Enhancing sustainable health information and laboratory systems and networks for quality detection, management, and monitoring to end HIV and TB as public health threats in India

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a cooperative agreement opportunity titled “Enhancing sustainable health information and laboratory systems and networks for quality detection, management, and monitoring to end HIV and TB as public health threats in India.” This opportunity is part of the CDC’s broader efforts to combat global public health challenges, aligning with the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) to strengthen international health systems, particularly in partnership with national health bodies. The targeted implementation is in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), and other national institutions focused on HIV and tuberculosis (TB) response. The program is designed to bolster innovative, cost-effective, and quality-assured laboratory services for diseases such as HIV and TB, while also contributing to broader health system resilience. Activities under this grant will enhance early disease detection, improve service delivery, and expand surveillance infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on integrating national data systems and improving laboratory network efficiency to enable better monitoring of disease transmission and drug resistance patterns. The ultimate objective is to establish sustainable systems that not only address HIV and TB but also strengthen readiness for other emerging infectious diseases. Applicants are expected to focus on optimizing laboratory systems and health information networks, reinforce biosafety protocols, and deploy new diagnostic technologies that contribute to long-term disease containment goals. Furthermore, strengthening human resources to effectively gather, analyze, and apply public health data is a priority. This will support data-driven decision-making, improve patient care outcomes, and help monitor epidemiological trends. Support for molecular diagnostics and advanced epidemiological techniques is also encouraged, especially to track the dynamics of HIV and TB co-infections. While specific use-of-funds restrictions are not detailed in this forecast notice, the scope includes substantial system and network-level interventions in India, primarily through technical assistance and operational support. The cooperative agreement mechanism indicates a significant level of involvement by CDC in implementing and monitoring funded activities. A total estimated fiscal year funding amount of $6,000,000 is anticipated for the first year, although specific award ceilings and floors are not yet defined in the forecast. The number of anticipated awards is two, suggesting a competitive selection process among qualified applicants. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, encompassing a wide range of organizations, including U.S.-based and international nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, and private sector entities. Applicants must prepare to submit electronic proposals through Grants.gov, with the estimated application due date set for June 12, 2026. The application must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on that date. While there is no indication of a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent, applicants should monitor the Grants.gov listing for updates. The estimated project start date is September 30, 2026, aligning with the estimated award notification timeline. This program is marked as recurring, suggesting annual funding cycles or opportunities to reapply in subsequent years. For further inquiries, the primary contact is the DGHT NOFOs inbox at [email protected]. As this is currently a forecasted opportunity, interested applicants should prepare for an anticipated post date of April 10, 2026, and continue monitoring updates for the release of a full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).