Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Network (SSuN) Cycle 5 | CDC RFA PS 24 0082

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA PS 24 0082

The Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Network (SSuN) Cycle 5 funding opportunity is a CDC cooperative agreement (CDC-RFA-PS-24-0082) intended to strengthen and modernize STI surveillance in the context of a continuing national resurgence of STIs and the growing need to track related, overlapping epidemics. CDC is emphasizing a syndemic approach, meaning surveillance efforts should not look at STIs in isolation, but should intentionally integrate information related to HIV and other emerging or connected threats such as mpox, as well as issues like antimicrobial-resistant STIs. The overall aim is to support a coordinated network that can produce more complete, timely, and actionable data than what is typically available through routine case reporting alone, especially in areas where public health decision-making is limited by missing demographic, behavioral, clinical, and prevention-services information.

At its core, the NOFO funds two main (required) strategies and one optional supplemental strategy. Strategy A focuses on sentinel surveillance in STI or sexual health clinical facilities. In practical terms, this means collecting enhanced, standardized data from participating clinics to better understand who is coming in for care, what services they receive (including preventive services), what tests are performed, and what diagnoses are made. Strategy B focuses on enhanced case-based surveillance in community settings, built around deeper investigations of selected reported STI cases across all provider settings in defined geographic areas. This enhanced work is designed to capture details that routine reports often lack, such as more granular patient characteristics, behavioral risk information, and links to prevention and clinical services. Strategy C is a supplemental option for special surveillance projects that are of local or national interest, but it cannot stand alone; applicants must apply for at least one of the two core strategies (A and/or B). If an application proposes only Strategy C without also proposing Strategy A and/or B, CDC will treat it as non-responsive and it will not move forward for review.

A central feature of Cycle 5 is the requirement to integrate STI surveillance with HIV surveillance capacity in a concrete, operational way. Applicants must provide documentary evidence, such as a memorandum of understanding (MOU), memorandum of agreement (MOA), or a letter of support (LOS) from the jurisdiction's designated Overall Responsible Party (ORP) for HIV surveillance. CDC states that an MOU or MOA is preferred, but a letter of support is acceptable if there is not enough time to finalize a formal agreement. This documentation must clearly show that the applicant can collaborate with HIV surveillance and can match records by name between either (1) the STI clinic patient census and/or (2) reported gonorrhea and syphilis cases (all stages) and the jurisdiction's HIV case registry (eHARS or an equivalent system). Access to the HIV registry is described as critical for successfully carrying out Strategies A and/or B. The NOFO is explicit that failure to include this ORP documentation will result in the application being deemed non-responsive and not reviewed further. CDC also specifies an administrative detail: the signed document should be labeled "HIVORPMOA" and uploaded with the application in Grants.gov.

Programmatically, CDC is using this funding to build a geographically diverse network of health departments and an expanded set of clinical partners that can provide integrated, enhanced surveillance data capable of answering questions routine systems cannot. The network is meant to identify trends in patient characteristics, screening practices, diagnoses, and service delivery, with the practical goal of highlighting gaps and opportunities across the STI and HIV prevention and surveillance continuum. By improving the completeness and quality of surveillance data, CDC expects awardees to be better equipped to direct prevention resources, refine intervention strategies, and address STI/HIV-related health equity outcomes, especially in populations experiencing overlapping risks and disproportionate burdens.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning CDC will likely have substantial involvement in programmatic direction and expectations compared to a traditional grant. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.977 and is managed by CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP). The posting indicates an anticipated 30 awards and an original application closing date of May 15, 2024. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the summary data provided, which typically means the ceiling is not specified in that field rather than indicating no funding; applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for award ranges, budget periods, and other financial details.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted in the posting, but the NOFO reiterates a key statutory limitation: Sections 317 and 318 of the Public Health Service Act authorize funding to states, political subdivisions of states, and other public and nonprofit private entities, and do not authorize awards to for-profit entities. In other words, even if the portal summary appears broad, applicants should assume eligibility is effectively limited to governmental entities and qualifying nonprofit organizations consistent with that legal authority.

Overall, SSuN Cycle 5 is positioned as an enhanced surveillance investment that links clinic-based sentinel data and community case-based investigations with HIV registry matching, producing richer, syndemic-focused intelligence about STI transmission, prevention service access, and emerging threats such as mpox and antimicrobial resistance. The operational takeaway for applicants is that CDC wants real-world, implementable surveillance systems with strong cross-program collaboration, especially between STI and HIV surveillance, and it is enforcing that expectation through the ORP documentation requirement and the rule that Strategy C cannot be proposed without at least one core strategy.

• The Centers for Disease Control - NCHHSTP in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Network (SSuN) Cycle 5" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.977.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for CDC RFA PS 24 0082

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