supports enhancing electronic disease surveillance platforms and systems, including modernizing or expanding digital tools so that case reporting, alerting, and analysis can happen more rapidly and consistently.

17) Does the opportunity emphasize acting on data, or just collecting it?

It explicitly emphasizes using surveillance data for public health action. The focus includes analyzing and interpreting information and translating it into decisions such as targeted investigations, resource allocation, risk communication, and policy changes.

18) What is the expected implementation approach for awardees?

Implementation is described as partnership-driven. Selected implementing partner(s) are expected to work closely with Ministries of Health, CDC country offices, and other relevant stakeholders to review existing surveillance arrangements, identify operational gaps, and propose practical solutions that measurably improve system performance.

19) What kinds of deliverables or products are mentioned?

The description mentions developing or adapting protocols, training materials, and guidance documents that standardize how surveillance is conducted and how information is shared, as well as integrating surveillance outputs into decision-making processes.

20) How does the program address cross-border and regional health risks?

The program is designed to reduce cross-border risks by improving detection and notification and by strengthening surveillance capacities that can limit escalation into PHEICs or other major disruptions. It is framed around country and regional ability to detect and respond to emerging threats.

21) What does the NOFO say about One Health or cross-sector collaboration?

The NOFO highlights cross-sectoral collaboration to support One Health priorities, typically involving coordinated surveillance and response across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors when threats may emerge from zoonotic or environmental pathways.

22) Are applicants expected to use innovative tools or technologies?

Applicants are encouraged to incorporate innovative tools and technologies where appropriate, particularly where they strengthen surveillance performance and speed of detection, reporting, and response.

23) What does CDC mean by sustainable capacity building in this context?

The expectation is that surveillance improvements continue to function and evolve beyond the life of the award, leaving lasting in-country capability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.

24) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and described as unrestricted. It includes government entities (state, county, city/township, and special districts), educational institutions (public and private higher education), tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).

25) Is the opportunity limited to nonprofits or public agencies only?

No. The eligibility list explicitly includes nonprofits and for-profit organizations, along with a wide range of governmental and educational entities.

26) What kinds of organizations are a good fit for this program (based on the description)?

The opportunity is designed for organizations capable of operating in complex, multi-stakeholder global health environments and delivering concrete surveillance improvements that lead to faster detection, better notification, and more effective outbreak response.

27) What relationships are awardees expected to maintain during implementation?

Awardees are expected to coordinate closely with Ministries of Health, CDC country offices, and other relevant stakeholders. Because this is a cooperative agreement, CDC also expects substantial involvement during implementation.

28) Does the NOFO emphasize standardization of surveillance processes?

Yes. It references developing or adapting protocols, training materials, and guidance documents that standardize how surveillance is conducted and how information is shared.

29) What is meant by improving "notification" in the title?

In the context provided, notification refers to reporting signals and outbreak information sooner and more reliably so that decision-makers can act quickly, rather than treating surveillance as a reporting exercise disconnected from response.

30) Where should applicants look for budget guidance if the ceiling is not listed in the summary?

The summary indicates applicants should rely on the full NOFO for budget guidance and expectations.