Technical Support to Improve Global Health Security Systems in Brazil

Location:	District of Columbia
Posted:	Feb 23, 2026
Due:	Mar 24, 2026
Agency:	FHI 360
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	63 - Alarm, Signal, and Detection Systems
Solicitation No:	2026-012-BRAZIL_RFP_02
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Proposals

Request for Proposals for Technical Support to Improve Global Health Security

Solicitation Number: 2026-012-Brazil

To: Prospective Organizations

From: FHI360 STRIDES PROJECT TEAM

Contract Title: Technical Support to Improve Global Health Security Systems

Location: Brazil

Date Issued: February 23, 2026

Questions Due: March 2, 2026, 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time

Responses Posted: March 6, 2026, 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time

Submission Deadline: March 24, 2026, 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time

Submission Email: STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org

INTRODUCTION

FHI 360, under the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity,

invites qualified organizations to submit proposals to support the implementation of Global

Health Security (GHS) activities in Brazil. STRIDES is a U.S. Department of State–funded global

initiative designed to strengthen national and subnational systems to prevent, detect, and

respond to infectious disease threats in alignment with international health standards and

regulations and U.S. Government global health security priorities. In Brazil, STRIDES is

implemented in close coordination with the Government of Brazil and the U.S. Embassy to

reinforce laboratory systems, surveillance, and outbreak response in support of national,

regional, and global health security.

Through STRIDES, FHI 360 and partners provide targeted strategic assistance, capacity

strengthening, and systems-based support in collaboration with multisectoral government

entities—including Ministries of Health and Agriculture—as well as key multilateral, regional,

and national health partners to strengthen core global health security capacities. The Activity

emphasizes a cross-sectoral approach, reinforcing coordination across human, animal, and

ecological health sectors and strengthening existing government-led systems rather than

creating parallel structures. STRIDES is deliberately designed to complement and add value to

ongoing investments by U.S. Government agencies and regional and multilateral partners,

including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pan American Health Organization

(PAHO), and the Pandemic Fund–supported PROTECT initiative, while avoiding duplication and

promoting self-reliance.

This Request for Proposals seeks qualified local, regional, or international partners to propose

technically sound, feasible, and sustainable approaches that advance STRIDES’ four core

objectives in Brazil:

1. Strengthen detection capacity and systems for both human and animal laboratory

networks and increase access to quality laboratory services for diseases of public health

importance.

2. Develop sustainable surveillance systems, using event-based (EBS) and indicator-based

surveillance (IBS) systems to detect events of significance for public health and health

security.

3. Develop and strengthen host country capacity in data collection, analysis and

reporting for actionable disease prevention and response decision making.

4. Provide targeted technical surveillance and detection assistance during an outbreak.

Successful applicants will demonstrate relevant expertise in the following areas: laboratory

systems strengthening, surveillance and data systems, outbreak response, and multisectoral

coordination in Brazil or comparable large, diverse, and resource-variable settings. Proposed

activities must align with Brazil’s national priorities, leverage existing platforms and

investments, and contribute to durable institutional capacity and self-reliance.

Through this solicitation, STRIDES aims to strengthen Brazil’s ability to rapidly detect,

investigate, and respond to infectious disease threats – protecting public health nationally,

reducing regional and global spillover risks, and advancing U.S. and global health security

objectives.

Project Overview: STRIDES Activity in Brazil

Brazil’s health security landscape is defined by recurrent and emerging infectious disease

threats, vast geographic and ecological diversity, and uneven health system capacity across

national, state, and municipal levels. As South America’s largest country and a regional anchor

with extensive land borders, major ports of entry, and high population mobility, Brazil plays a

critical role in preventing, detecting, and containing transnational health threats. Despite

significant progress in public health infrastructure and surveillance, Brazil continues to

experience complex and overlapping risks, including coronavirus disease, Zika virus, yellow

fever, avian influenza, measles resurgence, and sustained increases in arboviral diseases such as

dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche. These pressures expose structural vulnerabilities in

laboratory networks, surveillance integration, biosafety and biosecurity practices, infection

prevention and control, data interoperability, and coordinated emergency response.

Brazil completed its first voluntary external assessment of health security capacities in 2024,

complemented by the 2025 annual self-assessment under the Global Health Security

Framework. Findings indicate uneven performance across core technical areas. While

laboratory systems at national and state reference levels demonstrate moderate to strong

capacity, gaps persist in subnational diagnostic readiness, specimen referral and transport,

biosafety and biosecurity oversight, and integration of laboratory data with surveillance

platforms. Additional weaknesses were identified in zoonotic disease surveillance, health

service readiness, risk communication and community engagement, and points of entry. These

findings underscore the need for targeted investments to strengthen early detection, ensure

safe and reliable laboratory operations, and enable timely, coordinated outbreak response.

The Brazilian Legal Amazon—comprising nine states—represents a central geographic priority

for STRIDES. Remote and riverine communities, long transport distances, limited laboratory

access, and high biodiversity create elevated risks of zoonotic spillover and delayed outbreak

detection. Economic activities such as agriculture, mining, logging, and increased interaction

between humans, animals, and the environment further amplify these risks. Strengthening

laboratory networks, surveillance systems, specimen transport logistics, and multisectoral data

integration in the Legal Amazon is therefore essential -- not only for Brazil’s national health

security -- but also for reducing regional and global spillover risks.

In response to these needs, the STRIDES Activity—funded by the United States Department of

State—supports the Government of Brazil (GOB) to advance national and regional global health

security priorities. STRIDES works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of

Agriculture, national public health research and laboratory institutions, and Brazil’s

interministerial coordination mechanisms to strengthen integrated approaches that link

human, animal, and ecological health. The Activity is designed to reinforce government-led

systems, complement ongoing investments supported by the United States Government and

multilateral partners, and avoid duplication while promoting self-reliance and national

ownership.

The STRIDES Activity in Brazil focuses on operationalizing durable, government-led systems that

enhance national and subnational capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic and

emerging infectious diseases. Emphasis is placed on strengthening laboratory systems and

biosafety and biosecurity, improving event-based and routine disease surveillance, enhancing

data use and interoperability across health sectors, and supporting, coordinated, and effective

outbreak responses.

FHI 360 anticipates awarding one or more agreements to partners demonstrating strong

alignment with STRIDES technical priorities and four core objectives in Brazil, the Government

of Brazil’s health security objectives, and its systems-strengthening approach.

By strengthening laboratory networks, surveillance integration, data use, and outbreak

response, STRIDES will support Brazil in building a more resilient, coordinated, and sustainable

foundation for national and regional health security—protecting communities within Brazil and

reducing the risk of infectious disease threats spreading across the region and globally.

Technical Description of the Work to Be Performed

STRIDES Scope of Work

Between February 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027, STRIDES will implement GHS program

interventions, focusing activities in the Brazilian Legal Amazon and major urban centers to

prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Manaus and Belém have been selected as initial

priority sites based on epidemiologic risk, spillover potential in the Legal Amazon, and logistical

and operational feasibility. Both urban areas serve as regional hubs linking remote areas to

national and international networks, making them strategically important for early detection,

laboratory strengthening, workforce development, and timely data flow. Finalization of

program geographies will be done in consultation with GoB and US government

(USG)counterparts.

STRIDES’ technical approach in Brazil focuses on strengthening core national and subnational

capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases, guided by gaps identified

through the 2024 VEE and 2025 SPAR. STRIDES will prioritize improvements in surveillance,

laboratory networks, biosafety and biosecurity (BSS) and multisectoral coordination across key

health ministries and entities. Special emphasis will be placed on the Brazilian Legal Amazon,

where remoteness, limited diagnostics, and high zoonotic risk contribute to delayed outbreak

detection. Through targeted technical support, capacity strengthening, and operational

support, STRIDES will enhance IBS and EBS, improve specimen transport and diagnostic

capacity, and expand community and multisectoral engagement in high-risk areas.

Implementation will be closely coordinated with national institutions such as Centro de

Informações Estratégicas em Vigilância em Saúde (CIEVS), state health secretariats, the Ministry

of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil’s national reference institute for public health research,

laboratory science, training, and innovation (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz [Fiocruz]), the MOH’s

Interinstitutional Technical Committee for One Health, and other health partners. STRIDES will

ensure complementarity with ongoing USG investments, including CDC-supported laboratory,

surveillance and IPC initiatives, and the regional Pandemic Fund’s Pandemic Response

Optimization Through Engaged Communities and Territories (PROTECT) project. STRIDES will

incorporate robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning mechanisms to ensure accountability,

inform adaptive management, and support Brazil in institutionalizing sustainable health

security systems. Through this integrated approach, STRIDES will help strengthen Brazil’s ability

to detect and contain emerging threats, contributing to regional stability and advancing U.S.

national security interests.

Global Health Security Objectives

STRIDES seeks qualified contractor(s) to implement activities that advance the four

aforementioned global health security objectives in Brazil.

STRIDES will emphasize system-level, sustainable interventions that reduce the risk and impact

of zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases through early detection, timely notification, and

coordinated response.

Two overarching results are anticipated:

1. Reduced risk and impact of infectious disease threats in Brazil.

2. Functional national and subnational systems for early warning, detection, reporting, and

coordinated outbreak response.

Expected Results by Technical Area:

Zoonotic Disease Surveillance and Multisectoral Coordination

• Strengthened surveillance for priority zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases across

human and animal health sectors.

• Improved coordination among human, animal and ecological health ministries and other

relevant government institutions, including routine joint analysis and information

sharing.

• Enhanced epidemiology and laboratory capacity, with an emphasis on health and

veterinary personnel in the Brazilian Legal Amazon.

• Operationalized community- and facility-level detection mechanisms linked to

surveillance systems, with a focus on the Brazilian Legal Amazon.

• Improved evidence-based decision-making supported by integrated data systems and

routine analytic products.

• Strengthened multisectoral rapid response mechanisms capable of surge deployment

during outbreaks.

Laboratory Systems, with an emphasis on the Brazilian Legal Amazon

• Strengthened diagnostic capacity within public health and animal health laboratories

testing priority pathogens, with a focus on laboratories in the Brazilian Legal Amazon.

• Improved biosafety and biosecurity practices, including risk assessments, standard

operating procedures, training, and governance mechanisms.

• Standardized laboratory protocols and strengthened participation in quality assurance

and performance monitoring activities.

• Improved laboratory equipment maintenance, certification, and commodity

management systems.

• Strengthened specimen referral and transport networks, including cold chain

management and chain-of-custody procedures.

• Enhanced integration of laboratory information with surveillance systems to support

timely reporting and outbreak notification.

Surveillance and Data Systems

• Integrated event-based and routine disease surveillance systems across human and

animal health sectors.

• Updated reporting workflows, guidance, and tools for priority diseases and public health

events.

• Strengthened capacity of surveillance officers and analysts in epidemiologic analysis,

data visualization, and applied use of surveillance information.

• Improved use of surveillance and laboratory data for routine monitoring, alerts, and

outbreak decision-making.

• Strengthened data exchange and interoperability across laboratory, surveillance, and

emergency response platforms.

Outbreak Detection and Response

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Technical Support to Improve Global Health Security Systems in Brazil

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See also