Enhancing the Ability of Emergency Medical Services to Transfer Patients with Confirmed or Suspected High Consequence Infectious Diseases | EP IDS 16 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for EP IDS 16 004

This grant opportunity, titled "Enhancing the Ability of Emergency Medical Services to Transfer Patients with Confirmed or Suspected High Consequence Infectious Diseases" (Funding Opportunity Number EP IDS 16 004), was created in response to gaps identified during the 2014 to 2016 Ebola crisis. After the unprecedented West Africa outbreak and the subsequent transport and treatment of Ebola patients in the United States, federal, state, and local partners recognized that moving a patient with a suspected or confirmed high consequence infectious disease (HCID) is one of the most complex and risk-sensitive parts of the overall response. Congress provided emergency appropriations and directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to build a regional strategy for Ebola and similar threats, leading to a national, tiered treatment network supported by the Hospital Preparedness Program and aligned with CDC guidance.

The broader context for this funding is the nationwide tiered approach to special pathogen readiness. Under this model, care is organized across several levels of facilities: a small number of regional special pathogen treatment centers (up to ten, generally one in each HHS region) with enhanced capability to manage confirmed cases; state or jurisdiction-designated Ebola Treatment Centers able to safely provide care as needed; Ebola assessment hospitals that can receive, isolate, and care for a person under investigation until diagnosis is confirmed or ruled out and transfer or discharge occurs; and frontline healthcare facilities responsible for rapid identification, initial triage, isolation, and coordination of transfer. The effectiveness of this system depends heavily on safe, timely, and standardized patient movement between these layers, which is where emergency medical services (EMS), particularly ground ambulance resources, become essential.

The purpose of this award is narrowly focused: to strengthen the ability of state and local EMS systems to safely and effectively transport patients with confirmed or suspected HCIDs (Ebola being the key example highlighted) using local ground ambulance assets. Rather than purchasing broad hospital preparedness capacity, the emphasis is on the practical mechanics of transport readiness across jurisdictions, including planning, evaluation, and a clear understanding of current capability levels. The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) expects active involvement and collaboration during the project period rather than simply providing funds with minimal federal interaction.

The project lists three primary deliverables. First, the awardee must develop a State EMS High Consequence Infectious Disease Transport Plan Template, using an evidence-based approach where possible and relying on interdisciplinary expert input where evidence is limited. This template is meant to give states a consistent, actionable structure for building or improving their EMS transport plans for HCIDs, addressing the kinds of operational issues that determine whether a transfer can be performed safely. Second, the awardee must develop exercises that states and local partners can use to evaluate HCID transport performance. This implies practical drills or exercise modules that test decision-making, communications, personal protective equipment procedures, vehicle preparation, infection control practices, coordination with sending and receiving facilities, and other transport-related tasks. Third, the awardee must conduct an assessment of each state’s capacity and capabilities for ground transportation of HCID patients, creating a clearer national picture of readiness, gaps, and variation across EMS systems.

Key administrative details reinforce that this is a single-recipient, non-research preparedness initiative. ASPR planned one award, with an expected award count of 1 and an award ceiling of $350,000. The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement under the disaster prevention and relief activity category (CFDA 93.878). While the general eligibility language references certain nonprofit entities, the announcement explicitly states that the only eligible awardee is the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), making this a sole-source style funding opportunity intended to leverage NASEMSO’s national role coordinating state EMS leadership and standard-setting efforts. The closing date listed for applications was 2016-08-09, and the opportunity was created on 2016-05-31.

Finally, the notice makes clear that the work must be non-research. The funding is administered through ASPR’s Division of Health System Policy, and any application proposing research activities would not be reviewed. In practical terms, the government is paying for implementation-oriented products: a usable planning template, transport-focused evaluation exercises, and a state-by-state capability assessment that supports real-world preparedness and improves the country’s ability to move high-risk infectious patients safely within the tiered special pathogen care network.

• The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhancing the Ability of Emergency Medical Services to Transfer Patients with Confirmed or Suspected High Consequence Infectious Diseases" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.878.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-09. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for EP IDS 16 004

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