Strengthening Laboratory Systems to Establish Routine Laboratory based surveillance for Priority Infectious Diseases in India | CDC RFA GH20 2095

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2095

The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Laboratory Systems to Establish Routine Laboratory based surveillance for Priority Infectious Diseases in India" (Funding Opportunity Number: CDC RFA GH20 2095) is a U.S. CDC-led cooperative agreement designed to improve how India detects, confirms, and tracks priority infectious diseases through stronger laboratory systems. The central aim is to move beyond ad hoc or outbreak-only testing and instead build reliable, routine laboratory-based surveillance that can consistently generate high-quality data and quickly support public health action. A major emphasis is also placed on improving laboratory confirmation during outbreaks, so that suspected events can be verified rapidly and accurately, supporting timely containment and response.

The scope of work focuses on strengthening two closely linked areas: laboratory-based surveillance capacity and specimen referral systems. In practical terms, this includes helping laboratories and health partners set up or expand routine testing and reporting workflows for priority infectious diseases, and ensuring specimens can be safely and efficiently transported between facilities when confirmatory testing or specialized diagnostics are needed. The opportunity explicitly highlights engagement with both the human and veterinary sectors, reflecting a One Health approach where animal and human health stakeholders coordinate, particularly important for zoonotic diseases and emerging threats.

A key implementation strategy described in the notice is convening advocacy, consultation, and strategic planning meetings with a mix of national and international stakeholders. These meetings are meant to align priorities, clarify roles, and develop workable plans that fit India’s surveillance and laboratory landscape. Alongside planning and coordination, the grant supports hands-on training for routine laboratory-based surveillance, including follow-up activities to reinforce adoption and consistent use of what is taught. The intent is not just one-time training, but training paired with continued support so that systems actually become routine and sustainable rather than remaining pilot activities.

Another major pillar is laboratory safety and specimen transport readiness. The opportunity specifies training identified laboratories in biorisk management and in safe packaging and referral of specimens following IATA-DGR (International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations). This matters because safe handling and compliant shipping procedures reduce risks to staff and communities, prevent specimen leakage or degradation, and make it more feasible to move infectious or potentially infectious materials across regions for confirmatory testing. By building competence in biorisk management and regulated transport, the program aims to remove a common bottleneck in surveillance systems: the inability to move specimens safely and legally to reference laboratories.

From an administrative standpoint, this is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning CDC is expected to have substantial involvement in the project’s design, execution, or oversight compared to a more hands-off grant. The funding activity category is health (CFDA/Assistance Listing number 93.318). The listing shows an expected single award, indicating the program likely intended to fund one main implementing partner or lead organization to coordinate activities. The posted award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which typically means the ceiling was not specified in that particular listing snapshot rather than indicating no funding.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities, such as various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other applicants as clarified in the full notice. The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (specifically CDC’s Center for Global Health). The notice record indicates a creation date of February 27, 2020, with an original application closing date of April 27, 2020, and electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a systems-strengthening effort focused on making infectious disease surveillance more routine, more laboratory-confirmed, and more operationally connected across sites through dependable specimen referral. It pairs coordination and stakeholder planning with practical technical training, and it places strong weight on biosafety and compliant transport standards, which are foundational requirements for a functioning national surveillance network that can detect threats early and respond effectively.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Laboratory Systems to Establish Routine Laboratory based surveillance for Priority Infectious Diseases in India" 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 Feb 27, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 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: 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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