Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA PS 17 002
Apply for RFA PS 17 002
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding the Epidemiology of Syphilis in the United States" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.978.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 23, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 30, 2016 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Understanding the Epidemiology of Syphilis in the United States" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA PS 17 002) is a CDC cooperative agreement designed to strengthen what is known about how syphilis is spreading in the United States and to fill key scientific gaps that affect prevention, diagnosis, and control. The focus is explicitly on both the epidemiologic side (who is getting infected, how transmission occurs, and what patterns are driving outbreaks) and the microbiologic side (what can be learned from the organism and from patient specimens to improve testing and research tools). By combining these angles, the CDC is aiming for findings that are practical for public health, including improved diagnostic development and a clearer understanding of transmission dynamics in priority populations.
The work is organized into two main components. The first component centers on collecting syphilis specimens that can support research into genetic, proteomic, or serologic markers. In practice, this means gathering appropriate clinical samples and associated information so researchers can study characteristics of the infection and the immune response that could be turned into better diagnostic assays or used to validate tests already in development. The underlying goal is to improve the ability to detect syphilis accurately and reliably, which is critical because diagnostic performance can vary by stage of infection and because timely detection is central to interrupting transmission.
The second component investigates how sex networks and social networks among men who have sex with men (MSM) may shape syphilis epidemics, including the problem of repeat infection. This portion of the program is about understanding transmission as a network phenomenon rather than only as individual risk behaviors. It emphasizes mapping and analyzing how people are connected through sexual partnerships and broader social ties, and how those connections overlap or interact in ways that accelerate spread or sustain outbreaks. A specific emphasis is placed on repeat infections, which can signal persistent exposure within a network, gaps in partner services, barriers to prevention and care, or structural factors that keep transmission ongoing even when individuals have previously been diagnosed and treated.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. A cooperative agreement typically means the awardee conducts the work while the CDC remains actively involved through collaboration, technical assistance, and shared oversight of key activities. The funding activity category is health, and the CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.978. The opportunity was created on September 23, 2016, with an original application closing date of November 30, 2016, and electronic submissions were due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The CDC anticipated making about four awards. The posted award ceiling is listed as 0, which generally indicates that applicants needed to consult the full announcement and related budget guidance rather than relying on a stated maximum in the summary field.
Eligibility is broad and covers many types of public and nonprofit entities that commonly conduct public health surveillance and research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified). The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to see the funding announcement for additional eligibility clarification, which often reflects the CDC keeping the door open for certain public health partners or research organizations that do not fit neatly into standard categories.
Taken together, the opportunity is aimed at producing two kinds of deliverables that are highly complementary: specimen resources and scientific insights that can directly improve diagnostic assay development and validation, and a network-based understanding of transmission among MSM that can inform more targeted, effective prevention strategies. The overall intent is to move beyond counting cases and toward explaining why outbreaks occur, why they persist in certain connected groups, and what tools and approaches can better detect infections and disrupt transmission pathways.
FAQs: Understanding the Epidemiology of Syphilis in the United States (RFA PS 17 002)
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
This CDC cooperative agreement is designed to strengthen what is known about how syphilis is spreading in the United States and to fill scientific gaps that affect prevention, diagnosis, and control. The work explicitly combines epidemiology (who is infected, how transmission occurs, and what drives outbreaks) with microbiology (what can be learned from the organism and patient specimens to improve testing and research tools).
What is the official title and funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "Understanding the Epidemiology of Syphilis in the United States" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA PS 17 002.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This is a cooperative agreement. In a cooperative agreement, the awardee carries out the work while the CDC remains actively involved through collaboration, technical assistance, and shared oversight of key activities.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is health.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.978.
How is the work organized in this program?
The work is organized into two main components: (1) collecting syphilis specimens to support research on markers relevant to diagnostics and research tools, and (2) investigating how sex and social networks among men who have sex with men (MSM) shape syphilis epidemics, including repeat infection.
What does the specimen collection component focus on?
This component focuses on collecting appropriate clinical samples and associated information that can support research into genetic, proteomic, or serologic markers. The intent is to enable studies of infection characteristics and immune response that can be translated into better diagnostic assays or used to validate diagnostics already in development.
Why is specimen-based work considered important in this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes that improving the ability to detect syphilis accurately and reliably is critical. Diagnostic performance can vary by stage of infection, and timely detection is central to interrupting transmission. Specimen resources and associated data can support diagnostic development and validation.
What does the network component focus on?
This component examines how sex networks and social networks among MSM may shape syphilis epidemics. It emphasizes understanding transmission as a network phenomenon by mapping and analyzing how people are connected through sexual partnerships and broader social ties, and how those connections may accelerate spread or sustain outbreaks.
Which population is explicitly highlighted in the network analysis component?
The network analysis component explicitly highlights men who have sex with men (MSM).
Why does the opportunity emphasize repeat syphilis infections?
Repeat infections can signal persistent exposure within a network, gaps in partner services, barriers to prevention and care, or structural factors that keep transmission ongoing even after someone has previously been diagnosed and treated. The program places specific emphasis on understanding this issue within networks.
What kinds of outcomes or deliverables is the CDC aiming for?
The opportunity aims for two complementary deliverables: (1) specimen resources and scientific insights that can directly improve diagnostic assay development and validation, and (2) a network-based understanding of transmission among MSM that can inform more targeted and effective prevention strategies.
How does this opportunity go beyond traditional case counting?
The stated intent is to move beyond simply counting cases toward explaining why outbreaks occur, why they persist in certain connected groups, and what tools and approaches can better detect infections and disrupt transmission pathways.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 23, 2016.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was November 30, 2016.
When were electronic submissions due, and in what time zone?
Electronic submissions were due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
How many awards did the CDC anticipate making?
The CDC anticipated making about four awards.
Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The posted award ceiling is listed as 0. This generally indicates applicants needed to consult the full announcement and related budget guidance rather than relying on a stated maximum in the summary field.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many public and nonprofit entities, such as state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified).
What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The eligibility listing includes an "Others" category with a note to see the funding announcement for additional clarification. This commonly indicates the CDC may allow certain public health partners or research organizations that do not fit neatly into standard categories, as detailed in the full announcement.
What is the practical public health intent behind combining epidemiology and microbiology?
By combining epidemiologic and microbiologic approaches, the CDC is aiming for findings that are practical for public health, including improved diagnostic development and a clearer understanding of transmission dynamics in priority populations.
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