Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiological Centers (RC-TEC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MD 21 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 21 003

The Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiological Centers (RC-TEC) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-21-003) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to establish a single, centralized resource center that strengthens the research and data science capabilities of Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs). The overall purpose is to boost the ability of TECs to conduct and support high-quality, culturally grounded health research and data work focused on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which typically means NIH will have substantial involvement in the project through collaboration, coordination, and ongoing guidance rather than acting only as a funder. Clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity, so the center is expected to focus on capacity-building, technical assistance, and infrastructure and methods support rather than running intervention trials.

The core activities envisioned for the RC-TEC revolve around providing targeted technical assistance and coordinated support to TECs. In practical terms, this can include strengthening data systems and governance practices, improving analytic and statistical capacity, expanding skills in epidemiology and data science, supporting the use of modern data methods and tools, and helping TECs improve the quality, consistency, and usability of health data relevant to AI/AN populations. Because this is a resource center model serving multiple TECs, the emphasis is on enabling and accelerating TEC-led work through shared expertise, training, consultation, tool development, and other forms of structured support that increase long-term capacity across the TEC network.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that specific category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity falls under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.307. The maximum award amount listed is $2,000,000 (award ceiling). The opportunity was created on August 9, 2021, and the original application closing date was November 30, 2021. The announcement indicates that NIH expected to make a single award, consistent with the goal of supporting one national resource center that can coordinate support and technical assistance for TECs in a unified way.

In short, RC-TEC is meant to function as an enabling backbone for the Tribal Epidemiology Centers: a centralized hub that helps TECs expand research readiness and data science capability so they can better generate, analyze, and use data to address health priorities in AI/AN populations, while keeping the work focused on capacity-building and support activities rather than clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiological Centers (RC-TEC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-30. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for RFA MD 21 003

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