Strengthening Global Health Security by improving public health capacity to detect, notify, and respond to disease outbreaks globally

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Global Health Center and Division of Global Health Protection, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity titled Strengthening Global Health Security by improving public health capacity to detect, notify, and respond to disease outbreaks globally. This opportunity is designed to advance global health security systems by strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce development, and emergency response infrastructure in partner countries. The CDC, with decades of international public health experience, aims to reduce the risk of global disease threats reaching the United States by improving early detection and rapid response capabilities abroad. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to build resilient, locally owned public health systems capable of independently detecting, notifying, and responding to infectious disease outbreaks. The program is grounded in frameworks such as the 7 1 7 model, which emphasizes rapid detection within seven days, notification within one day, and response within seven days. It also aligns with broader federal strategies that prioritize global health leadership, evidence based decision making, and integrated data systems. Activities funded under this program are expected to strengthen national public health institutes, improve data integration, and enhance coordination among health systems and stakeholders. Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, with an expected total of twenty four million dollars available in the first year and between four and eight awards anticipated. The program operates over a five year period of performance with annual budget periods. Applicants must apply across five defined components, including a core component focused on baseline global health security priorities and additional components that support varying scales of outbreak response and emerging disease threats. Only the core component is expected to receive initial funding, while other components may be approved but unfunded pending future availability. Eligible applicants include a wide range of domestic and international entities such as state and local governments, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, and foreign organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to operate in multiple countries or regions and are encouraged to align proposed activities with CDC priority countries and regions. Projects must not include research activities and must adhere strictly to federal funding regulations, including restrictions on certain expenditures and alignment with CDC policy priorities. The application process requires registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov and submission through the Grants.gov portal. Applicants must submit a comprehensive package including a project narrative, budget narrative, work plans for each component, and supporting documentation such as organizational capacity statements and financial capability information. The project narrative is limited to sixty pages and must address background and approach, evaluation and performance measurement, and organizational capacity. Evaluation criteria emphasize evidence based approaches, feasibility, alignment with CDC priorities, and the applicant’s operational and financial management capabilities. Applications are due by August 14 2026 at eleven fifty nine PM Eastern Time, with anticipated award decisions by the end of August and a project start date of September 30 2026. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program. Successful applicants will be required to comply with extensive monitoring, reporting, and evaluation requirements, including submission of evaluation and performance measurement plans and data management plans. The program is expected to recur based on federal funding cycles and continuation decisions, with funding beyond the first year contingent on performance and availability of funds.

Align proposals closely with CDC priorities and frameworks such as 7 1 7. Demonstrate multi country capacity and provide detailed measurable workplans. Ensure all components are included to avoid disqualification.