Adult Vaccination Coverage Level

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), through its Office of Performance Management, has issued a funding opportunity under the Adult Vaccination Coverage Level (AVCL) Grant program. The initiative aims to improve adult immunization rates across Illinois by addressing vaccine access, awareness, and equity. The grant supports community-level interventions to increase uptake of recommended vaccines among adults, particularly focusing on populations at higher risk or those in regions with historically low vaccination coverage. By leveraging partnerships with community-based organizations and healthcare entities, IDPH seeks to expand the reach and effectiveness of adult immunization efforts throughout the state. The grant encourages strategies that promote provider engagement in immunization programs, deliver educational materials to healthcare professionals, and conduct media campaigns targeting the general public. Successful applicants are expected to identify and serve specific communities or geographic clusters outside of Chicago, chosen based on indicators such as low vaccination rates, high exemption levels, or increased incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Each grantee must tailor its approach to include evidence-based practices, such as provider education, public outreach, and system enhancements that facilitate timely adult vaccinations. Funding may be allocated to a variety of allowable uses including personnel, travel, supplies, contractual services, training, and communications. Equipment and out-of-state travel are permitted with prior approval. Grantees must receive authorization for any materials funded by the grant before public release, ensuring alignment with IDPH messaging and standards. However, the grant explicitly prohibits funding for clinical care, research, vaccines themselves, or lobbying activities. Grantees are expected to submit regular reports and engage in periodic check-ins with IDPH staff to assess progress. Eligibility for this grant is limited to governmental agencies or tax-exempt organizations with demonstrated experience in public health programming, including community health education or direct service delivery in the identified target regions. Applicants must complete registration and prequalification through the Illinois GATA system, hold an active SAM registration, and maintain compliance with applicable fiscal and legal requirements. Applicants must not appear on any sanction or exclusion lists maintained by Illinois or federal authorities. Applications must be submitted electronically through the IDPH's EGrAMS system. The open date for applications is April 1, 2026, and all materials must be submitted no later than 4:00 PM Central Time on May 1, 2026. A technical assistance webinar will be held on April 8, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM to provide guidance on the application process, though attendance is not mandatory. The application must be validated, certified, and submitted through the portal to be considered complete. The program anticipates making four awards with a total funding pool of up to $600,000. The estimated award range for each grantee is $75,000 to $200,000, with indirect costs permitted. Notification of award is expected by June 15, 2026, and the program start date is scheduled for July 1, 2026, continuing through June 30, 2027. This is a competitive opportunity and will be evaluated based on a combination of organizational capacity, work plan detail, and budget justifications. Applications will be reviewed by teams of at least three individuals, with appeals allowed only for the process of review and not for the resulting scores or funding decisions.

Use SMART objectives; clearly define target geographies; ensure indirect cost election via centralized system.