Advancing Population-Based Surveillance of Birth Defects | CDC RFA DD21 2101

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA DD21 2101

The grant opportunity "Advancing Population-Based Surveillance of Birth Defects" (NOFO CDC-RFA-DD21-2101) is a CDC cooperative agreement designed to modernize and strengthen existing birth defects surveillance programs so they can respond faster and more effectively to emerging threats affecting pregnant people, infants, and families. The focus is not on conducting research studies, but on building and improving the day-to-day public health infrastructure needed to find birth defects cases accurately, track trends over time, and use the resulting information to reduce illness and death and improve outcomes for affected children. The program is positioned as a preparedness activity as well, meaning surveillance systems should be able to pivot quickly when new risks appear, rather than relying on slow, manual, or fragmented processes.

The CDC frames the need for this funding around the major public health impact of birth defects in the United States. Birth defects are described as a leading cause of infant mortality and a driver of long-term disability and high health care spending. The notice highlights that birth defects affect about 1 in 33 babies, contribute to more than one-fifth of infant deaths, and generate roughly $2.6 billion per year in hospital costs alone. The opportunity is also rooted in federal public health direction: the Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1998 instructed CDC to support programs that collect birth defects data and provide prevention information to the public. From CDC's perspective, strong surveillance is the first essential step because prevention and response strategies depend on timely, accurate, and complete case identification and analysis.

A central theme of the opportunity is that surveillance programs must evolve due to changing risks and changing health care data systems. The Zika virus outbreak is used as a clear example of why more timely and responsive surveillance is needed, particularly at state and territorial health departments, which are often on the front lines of detecting changes in birth defects patterns during an emergency. At the same time, the widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and the ability to exchange health data electronically through interoperability standards (the notice specifically references HL7) is changing how public health can receive and manage information. The grant is meant to help programs take advantage of these newer capabilities so surveillance is more automated, more consistent, and less dependent on slow manual abstraction alone.

The work is organized into three components, with Component A serving as the core set of activities. Component A is expected to make 8 to 12 awards and focuses on improving overall surveillance capacity and data quality, strengthening understanding of birth defects epidemiology, supporting primary and secondary prevention, and evaluating and sharing what works. In practical terms, this component is about making surveillance systems more complete, more accurate, and more useful for action, including identifying disparities and the mechanisms that contribute to unequal outcomes across populations. Recipients are expected not only to improve their systems but also to evaluate their improvements and disseminate findings so lessons learned can be applied more broadly.

Applicants to Component A may optionally apply for Component B and/or Component C, depending on their readiness and priorities. Component B is more specialized and limited (1 to 2 awards) and is aimed at developing interoperability between birth defects surveillance systems and EHRs. This is essentially the "health IT" modernization piece: building the technical and operational capacity to exchange data electronically with clinical partners, using standards-based approaches, so case finding and reporting can be faster and more scalable. Component C (4 to 12 awards) focuses on linking critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) screening results with birth defects surveillance data, helping programs connect newborn screening-related information with surveillance records for a fuller picture of detection, follow-up, and outcomes.

Across these components, CDC expects recipients to report individual-level birth defects data and/or CCHD data to CDC, which supports national monitoring, consistency, and the ability to detect broader patterns. The opportunity is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, specifically the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). The stated performance goal is to enhance the quality and utility of birth defects surveillance systems, which captures the overall intent: improve the underlying data systems and processes so public health can detect problems sooner, understand disparities better, and translate surveillance information into improved health outcomes.

In terms of basic funding and administrative details, this is a discretionary cooperative agreement (meaning CDC will have substantial involvement compared with a simpler grant mechanism). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.073, with an award ceiling of $325,000 and an expected total of about 10 awards. Eligibility is broad and includes state, local, tribal, and territorial entities; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations; and small businesses, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The original posting information notes an application due date of December 8, 2020, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - NCBDDD in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Population-Based Surveillance of Birth Defects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.073.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 05, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 08, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, 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 $325,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for CDC RFA DD21 2101

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