The US Travelers Health Research, Surveillance, Communication, and Outreach Network (RFA-CK-26-036) is a Notice of Funding Opportunity issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect U.S. residents traveling internationally by improving access to timely health information before, during, and after travel.

Overview

This funding opportunity supports the efforts of the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration Health. The goal is to assist U.S. travelers with pre-travel preparation and provide access to timely health information and research on health conditions while traveling. The project will improve access to high-quality travel preparation information for healthcare providers and travelers. It also aims to collect health information before, during, and after travel through innovative electronic medical record (EMR), web, and mobile phone applications. The network will build on this platform to conduct timely research on emerging health threats, including the enrollment of prospective cohorts.

Funding and Benefits

• Funding Type: Cooperative agreement
• Period of Performance: 5 years in 12-month budget periods
• Expected Total Program Funding: $5,000,000 over the performance period
• Expected Funding per Applicant per Budget Period: $1,000,000
• Maximum Award Amount per Budget Period: $1,000,000
• Minimum Award Amount per Budget Period: $750,000
• Expected Number of Awards: 1 (subject to available funds and program priorities)

Eligibility

Only the following types of organizations may apply:

• 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 and Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations, other than federally recognized tribal governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Bona fide agents applying on behalf of state, territorial, local, and tribal government organizations (must submit documentation demonstrating their arrangement with the eligible applicant)

Each institution may submit only one application and must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Applications that request a budget amount exceeding the ceiling of $1,000,000 per year or a total budget of $5,000,000 will not be considered. The Research Strategy must not exceed 12 pages.

Key Dates and Timeline

• Application Submission Deadline: November 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time)
• Required Letter of Intent Deadline: September 15, 2026
• Expected Scientific Review Dates: December 15, 2026
• Expected Secondary Review Dates: January 12, 2027
• Expected Award Date: September 1, 2027
• Expected Start Date: September 30, 2027
• Expiration Date: December 7, 2026

Application Process

Applicants should secure or verify active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations well in advance of the deadline. An active SAM.gov account, including a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), is required. A Grants.gov registration, which requires a Login.gov registration, is also necessary.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 5, 2026.

Contact Information

• Scientific and Research: Brian York, Ph.D., Scientific Program Officer, (404) 639-7094, RYork@cdc.gov
• Scientific Merit Review: Seraphine Pitt Barnes, PhD, MPH, CHES, Scientific Review Officer, (770) 488-6115, SPittBarnes@cdc.gov
• Grants Management: Sharon Cassell, Grants Management Officer, (770) 488-2703, ZPR0@cdc.gov

For system support, contact Grants.gov (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov) or SAM.gov (866-606-8220 or live chat with the Federal Service Desk). For eRA Commons assistance, contact the eRA Commons Help Desk at 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (TTY 301-451-5939), or email commons@od.nih.gov.