Public-Private Partnerships and CDC
Ethical Considerations for Public-Private Partnerships
For more than a half century, CDC has been a leader in scientific research committed to protect the American people and keep Americans healthy, safe and secure. CDC works with the private sector because public-private partnerships advance CDC’s mission of protecting Americans. These partnerships allows us to accomplish more by working together rather than separately.
The agency’s pledge to the American people includes being a diligent steward of the funds entrusted to it. Before accepting outside gifts, CDC reviews each one thoroughly to ensure that all relevant legal authorities, policies, and guidelines are followed. Public-private partnerships help federal agencies do more with less, build on the capabilities of others, leverage collective action, improve performance, and realize cost savings.
We continually work to protect our scientific and programmatic integrity, maintain accountability, and find solutions to our nation’s most pressing public health problems. We recognize the value of open discussion and remain committed to improving and maintaining our processes of ethical protections. CDC’s highest priority is to keep people safe. We leverage our medical and scientific expertise and our partnerships to defuse health threats and make our country and our world a better place to live.
- Partnering with CDC Factsheet
CDC works with the private sector because public-private partnerships advance CDC’s mission of protecting Americans. Public-private partnerships are powerful tools that help extend public health’s reach to save lives in the workplace and at home, speed innovation, and change the way CDC conceptualizes and solves problems. There are opportunities for both formal and informal collaborations that can lead to valuable, mutual benefits.
For public-private partnership questions, or for further information regarding how CDC may be able to inform and assist your private sector health and safety efforts, contact privatesector@cdc.gov.
For other health-related questions or comments, contact CDC Info via an online request form or by phone (800-CDC-INFO).
For more information on how to contract with CDC, click here.
- Benefits for Private Sector Partners:
- Access specific populations or professional groups
- Collaborate on innovative products
- Share private sector perspective on health issues
- Access resources, guidelines, and information
- Benefits for CDC:
- Connect to organizations that share our goals
- Extend reach of CDC messages and programs
- Solve problems through new technology
- Raise awareness about CDC’s lifesaving work
Private sector partners include for-profit businesses, professional organizations that represent businesses, philanthropies, and private individuals/groups.
Public-private partnerships at CDC involve CDC staff cultivating dynamic formal and informal collaborations. There is a wide spectrum of these collaborations at CDC. These relationships can involve funding or no funding at all.
Opportunities for public-private partnerships at CDC are numerous:
- A Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement (MOU/MOA) is a non-legally binding instrument and can be used to describe the mutual understandings, concepts, goals, and plans shared by the parties.
- CDC’s Technology Transfer Office facilitates use of Collaborative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and other technology transfer mechanisms.
- CDC’s Gift Policy outlines how CDC can legally accept gifts from outside entities.
- CDC’s Ethical Considerations for Public-Private Partnerships describes the process CDC uses to review all gifts for potential conflicts of interest.
- CDC’s Sponsorship of Conferences Policy outlines required procedures for co-sponsoring an event.
- CDC Grants includes information on applying for a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). All CDC grant and cooperative agreement opportunities are posted on www.grants.gov .
In some cases, partnerships are arranged through the CDC Foundation. The CDC Foundation, which began operating in 1995, supports numerous program activities that extend the impact of CDC’s work.
Although the CDC Foundation was chartered by Congress, it is not a government agency nor is it a division of CDC. It is a private, nonprofit organization classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity. To connect with CDC Foundation, click here.
The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do more, faster by forging effective partnerships between CDC and others to fight threats to health and safety.