Strengthening public health efforts to protect and improve health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

This solicitation, CDC-RFA-JG-26-0044, seeks to strengthen public health systems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a five-year cooperative agreement aimed at advancing global health security. The initiative focuses on three core outcomes: preventing avoidable epidemics from natural or intentional pathogen releases, enhancing early detection and characterization of emerging public health threats, and building rapid, effective response capacity to infectious diseases of international concern. Proposed activities must align with the International Health Regulations and Joint External Evaluation frameworks, integrate with the DRC’s Ministry of Health and other government institutions, and emphasize surveillance system strengthening, workforce development, emergency logistics, and data management. The funding structure includes a base component with a ceiling of $2.5 million for core activities and three additional approved but unfunded components with combined ceilings of up to $25 million, contingent on emergencies and future appropriations. The project period begins September 30, 2026, and extends through September 30, 2031, with annual budget cycles subject to performance review and funding availability. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by August 15, 2026, and adhere to strict formatting guidelines including a one-page project summary, a sixty-page narrative, and up to ninety pages of supporting attachments, all in English and U.S. dollars. Proposers are required to submit comprehensive documentation including resumes of key personnel, organizational charts, financial capability statements, indirect cost agreements, and a report on funding overlap, ensuring transparency and capacity. Evaluation is merit-based, weighted 40 points for background and approach, 35 points for evaluation and performance measurement plans, and 25 points for organizational capacity, with no cost or price consideration in the scoring. Critical special requirements include a cybersecurity plan to protect personally identifiable health data, adherence to CDC values to prevent organizational conflicts of interest, and active CDC oversight of personnel and subrecipient selection. The UEI through SAM.gov is mandatory for eligibility, though socioeconomic certifications are not required. Performance is measured against quantifiable indicators, and final reporting is due 120 days after the five-year period ends, with no option for physical delivery or FOB terms as the engagement is purely programmatic and service-oriented.