Expanding global health security though local partnerships in Tanzania

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through the Global Health Center and Division of Global Health Protection, is offering the cooperative agreement Expanding global health security though local partnerships in Tanzania under opportunity number CDC-RFA-JG-26-0052 and Assistance Listing 93.318. The program is intended to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous by strengthening global health security through surveillance, prevention, detection, notification, and response activities carried out through partnerships in Tanzania. CDC will work with Tanzania's Ministry of Health, other partners, and U.S. Government agencies to strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness and response, data sharing, and the public health workforce. The program builds on prior CDC-supported work in Tanzania involving field epidemiology training, electronic disease surveillance, emergency operations centers, laboratory systems, and other global health security capabilities. The NOFO requires activities across four principal strategies: strengthening early warning systems and data-driven surveillance and response; improving laboratory capacity for rapid detection of epidemics and biological threats; strengthening public health workforce capacity; and building resilience in public health institutions and systems. Activities include strengthening electronic integrated disease surveillance and response, cross-border surveillance, traveler surveillance, diagnostic capacity for priority and novel pathogens, wastewater surveillance, mobile laboratory approaches, biosafety and biosecurity, regional laboratory response networks, field epidemiology and laboratory leadership programs, emergency operations capacity, multidisciplinary surge staffing, drills and simulation exercises, and related preparedness measures. Recipients must collaborate with the Government of Tanzania, including the Ministry of Health and relevant governmental bodies, CDC programs and CDC-funded organizations, other U.S. Government partners, universities, civil society, the private sector, and other appropriate stakeholders. Data, software, tools, training materials, guidelines, and systems developed under the award are expected to be made available to the Ministry of Health, CDC, and other relevant stakeholders as appropriate. CDC expects $3,000,000 in total NOFO funding for Year 1 and anticipates making two to three awards. Applicants must submit budgets and work plans for all three funding components. Component 1, Core Global Health Security Priorities, has a Year 1 ceiling of $1,000,000. Component 2, Rapid Small-Scale Response to Infectious Disease Outbreaks or other Public Health Emergencies, has a $2,000,000 ceiling, and Component 3, Rapid Large-Scale Response to Infectious Disease Outbreaks or other Public Health Emergencies, also has a $2,000,000 ceiling. Only Component 1 core activities are expected to receive funding initially, while Components 2 and 3 may be approved but unfunded until additional funds become available. Projects are planned for five 12-month budget periods over a five-year period of performance, with continuation funding dependent on available funds, satisfactory progress, and the federal government's determination that continued funding is in its best interest. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of project funding is expected to support monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. There is no required cost sharing or matching. Funds must be used for reasonable program purposes consistent with the award and applicable law. Research is prohibited, clinical care is generally prohibited except as allowed by law, and pre-award costs require authorization. Furniture and equipment generally may not be purchased unless clearly identified and justified. 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; Native American tribal organizations; public 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. The project must be conducted in Tanzania, and an organization may submit only one application under its UEI. CDC provides a 15-point selection preference for prime applicants that meet and document the applicable local partner definition. Applications are nonresponsive if they fail eligibility requirements, are late, propose research, exceed applicable Year 1 component ceilings, exceed the 30-page project narrative limit, omit a required component, are not in English, use a currency other than U.S. dollars, or fall outside the NOFO scope. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 2, 2026. Applicants must have the required active registrations and UEI and must use the UEI associated with the physical location receiving federal funds. The application includes a one-page project summary, a project narrative of no more than 30 pages, a budget narrative, and required standard forms including SF-424 and SF-424A, with SF-LLL when applicable. Required attachments include a table of contents, experience statement, financial capability statement, resumes and job descriptions, organizational chart, and applicable indirect cost agreement and report on overlap. Applicants seeking the local partner funding preference must submit supporting documentation. The project narrative must follow the required headings and order and address Background and approach, Evaluation and performance measurement plan, Organizational capacity, and Collaborations. Applicants must also provide an initial data management plan, evaluation and performance measurement information, and work plans for each component. Application files must meet the specified formatting requirements and must not be encrypted, zipped, or password-protected. Applications first undergo a responsiveness review and then a merit review. The merit review totals 100 points: Background and approach is worth 30 points, Evaluation and performance measurement plan is worth 35 points, and Organizational capacity is worth 35 points. Reviewers consider measurable timelines, monitoring and evaluation procedures, evidence-based and culturally appropriate activities, collaboration, local Tanzania experience, financial and programmatic reporting systems, host-government and beneficiary capacity strengthening, staff technical capacity, institutional capacity, and governance practices. CDC also conducts a pre-award risk review. Final selection considers merit results, funding preferences, avoidance of duplication, applicable laws, and alignment with CDC priorities. Qualifying local partners receive 15 additional points during selection. Successful applicants receive an official Notice of Award, while unsuccessful or disqualified applicants are notified by email or letter. Notifications are expected by the end of October 2026, with an expected award and start date of October 30, 2026. The program contact is Kristy T. Hayes at vio5@cdc.gov. The grants management contact is Randolph Williams, Grants Management Officer, at gur2@cdc.gov and 1-770-488-8382. After award, recipients must comply with applicable federal requirements and submit required financial, performance, evaluation, and data management reports. The 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 required bi-annually and annual Federal Financial Reports are due 90 days after each budget period. CDC will maintain substantial involvement through technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, review of progress, and collaboration with recipients. The NOFO does not state that this opportunity recurs on an annual or other regular application cycle.

Apply for all three components and keep each Year 1 component within its ceiling; use the exact required project narrative headings, subheadings, and order; keep the project narrative within 30 pages and appendices within 50 pages; make activities evidence-based, realistic, measurable, culturally appropriate, and specific to Tanzania; demonstrate local Tanzania experience, strong financial and programmatic reporting systems, and host-government capacity strengthening; align the budget with NOFO objectives and GHS goals; document local partner status to receive the 15-point funding preference; ensure Grants.gov validation succeeds and do not encrypt, zip, or password-protect files; align funded activities with CDC priorities and applicable laws.