Wastewater-based surveillance system of illicit drug consumption in Mexico | OFOP0001147

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity about?

This opportunity supports a nationwide research and monitoring effort in Mexico using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate illicit drug consumption. The project will collect and analyze municipal wastewater from multiple wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), measure chemical biomarkers linked to a defined set of illicit drugs, and convert those measurements into population-level consumption estimates on a recurring basis.

2) Who is offering the award?

The award is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), through the U.S. Mission to Mexico.

3) What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This indicates the funder expects substantial involvement or coordination during implementation, rather than a fully hands-off grant.

4) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The funding opportunity number is OFOP0001147. The CFDA listing is 19.704.

5) How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

6) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount is $1,500,000.

7) What is the core method being funded?

The project relies on wastewater-based epidemiology. In practical terms, it involves collecting samples from municipal wastewater at WWTPs in different regions, testing for chemical biomarkers associated with illicit drugs, and translating lab results into population-level estimates that can be compared across locations and over time.

8) Where will sampling occur?

Sampling is expected to occur at multiple municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across different regions of Mexico as part of a nationwide effort.

9) What will the project measure in wastewater?

The project will measure chemical biomarkers associated with a defined set of illicit drugs. Those biomarker measurements are then used to estimate community-level drug consumption.

10) What is meant by "defined set of illicit drugs"?

The opportunity states that the testing will focus on biomarkers tied to a defined set of illicit drugs, but it does not specify the list in the information provided. The exact drug panel would be expected to be defined in the project design and/or solicitation details.

11) Why use wastewater-based epidemiology instead of relying only on surveys or law enforcement data?

The purpose is to generate timely, comparable indicators of drug use trends that can complement traditional sources such as surveys, hospital data, and law enforcement reporting. The project is positioned to help provide near-real-time trend insights alongside those other data streams.

12) How often are results expected to be reported?

The opportunity specifically calls for quarterly reports. These reports are expected to synthesize findings across participating WWTP sites and include hospital-linked analyses.

13) What should quarterly reports cover?

Quarterly reports are expected to synthesize findings across WWTP sites and hospital-linked analyses, highlight geographic variation, identify emerging trends, and feed into early warning and response systems.

14) What is the required hospital component?

A required component is the inclusion of at least three hospitals to evaluate whether legally prescribed opioids are being diverted for non-medical use. This is intended to avoid treating opioid signals as a single, undifferentiated category by adding context that helps interpret whether signals align with expected medical administration or broader community consumption patterns.

15) How are hospitals expected to be used in the analysis?

The opportunity describes pairing wastewater findings with hospital-related sampling and/or comparative analysis. The aim is to help distinguish signals that may reflect legitimate medical administration from signals that suggest broader community consumption patterns inconsistent with expected medical use.

16) Is the project focused only on opioids?

No. The project is designed to estimate illicit drug consumption across a defined set of illicit drugs using wastewater testing. Opioids receive specific attention through the required hospital component focused on evaluating potential diversion of legally prescribed opioids.

17) What is the intended use of the data and reporting?

The project is structured to support operational decision-making and public policy in Mexico by producing regular, actionable reporting. The intent is to improve the evidence base for targeting prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement responses in ways that reflect near-real-time changes in consumption patterns.

18) Who are the expected recipients or users of the quarterly products?

Quarterly products are expected to be shared with Government of Mexico entities and other relevant stakeholders. The information provided specifically mentions the Mexican Drug Observatory (as part of an early warning system), and agencies such as SEMAR, CENAPI, CONAGUA, and the Health Ministry, among others.

19) How does this connect to early warning systems?

The opportunity expects quarterly reporting that can feed into early warning and response systems, including sharing with the Mexican Drug Observatory as part of an early warning system. The goal is to identify emerging trends and geographic variation in time to support response.

20) What does "substantial involvement" by the funder imply here?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, INL (through the U.S. Mission to Mexico) anticipates active coordination or involvement during implementation. The information provided does not list specific coordination mechanisms, but the instrument type signals a more collaborative administration than a standard grant.

21) When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on June 15, 2023. The original closing date was August 15, 2023.

22) What is the eligibility category?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The opportunity notes that clarification is expected in the full eligibility text of the solicitation.

23) Is this a research project, an operational monitoring program, or both?

It is both. The project involves research and monitoring (data collection and analysis across Mexico) and is also explicitly oriented toward operational decision-making and policy by producing recurring, actionable reporting intended to inform government stakeholders.

24) What makes this project "nationwide"?

The description calls for collecting and analyzing wastewater samples from multiple WWTPs in different regions across Mexico, with recurring measurements that can produce comparable indicators over time and geography.

25) What outcomes is the funder trying to achieve?

The primary outcome is timely and comparable indicators of illicit drug consumption trends across Mexico, complemented by a specific hospital-linked analysis to better interpret opioid-related signals and potential diversion dynamics. These outputs are meant to strengthen early warning, guide responses, and improve data-driven decision-making across security and public health institutions.