Public Health Preparedness Grant Program

The Public Health Preparedness Program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Health through its Division of Disaster Preparedness, Resiliency, and Emergency Medical Services. This funding opportunity is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response under the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement. The program is part of a multi-year federal initiative spanning 2024 through 2028, with this specific request for applications covering Budget Period 3, corresponding to the New Jersey fiscal year 2027. The program reflects a coordinated federal-state effort to strengthen public health systems and ensure readiness for emergencies that exceed routine response capabilities. The primary purpose of this grant is to enhance preparedness and response capacity across the public health sector in New Jersey. The funding is designed to support a healthcare trade association that represents local health departments, enabling it to sustain and improve emergency preparedness infrastructure. Activities funded under this program must align with national preparedness capabilities and emphasize planning, training, exercising, and coordination across stakeholders. The program promotes an all-hazards approach, ensuring readiness for a wide range of public health threats, and prioritizes outcomes that strengthen community resilience and interagency collaboration. Eligible applicants include governmental entities, higher education institutions, hospitals, nonprofits, and specifically previously funded healthcare trade associations with demonstrated experience in public health preparedness. The program emphasizes that funded activities must benefit the entire public health system rather than a single organization or membership group. Applicants must demonstrate established capacity in emergency preparedness and compliance with federal and state grant requirements. The grant is intended to support statewide initiatives, requiring coordination with multiple partners including healthcare coalitions, local health departments, and other public health stakeholders. Funding for this program totals approximately 150000 dollars for the one-year project period running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Funds must be used strictly for allowable preparedness activities and cannot be used for research, clinical care, construction, or certain capital expenditures. The program includes extensive compliance requirements related to procurement, reporting, cybersecurity, and coordination. Grantees must submit quarterly progress and expenditure reports and demonstrate measurable progress toward program goals. Continued funding and reimbursement are contingent upon compliance with all requirements and timely reporting. The application process requires submission through the System for Administering Grants Electronically. Applications opened on May 26, 2026 and must be submitted by June 12, 2026. Applicants must complete all required forms, including organizational documentation, project narratives, budget schedules, and supporting materials. The application must outline needs, objectives, methods, and evaluation strategies aligned with program requirements. There is no pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent, but applicants must adhere strictly to submission deadlines and formatting instructions to be considered. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with program goals, demonstrated preparedness capacity, and the ability to execute required activities. Successful applicants must implement a range of programmatic requirements including participation in statewide preparedness activities, maintaining trained personnel, conducting risk assessments, supporting emergency communications, and ensuring compliance with federal standards such as the National Incident Management System. Grantees must also develop deliverables addressing preparedness gaps and contribute to statewide planning and response coordination. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes the application period from May 26, 2026 to June 12, 2026, with award notifications expected by July 1, 2026. The project period begins immediately upon award and extends through June 30, 2027, with final expenditures due by July 30, 2027. The program operates on an annual cycle within a multi-year cooperative agreement, indicating that future funding opportunities are likely to recur annually subject to federal funding availability.

Ensure strict alignment with PHEP requirements; emphasize statewide impact and collaboration; provide clear reporting and measurable outcomes; ensure compliance with all NJDOH administrative and fiscal requirements