Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 13 000004
Apply for RFA OAA 13 000004
- The Agency for International Development in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Saving Lives at Birth A Grand Challenge for Development (Round 3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 28, 2013 and posted on Jan 17, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 28, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications from all types of organizations including foreign and domestic for profit companies, non profit organizations, faith based organizations, foundations, academic institutions, civic groups and regional organizations. Individuals and governments are not eligible to apply. For the purposes of this RFA, publicly funded universities or universities with government affiliations are not considered governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development (Round 3) is a USAID grant competition focused on finding and supporting bold, practical innovations that can prevent deaths and improve health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns at the time of childbirth, especially in poor and hard-to-reach communities. The core idea is to fund “breakthrough” prevention and treatment approaches that can work in low-resource settings where health systems may be thin, facilities may be distant, and skilled care during labor, delivery, and the immediate postnatal period is often unavailable. USAID issued this opportunity in partnership with several major global health and development actors: the Government of Norway, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The program sits within USAID’s overseas health assistance portfolio (CFDA 98.001).
This funding opportunity was issued as a discretionary grant program under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OAA-13-000004, with an activity category of Health. USAID anticipated making about 30 awards under this round, signaling that the call was designed to support a portfolio of promising ideas rather than a single large project. The announcement did not specify a required award floor or ceiling (both listed as 0), which typically indicates that final award sizes would be determined based on the merit of applications, available funds, and the specific pathway or stage of the proposed innovation described in the full solicitation.
Eligibility was intentionally broad to attract solutions from many different corners, not just traditional development implementers. Applications were welcomed from domestic and foreign for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, academic institutions, civic groups, and regional organizations. Individuals and governments were not eligible to apply; however, the notice clarified that publicly funded universities or universities with government affiliations would not be treated as “governments” for the purpose of this RFA, meaning such universities could still apply. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, reducing barriers for innovators and organizations that might not have access to significant upfront capital.
From a timeline perspective, the opportunity was posted on January 17, 2013, with an original closing date of February 21, 2013, later extended to a current closing date of March 28, 2013. The record shows an archive date of April 30, 2013. For applicants needing access to the complete announcement or clarification, USAID directed questions to the designated mailbox at GrandChallenge2013@usaid.gov, which served as the central point of contact for the Round III call.
Overall, this round of Saving Lives at Birth was structured as a competitive, innovation-driven grant opportunity aimed at accelerating real-world solutions for maternal and newborn survival around childbirth in settings where conventional approaches often fail due to distance, cost, infrastructure constraints, and shortages of skilled care.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is "Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development (Round 3)"?
Saving Lives at Birth (Round 3) is a USAID grant competition focused on identifying and supporting bold, practical innovations that can prevent deaths and improve health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns around the time of childbirth. The emphasis is on approaches that can work in low-resource settings, especially in poor and hard-to-reach communities where health systems are thin and skilled care during labor, delivery, and the immediate postnatal period may be unavailable.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to fund "breakthrough" prevention and treatment approaches that can be implemented in low-resource environments and help reduce maternal and newborn mortality and improve outcomes at and around childbirth.
What types of solutions is USAID looking for under this competition?
The competition is designed for innovation-driven solutions described as bold, practical, and "breakthrough" approaches for prevention and treatment. The focus is on solutions that are realistic for low-resource settings where facilities can be distant and skilled birth care is often limited during labor, delivery, and the immediate postnatal period.
Which communities or settings are prioritized?
This round prioritizes poor and hard-to-reach communities, particularly where conventional health service delivery faces barriers like distance, cost, limited infrastructure, and shortages of skilled care during childbirth and shortly afterward.
Who is offering the grant opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by USAID as a discretionary grant program.
Is USAID working with any partners on this opportunity?
Yes. USAID issued this opportunity in partnership with the Government of Norway, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this Round 3 announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-OAA-13-000004.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category listed for this opportunity is Health.
Is this opportunity part of a specific USAID assistance portfolio or CFDA listing?
Yes. The program sits within USAID's overseas health assistance portfolio and is listed under CFDA 98.001.
How many awards did USAID expect to make under this round?
USAID anticipated making about 30 awards for Round 3, indicating the intent to support a portfolio of promising innovations rather than a single large project.
Is there a minimum or maximum award amount?
The announcement did not specify a required award floor or ceiling (both were listed as 0). This typically suggests that final award sizes would be determined based on the merit of applications, available funds, and the specific pathway or stage of the proposed innovation described in the full solicitation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was intentionally broad. Applications were welcomed from domestic and foreign for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, academic institutions, civic groups, and regional organizations.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals were not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Are governments eligible to apply?
No. Governments were not eligible to apply. However, the notice clarified that publicly funded universities or universities with government affiliations would not be treated as "governments" for the purpose of this RFA, meaning such universities could still apply.
Can universities with government ties apply?
Yes. The announcement specifically noted that publicly funded universities or universities with government affiliations would not be treated as "governments" for purposes of eligibility, so they could apply.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on January 17, 2013.
What was the original closing date, and was it extended?
The original closing date was February 21, 2013, and it was later extended to March 28, 2013.
What is the current closing date listed for the opportunity?
The current closing date listed is March 28, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The record shows an archive date of April 30, 2013.
Where should applicants send questions or requests for clarification?
USAID directed questions to the designated mailbox: GrandChallenge2013@usaid.gov.
What is the overall approach or structure of this Round 3 competition?
Round 3 was structured as a competitive, innovation-driven grant opportunity aimed at accelerating real-world solutions for maternal and newborn survival around childbirth, especially in settings where conventional approaches often fail due to distance, cost, infrastructure constraints, and shortages of skilled care.
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