Statewide Perinatal Quality Collaboratives: Improving Perinatal Care and Outcomes

The Statewide Perinatal Quality Collaboratives: Improving Perinatal Care and Outcomes funding opportunity is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative is part of the federal government’s broader effort to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across the United States. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of substantial involvement between the CDC and funded recipients. The initiative aligns with national priorities to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, improve newborn health, and enhance the quality and coordination of perinatal care systems. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to support quality improvement efforts targeting pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns. The funding is organized into two components. Component A focuses on strengthening state-based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, which are organizations that lead quality improvement initiatives within healthcare facilities. These collaboratives use data-driven strategies to improve care practices and outcomes. Component B supports a national coordinating center for the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, which facilitates collaboration, provides technical assistance, and disseminates best practices among state collaboratives and partners nationwide. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support activities such as enhancing data systems, implementing evidence-based quality improvement initiatives, building organizational and technical capacity, and fostering partnerships that improve alignment across maternal and infant health efforts. While specific allowable costs are not detailed in the forecast notice, the emphasis on infrastructure, coordination, and data-driven interventions suggests that funds may be used for personnel, data systems, training, and partnership development. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the financial barrier for eligible applicants and supports broader participation. Eligibility for this opportunity is expansive and includes a wide range of entity types. Eligible applicants include state governments, local governments, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations, small businesses, school districts, housing authorities, and special district governments. Additionally, bona fide agents may apply on behalf of governmental entities, which allows flexibility for organizations serving as intermediaries or administrative leads for collaborative initiatives. This inclusive eligibility structure reflects the collaborative and systems-level nature of perinatal quality improvement work. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures through electronic systems, with applications required to be submitted by the stated deadline. While specific application components are not outlined in the forecast notice, applicants can anticipate requirements such as project narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation consistent with federal cooperative agreements. Evaluation criteria are not detailed but will likely focus on organizational capacity, proposed strategies, data-driven approaches, and potential impact on maternal and infant health outcomes. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that it is currently in a forecast stage. The estimated posting date is March 4, 2027, with applications due by May 3, 2027. Awards are expected to be made by August 31, 2027, with a project start date of September 30, 2027. The total estimated program funding is $83,500,000, with approximately 39 awards anticipated. The initiative is expected to produce outcomes such as increased implementation of effective quality improvement strategies, improved coordination of care, and measurable improvements in health outcomes for women and newborns across the United States. Contact information for the program includes an official CDC email address and phone number for inquiries.