COPY OF Rapid Response to Ebola Viral Disease in West Africa through Strengthening of Surveillance Systems and Disruption of Chain of Transmission Interventions | CDC RFA GH15 16290201SUPP17

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH15 16290201SUPP17

This grant opportunity, titled "COPY OF Rapid Response to Ebola Viral Disease in West Africa through Strengthening of Surveillance Systems and Disruption of Chain of Transmission Interventions," is a CDC-funded cooperative agreement focused on helping Liberia strengthen its ability to detect, track, and stop Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) transmission. The background for the award is the severe impact of the West Africa Ebola outbreak on Liberia, which reported an estimated 8,278 total cases and 3,515 deaths as of January 10, 2015. The overall goal is to improve real-time surveillance and response capacity while also reinforcing laboratory systems and frontline infection control practices so that transmission chains can be identified quickly and interrupted.

A major pillar of the work is strengthening Ebola surveillance capacity at both local and national levels. The opportunity emphasizes training epidemiologists, not only to expand the workforce but to improve the quality and consistency of field investigation and reporting. In addition to training, the program supports placing or providing access to national-level epidemiologist subject matter experts who can directly assist county field teams. This is intended to sharpen outbreak detection and response, provide mentorship and technical direction during investigations, and ensure that surveillance activities follow sound epidemiologic methods. The grant also supports practical field readiness by covering logistical support, supplies, and equipment needed for county and other field epidemiology teams to conduct surveillance work effectively, which can include transportation support, communication tools, and other operational necessities that make rapid response feasible.

Another central component is laboratory system strengthening, with a particular focus on data and integration. The opportunity calls for assistance from a senior laboratory data specialist, signaling that reliable lab data management and reporting are considered essential to outbreak control. Funding is intended to support upgrades to laboratory data integration systems, which typically means improving how lab results are captured, transmitted, consolidated, and shared with surveillance teams and decision-makers. Alongside the data improvements, the opportunity includes provision of laboratory supplies, reagents, and equipment, addressing the practical constraints that often slow testing and confirmation during outbreaks. Together, these efforts aim to improve diagnostic capacity and shorten the time between specimen collection and actionable results, which directly supports faster case confirmation, contact tracing, and targeted public health interventions.

The grant also targets disruption of Ebola chains of transmission through active surveillance and facility-level assessment. It describes countrywide epidemiological active surveillance conducted at the county level, which implies a proactive approach rather than waiting for cases to present themselves. Active surveillance can include systematic case finding, monitoring of alerts, and structured follow-up in communities and facilities to catch potential cases early. Facility assessments across the country are another key activity, intended to identify gaps in infection prevention, triage, isolation capacity, and overall readiness to manage suspected cases safely. These assessments can guide corrective actions and resource prioritization, helping prevent healthcare settings from becoming amplification points for transmission.

Training and capacity building for infection control is a prominent operational focus. The opportunity specifically includes training health care workers and community health leaders in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC). WASH activities support safer care and community practices by reducing exposure risks associated with contaminated environments and inadequate hygiene infrastructure. IPC training is meant to improve adherence to safe practices in clinical and community settings, including proper use of protective measures, safe patient management, and procedures that reduce the risk of transmission. By including community health leaders, the program recognizes that controlling Ebola is not only a clinical task but also depends on trusted local actors who can reinforce prevention behaviors, encourage timely reporting, and support community-level engagement.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically through CDC CGH, and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency, meaning CDC would likely provide ongoing technical collaboration, guidance, and oversight as the recipient implements activities. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.318 and anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1). The posting indicates an original closing date of June 26, 2017, with electronic applications due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which generally suggests the specific maximum funding amount was not stated in the excerpted listing or may have been determined through other documentation or negotiation tied to the supplemental or cooperative nature of the award. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced but not included in the provided text.

In practical terms, the opportunity is designed to rapidly bolster Liberia's outbreak readiness by investing in the people, systems, and tools required to find cases faster, confirm them accurately, and respond in a way that stops further spread. It ties together field epidemiology capacity, laboratory data and supplies, facility readiness assessments, active surveillance, and WASH/IPC training as mutually reinforcing interventions aimed at reducing transmission risk and improving national preparedness for Ebola flare-ups or similar public health emergencies.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "COPY OF Rapid Response to Ebola Viral Disease in West Africa through Strengthening of Surveillance Systems and Disruption of Chain of Transmission Interventions" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.318.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 24, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 2017 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 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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