The funding opportunity titled Changing Health Systems Using Evidence-based Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. The program focuses on increasing colorectal cancer screening rates among individuals aged 45 to 75 by implementing evidence-based interventions within primary care clinics and health systems. It specifically targets populations with low screening prevalence and significant barriers to screening, particularly those served by Federally Qualified Health Centers and community health centers.

The program seeks to fund up to 38 cooperative agreements with a total annual funding of 22 million dollars and an overall five-year program funding of 110 million dollars. The anticipated funding range per recipient is between 350,000 and 900,000 dollars per budget period, with an average award of 500,000 dollars. Awards are expected to begin on June 30, 2025, following the application deadline of February 20, 2025. Optional letters of intent are due by January 13, 2025, and an informational call for applicants is scheduled for January 15, 2025.

Eligible applicants include state, county, city, or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; community health centers; Federally Qualified Health Centers; Native American tribal governments and organizations; urban Indian organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits; for-profit organizations; and small businesses. To be eligible, applicants must work with clinics that have colorectal cancer screening prevalence below national, regional, or local averages. Clinics must also demonstrate willingness to participate in readiness assessments, implement interventions, and submit screening data.

Recipients will partner with clinics and supporting organizations to implement at least three evidence-based interventions recommended by the Community Guide, such as patient reminders, provider reminders and feedback, reducing structural barriers, and patient navigation. Programs must focus on enhancing screening processes, increasing patient access to stool-based testing, and ensuring follow-up colonoscopies after positive screening tests. Emphasis will also be placed on leveraging electronic health record systems to improve data collection, monitor screening rates, and track completion of the screening process.

Recipients are required to submit baseline and annual high-quality, clinic-level data on colorectal cancer screening prevalence, the number of stool tests provided and returned, and follow-up colonoscopies. Programs must develop and implement evaluation plans to assess program outcomes, identify gaps, and continuously improve activities. Evaluation efforts will focus on measuring short-term outcomes such as increased implementation of interventions and screening test completion, intermediate outcomes including CRC prevention and early-stage diagnosis, and long-term goals of reducing CRC incidence and mortality.

Applicants must provide a project narrative, work plan, and budget narrative as part of their application. The project narrative must address background, strategies and activities, evaluation, focus populations, health disparities, and organizational capacity. Supporting documentation, including letters of support from partner clinics, resumes, job descriptions, and organizational charts, must also be submitted. Applications will be reviewed for responsiveness and scored based on background and approach, evaluation and performance measurement, and organizational capacity, with a total of 100 points available.

The CDC will provide technical assistance and substantial involvement throughout the award period. Recipients are expected to collaborate with CDC-funded programs, such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, to avoid duplication of efforts. Post-award requirements include submission of annual performance and financial reports, regular data submissions, and ongoing program monitoring to ensure progress toward increasing colorectal cancer screening rates and addressing health disparities.