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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Epidemiology Program for American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities?

It is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (HHS-IHS). The program supports efforts to strengthen public health and epidemiology capacity in American Indian and Alaska Native communities by building or expanding Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) that can track health trends, respond to public health threats, and improve systems of care using data-driven methods.

2. What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2016 IHS EPI 0001, and the CFDA number is 93.231.

3. What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to strengthen public health and epidemiology capacity across American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This includes helping Tribes and urban Indian organizations identify meaningful health indicators, set priorities, and apply sound epidemiologic methods to guide decisions and improve health outcomes.

4. What types of organizations are intended to benefit from this program?

The program is intended to support Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and intertribal consortia by strengthening TEC capacity and services for American Indian/Alaska Native communities, including urban Indian communities.

5. What is a Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) in the context of this opportunity?

In practice, the funding is aimed at building or expanding TECs so they can help communities understand health trends, support public health surveillance and investigations, provide technical assistance, and translate data into recommendations that improve public health and health care delivery systems.

6. What is the difference between a cooperative agreement and a standard grant for this program?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement structure rather than a standard grant. That means IHS will have an ongoing programmatic role during the project period. The announcement separates IHS programmatic involvement from recipient responsibilities, reflecting a partnership model where IHS supports, guides, or collaborates on certain aspects while the recipient carries out the funded activities.

7. What must applicants include in their work plan?

Applicants are expected to submit a work plan that reflects their own community-defined objectives. However, the work plan must also demonstrate activity in at least four of the seven TEC core functional areas specified in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), at 25 U.S.C. Section 1621m(b).

8. What are the seven TEC core functional areas described in the announcement?

The seven core functions cover applied public health epidemiology and include: (1) collecting and monitoring data tied to health status objectives; (2) evaluating health delivery and data systems that affect Indian health; (3) helping Tribes and urban Indian organizations identify top health priorities and the services needed based on epidemiologic evidence; (4) making recommendations on targeting services to populations most in need; (5) recommending improvements to health care delivery systems; (6) providing technical assistance on local health priorities and on estimating disease incidence and prevalence; and (7) conducting disease surveillance while supporting public health promotion efforts.

9. How many of the seven core functions must a funded TEC address?

The work plan must demonstrate activity in at least four of the seven TEC core functional areas.

10. What kinds of activities can be included in a work plan under this program?

The announcement lists examples of allowable activities as long as they align with the TEC core functions. Examples include conducting research and epidemiologic studies; designing and implementing disease, injury, or disability prevention and control efforts; assessing the effectiveness of American Indian/Alaska Native public health programs; analyzing, interpreting, and sharing surveillance data; investigating disease outbreaks; and coordinating disease prevention and response with other public health authorities in the region.

11. Does the program allow flexibility in which health topics a TEC focuses on?

Yes. The intent is broad flexibility so grantees can tailor focus areas to local needs (for example, chronic disease, infectious disease, injury prevention, maternal and child health, behavioral health, or environmental health) while still meeting the statutory expectations for TEC capacity and services.

12. Is the program only about data collection?

No. The program is designed so funded entities not only gather information but also translate it into practical recommendations and hands-on technical assistance for Tribal and urban Indian health partners, including improvements to services and health care delivery systems.

13. What role does IHS play during the project period?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, IHS has an ongoing programmatic role. The notice describes IHS programmatic involvement (letter A) separately from recipient responsibilities (letter B), indicating collaboration and guidance from IHS alongside recipient-led implementation.

14. Can funded TECs receive Protected Health Information (PHI) for public health work?

Yes. The announcement states that TECs funded under this cooperative agreement may receive PHI when needed to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, including for public health reporting (including vital events such as births and deaths), surveillance, investigations, and interventions.

15. How does HIPAA apply to PHI sharing with TECs funded under this cooperative agreement?

The announcement clarifies that TECs functioning under this cooperative agreement are considered public health authorities under HIPAA's Privacy Rule. Covered entities may disclose PHI to them as permitted by 45 C.F.R. Section 164.512(b).

16. How many awards does IHS expect to make?

IHS states an intent to fund enough TECs to serve Tribes and urban Indian communities in all 12 IHS administrative areas, with an expected 12 awards.

17. What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount listed is up to $1,000,000 per award.

18. What geographic or administrative coverage is IHS aiming for?

The intent is to support TEC coverage across all 12 IHS administrative areas so Tribes and urban Indian communities in each area have access to TEC services.

19. Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations (beyond tribal governments), and other eligible entities as described in the full eligibility clarification referenced in the announcement.

20. What is the closing date for this funding opportunity as posted?

The original and current closing date shown for the posting was June 21, 2016.

21. When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 19, 2016.

22. What law defines the TEC core functions referenced in this opportunity?

The seven TEC core functional areas referenced in the announcement are specified in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), at 25 U.S.C. Section 1621m(b).

23. What kinds of public health situations does the PHI access provision support?

The PHI access described in the announcement supports activities needed to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, including surveillance, investigations, public health reporting (including births and deaths), and interventions.

24. What is the overall intended impact of funding TECs through this program?

The program is built to expand epidemiology infrastructure in Indian Country and urban Indian settings so communities can monitor health more effectively, prioritize resources based on evidence, strengthen public health response, and improve health systems using Tribal- and community-relevant data.