Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 20 GH FHM 01
Frontier Health Markets (FHM) is a USAID global health opportunity issued as a Request for Information (RFI), meaning it is not yet a final solicitation for funding but a market research step to shape a future program. Through this RFI, USAID is seeking practical input from organizations about what works in strengthening health markets, what innovative approaches are emerging, and which organizations have the interest and capacity to implement a large, multi-activity initiative. In plain terms, USAID is using this process to learn from the field, test assumptions, and gauge who could realistically deliver the type of work envisioned under FHM before USAID finalizes any formal procurement or assistance mechanism.
The core aim of the proposed FHM program is to increase private health sector contributions to voluntary family planning and broader health outcomes. While voluntary family planning is a central focus, USAID signals that FHM would also support improvements across multiple priority health areas, including maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The emphasis on the private sector suggests the program is oriented toward harnessing and improving the role of private providers, private supply chains, pharmacies and drug shops, private insurers and financiers, social enterprises, and other market actors that influence access, quality, affordability, and sustainability of health services and products.
A defining feature of the concept is health market strengthening at the local level. Rather than delivering services in isolation, the envisioned activities would work on the underlying market conditions that shape how care is delivered and paid for, with the goal of creating more systematic and effective engagement with the private sector. This can include improving how markets function (for example, better quality assurance, smarter regulation, stronger distribution and logistics, more transparent pricing, stronger provider networks, improved consumer information, or financing models that make services more affordable). The RFI framing also implies USAID is looking for best practices and scalable models that have evidence behind them or that are promising enough to warrant further testing and adaptation.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the principal U.S. Government agency for international development assistance. The listing identifies the instrument type as a Cooperative Agreement and the activity category as Health (CFDA 98.001). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, which typically signals broad openness to a range of organizations (for example, NGOs, for-profits, universities, partnerships, and potentially consortia), although any future official solicitation would spell out precise eligibility rules and compliance requirements.
The RFI is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RFI 20 GH FHM 01, created on May 6, 2020, with an original closing date of June 5, 2020. The notice references an award ceiling of up to $250,000,000, which signals the potential scale of the future suite of activities USAID may pursue, even though an RFI itself does not represent an obligation to fund and does not guarantee awards. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided data, reinforcing that this is an exploratory step intended to inform how USAID might structure and size subsequent activities.
Overall, the FHM RFI reflects USAID interest in larger, market-oriented approaches that mobilize private sector capacity to expand access and improve outcomes across family planning and major global health priorities. Organizations responding would be expected to provide grounded market insights, lessons learned, and workable implementation ideas that address the realities of local health systems and private sector dynamics, helping USAID design an approach that is both impactful and operationally feasible.Apply for RFI 20 GH FHM 01
- The Agency for International Development in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Frontier Health Markets (FHM)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-05. (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 $250,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frontier Health Markets (FHM) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is Frontier Health Markets (FHM)?
Frontier Health Markets (FHM) is a USAID global health opportunity described in a Request for Information (RFI). It is an early, market-research step intended to gather input from organizations to help shape a future program focused on health market strengthening and private sector engagement.
2) Is this a live funding solicitation?
No. This opportunity is an RFI, not a final solicitation. An RFI is used to collect practical insights and test assumptions before USAID decides whether and how to launch a formal procurement or assistance opportunity in the future.
3) What is USAID trying to learn through this RFI?
USAID is seeking practical input on what works to strengthen health markets, what innovative approaches are emerging, and which organizations have the interest and capacity to implement a large, multi-activity initiative under the envisioned FHM program.
4) What is the overall goal of the proposed FHM program?
The core aim is to increase private health sector contributions to voluntary family planning and broader health outcomes. The concept emphasizes improving how health markets function so that private sector efforts translate into greater access, better quality, improved affordability, and stronger sustainability.
5) Is voluntary family planning the only focus area?
No. Voluntary family planning is described as a central focus, but USAID also signals support for improvements across multiple priority health areas, including maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
6) What does "private health sector contributions" mean in this context?
It refers to the roles played by private providers and other private market actors in delivering and financing health products and services. The FHM concept highlights private providers, private supply chains, pharmacies and drug shops, private insurers and financiers, social enterprises, and other market participants that influence health access and outcomes.
7) What does "health market strengthening" mean based on the description provided?
Health market strengthening refers to working on underlying market conditions that shape how care is delivered and paid for, rather than providing services in isolation. Examples referenced include improving quality assurance, regulation, distribution and logistics, pricing transparency, provider networks, consumer information, and financing models that make services more affordable.
8) What level of the system is FHM expected to focus on?
A defining feature of the concept is strengthening health markets at the local level. The emphasis is on addressing real-world market conditions and private sector dynamics in local health systems to make engagement more systematic and effective.
9) What kinds of approaches does USAID appear to be looking for?
USAID indicates interest in best practices and scalable models, particularly those that have evidence behind them or are promising enough to justify further testing and adaptation. The RFI framing suggests USAID wants actionable, field-informed ideas that are operationally feasible.
10) Who is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the principal U.S. Government agency for international development assistance.
11) What is the funding opportunity number?
The RFI is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RFI 20 GH FHM 01.
12) What type of instrument is listed for this opportunity?
The listing identifies the instrument type as a Cooperative Agreement. This indicates how USAID might structure a future assistance award, although an RFI itself is not an award.
13) What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Health, and the CFDA is listed as 98.001.
14) Who is eligible to respond or participate, based on the listing?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted. This typically suggests broad openness to a range of organizations such as NGOs, for-profits, universities, partnerships, and potentially consortia. Any future official solicitation would provide the definitive eligibility and compliance requirements.
15) What is the award ceiling mentioned, and does it mean funding is guaranteed?
The notice references an award ceiling of up to $250,000,000, which signals the potential scale of the future suite of activities USAID may pursue. However, an RFI does not obligate USAID to fund anything and does not guarantee awards.
16) How many awards does USAID expect to make under FHM?
The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided information. This aligns with the RFI being an exploratory step, where USAID is still considering how to structure and size any future activities.
17) When was the RFI created and what was the original closing date?
The RFI was created on May 6, 2020, and it lists an original closing date of June 5, 2020.
18) What should organizations provide in response to this RFI, based on the description?
Organizations would be expected to provide grounded market insights, lessons learned, and workable implementation ideas. The intent is to help USAID design an approach that is impactful and realistic given local health system constraints and private sector dynamics.
19) Does the RFI indicate what kinds of organizations USAID wants to hear from?
Yes, at a high level. USAID is explicitly looking for input from organizations that can speak to what works in strengthening health markets and that may have the interest and capacity to implement a large, multi-activity initiative.
20) What is the main takeaway for organizations considering engagement with FHM at this stage?
This is a shaping stage, not an application stage for an award. The RFI is a chance to inform USAID's thinking, share evidence and practical approaches, and signal organizational capability and interest ahead of any future formal procurement or assistance process.
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