Advancing Outbreak Detection, Notification, and Response Capacity by Implementing 7-1-7 in Partner Countries

The Enhancing the Timeliness of Outbreak Detection, Notification, and Response in Partner Countries funding opportunity is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its Global Health Center, Division of Global Health Protection. The CDC’s mission in this context is to strengthen global health security by improving the ability of partner countries to detect, notify, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. This initiative reflects lessons learned from recent global health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, which exposed gaps in surveillance, laboratory systems, and emergency response coordination. By investing in international public health capacity, the program aims to protect both global populations and U.S. national interests. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support measurable, time-bound improvements in outbreak detection, notification, and response using evidence-based frameworks such as the Detect-Notify-Respond model and the 7-1-7 target. Under this framework, suspected outbreaks should be detected within seven days, reported within one day, and responded to effectively within seven days. Funded activities are designed to strengthen surveillance systems, improve laboratory capacity, enhance data integration, and support rapid response mechanisms. The program emphasizes reducing delays in outbreak management to minimize health and economic consequences while promoting sustainable and locally led health systems. Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement structure, with an expected total Year 1 funding of 25 million dollars distributed across approximately five to ten awards. The program is structured into six components, including a core component focused on baseline outbreak detection and response activities and additional components that may be activated during public health emergencies. Applicants are required to submit detailed budgets and work plans for all components, even though only the core component is expected to receive initial funding. The total period of performance is five years, with annual budget periods contingent on funding availability and satisfactory progress. Funds may not be used for research, lobbying, or certain restricted activities, and all expenditures must comply with federal regulations and program guidance. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes government entities at various levels, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, higher education institutions, for profit entities, and foreign organizations. Projects must be implemented outside the United States, with a preference for countries where CDC has an established presence or regions identified in the notice. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the ability to operate across multiple countries or regions and to coordinate with host governments and other stakeholders. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program. The application process requires registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, followed by submission of a complete application package that includes a project narrative, budget narrative, work plans for each component, and supporting documentation such as organizational capacity statements and resumes. Applications must be submitted in English and adhere to strict formatting and page limits. The evaluation process will assess the applicant’s understanding of the public health problem, the quality and feasibility of proposed strategies, the strength of evaluation and performance measurement plans, and organizational capacity to implement the program. The application deadline is August 14, 2026, with awards expected to begin on September 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of August 2026. The program is not described as recurring, indicating that this is a single funding cycle unless reissued in the future. Post-award, recipients will be required to comply with extensive reporting, monitoring, and evaluation requirements, including submission of performance indicators and data management plans. The program also emphasizes collaboration with CDC and other partners, continuous evaluation, and dissemination of findings to strengthen global health security outcomes.

Align proposal clearly with 7-1-7 targets and demonstrate measurable improvements in detection notification and response timelines; ensure strong multi country operational capacity and partnerships; provide detailed evaluation metrics and realistic work plans tied to outcomes