Occupational Safety and Health Research Grants (93.262)

Program

93.262 Occupational Safety and Health Research Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Section 301(a) and 405, 42 U.S.C 241 and 284; Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 20(a) and 21(a), 29 U.S.C 669(a) & 670(a); Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, Section 501(a), 30 U.S.C 951(a); Executive Order Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45, Part 74 and 92.

Program Number

93.262

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To (1) recognize new hazards; (2) define the magnitude of the problem; (3) follow trends in incidence; (4) target exceptional hazardous workplaces for intervention; and (5) evaluate the effectiveness of prevention efforts. The goal of this program is to increase worker safety and health. To develop specialized professional and paraprofessional personnel in the occupational safety and health field with training in occupational medicine, occupational health nursing, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, and other priority training areas. To perform medical monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center Responders and non-Responders and to create a Registry of affected workers.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants; Training

Uses and Use Restrictions

Research grants and cooperative agreements are intended to support the direct costs of a project, in accordance with an approved budget, plus an appropriate amount for indirect costs. Training grants: Funds may be used for long term training programs and/or education and research centers. Support is provided for the direct costs of the program, plus certain indirect costs determined by Public Health Service policy on training programs. Amounts of stipends and other details are in accordance with Public Health Service policy. SBIR Phase I grants (of approximately 6-months duration) are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research initiated in Phase I and that are likely to result in commercial products or processes. Only Phase I awardees are eligible to apply for Phase II support.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants include for-profit or non-profit organizations, public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, units of State and local governments, eligible agencies of the Federal government, domestic or foreign institutions/organizations, faith-based organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal Government, College and/or Organizations. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. Training Grants: Any public or private educational institution or agency that has demonstrated competency in occupational safety and health training at the technical, professional, or graduate level may apply. Trainees must be admissible to the grantee institution and must be enrolled in occupational safety and health training programs. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees). For SBIR grants primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Research institutions and agencies as well as workers affected by occupational hazards.

Credentials/Documentation

Applications must be signed by appropriate officials of the submitting institution. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. For-profit organizations' costs are determined in accordance with 48 CFR Subpart 31.2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. For other grantees, costs will be determined by HHS Regulations 45 CFR Part 74, Subpart Q. For SBIR grants applicant organization (small business concern) must present in a research plan an idea that has potential for commercialization and furnish evidence that scientific competence, experimental methods, facilities, equipment, and funds requested are appropriate to carry out the plan. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications are prepared and submitted following instructions provided in Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs). NIOSH publishes FOAs at http://www.Grants.gov, and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html. Grants.gov is the portal for applications. Appropriate forms are specified in each FOA. Research and training programs utilize either the SF-424 R&R for electronic submission or the PHS 398 application form and instructions which are available on the Internet at: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

Award Procedure

Awards are made on the basis of a two-step review of an investigator-prepared application. Applications are initially reviewed for scientific and technical merit by a scientific review group. The second level of review is performed by the NIOSH Secondary Review Committee for program relevance. Final approval of funding recommendations is made by the Director, NIOSH.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

> 180 Days. Research Grants and Awards: 7-9 months. Training Grants: 9-10 months. SBIR: 7-8 months.

Appeals

From 120 to 180 days. A principal investigator may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff in the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs.

Renewals

> 180 Days. Support is recommended for a specified project period, usually not in excess of 5 years. Prior to the end of a project period, the grantee may apply for renewal of support for a new project period. Applications for renewal (competing continuation, Type 2) will be reviewed in the same manner as a new application and will compete for available funds with other applications.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Research and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements may be awarded for project periods ranging from one to five years depending on the recommendations of the scientific review group and the Secondary Review Committee, and on demonstration of successful performance and the availability of funds. SBIR Grants: Normally, Phase I awards are for 6 months; normally, Phase II awards are for 2 years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Notice of Grant Award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Terminal progress report (including citations of all resulting publications) within 90 days after end of project support. Cash reports are not applicable. Interim progress reports (including citations of all resulting publications) annually as part of a non-competing continuation application for previously recommended support. Annual financial status report within 90 days after the conclusion of each budget period. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records

Financial records, including documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant, must be kept readily available for review by personnel authorized to examine PHS grant accounts. Records must be maintained for three years after the end of each budget period. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY2008, 166 research grant and cooperative agreement awards, 49 training awards, 8 SBIR awards and 11 World Trade Center awards were made. Fiscal Year 2009: The estimated number of awards for FY2009 is 240. Fiscal Year 2010: The estimated number of awards for FY2010 is 240.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0943-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $89,181,333; FY 09 est $95,600,000; FY 10 est $95,600,000 - Occupational Safety and Health Program.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

General Grants and Cooperative Agreements: $15,000 to $4,924,000. Training Grants: $29,000 to $1,770,000. SBIR Grants: Phase I -$100,000; Phase II - up to $750,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

42 CFR Parts 86 and 87. 45 CFR Part 74 or 92, as applicable. OMB Circulars A-21 and A-87. The PHS Grants Policy Statement, including addenda in effect as of the beginning date of the budget period, and the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Funding opportunity announcements as published in the NIH Guide: (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html), the Grants.gov website (www.grants.gov), and the NIOSH OEP web site (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/). Omnibus Solicitation of the Public Health Service for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applications. Any additional grant program legislation and regulation cited in the Notice of Grant Award.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Program Contact: Office of Extramural Programs, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., MS-E74, Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: (404) 498-2530. Grants Management Contact: Mr. Larry Guess, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Acquisition and Assistance Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, 626 Cochrans Mill road, PO Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Telephone: (412) 386-6826.

Headquarters Office

Stephanie L. Shack 1600 Clifton Rd., NE
Cubicle 4201.23, Mailstop E-74
, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Email: SShack@cdc.gov Phone: 4044982547

Web Site Address

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (1) An Integrated Approach Toward Understanding the Toxicity of Inhaled Nanomaterials, (2) Violence Against Home Health and Hospice Workers, (3) Occupational Exposure to Chlorinated Solvents and Cardiovascular Malformations, (4) 2008 Western Agricultural Conference, (5) Translating a Weight Management Program to Worksites, (6) Worker Health and Safety in Chinatown Restaurants: A CBPR Study, (7) Western U.S. Mining Safety and Health Training, (8) Occupational Safety and Health Training Project, (9) Occupational Safety and Health Training Grant, (10) Hazardous Substance Training for Emergency Responders (11) Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, (12) NYC Fire Dept. Clinical Center for WTC Monitoring and Treatment, (13) NYU World Trade Center Responder Health Consortium, (14) Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention, (15) Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance in New York. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to stated program objectives. Training Grants: Criteria used in evaluating training proposals include: (1) Overall potential contribution of the project toward meeting program objectives; (2) the need for training in the areas outlined in the application; (3) curriculum content and design; (4) previous record of training; (5) evaluation methods; (6) experience and training of the project director and staff; (7) institutional commitment; (8) academic and physical environment; (9) past performance; and (10) appropriateness of budget. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technological innovation, originality, or societal importance of the proposed research; (5) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (6) the reasonableness of the budget requested for the work proposed; (7) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (8) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment.