Opportunity Information: Apply for RD ET RDA 26 002
Improving the Capacity of Tribal Communities to Identify Emerging Drug Threats (Funding Opportunity Number: RD ET RDA 26 002) is a discretionary federal grant offered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to have an active role during the project period (for example, participating in planning, providing guidance, or coordinating with the recipient as the work is carried out). The overall focus falls within the health funding activity category (CFDA/Assistance Listing 95.007) and is aimed at strengthening how Tribal communities identify, track, and respond to newly emerging drug threats.
The opportunity is designed to fund researchers to tackle the real-world barriers that Tribal communities face when trying to spot emerging drug trends early. The grant expects recipients to do two connected things: first, identify and address key impediments or challenges limiting Tribal capacity to identify emerging drug threats; and second, conduct a pilot project that demonstrates practical improvements in a community or communities ability to detect and respond to those threats. In other words, this is not just a research-and-report effort. The intent is to pair analysis of problems (data gaps, infrastructure limits, coordination barriers, workforce constraints, and similar issues) with a workable pilot that tests solutions in the field.
Funding is limited and competitive. ONDCP expects to make one award under this announcement, with an award ceiling of $300,000. The original application closing date is September 13, 2026, and the opportunity was created on September 2, 2026, indicating a relatively short window between posting and deadline. Because only one award is anticipated, applicants typically need to present a clear, focused project design with a strong justification for why their approach and partnerships are most likely to produce usable results that can be applied beyond a single site or setting.
Eligible applicants include a broad set of entities that can partner with Tribal communities or be Tribal entities themselves. Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Tribal governments, Tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education), as well as other applicants as permitted in the announcement. The mention of Health Care Organizations in the description suggests the work may involve or benefit health systems, clinics, public health departments, and related service providers operating in or alongside Tribal communities, especially where drug threat detection relies on clinical, emergency, behavioral health, or public health data streams.
At a practical level, the project is aimed at improving early warning and situational awareness for Tribal communities facing a rapidly changing drug environment. Emerging drug threats can include sudden changes in drug supply and potency, shifts in overdose patterns, appearance of new synthetic substances, contamination of drugs with other compounds, or new modes of distribution. The project is positioned to help communities move from reactive response toward earlier detection, faster information-sharing, and more targeted prevention and intervention strategies. A strong application would typically be expected to show meaningful engagement with Tribal partners, a thoughtful plan for identifying the most important local barriers, and a pilot intervention that measurably improves detection and response capacity in a way that can be sustained or scaled.
In summary, this ONDCP cooperative agreement will support one recipient to work with Tribal communities to pinpoint the biggest obstacles to identifying emerging drug threats and to run a pilot that strengthens on-the-ground capacity to detect and respond. It is a single-award, up-to-$300,000 funding opportunity with a September 13, 2026 deadline, open to Tribal governments and organizations as well as universities and qualifying nonprofits that can credibly carry out applied research and a practical pilot in partnership with Tribal communities.Apply for RD ET RDA 26 002
- The Office of National Drug Control Policy in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving the Capacity of Tribal Communities to Identify Emerging Drug Threats" 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 2026-09-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-13. (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, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Improving the Capacity of Tribal Communities to Identify Emerging Drug Threats.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RD ET RDA 26 002.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant offered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
What type of award is this?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally means ONDCP expects to play an active role during the project period. Examples mentioned include participating in planning, providing guidance, or coordinating with the recipient while the work is being carried out.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and funding activity category?
The opportunity falls within the health funding activity category under Assistance Listing 95.007.
What is the overall purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to strengthen how Tribal communities identify, track, and respond to newly emerging drug threats, with an emphasis on improving early detection and practical response capacity.
Who is this opportunity intended to fund?
The opportunity is designed to fund researchers who will work on real-world barriers that limit Tribal communities' ability to identify emerging drug trends early, paired with a practical pilot project to test improvements.
What are the two main required components of the project?
The grant expects recipients to do two connected things:
- Identify and address key impediments or challenges that limit Tribal capacity to identify emerging drug threats.
- Conduct a pilot project that demonstrates practical improvements in a community or communities' ability to detect and respond to those threats.
Is this grant mainly for producing a research report?
No. The intent is not just research-and-report. The opportunity specifically calls for pairing analysis of barriers with a workable pilot that tests solutions in the field.
What kinds of barriers or impediments is the project expected to examine?
Examples provided include data gaps, infrastructure limits, coordination barriers, and workforce constraints, as well as similar issues that reduce the ability to detect emerging drug threats early.
What is meant by "emerging drug threats" in this context?
Emerging drug threats can include sudden changes in drug supply and potency, shifts in overdose patterns, appearance of new synthetic substances, contamination of drugs with other compounds, or new modes of distribution.
What practical outcomes is the project aiming to improve for Tribal communities?
The project is positioned to improve early warning and situational awareness by helping communities move from reactive response toward earlier detection, faster information-sharing, and more targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
How many awards does ONDCP expect to make under this announcement?
ONDCP expects to make one award under this announcement.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $300,000.
Is the funding competitive?
Yes. Funding is described as limited and competitive, and only one award is anticipated.
When is the application due?
The original application closing date is September 13, 2026.
When was this funding opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on September 2, 2026.
Does the timeline suggest a short application window?
Yes. The information notes a relatively short window between posting (September 2, 2026) and the deadline (September 13, 2026).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Other applicants as permitted in the announcement
Are Tribal governments and Tribal organizations both eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes federally recognized Tribal governments and Tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments.
Are universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible, with the note that this category excludes institutions of higher education.
Do applicants need to work with Tribal communities?
The opportunity is aimed at strengthening Tribal community capacity and is described as supporting work with Tribal communities. A strong application is described as one that shows meaningful engagement with Tribal partners.
What role might health care organizations play in a project under this grant?
The description mentions Health Care Organizations and suggests the work may involve or benefit health systems, clinics, public health departments, and related providers, particularly where drug threat detection depends on clinical, emergency, behavioral health, or public health data streams.
What characteristics are emphasized for a strong application given there is only one award?
Because only one award is anticipated, applicants are generally expected to present a clear, focused project design and a strong justification for why their approach and partnerships are most likely to produce usable results that can be applied beyond a single site or setting.
What does "pilot project" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, a pilot project is a practical, field-tested effort intended to demonstrate improvements in a community or communities' ability to detect and respond to emerging drug threats, rather than remaining purely analytical.
Is the project expected to produce results that are useful beyond one community?
The information suggests applicants should justify how results can be applied beyond a single site or setting, which points to an emphasis on broader usability, sustainability, or scalability.
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