Innovations in Low-Cost and Simplified Pathogen Sequencing Workflows

To accommodate different stages of innovation maturity, this RFP supports a tiered award structure, with funding levels and expectations aligned to the readiness and scope of the proposed work. Indicative award categories are:

Tier 1: Early-stage feasibility awards: up to $300,000 USD (grant term up to 24 months). For technically ambitious or higher-risk, earlier-stage concepts focused on feasibility testing, assay or workflow prototyping, and initial cost-reduction validation. Intended approaches that require focused development to demonstrate viability.

Tier 2: Mid-stage development awards: up to $600,000 USD (grant term up to 24 months). For concepts with preliminary feasibility evidence that are ready to advance from prototype toward an integrated workflow—optimizing performance, broadening assay or pathogen coverage, and generating more robust cost-reduction and performance data.

Tier 3: Advanced development and validation awards: up to $800,000 USD (grant term up to 36 months). For more mature concepts aimed at workflow refinement, performance optimization, and generation of proof-of-concept and validation data in relevant public-health use cases in LMICs.