Reducing the burden of parasitic infections in the United States through evidence-based prevention and control activities.

This federal financial assistance award, issued as a cooperative agreement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Department of Health and Human Services, seeks to reduce the burden of parasitic infections in the United States through evidence-based public health strategies. The solicitation, identified as CDC-RFA-CK-26-0221, targets organizations capable of implementing multi-activity programs in surveillance, education, prevention, and control of parasitic diseases, with a focus on Chagas disease, soil-transmitted helminths, and toxoplasmosis. Applicants must demonstrate a five-year phased approach encompassing program planning and capacity development, followed by evaluation, optimization, and sustainability of findings, with activities including feasibility assessments for congenital screening, community-based knowledge and practice evaluations, health communication material development, and establishment of routine monitoring protocols. Funding is allocated across three components—Chagas disease, soil-transmitted helminths, and general parasitic disease activities—with an estimated total program value of $23.75 million, distributed across up to 11 awards ranging from $1.25 million to $2.5 million per recipient over five years in 12-month budget periods. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by the deadline of July 17, 2026, and require full compliance with 2 CFR 200, the HHS Grants Policy Statement, and federal anti-discrimination laws. Mandatory submissions include the SF-424 and SF-424A forms, a project abstract (1 page), a detailed project narrative (20 pages), a budget narrative (no page limit), a project summary (1 page), a table of contents, an indirect cost agreement, resumes or job descriptions, an organizational chart, letters of support, and a report on funding overlap if applicable. All documents must adhere to strict formatting guidelines including Calibri 12-point font, single spacing, one-inch margins, and PDF format. Proposals will undergo a multi-stage evaluation process with pass/fail responsiveness criteria followed by merit review weighted by background and approach (40 points), evaluation and performance measurement (30 points), and organizational capacity (30 points). Recipients must maintain an active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier and comply with stringent financial reporting requirements, including annual Federal Financial Reports due 90 days after each budget period, performance reports due six months into the award and annually 120 days before each period end, and a final performance and financial report due