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Evaluation of Molecular Detection Methods for Treponema pallidum or Genital Ulcer Disease

APHL, in cooperation with the CDC Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, is seeking to award one-time funding for up to 15 state or local public health laboratories for the purpose of developing capacity for molecular detection of Treponema pallidum either as a standalone test or as part of a multiplex genital ulcer disease panel.

Read the official RFP document.
Questions?

Contact Sarah Buss, program manager, Infectious Diseases.

​​Summary

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), in cooperation with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention (DSTDP), is seeking to award one-time funding for up to 15 state or local public health laboratories (PHLs) for the purpose of developing capacity for molecular detection of Treponema pallidum either as a standalone test or as part of a multiplex genital ulcer disease panel. Funding will be awarded via a contract with APHL.

Eligibility

All state or local US public health laboratories are eligible to apply for the one-time funding.

Anticipated RFP Schedule

January 12, 2026                    RFP Issued

January 26, 2026                    Informational Teleconference

February 2, 2026                    Required Letter of Intent Due to APHL (see below)

February 27, 2026                  RFP Responses Due

Multiple Dates                        Follow-Up Interviews and Updated Proposals Due (if needed)

May 1, 2026                            Estimated Contract Start Date

APHL will communicate any modification to this anticipated schedule on APHL's procurement website (www.aphl.org/rfp) and via an email blast to public health laboratories.

Response Submittal

Confirmation of Intent to Respond

To allow for appropriate review process planning, a letter of intent is required for consideration. APHL requires that prospective applicants submit a brief email statement indicating an intent to submit a proposal to Sarah Buss, program manager, Infectious Diseases, with a copy to [email protected].  APHL must receive this email by no later than 11:59 pm ET on the date listed in the Anticipated RFP Schedule above.

Final Response

APHL must receive complete responses by 11:59 pm ET on the date listed in the Anticipated RFP Schedule above. Please see Proposal-Required Submissions section for items that must be included in the completed proposal. Applicants may send proposals via email to Sarah Buss, program manager, Infectious Diseases, with a copy to [email protected].

APHL will send an email acknowledging the receipt of your application; if you do not receive an acknowledgement within two business days, please email the RFP point of contact above to confirm receipt.​

RFP Materials​

The Official RFP Doc​ument​​​ will provide detailed information. APHL will post all RFP-related documents, current schedule information, and answers to submitted questions and clarifications on APHL's procurement site, www.aphl.org/rfp​​​.​​​​​​

Questions and Answers

A: It can, however for the purpose of this award such an assay would be prioritized along with single-plex assays.
A: We have not planned to do that. However, we would be happy to facilitate calls and communications between awardees to encourage sharing of specimens. If you do any work on this front in advance of proposal submission it should be noted in the submission.
A: That will depend on the proposals received and funded. We have $150,000 to devote to this project and will give up to 15 awards. We anticipate awards coming in between $10,000-40,000, so of course the number and amount of awards we can fund depends on what proposals are received and how the reviewers score each proposal. We would encourage you to submit a budget that asks for what you need in order to get the work done.
A: We were not prescriptive in terms of what these panels target because we want you to include what makes sense for your laboratory. That said, to be prioritized as a multiplex panel, the assay must target T. pallidum and HSV 1/2. VZV and mpox are other pathogens mentioned in the RFP, but additional targets (LGV, H. ducreyi, etc.) may also be appropriate.
A: Assuming a one-year contract that begins on May 1, 2026, the budget should go through April 30, 2027. APHL does not typically cover overhead costs for these one-time awards as the goal is to develop a sustainable testing capacity.
A: Yes, you can use any combination of commercially available test kit or ASR or laboratory developed assays.