Expanding global health security through local partnerships in Nigeria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through its Global Health Center and Division of Global Health Protection, is offering the cooperative agreement Expanding global health security through local partnerships in Nigeria, opportunity number CDC-RFA-JG-26-0043. The program is intended to make the United States safer while strengthening global health security through improved surveillance, prevention, preparedness, and response capacities in Nigeria. Nigeria continues to experience infectious disease outbreaks including cholera, meningitis, Lassa fever, yellow fever, diphtheria, and mpox. Although Nigeria improved its Joint External Evaluation score from 39 percent in 2017 to 54 percent in 2023, CDC identifies continuing gaps in national and subnational public health capacity. The program builds on prior CDC investments and seeks to strengthen the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, other Government of Nigeria ministries, departments and agencies, subnational health authorities, health facilities, and related public health systems. The program supports technical assistance, workforce development, surveillance and epidemiology, laboratory systems, emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, biosafety and biosecurity, zoonotic disease activities, infection prevention and control, water sanitation and health, public health evaluations, points of entry, humanitarian response, and risk communication. Five strategies address technical assistance for national and subnational institutions, training of a multisectoral One Health workforce, strengthening systems for public health emergencies and emerging threats, regional and international coordination, and assessments or implementation science for program improvement. Activities are intended to strengthen Nigeria's ability to meet the 7-1-7 framework of detecting a suspected outbreak within seven days, notifying authorities and beginning investigation within one day, and beginning an effective response within seven days after notification. Projects must be conducted in Nigeria and must align with applicable CDC global health priorities. CDC expects 15,000,000 dollars in total Year 1 funding across an anticipated two to three awards. Awards are planned for five 12-month budget periods, creating a five-year period of performance, with continuation funding dependent on available appropriations, satisfactory progress, and the determination that continued funding is in the federal government's best interest. Applicants must apply for all five components and provide the required budgets and work plans. Year 1 component ceilings are 1,000,000 dollars for Component 1, 2,000,000 dollars each for Components 2 and 3, 5,000,000 dollars for Component 4, and 10,000,000 dollars for Component 5. Components may be funded initially or designated approved but unfunded for later funding as resources become available. CDC expects approximately 5 to 10 percent of project funding to support monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. Research is unallowable, clinical care is generally unallowable except as permitted by law, and pre-award costs require authorization. The program has no required cost sharing or matching contribution. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or 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; and foreign or non-U.S.-based entities. An organization may submit only one application under its UEI, and the project must be conducted in Nigeria. A local partner funding preference provides 15 additional selection points to a prime applicant that meets the stated local partner definition and submits the required documentation. Applications will be considered nonresponsive if they are late, are from an ineligible organization, propose research, exceed applicable Year 1 component ceilings, exceed the 30-page project narrative limit, omit any required component, are not in English, use a currency other than U.S. dollars, or fall outside the NOFO scope. Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and submit through Grants.gov. The application includes a one-page project summary, a project narrative of no more than 30 pages, a budget narrative, and required attachments. The project narrative is scored on Background and approach for 40 points, Evaluation and performance measurement plan for 25 points, and Organizational capacity for 35 points. Required supporting materials include a table of contents, experience statement, financial capability statement, resumes and job descriptions, and organizational chart, plus an indirect cost agreement and report on overlap when applicable. Applicants seeking the local partner preference must provide supporting documentation. Required federal forms include SF-424 and SF-424A, with SF-LLL when applicable. Applicants must provide an initial evaluation and performance measurement plan and an initial data management plan. Because applicants must address all components, a second SF-424A is required through the Other Attachments form when more than four components are proposed. Applications are due Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Questions about the NOFO must be emailed to DGHPNOFOS@cdc.gov no later than five calendar days after the NOFO is published on Grants.gov. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating requirement is stated. Applications passing the initial responsiveness review proceed to merit review and are ranked by score. CDC may consider funding preferences, duplication with other CDC programs, public health emergencies, available funds, geographic or technical coverage of global health security activities, and agency priorities when making final selections. CDC may fund an application in whole or in part or at an amount below that requested. Successful applicants receive a Notice of Award, while unsuccessful or disqualified applicants receive written notification, with notifications expected by the end of October 2026 and an expected award and start date of October 30, 2026. After award, recipients must meet financial, performance, evaluation, data management, and other federal reporting requirements. A detailed Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan and Data Management Plan are due six months into the award. Annual Performance Reports serve as continuation applications and are due no later than 120 days before the end of each budget period, while expenditure reporting is bi-annual and annual Federal Financial Reports are due 90 days after each budget period. CDC will maintain substantial involvement through technical assistance, monitoring, review of program and financial progress, and coordination with in-country and headquarters personnel. The program contact is DGHP NOFOs at DGHPNOFOS@cdc.gov. The grants management officer is Randolph Williams, reachable at gur2@cdc.gov or 770-488-8382.

Address every responsiveness criterion because nonresponsive applications do not advance to merit review. Use the exact project narrative headings and order. Demonstrate a clear understanding of Nigeria's public health problems, propose evidence-based and measurable activities, and show how the work builds on the national response. Provide indicators for each activity and outcome and a strong evaluation and performance measurement plan. Demonstrate local Nigeria experience, capacity to work with MoH, NCDC, and other government agencies, and an efficient system for managing U.S. Government funds. Apply for all components without exceeding component ceilings. If eligible as a local partner, document the status carefully because the preference adds 15 points after merit review.