Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement | CDC RFA OT18 1803

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA OT18 1803

The Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement is a CDC funding opportunity designed to strengthen the public health infrastructure and overall performance of tribal public health systems in Indian Country. It is set up as a cooperative agreement, meaning CDC expects an active partnership with awardees rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The central focus is helping federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations, along with eligible regional tribally designated organizations, build the underlying capabilities that make public health programs work well over time: solid administrative and operational systems, a trained and stable workforce, better tribal data and information systems (including surveillance), and the ability to develop, adapt, and sustain interventions that are evidence-based or evidence-informed while still fitting local culture, context, and community priorities.

The opportunity emphasizes long-term sustainability of the collective tribal public health system, not just short-term projects. Funding is meant to support practical improvements that increase a department or program's capacity to deliver essential public health services more consistently and effectively. This includes strengthening internal processes and tools that improve how public health programs are planned, managed, evaluated, and continuously improved. Workforce development is also a core theme, with attention to building and using both core public health competencies and discipline-specific skills so that staff can respond to routine needs and emerging threats. Another major emphasis is improving the collection, maintenance, interpretation, and sharing of tribal health data, recognizing that strong data systems are necessary for monitoring community health, identifying disparities, guiding decisions, and demonstrating results.

CDC frames success in terms of five ultimate outcomes: reducing illness and death among AI/AN populations; increasing the ability of Indian Country to identify, respond to, and lessen public health threats; improving workforce capacity to deliver essential services; increasing culturally appropriate, practice-based evidence programs and policies that are effective and sustainable; and improving the ability of tribal public health systems to work collaboratively and strategically to address AI/AN health needs and advance health equity. Rather than requiring every funded program to accomplish everything at once, applicants are expected to show measurable progress toward at least two or more capacity-building outcomes. These outcomes include implementing tools and processes that increase operational effectiveness; increasing use of recognized public health competencies among workers; strengthening tribal health data systems and dissemination practices; translating evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches into culturally appropriate programs, policies, and services; developing culturally relevant resources and communication tools; building or formalizing multi-sector partnerships (for example with schools, healthcare, public safety, or commerce) to support capacity building and quality improvement; increasing use of nationally established standards such as public health department accreditation standards; increasing the number of qualified public health workers; implementing culturally grounded practice-based evidence programs and services; and improving coordination across sectors to generate collective public health impact.

Administratively, the program is listed as CDC RFA OT18-1803 under CFDA 93.772, offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through OSTLTS. The opportunity category is discretionary and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations (with additional eligibility details referenced in the original announcement). The award ceiling is $500,000, with an anticipated 25 awards. The notice was created on February 23, 2018, with an original closing date of April 24, 2018, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. EDT on the due date. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an investment in the foundational systems, people, partnerships, and culturally grounded approaches that allow tribal public health to function effectively, respond to threats, and improve health outcomes over the long term.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - OSTLTS in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Umbrella Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.772.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 23, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2018 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., EDT, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for CDC RFA OT18 1803

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