CDC Awards $1.5 Million Sole Source Cooperative Agreement to Public Health Foundation for Workforce Development

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC has announced a pivotal five-year cooperative agreement with the Public Health Foundation PHF, beginning September 1, 2026, and extending through August 31, 2031. The initial year one funding is set at approximately $1.5 million, with continuation funding planned for years two through five. This agreement is specifically designed to bolster the public health and healthcare workforce across state, tribal, local, and territorial STLT jurisdictions, addressing critical needs for training, performance management, and collaborative innovation.

Justification for a Sole Source Award

The CDC's decision to issue this as a sole source award to the Public Health Foundation is rooted in PHF's unique and established position within the public health landscape. PHF is the exclusive owner and manager of the TRAIN Learning Network, a comprehensive learning management system LMS that the CDC has partnered with since 2010. This long-standing collaboration has resulted in over two million CDC TRAIN learner accounts, demonstrating the network's extensive reach and utility in upskilling public health and healthcare professionals. The continuity provided by PHF's management ensures a seamless enhancement of this critical infrastructure, avoiding the disruption and inefficiency that would likely accompany a transition to a new provider.

Beyond its management of the TRAIN Learning Network, PHF also oversees the Council on Linkages Between Academic and Public Health Practice. This council is instrumental in maintaining the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, which serve as foundational standards for the field. It also facilitates the Academic Health Department AHD Learning Community and the Retention and Recruitment Learning Community. These roles position PHF as a central figure in defining professional standards, fostering academic-practice partnerships, and addressing workforce challenges. Furthermore, PHF is recognized as a leader in developing unique tools and training for performance management and quality improvement, capabilities essential for governmental public health agencies.

Program Goals and Expected Outcomes

The cooperative agreement outlines several key objectives aimed at enhancing the public health workforce's capacity and competence. The primary goal is to ensure STLT public health and healthcare professionals possess the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively serve their communities. This will be achieved through two main avenues.

First, the funding will support the enhancement and expansion of the TRAIN Learning Network. This involves modernizing the existing LMS to offer more robust and accessible training resources. The expansion will likely include new modules, updated content reflecting current public health challenges, and improved technological functionality to better support adult learning principles. The aim is to make high-quality professional development more readily available to a broader audience of public health and healthcare workers.

Second, the agreement seeks to strengthen broader public health workforce services. This encompasses several strategic areas: advancing performance management and quality improvement initiatives within public health agencies, further developing and disseminating public health workforce competencies, fostering the growth of Academic Health Departments, and promoting other cross-sector collaborations. These efforts are designed to create a more efficient, skilled, and integrated public health system capable of responding to evolving health threats and community needs.

Implications for the Public Health Landscape

This cooperative agreement signifies the CDC's continued investment in the foundational infrastructure of the national public health system. By channeling resources into workforce development, the CDC aims to address persistent challenges such as skill gaps, recruitment and retention issues, and the need for continuous professional growth among public health professionals. The emphasis on performance management and quality improvement suggests a strategic push towards greater accountability and effectiveness in public health service delivery.

The long-term nature of the five-year award provides stability for the Public Health Foundation to implement comprehensive, sustained improvements rather than short-term fixes. This sustained effort is crucial for building a resilient public health workforce capable of navigating complex health crises, from emerging infectious diseases to chronic conditions and environmental health challenges. The ongoing partnership between CDC and PHF, particularly through the TRAIN Network, remains a cornerstone of this national strategy for workforce excellence.

Legislative Authority

The authority for this program is derived from the Public Health Service Act, specifically Section 1703 a 2 and 3 42 U.S.C. 300u-2 a 2 and 3, Section 1704 42 U.S.C. 300u-3, and Section 317 k 2 42 U.S.C. 247 b k 2. These sections provide the legal framework for the CDC to engage in activities that support public health workforce development and infrastructure, underscoring the federal government's mandate to ensure a competent and prepared public health system.