USAID Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness RFP: Strengthening Laboratory Systems and Supply Chains in Africa

The USAID Global Health Security RFP represents a flagship initiative to bolster pandemic preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a budget of $50 million over five years, it targets improvements in laboratory diagnostic capacity, disease surveillance, and health supply chains, crucial for detecting and containing infectious disease threats. Aligned with the Global Health Security Agenda and the U.S. National Biodefense Strategy, the RFP emphasizes local capacity building, innovation, gender integration, and climate adaptation. Applicants must propose multi-country interventions in up to five vulnerable states, demonstrating measurable outcomes such as increased lab accreditation and reduced transport times. The deadline for concept papers is June 15, 2026, with full proposals due August 1, 2026.

This funding is intended for international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector firms with proven experience in global health security, laboratory strengthening, and supply chain management. Eligible applicants must have a valid System for Award Management (SAM) registration and be compliant with USAID's mandatory standard provisions. Organizations must demonstrate a track record of implementing USAID-funded programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in conflict-affected or fragile states. The RFP encourages consortia that include local sub-grantees, as USAID emphasizes local capacity building and sustainability. Applicants must have a minimum annual operating budget of $10 million and at least five years of experience in health systems strengthening. For academic institutions, proven research-to-practice translation and experience with laboratory accreditation processes (e.g., ISO 15189) are essential. Private sector firms must demonstrate technical expertise in cold chain logistics, health information systems, and procurement management. Organizations with a strong Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) department and experience using USAID's standard indicators are preferred. Faith-based organizations and community-based groups are eligible if they can demonstrate the technical capacity to implement large-scale, multi-country programs. All applicants must submit organizational capability statements and audit reports for the past three fiscal years. Special consideration will be given to women-led organizations and those with a proven commitment to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).

USAID's global health security priorities include strengthening laboratory networks, enhancing disease surveillance, improving supply chain resilience, and building workforce capacity. Specific KPIs for this RFP include: (1) increasing the number of laboratories achieving WHO-accredited standards by 30% within year three; (2) reducing specimen transport time from collection to testing by 50% in target provinces; (3) decreasing stockout rates for essential diagnostics and therapeutics to below 2%; (4) training at least 5,000 healthcare workers in infection prevention and control (IPC) and biosafety; and (5) establishing functional public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs) in at least five countries. The donor also prioritizes cross-sectoral collaboration, including partnerships with ministries of health, national public health institutes, and regional bodies such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Integration with existing platforms, such as the Global Fund grants and the World Bank's Pandemic Fund, is highly encouraged. The RFP specifically calls for innovations in digital health, including the use of mobile platforms for real-time surveillance and AI-driven predictive analytics for supply chain management. Gender-sensitive approaches are required, including targeted interventions for women and girls in laboratory workforce development and community engagement. Additionally, the program must incorporate climate-resilient infrastructure, such as solar-powered cold chain equipment, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and ensure continuity during climate-related disruptions. USAID expects all proposals to align with the GHSA's 2025 targets and contribute to the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW 13) goals.

Eligible entities must be legally registered in their country of origin and in the target countries of implementation. All applicants must have a DUNS number and be registered in SAM.gov. Non-profit organizations must provide evidence of tax-exempt status. For-profit firms must comply with USAID's profit policy and submit a detailed budget and cost-sharing plan. Organizations must demonstrate financial stability with audited financial statements for the last three years, showing no material weaknesses in internal controls. Past performance on USAID awards must be satisfactory, with no significant compliance issues. Ineligible entities include those with active debarment or suspension, those on the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, and organizations that do not adhere to U.S. anti-terrorism certification requirements. Additionally, USAID prohibits awards to entities that have been involved in trafficking in persons or that fail to maintain a safe and respectful work environment. For consortia, the lead applicant must meet all eligibility criteria, while sub-grantees may be exempt from certain requirements if they are local organizations with limited capacity. However, the lead applicant assumes responsibility for ensuring compliance of all consortium members. USAID also encourages participation from new partners, including local organizations that have not previously received USAID funding, provided they can demonstrate sufficient fiduciary capacity through a pre-award survey. All applicants must submit a completed USAID Form 424-B and a detailed budget narrative in accordance with USAID's ADS 303 guidelines.

1. **Strategic Alignment & Team Assembly**: Form a consortium comprising an international NGO with health systems expertise, a local organization with strong community ties, and a supply chain specialist (e.g., a private logistics firm). Ensure the team includes subject matter experts in laboratory accreditation, disease surveillance, and procurement. 2. **Comprehensive Needs Assessment & Proposal Development**: Conduct a rapid needs assessment in target countries using the WHO JEE tool to identify gaps in laboratory and supply chain capacity. Develop a theory of change linking inputs to measurable outcomes (e.g., reduced time to detect outbreaks). Use structured data to demonstrate feasibility. 3. **Capacity Building Framework**: Integrate GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'Procurement & Supply Chain' modules to train local teams on outbreak investigation, surveillance data analysis, supply chain optimization, and cold chain management. This ensures institutional readiness and compliance with donor requirements. 4. **M&E and Sustainability Planning**: Develop a MEL plan with baselines, mid-term targets, and final evaluation metrics. Include a sustainability roadmap that transitions program assets and knowledge to local health authorities by year five. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation' course to train staff on data collection and reporting systems. 5. **Budgeting and Compliance**: Prepare a detailed budget consistent with USAID's cost principles (2 CFR 200). Include cost-sharing from consortium members to demonstrate buy-in. Ensure all documentation (audits, SAM registration, anti-terrorism certification) is current. Submit the concept paper by June 15, 2026, and full proposal by August 1, 2026.