Reading a CDC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is a formal announcement that federal funding is available. Applicants should follow the detailed instructions in the NOFO and in the application guide carefully.

How a CDC NOFO is organized

CDC's NOFOs generally follow the structure below, though it can vary with the project and the announcement.

Part 1: Overview

• the funding mechanism — a grant or a cooperative agreement
• the NOFO's title and number
• key dates, such as a pre-application deadline, the application deadline and an informational conference call
• an executive summary
• the expected number of awards
• funding information, such as the maximum and minimum per award
• the approximate award date
• any cost-sharing or matching requirements

Part 2: Full Text

• a description of the opportunity — proposed activities, purpose, resources
• award information
• which types of applicants are eligible
• application and submission information
• how applications will be reviewed
• award administration information
• agency contacts
• other information and a glossary

Research and non-research funding

CDC funds both research and non-research grants and cooperative agreements. The difference lies in purpose.

Federal regulation (45 CFR 46.102(d)) defines research as a "systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge."

Non-research activity sets out to identify and control a health problem or improve a public health program or service. Its benefits go mainly or entirely to the participants or their community; the data it collects are needed to assess or improve the program, or the health of the participants or their community; the knowledge it produces does not reach beyond the activity; and it is not experimental.

Sources

Rewritten from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page "Understanding the Notice of Funding Opportunity" (public domain), in hubnx's own words.