APHL is a non-profit membership organization that works to safeguard the public's health by strengthening laboratory systems in the United States and globally. APHL is organized under the laws of the District of Columbia, with its headquarters office in Silver Spring, MD. APHL's members include state and local laboratories, state environmental and agricultural laboratories, and other governmental laboratories that conduct public health testing. APHL is recognized as tax exempt in the United States under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Its work on behalf of public health laboratories spans more than 60 years.
APHL, with funding support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to offer funds to one to two (1-2) state, local or territorial APHL member laboratories to initiate or enhance wastewater surveillance projects in the selected applicant's jurisdiction.
Background
Wastewater surveillance is a valuable tool that laboratories can use to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging and unknown pathogens to help inform their jurisdiction's outbreak response. APHL, alongside our CDC partners, recognizes that investment in wastewater surveillance capability and capacity strengthens the national environmental health laboratory network and supports their involvement in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. This funding opportunity provides resources to member laboratories to advance wastewater surveillance efforts through direct procurement or sub-awards.
Eligibility
State, local, or territorial laboratories are eligible to submit proposals. Interested parties must submit a proposal to APHL that provides all the information specified in the Proposal Requirements section below. To be considered, complete proposals must be submitted no later than the Proposed Due Date specified in the Anticipated RFP Schedule section below. Applicants will find proposal submission information in the Response Submittal section below.
Anticipated RFP Schedule
Applications are to be emailed to
eh@aphl.org by
Wednesday May 5, 2021, 5:00 PM ET. APHL anticipates the following schedule for the entire competitive bidding process:
Monday, April 5, 2021 | RFP Issued to aphl.org/rfp (APHL Procurement Site) |
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | Complete proposals due to
eh@aphl.org by 5:00 PM ET |
Monday, May 12, 2021 | Proposal Review and Follow-Up Completed |
Wednesday, May 18, 2021 | APHL will notify candidate(s) of selection decision |
Wednesday, May 18, 2021 | Selected applicant(s) posted to
aphl.org/rfp |
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | Submit proof of purchase and reimbursement request to APHL |
APHL will communicate any modification to this schedule on
www.aphl.org/rfp, APHL's procurement site.
Materials
The Official RFP Document will provide detailed information in regards to this request, please read it on its entirety.
Response Submittal
APHL must receive complete responses by
no later than 5:00 pm ET on Wednesday, May 5 2021. Applicants must send responses via email to
eh@aphl.org with a copy to Erin Morin, Associate Specialist, Environmental Health (erin.morin@aphl.org; 240-485-3830).
Email subject lines must include: 'WWSRFP Submission'.
APHL will send an email to each applicant acknowledging the receipt of their application. Any applicant who does not receive an email acknowledgement within 48 hours of the Final Response Deadline should email the RFP points of contact above to confirm receipt.
Questions
Please direct all questions regarding this RFP or its requirements to Erin Morin, Associate Specialist, Environmental Health (erin.morin@aphl.org; 240-485-3830).
Questions and Answers
The following is a list of questions APHL has received regarding the “Funding to Develop or Enhance Wastewater Surveillance Capability and Capacity in Environmental Health Laboratories” announcement. It will be updated weekly, as needed. If you have any other questions, please email
erin.morin@aphl.org.
Is the “Funding to Develop or Enhance Wastewater Surveillance Capability and Capacity in Environmental Health Laboratories” in addition to the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Grant?
A: This funding opportunity is a small ($30K total funding) one-time award available to APHL member laboratories for equipment, supplies and services related to SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance. This funding will be available in May 2021 and will need to be spent by June 30, 2021. This is separate and distinct from the ELC funding available directly from CDC. APHL strongly encourages you to work with your public health program partners to develop your ELC proposal. If your laboratory would benefit from additional resources this spring to augment your wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 activities, then this APHL funding may be a good option.
Can the deadline for applications be changed?
A: The timeline set forth in the RFP cannot be changed. It aligns with APHL’s legal processes and provides funding that must be spent by June 30, 2021.
Are the funds from this award allowed to be used on equipment?
A: The purchase of equipment falls within the scope of this funding opportunity, as long as it can be used for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance.
Do purchases made using these funds have to be used for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance?
A: All purchases must be related to SARS-CoV-2 testing in wastewater. However, if instruments, equipment or supplies purchased for SARS Co-V-2 testing are also useful for another wastewater surveillance application; they may also be used for that purpose.
*This project was 100% funded with federal funds from a federal program of $9,700,000. This project (#NU60OE000103) is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit https://www.aphl.org/rfp.