Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH15 1631
Apply for CDC RFA GH15 1631
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.318 Protecting and Improving Health Globally Building and Strengthening Public Health Impact, Systems, Capacity and Securit.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 23, 2015 and posted on Apr 23, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2015 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 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).
- Riders for Health The Drummonds, Spring Hill Pitsford, Northampton, NN6 9AA
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Opportunity Summary:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia" in response to major gaps exposed during the 2014 West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. Liberia was among the hardest hit countries, and during the height of the crisis many hospitals, clinics, and public health laboratories shut down or scaled back operations, leaving communities with limited access to routine care and critical diagnostic testing. Although international partners stepped in to support emergency Ebola testing and treatment, specimen movement between the places where samples were collected and the laboratories capable of testing them remained largely improvised. The country did not have a formal, nationwide specimen transport system, and instead relied on an informal patchwork of non-governmental organizations to carry Ebola-related samples to labs. That ad hoc approach created delays and inefficiencies, and it also pulled those organizations away from their primary missions, such as patient identification, triage, and care. In parallel, some groups were temporarily transporting swabs from deceased individuals as part of active Ebola surveillance, but that effort was not designed as a sustainable national system.
The core purpose of the grant was to support the development and implementation of a national specimen transportation network in Liberia. The envisioned network would systematically connect hospitals, health care centers, and active Ebola surveillance activities across the country to the nearest laboratory with appropriate testing capacity, whether for Ebola specifically or for other common and relevant diseases. A key emphasis of the project was speed and quality: specimens needed to reach laboratories quickly, and they needed to be transported in ways that protect specimen integrity so test results remain reliable. By creating a standardized, coordinated transport structure rather than relying on informal arrangements, the project aimed to strengthen Liberia's ability to achieve and sustain "zero cases" of Ebola, improve rapid detection and response capacity for future outbreaks, and lay a durable foundation for broader national disease surveillance programs. In other words, the transport network was treated as essential public health infrastructure, not just an emergency workaround for Ebola.
Administratively, the opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning CDC expected to have substantial involvement with the recipient during implementation. The funding opportunity number was CDC RFA GH15-1631, under CFDA 93.318 (Protecting and Improving Health Globally: Building and Strengthening Public Health Impact, Systems, Capacity and Security). CDC anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $2,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,000,000 (no stated award floor). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The announcement was posted on April 23, 2015, with an application deadline of May 23, 2015 (applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), and an archive date of June 20, 2015.
Eligibility for this opportunity was narrowly defined. The listed eligible applicant was Riders for Health (The Drummonds, Spring Hill, Pitsford, Northampton, NN6 9AA), indicating the competition was effectively limited to that organization under the "Others" eligibility category with additional clarification in the notice. For questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the CDC contact provided was Brian Wheeler (BIW8@cdc.gov) through Grants Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this CDC funding opportunity?
The discretionary funding opportunity is titled "Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia."
Which agency released this opportunity?
The opportunity was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What problem is this grant intended to address?
It is intended to address major gaps in Liberia's specimen (diagnostic) transport capacity that were exposed during the 2014 West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, when specimen movement between collection sites and laboratories was largely improvised and relied on informal arrangements.
Why was specimen transport a major issue during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia?
During the height of the crisis, many hospitals, clinics, and public health laboratories shut down or scaled back operations. Although international partners supported emergency Ebola testing and treatment, moving specimens from where they were collected to laboratories capable of testing them was not supported by a formal nationwide system. Instead, an informal patchwork of non-governmental organizations transported samples, creating delays and inefficiencies.
How were specimens transported before the envisioned national network?
Specimen movement was largely handled through an ad hoc, informal patchwork of non-governmental organizations carrying Ebola-related samples to laboratories, rather than a formal, standardized national transport system.
What is the core purpose of the grant?
The core purpose is to support the development and implementation of a national specimen transportation network in Liberia.
What would the national specimen transport network be expected to connect?
The envisioned network would systematically connect hospitals, health care centers, and active Ebola surveillance activities across Liberia to the nearest laboratory with appropriate testing capacity.
Is the network intended only for Ebola testing?
No. While Ebola was a key driver of the opportunity, the network was envisioned to connect specimens to laboratories with appropriate testing capacity for Ebola specifically or for other common and relevant diseases.
What are the key performance emphases described for the network?
Two main emphases are speed and quality: specimens should reach laboratories quickly, and they should be transported in ways that protect specimen integrity so results remain reliable.
Why does the announcement emphasize specimen integrity?
Because the opportunity highlights that transport methods must protect specimen integrity to keep test results reliable, making quality handling a core requirement alongside rapid movement.
How is this grant intended to improve outbreak response?
By creating a standardized, coordinated transport structure, the project aimed to strengthen Liberia's ability to achieve and sustain "zero cases" of Ebola and improve rapid detection and response capacity for future outbreaks.
How is this transport network described in terms of long-term impact?
The transport network is framed as essential public health infrastructure intended to lay a durable foundation for broader national disease surveillance programs, not merely an emergency workaround for Ebola.
What type of award mechanism is used?
This opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
It means CDC expected to have substantial involvement with the recipient during implementation.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is CDC RFA GH15-1631.
What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA 93.318, titled "Protecting and Improving Health Globally: Building and Strengthening Public Health Impact, Systems, Capacity and Security."
How many awards did CDC anticipate making?
CDC anticipated making one award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $2,000,000.
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $2,000,000.
Was an award floor stated?
No award floor was stated.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was posted on April 23, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was May 23, 2015, with applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
When was the archive date?
The archive date was June 20, 2015.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was narrowly defined. The listed eligible applicant was Riders for Health (The Drummonds, Spring Hill, Pitsford, Northampton, NN6 9AA), under the "Others" eligibility category with additional clarification in the notice.
Was this an open competition?
Based on the eligibility listing, the competition was effectively limited to Riders for Health.
Who is the CDC contact for questions or access issues?
The CDC contact provided was Brian Wheeler through Grants Policy.
What is the contact email address?
The contact email address provided is BIW8@cdc.gov.
What broader context prompted CDC to release this opportunity?
The opportunity was released in response to major gaps exposed during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, including the shutdown or scaling back of many health facilities and laboratories and the lack of a formal nationwide specimen transport system.
How did the ad hoc approach affect non-governmental organizations during the outbreak?
The ad hoc approach created delays and inefficiencies and also pulled those organizations away from their primary missions, such as patient identification, triage, and care.
Did the announcement mention transport of swabs from deceased individuals?
Yes. It notes that some groups were temporarily transporting swabs from deceased individuals as part of active Ebola surveillance, but that effort was not designed as a sustainable national system.
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