Opportunity Information: Apply for EP IDS 15 003
Apply for EP IDS 15 003
- The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Smallpox Research Oversight ActivitiesWHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.019 Technical Assistance and Provision for Foreign Hospitals and Health Organizations.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 8, 2015 and posted on Jul 8, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 10, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $315,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $315,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- WHO is the only eligible applicant it is the only organization that is allowed by international agreements to address the issues outlined in this proposal. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends. In the 21st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defense against transnational threats. States Parties to the U.N. have agreed to international standards on reporting public health incidents of concern under IHR (2005). Additionally, a majority of States Parties have also agreed to specific work frames for pathogens such as smallpox under the Biological Weapons Convention.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled "Smallpox Research Oversight Activities - WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research" (Funding Opportunity Number EP-IDS-15-003), is a U.S. government-funded cooperative agreement intended to support the World Health Organization's ongoing oversight role for research involving live Variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. The core purpose is not to fund general smallpox research across multiple institutions, but to fund the international governance, review, and reporting functions that WHO has been tasked with carrying out for decades under World Health Assembly decisions. The sponsoring U.S. agency listed is the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the activity category is health.
The public health rationale behind the award is rooted in the unique risk profile of smallpox. While natural re-emergence is considered not possible, the opportunity emphasizes that a deliberate release, such as a terrorist event, would represent an extreme, worldwide threat. Because smallpox is handled within the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), any suspected or confirmed case would require rapid notification to WHO and would trigger an immediate international response, potentially rising to the level of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In practical terms, the grant is framed as supporting the readiness and decision-making structure that would matter most if the world ever faced a credible smallpox event again.
The announcement explains that, since May 1999, WHO has been formally charged with convening an expert advisory mechanism to manage a very specific set of responsibilities related to live Variola virus. This originates from a World Health Assembly resolution (WHA 52.10) that postponed the destruction of existing Variola virus stocks to allow essential research to continue under strict international oversight. As described, WHO's responsibilities include assembling experts to advise whether continued research remains necessary, reviewing and assessing proposals that involve viable Variola virus, evaluating the progress and outcomes of approved research, and issuing an annual report back to the World Health Assembly. The grant states that the need for these activities has not changed, and it flags that Variola research and the question of destroying remaining stocks were expected to be significant agenda items at the 70th World Health Assembly in 2017, underscoring the policy importance of sustained oversight and reporting.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, meaning the funder anticipates substantial involvement or coordination with the recipient rather than a hands-off grant model. The total estimated funding was $315,000, with an award ceiling and floor both set at $315,000, indicating the government anticipated making exactly one award at a fixed amount. No cost sharing or matching was required. The opportunity was posted July 8, 2015, with an application closing date of September 10, 2015, and it was archived October 10, 2015. It lists CFDA 93.019, which is associated with technical assistance and support for foreign hospitals and health organizations, aligning with the international and WHO-centered scope.
Eligibility is intentionally narrow: WHO is the only eligible applicant. The notice justifies this restriction by pointing to WHO's unique mandate under international agreements to direct and coordinate health matters within the United Nations system. It also references the broader international framework that governs outbreak reporting and collective biosecurity responsibilities, including States Parties' obligations under IHR (2005) and the existence of pathogen-related expectations under the Biological Weapons Convention. In other words, the work described is treated as something that cannot be substituted by another organization because it depends on WHO's legitimacy, authority, and role as the global convener and standard-setter.
Overall, the opportunity funds a specific global oversight function: maintaining the expert review and accountability system that governs the last remaining authorized work with live Variola virus, ensuring proposals and ongoing projects are scrutinized, progress is documented, and member states receive transparent reporting through the World Health Assembly. It is less about laboratory operations and more about sustaining the international decision-making and monitoring structure that sits above them, which is portrayed as essential for global preparedness against a low-probability but catastrophic deliberate smallpox event.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Smallpox Research Oversight Activities - WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research" and the Funding Opportunity Number is EP-IDS-15-003.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This opportunity is a U.S. government-funded cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally means the funder expects substantial involvement or coordination with the recipient, rather than a fully hands-off grant.
Which U.S. agency is sponsoring the award?
The sponsoring U.S. agency listed is the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is health.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in its ongoing oversight role for research involving live Variola virus (the virus that causes smallpox). The funding is aimed at international governance, expert review, and reporting functions, not broad smallpox research across multiple institutions.
Is this grant intended to fund general smallpox research projects?
No. The announcement emphasizes that the goal is not to fund general smallpox research across multiple institutions. Instead, it funds the global oversight and accountability system WHO has been tasked with maintaining under World Health Assembly decisions.
Why does WHO need to oversee research involving live Variola virus?
WHO has been formally charged with convening and operating an expert advisory mechanism to manage oversight responsibilities for research involving viable Variola virus. This oversight is tied to longstanding World Health Assembly decisions, including the decision to postpone destruction of existing virus stocks to allow essential research under strict international oversight.
What World Health Assembly decision is referenced as the basis for this oversight work?
The notice points to a World Health Assembly resolution (WHA 52.10) that postponed destruction of existing Variola virus stocks to allow essential research to continue under strict international oversight.
Since when has WHO had these responsibilities?
The announcement states that since May 1999, WHO has been formally charged with convening an expert advisory mechanism to carry out specified responsibilities related to live Variola virus.
What specific oversight activities does WHO carry out under this role?
As described in the announcement, WHO's responsibilities include: assembling experts to advise whether continued research remains necessary; reviewing and assessing proposals involving viable Variola virus; evaluating the progress and outcomes of approved research; and issuing an annual report to the World Health Assembly.
What does the grant say about the ongoing need for these oversight activities?
The grant states that the need for these activities has not changed and highlights the importance of sustained oversight and reporting.
How is this opportunity connected to global health security and preparedness?
The public health rationale is tied to the unique risk profile of smallpox. While natural re-emergence is described as not possible, the opportunity emphasizes that a deliberate release (for example, a terrorist event) would be an extreme worldwide threat. The grant is framed as supporting the readiness and decision-making structure that would matter in a credible smallpox event.
How do the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) relate to smallpox in this announcement?
The opportunity notes that smallpox is handled within the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Any suspected or confirmed case would require rapid notification to WHO and would trigger an immediate international response, potentially rising to the level of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
What is a PHEIC in the context provided?
In this announcement, a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) is described as a level an international response could reach if a suspected or confirmed smallpox case were reported under the IHR (2005) framework.
Does the opportunity mention any other international biosecurity frameworks?
Yes. The notice references States Parties obligations under IHR (2005) and also notes the existence of pathogen-related expectations under the Biological Weapons Convention.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The total estimated funding is $315,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor are set at $315,000, indicating the government anticipated making one award at a fixed amount.
How many awards does the announcement anticipate making?
Based on the ceiling and floor both being $315,000 and the description that the government anticipated making exactly one award at a fixed amount, the opportunity indicates a single award is expected.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is intentionally narrow: WHO is the only eligible applicant.
Why is eligibility limited only to WHO?
The notice justifies the restriction by describing WHO's unique mandate under international agreements to direct and coordinate health matters within the United Nations system, and by emphasizing that the work depends on WHO's legitimacy, authority, and role as the global convener and standard-setter.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists CFDA 93.019.
What does CFDA 93.019 indicate about the scope of the program?
The announcement associates CFDA 93.019 with technical assistance and support for foreign hospitals and health organizations, which aligns with the international and WHO-centered scope described.
What are the key dates for the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on July 8, 2015. The application closing date was September 10, 2015. The opportunity was archived on October 10, 2015.
What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?
Based on the dates provided, "archived" indicates the opportunity is no longer active after October 10, 2015, and the application window described has closed.
What is the focus of the funded work: laboratory operations or oversight?
The announcement frames the work as global oversight rather than laboratory operations. The emphasis is on sustaining the expert review, governance, monitoring, and reporting structure that sits above any authorized research involving live Variola virus.
How does the World Health Assembly factor into the funded activities?
The World Health Assembly is a key endpoint for accountability in the described oversight system. WHO is responsible for issuing an annual report back to the World Health Assembly on the status and outcomes of approved research involving viable Variola virus.
Why does the announcement mention the 70th World Health Assembly in 2017?
The grant flags that Variola research and the question of destroying remaining stocks were expected to be significant agenda items at the 70th World Health Assembly in 2017, underscoring the policy importance of sustained oversight and reporting.
What risk scenario is highlighted as the main public health concern?
The announcement highlights a deliberate release scenario (such as a terrorist event) as the key concern, describing it as an extreme, worldwide threat.
Does the opportunity claim smallpox can naturally re-emerge?
No. It states that natural re-emergence is considered not possible, while emphasizing the catastrophic risk from deliberate release.
What does the opportunity say about suspected or confirmed smallpox cases?
It notes that any suspected or confirmed case would require rapid notification to WHO and would trigger an immediate international response under IHR (2005), potentially rising to a PHEIC.
In plain terms, what does this grant pay for?
It pays for WHO to maintain the expert advisory and oversight mechanism for live Variola virus research: convening expert review, assessing proposals, monitoring progress and outcomes, and reporting annually to Member States through the World Health Assembly.
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