Wastewater Drug Indicator Evaluation on the United States Southern Border | WDE WDE 24 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for WDE WDE 24 001

The "Wastewater Drug Indicator Evaluation on the United States Southern Border" grant opportunity is a federal effort to support wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a practical tool for understanding drug use patterns in communities along the southern border of the United States. WBE works by analyzing the chemical and biological signals found in wastewater, which can reveal population-level trends related to health and behavior. In this case, the focus is on drugs: measuring substances present in sewage to estimate drug consumption patterns, spot shifts over time, and potentially detect the appearance and spread of new or unusual substances that are often described as "emerging threats." The opportunity builds on earlier federal pilot work, noting that in FY2023 the U.S. government funded WBE drug projects across more than 70 communities representing tens of millions of residents, where wastewater samples were tested for major "parent" drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine as well as their metabolites. Results from those pilots were shared back with participating communities and with local and state partners, with more limited sharing to the federal sponsors, suggesting an emphasis on actionable local and regional public health and safety insights rather than only federal reporting.

This funding is offered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than functioning as a hands-off funder. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under a health-related funding activity area, listed under CFDA number 95.007. The funding opportunity number is WDE WDE 24 001, and it was created on August 16, 2024, with an original closing date of September 3, 2024. The award ceiling is $300,000, and ONDCP expects to make one award, indicating a single lead project rather than multiple smaller grants.

Eligibility is aimed at organizations capable of managing scientific sampling and analysis, data interpretation, and coordination with local partners. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both those with 501(c)(3) status and those without that designation). In practical terms, that points to universities, research centers, and mission-driven nonprofits that can work with wastewater utilities, laboratories, and public agencies to design sampling plans, perform high-quality testing, and translate results into usable information for community stakeholders.

Overall, the opportunity is meant to strengthen drug surveillance capacity using wastewater signals, especially in a region where drug supply dynamics and cross-border trafficking patterns can shift quickly. By measuring parent drugs and metabolites in sewage, a project funded under this announcement would be positioned to provide near-real-time or regularly updated indicators of community drug exposure, support comparisons across locations and time periods, and improve awareness of emerging substances. The emphasis on sharing findings with participating communities and state and local partners highlights a goal of making the data operationally useful for local decision-making, such as tailoring prevention, treatment readiness, harm reduction strategies, and public communication based on observed trends.

• The Office of National Drug Control Policy in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wastewater Drug Indicator Evaluation on the United States Southern Border" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 95.007.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-03. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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.

Apply for WDE WDE 24 001

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