Strengthening global health security in India to contain public health threats and accelerate outbreak response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Health Center has issued Notice of Funding Opportunity CDC-RFA-JG-26-0051 to strengthen global health security in India. This five-year cooperative agreement aims to advance Global Health Security Agenda priorities by supporting district, state, and national public health systems through a One Health approach. The program focuses on five critical areas: public health workforce development, disease surveillance, laboratory systems strengthening (including biosafety and biosecurity), emergency preparedness and response, and the prevention of antimicrobial resistance. A primary goal is to transition CDC-supported initiatives to Indian government institutions, such as the National Centre for Disease Control and the Indian Council of Medical Research, to ensure long-term capacity to contain infectious disease threats in alignment with International Health Regulations. The funding structure includes a core component with an expected Year 1 funding of $3,000,000, alongside two additional components for rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks: a small-scale response component with a $5,000,000 ceiling and a large-scale response component with a $10,000,000 ceiling. These emergency components may be designated as approved but unfunded until a public health emergency necessitates their use. Applications are due by October 2, 2026, with an anticipated award start date of October 30, 2026. Recipients are required to submit detailed Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plans and Data Management Plans within the first six months of the award. Evaluation is based on a 100-point scoring system, with organizational capacity accounting for 35 points. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier and may submit only one application per organization.