Supporting Mpox Funding Update

Dear Colleague

May 22, 2023

As we move into a season of gatherings that may have high potential for skin-to-skin contact or that are associated with increased sexual activity, CDC continues to urge you to use appropriate mpox prevention measures. These measures include providing and encouraging mpox vaccination and notifying public health authorities of suspected cases.

One new cluster of mpox cases has already been reported to CDC this Spring. With renewed prevention efforts, we can decrease the chance of a resurgence of the large-scale outbreak that began last year. During that outbreak, most mpox transmission occurred through sexual transmission in many of the same populations who experience the highest risk for HIV and other STDs.

Mpox prevention activities can be conducted in conjunction with your HIV or STD prevention activities. Please see below for additional guidance about the appropriate use of current award resources based on NCHHSTP's syndemic approach to HIV, STD, and mpox prevention. This guidance builds on CDC's Flexibilities Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance / Temporary Reassignment of Personnel.

Recipients funded under the following CDC Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) may use their grant resources, including funds or staff, for mpox activities that are conducted in conjunction with HIV or STD prevention activities:

• PS19-1901, "Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments"
• PS18-1802, "Integrated Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Surveillance and Prevention Programs for Health Departments"
• PS18-1801, "Accelerating the Prevention and Control of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs and TB in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands"
• PS20-2010, "Ending the HIV Epidemic"
• PS22-2203 "Comprehensive High Impact HIV Prevention Programs for Young Men of Color Who Have Sex With Men and Young Transgender Persons of Color"
• PS21-2102 "Comprehensive High Impact HIV Prevention Program for Community Based Organizations"

In addition to these NOFOs, CDC awarded supplemental funds under CDC-RFA-PS19-1901, "Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments," to 59 state, local and territorial Health Department STD Prevention Programs to support Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) and strengthen the capacity of state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) public health departments to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other infections. Grantees may use their grant resources, including funds or staff, for mpox activities that are conducted in conjunction with other activities permitted through this supplement. Examples would include DIS conducting mpox contact tracing to further develop and strengthen contact tracing skills needed for COVID-19; establishing a testing or vaccination site for disproportionately affected populations that also support similar activities for COVID-19; or conducting community mobilization and education events activities for mpox and COVID-19.

If a grantee is interested in having resources redirected and/or staff reassigned to mpox activities that are not conducted in conjunction with the core work of existing NOFOs, then CDC prior approval of a reassignment or fiscal redirection request is required. Assignment of staff paid from STD resources to engage in mpox related activities does not represent a reassignment.

Reassignment Requests:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Public Health Emergency declaration permits CDC through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to approve re-assignments of Health Department staff to support mpox activities in 30-day increments. CDC will review and approve 30-day re-assignment requests. Recipients must submit additional requests for subsequent 30-day periods. Information is available here.

Redirection Requests:

Recipients may request that funds be re-directed to support mpox activities. Requests to redirect funds for mpox activities must receive prior approval by CDC. Requests must include a description of the nexus between mpox and activities within the scope of the grant to be approved.

Recipients under PS19-1901, "Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments," wishing to redirect STD funds to support mpox activities can do so without prior approval if the proposed changes do not represent a significant redirection of funds (i.e., cumulative changes of 25% of the last approved award budget period). Please review the terms and conditions of your award for more information.

Please direct questions about the submission requirement and process to your Grants Management Specialist.

Sincerely,

/Jonathan Mermin/

Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH
RADM, USPHS
Director
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/
Stay connected: @DrMerminCDC & Connections