Epidemiology Program for American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities

The Epidemiology Program for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities is administered by the Indian Health Service (IHS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. IHS is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and through this funding opportunity it seeks to strengthen Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs). These centers play a critical role in supporting public health infrastructure, conducting disease surveillance, and enabling Tribes and Urban Indian organizations to make data-driven health decisions. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to enhance public health capacity among TECs and the populations they serve. The program is designed to fulfill seven statutory functions outlined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, including data collection, system evaluation, technical assistance, disease surveillance, and public health workforce development. Through these efforts, the program aims to reduce morbidity and mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native populations by strengthening epidemiological practices and improving health outcomes. Funding is structured as a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement. The total program funding is expected to be 35 million dollars, with approximately 12 awards issued. Each award ranges from 2 million to 3.5 million dollars per year for required activities, with additional optional funding available for specific supplemental initiatives. The period of performance spans five years, divided into five one-year budget periods, with continuation contingent on funding availability and satisfactory progress. There is no cost-sharing requirement, although voluntary contributions may be reported if included. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Urban Indian organizations, and intertribal consortiums, as defined by federal statute. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to serve a population of at least 60,000 American Indian or Alaska Native individuals or represent at least 70 percent of Tribal governments within an IHS service area. Applications must include Tribal resolutions or equivalent documentation demonstrating support from the populations served, as well as proof of nonprofit status where applicable. Applicants must complete a comprehensive submission through Grants.gov, including a project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple required attachments such as a work plan, logic model, audit documentation, and Tribal resolutions. The project narrative is limited to 10 pages and must address program need, objectives, evaluation strategies, and organizational capacity. Applications are evaluated based on a 100-point scoring system that includes criteria such as project design, evaluation approach, organizational capability, and budget justification. The application deadline is July 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with anticipated awards issued by September 1, 2026 and projects beginning shortly thereafter. The program is offered as a new funding opportunity, and while continuation funding is possible annually, it is dependent on appropriations and performance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that required registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov are active well in advance of submission. For additional information, applicants may contact the program office at the Indian Health Service. Programmatic inquiries can be directed to Lisa Neel at lisa.neel@ihs.gov or by phone at 240-460-2132, while grants management questions should be directed to DGM@ihs.gov. This program represents a significant federal investment in strengthening Tribal public health systems and advancing health equity for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Ensure strong Tribal support documentation; align activities to all seven TEC functions; clearly define evaluation metrics and data sources; demonstrate service population size and need