Division of Violence Prevention

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, June 22, 2026

Grants to Support New Investigators in Conducting Research Related to Preventing Interpersonal Violence and Suicide Among Children and Youth (K01) Opportunity number: RFA-CE-26-021

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 13

Program description 16

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 28

Find the application package 29

Get registered 29

Help applying 31

Step 3: Build Your Application 32

Application checklist 33

Application contents and format 34

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award 39

Application review 40

Award notices 47

Step 5: Submit Your Application 48

Submission requirements and deadlines 49

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 51

Post-award requirements and administration 52

Contacts and Support 54

Before you begin 3

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. local time on Monday, June 22, 2026.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 13

Program description 16

Basic information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Division of Violence Prevention

Funding research by new investigators on preventing interpersonal violence and suicide among children and youth.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name: Grants to Support New Investigators in Conducting Research Related to Preventing Interpersonal Violence and Suicide Among Children and Youth (K01)

Opportunity number:

RFA-CE-26-021

Assistance listing: 93.136

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

Monday, June 22, 2026

Informational call:

June 1, 2026

Optional letter of intent deadline: May 29, 2026

Expected scientific review dates: July 31, 2026

Expected secondary review dates: August 10, 2026

Expected award date:

August 27, 2026

Expected start date:

September 30, 2026

Expiration date:

December 18, 2026

See Submit Your Application for other submission requirements and deadlines that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) helps researchers develop skills in conducting research on interpersonal violence and suicide. The goal is to help scientists become independent researchers in the field.

You must propose a research project focused on at least one of the listed NCIPC research priorities related to interpersonal violence, suicide, or both among children and youth, from birth to age 17, as described in the Purpose section.You are encouraged to explore:

• Multiple forms of interpersonal violence, suicide, or both, among children and youth.

• Community factors that increase the risk of interpersonal violence, or suicide, or both.

• The practical relevance of the research for prevention and intervention efforts.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Funding type: Grant

Expected awards: 4 The number of awards is subject to available funds and program priorities.

Period of performance: 3 years in 12-month budget periods.

Application type: New

Expected total program funding over the performance period: $1,800,000

Expected total program funding per budget period: $600,000

Expected funding per applicant per budget period: $150,000

Maximum award amount per budget period: $150,000 ceiling

Minimum award amount per budget period: $0 floor

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Only these types of organizations may apply.

• State governments.

• County governments.

• City or township governments.

• Special district governments.

• Independent school districts.

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized).

• Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.

• Native American tribal organizations, other than federally recognized tribal governments.

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses.

• Faith-based organizations.

• Small businesses.

• Bona fide agents applying on behalf of state, territorial, local, and tribal government organizations.

Bona fide agents must submit documentation that demonstrates their arrangement with the eligible applicant. See Other Attachments form.

Responsiveness criteria We will review your application to make sure it meets these requirements.

These are the basic requirements you must meet to move forward in the competition. We won’t consider an application that:

• Is from an organization that doesn’t meet all eligibility criteria. See requirements in Eligibility.

• Is submitted after the application deadline.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Research proposal requirements To be considered, your research proposal must:

• Have a budget for each fiscal year that does not exceed $150,000, as described in the Funding details section.

• Address at least one of the listed NCIPC research priorities related to interpersonal violence, suicide, or both among children and youth, from birth to age 17, as described in the Purpose section.

• Align with the objectives of this announcement and assess outcomes related to interpersonal violence or suicide or key risk factors for one or more forms of interpersonal violence or suicide affecting children or youth from birth to age 17, as described in the Objectives and outcomes section.

Project director (PD)/ Principal investigator (PI) requirements You must show that the PD/PI meets the following requirements as of the NOFO due date:

• Has a relevant research or health- professional doctoral or medical degree (such as PhD, ScD, DO, DrPH, MD, DVM, PharmD, DDS, DMD, PsyD, DBH, DNP, DPT, DNP) from an accredited institution in the SF-424 Biographical Sketch.

• Has less than 5 years of post-graduate experience as a researcher in the field of interpersonal violence, or suicide prevention, or both. (Research conducted during undergraduate or pre-graduate training does not count towards this limit. Only research on interpersonal violence or suicide prevention that is conducted after completing the required degree counts.)

◦ Make sure the SF-424 Biographical Sketch documents:

▪ All of the PD/PI’s relevant research experience in the Positions and Employment section.

▪ Periods of significant breaks in post-graduate employment, or employment in areas unrelated to violence prevention.

• Does not have current or former funding as a PD/PI on any of these independent research mechanisms:

◦ CDC or NIH research project (R01 or U01).

◦ Program project (P01).

◦ Center grant (R49, P50).

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

◦ Sub-project of program project (P01).

◦ Sub-project of center grant (R49, P50).

◦ Other major individual career development award (e.g., K01, K07, K08, K22, K23, K25, K76, K99/R00).

▪ You must show this in the PD/PI eRA Commons Grant History Profile.

• Has a full-time position at an eligible applicant institution. This does not have to be a tenure track appointment.

◦ Show this in the Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Research Career Development section of your application by including a Candidate Eligibility Statement (e.g., an institutional letter of attestation) that:

▪ Is signed by an Authorized Representative for the institution.

▪ Verifies the PD/PI’s full-time employment status.

• Commits to a minimum of 60% of full-time professional effort (at least 7.2 person-months/year) to the proposed research and career development and training activities for the entire performance period.

◦ Document this in the budget, budget justification, and PHS 308 Career Development Award sections of the application.

• Has a primary mentor who is committed to supporting the PD/PI for the entire project.

◦ You must include a letter of support (LoS) from the mentor in the Plans and Statements of Mentor and Co-Mentor(s) section of the application.

Applications that do not meet all these requirements will not be considered.

See the application checklist to understand which elements of your application are part of the responsiveness criteria.

Application limits You must follow these limits on the number of applications your organization can submit.

You may submit more than one application per institution if each application is scientifically distinct. The principal investigator (PI) must be different for each application you submit.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

If two or more applications from the same PD/PI or with the same primary mentor are received, only the last application received, based on the document’s time and date stamp in Grants.gov, will be reviewed.

The PD/PI and primary mentor may be employed by the applicant institution or by different institutions.

Additionally, if you are an institution submitting applications with essentially the same proposed research to two or more CDC NOFOs, you will not be funded by more than one NOFO. You must withdraw duplicate applications before the Scientific review date.

Qualifications for principal investigator or project director We invite anyone who has the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to carry out the proposed research as a project director or principal investigator (PD/PI) to work with their organization or institution to apply.

CDC does not award individuals directly. If you possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to conduct the proposed research, you should collaborate with your institution to submit a support application. Please also see the eligibility criteria for Project Directors (PDs)/Principal Investigators (PIs) in the Responsiveness criteria section.

Number of PD/PIs You may only list one PD/PI in the SF-424 Senior/Key Personnel project role category. Additional Senior/Key Personnel project roles are limited to Mentor, Co-Investigator, Consultant, and Other. Multiple PDs/PIs (M-PDs/PIs) and Co- Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) project roles are not allowed for this NOFO.

Please see the rest of the PD/PI requirements in the Responsiveness criteria section.

Mentor requirements This NOFO seeks to help you conduct important research with the guidance of an experienced mentor. The end goal is independence in your research.

So, you must choose a primary mentor to supervise your research and career development. The primary mentor must:

• Be an active researcher in interpersonal violence or suicide prevention research.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 http://www.grants.gov/

• Commit to both your career development and direct supervision of the entire project.

• Have sufficient research support and facilities for high-quality research.

You are encouraged to have more than one mentor (i.e., a mentoring team or advisory committee) for additional support. However, you can only identify one person as the primary mentor who will supervise the research.

You must work with your mentor(s) to prepare the application. The primary mentor and all members of the mentoring team should:

• Have a successful track record of mentoring people at your career stage.

• Demonstrate appropriate expertise, experience, and ability to guide you in organizing, managing, and implementing the proposed research project

• Be clearly identified in the Mentor project role category, in the SF-424 Senior/Key Personnel section of the application.

Please note that the primary mentor and all members of the mentoring team should have sufficient research support to cover any costs of the proposed research project more than the allowable costs of this award. This award does not include funds to support the primary mentor or any members of the mentoring team.

Mentor letter(s) of support Each proposed mentor must provide a letter of support (LoS) in the Plans and Statements of Mentor and Co-Mentor(s) section of the application.

Each mentor’s LoS must describe:

• The partnership, i.e., specific roles and responsibilities between you and your mentor.

• The nature and extent of the relationship.

If more than one mentor is proposed, each mentor’s LoS should describe:

• Their areas of expertise and responsibility.

• How mentoring will be coordinated among all mentors.

If the primary does not have an appointment at the applicant institution, you must describe how, and how frequently, they will communicate with you (the PD/PI), including face-to-face meetings.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Institutional support Describe your institution’s support of your career development plan and proposed research in the Description of Institutional Environment and Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Research Career Development.

Cost sharing and matching funds This program has no cost-sharing requirement, meaning you do not need to contribute to the costs of this project.

If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we won’t consider it during review. If you receive an award, we will include your voluntary commitment in the award, and you must report on the funds.

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Agency priorities Required alignment with CDC priorities The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Priorities when authorized (for a full description of the CDC Priorities, please follow the provided hyperlink).

Funded activities must:

• Align with CDC’s core priorities by demonstrating a commitment to gold-standard science, transparency, and evidence-based practices.

• Support CDC’s mission to protect Americans from infectious and chronic diseases, strengthen public health systems, and advance innovation in health data and infrastructure.

• Contribute to rapid, science-driven responses to health threats, promote global health leadership, and adhere to principles of integrity, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and federal priorities.

Consistent with CDC’s values, in carrying out any project funded under this NOFO, the recipient must adhere to the following principles where consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

• A commitment to gold-standard science and ensuring trust, transparency, and credibility: To build trust and improve CDC’s ability to lead during health crises, CDC will increase transparency, be more accountable, and follow strict, gold-standard scientific practices that are open, unbiased, and based on clear evidence.

• A commitment to global leadership: With staff in 63 countries and supporting 20 more, CDC’s Global Health Center:

◦ Works to prevent disease and advance emergency response.

◦ Detect health threats early, sends response teams, trains health workers, and provides personal protective equipment, vaccines, and medicines.

◦ Test disease samples from around the world to prepare for flu and other serious outbreaks.

◦ Has strengthened systems to better protect people at home and abroad after the COVID-19 outbreak.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://www.cdc.gov/about/cdc/index.html

• A commitment to ensuring rapid, evidence-based responses to crises:

During public health emergencies, ensuring rapid, science-driven responses is critical to minimizing harm, maintaining public trust, and restoring stability. To meet this goal, CDC must continue to strengthen its emergency response systems by:

◦ Streamlining internal processes.

◦ Improving risk communication strategies.

◦ Ensuring that laboratory capacity is fully equipped and tested—capable of rapidly developing and deploying scalable diagnostics during crises.

◦ Embedding structures for real-time learning, independent after-action reviews, and the application of lessons learned will ensure that each crisis response is smarter, faster, and more effective than the last.

• A commitment to vaccine safety and efficacy research: CDC will apply “gold-standard” science to all of its vaccine safety and effectiveness research. It will make vaccine data, research methods, and related datasets publicly available through simple data use agreements to improve transparency, accountability, and trust.

• A commitment to advancing our understanding of the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), and chronic disease: CDC conducts research and works with partners to better understand the causes of autism spectrum disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders, and chronic diseases. It will use new and existing data to study the rise in these conditions, including the increase in autism diagnoses from 1 in 150 to nearly 1 in 31 over the past 25 years.

• A commitment to modernizing public health infrastructure and enhancing our approach to health data: CDC will modernize public health infrastructure to create a faster, more efficient health system that can detect and respond to outbreaks in real time. This effort includes:

◦ Replacing data silos with integrated systems.

◦ Using advanced technology.

◦ Strengthening partnerships with states to ensure shared responsibility and strong local health data systems.

◦ Emphasizing collaboration across federal and state partners, resilient and adaptable systems, and accountability for funded programs to ensure they align with these priorities and federal requirements.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

• Conflicts of interest: CDC will not support funding programs with conflicts of interest and ensure its work is based on transparent, unbiased science.

• Immigration: CDC funds will not be used to support or encourage illegal immigration, consistent with federal law.

• Protecting life and the family: CDC funds will not be used to support elective abortions, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, and will promote maternal health, the dignity of life, and strong families.

• Ending disorder on America’s streets: CDC will prioritize evidence-based programs that reduce homelessness, drug use, and public disorder. It will support comprehensive services for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorder. CDC will not support housing first strategies, harm-reduction or safe consumption sites, or related activities. To the extent allowable by federal law, CDC intends to give priority to grantees in States and municipalities that have laws and policies that support and enforce CDC’s priorities.

• Gender ideology and protecting children: CDC will not fund medical interventions for minors seeking gender transition and will define sex based on biological criteria.

• DEI: CDC will not support DEI initiatives based on group identity and focus on merit-based, evidence-driven approaches to improve health outcomes.

• Parental rights: CDC will support policies that protect parental authority, promote transparency, and give parents greater control over their children’s education.

The recipient must demonstrate ongoing compliance with the full description and listing of CDC values and priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation.

Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other enforcement actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 CFR Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award. The full CDC Priorities Statement can be found here: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Priorities.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/gender-dysphoria-report.pdf

Program description Background Healthy People 2030 NCIPC is committed to achieving the objectives of “Healthy People 2030.” This NOFO addresses multiple interpersonal violence- and suicide-related objectives of Healthy People 2030. Your research proposal should add to the existing evidence on effective strategies for preventing multiple forms of interpersonal violence and suicide.

About NCIPC Interpersonal violence, including adverse childhood experiences, child abuse and neglect, youth violence, teen dating violence, and sexual violence, and suicide are major public health issues that impact children and youth. The mission of CDC’s NCIPC is to prevent injuries through surveillance, research and evaluation, and prevention activities. NCIPC uses the same scientific methods to prevent violence and suicide that are used to prevent disease, including:

• Carefully describing the problem through surveillance.

• Studying factors that increase or decrease risk for violence and suicide.

• Designing and evaluating prevention strategies that address these risk and protective factors.

• Ensuring that proven strategies are implemented in communities nationwide.

Supporting new investigators Strong, innovative, and relevant research requires a growing field of new qualified researchers. NCIPC supports the development of new investigators so they can:

• Grow the field of interpersonal violence and suicide prevention.

• Gain experience as independent investigators.

• Eventually conduct independent research as a principal investigator of research grants (R01) and cooperative agreements (U01).

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.healthypeople.gov/

Research focus Exposure to interpersonal violence and suicide can negatively affect health and development at all ages. Forms of interpersonal violence include:

• Adverse childhood experiences.

• Child abuse and neglect.

• Youth violence.

• Sexual violence.

• Intimate partner violence, including teen dating violence.

Multiple forms of interpersonal violence and suicide often share risk and protective factors. Despite these links, research often focuses on a specific form of interpersonal violence or suicide. This can limit understanding of prevention strategies’ cross-cutting impacts. You are encouraged to address multiple forms of interpersonal violence, as well as suicide, among children or youth, when possible.

Purpose This NOFO is for the NCIPC Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01). New investigators are supported by a mentor to conduct research on interpersonal violence and suicide prevention and gain research independence.

The research must address at least one NCIPC research priority on interpersonal violence, suicide, or both, within the following topics:

• Adverse childhood experiences.

• Child abuse and neglect.

• Youth violence.

• Intimate partner violence, including teen dating violence.

• Sexual violence.

• Suicide.

• Cross-cutting prevention examining two or more of the topics listed above.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://www.cdc.gov/injury-violence-prevention/programs/research-priorities.html

You are also encouraged to address the following:

• Multiple forms of interpersonal violence, suicide, or both impacting children or youth.

• Community factors that increase the risk of interpersonal violence, suicide, or both.

• The practical relevance of the research for prevention and intervention efforts.

Applications must assess interpersonal violence outcomes, suicide outcomes, or key risk or protective factors for one or more forms of interpersonal violence or suicide impacting children or youth, from birth to age 17.

Public health impact NCIPC’s Division of Violence Prevention has developed and published Prevention Resources for Action to help states and communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent interpersonal violence and suicide. These documents present strategies and approaches at multiple levels (e.g., individual, relationship, family, school, community, and societal factors) that influence risk and protective factors for interpersonal violence and suicide.

CDC priorities NCIPC’s research priorities strengthen the understanding of risk and protective factors and the evaluation of prevention strategies that address multiple forms of violence, as well as suicide, and focus on those at elevated risk. Examples of previously-funded research and descriptions of interpersonal violence and suicide prevention initiatives are available on NCIPC’s website.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/php/resources-for-action/ https://www.cdc.gov/injury-violence-prevention/programs/research-priorities.html https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/fundinghub/fundedprograms/research-awards.html

Approach Research strategy requirements The Specific Aims section of your application must state the NCIPC interpersonal violence or suicide research priority (or priorities) that you will address.

Clearly describe your proposed research approach including:

• Data source(s) and data access plans.

• Planned analyses and how the analytic approach is well suited to the data source, including estimated sample size and a power analysis for outcomes of interest clearly specified.

• A research plan that describes the:

◦ Research question(s) of interest.

◦ Proposed hypothesis for the study.

◦ Proposed aims and objectives.

◦ Research study design used to test the hypothesis.

◦ Expected outcomes to be evaluated.

Analytic plans should anticipate and evaluate the effects of threats to the internal and external validity of the specified research design. We expect rigorous research designs using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods that are appropriate for the research questions. You must propose studies that can feasibly be completed within the budget and performance period.

Proposed research projects may expand on an investigation that you (the PD/ PI) are currently involved with or analyses of secondary data.

Objectives and outcomes This section includes the outcomes we expect you to report progress on and achieve within the period of performance if you receive funding.

Objectives An objective of this NOFO is to contribute to improvements in real-world outcomes for children or youth, particularly those who are experiencing elevated burden of or risk for interpersonal violence, suicide, or both. Further, NCIPC’s research seeks to enhance the effects of interpersonal violence and suicide prevention activities by accounting for the conditions that contribute to greater risk, and by focusing on interconnections between different forms

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 of interpersonal violence and suicide. Cross-cutting violence and suicide prevention activities can use resources more effectively by focusing on the conditions that contribute to increased risk for multiple outcomes.

Another objective is to expand the pool of public health investigators in the field of interpersonal violence and suicide prevention. New investigators can contribute to knowledge about the best ways to prevent and address interpersonal violence and suicide impacting children or youth, and this can increase opportunities for developing innovative and impactful violence and suicide prevention solutions. A goal of this NOFO is the meaningful growth and development of the PD/PI’s research and leadership skills.

Outcomes You must assess at least one of the following outcomes from birth to age 17:

• Interpersonal violence victimization, perpetration, or both.

• Suicide deaths, attempts, and/or thoughts.

• At least two key risk or protective factors for one or more forms of interpersonal violence or suicide.

Data collection, acquisition, and analysis You must identify and describe appropriate data sources and provide evidence of your ability to acquire and/or collect data of sufficient quantity and quality to conduct and complete the proposed research within the three-year period of performance. Your application should clearly describe and justify the proposed sampling methods, sample size, power estimates, and data collection methods for the primary outcome(s) and other proposed secondary measures and subgroup analyses. You must specify the timeline for data acquisition (requests for extant data and or primary data collection).

Appropriate data sources will vary by the proposed research approach and outcome measures. You should measure the outcome(s) at the level consistent with the research focus (e.g., federal, state, local, or organizational), the population of interest, and the data sources available or collected for the purposes of this project (e.g., administrative, survey, surveillance, hospital or emergency departments, detention facilities).If you propose the use of qualitative or mixed methods approaches, you should utilize rigorous qualitative research methods. These rigorous qualitative or mixed methods should be stringent and disciplined to ensure credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability of research findings.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20

Focus populations This NOFO focuses on addressing interpersonal violence, suicide, or both, that impacts children or youth, from birth to age 17. You may propose research that focuses on a subset of ages between 0 and 17. You may also include participants and outcomes outside this age range. Nonetheless, the application should describe how the research question and results are relevant to those ages 0 to 17.

You are encouraged to:

• Focus on children or youth who are at high risk of suicide or experiencing interpersonal violence.

• Examine the underlying conditions that contribute to this risk.

This NOFO, including funding and eligibility, is not limited to, based on, nor does it discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex (including sexual orientation and pregnancy) or other constitutionally protected statuses.

Career development plan Your application should include a career development plan that provides:

• Detailed information about the primary mentor’s and any member of a mentoring team ‘s research qualifications and previous experience as a research supervisor.

• A plan that describes the nature of the supervision and mentoring that will occur during the proposed award period.

• A plan for career progression for the PD/PI to move from the mentored stage of their career to independent research investigator status during the award period.

• A plan for monitoring the PD/PI’s research, publications, and progression towards independence.

• A plan to provide annual evaluations of the PD/PI’s progress as required in the annual progress report.

Collaborations As a recipient, your institution is required to carry out the majority of the proposed research work plan. Document how you will do so in SF-424 Research and Related Budget. You cannot serve as a “pass through” to fund another entity to conduct the majority of the research.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21

Letters of support We encourage you to partner with state and local departments of public health, health systems, mental health, schools, hospitals, law enforcement, municipalities, or any other entities to support the proposed research. If you partner with entities that hold the existing data or data sources necessary to answer any proposed questions of interest, you need to show accessibility to the data with letters of agreement or memoranda of understanding. Clearly specify the role of the partners and their level of involvement and commitment to provide data, support, and any other resource required for the study. Include any letters of agreement or memoranda of understanding in the Letters of Support section of your application. Find more details on how you will be evaluated on this in Scored criteria.

Community partnerships You are expected to demonstrate significant and meaningful community partnerships, as appropriate. For example, if you are implementing a prevention approach, this might include partnering with local entities that are: involved in implementing the approach; participating in the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of the strategy; providing access to outcome data or study participants; and supporting and facilitating community engagement activities necessary to support the conduct of the study and dissemination of findings.

Evaluation and performance measurement You must evaluate performance during each stage of the research process, including data extraction, retention, and data analysis. As a recipient, you will be expected to conduct periodic performance monitoring to ensure that each stage is progressing appropriately and on time, and that research activities are of high scientific quality.

You must include a clear description of relevant performance measures for each stage of the research project. The performance measures will be used to document how well the proposed activities are progressing.

Paperwork Reduction Act Any activities involving information collection from 10 or more individuals or organizations may require the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval. The PRA requires review and approval of the information collection by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22

To determine if a proposed activity requires PRA approval, contact your scientific and research contact. Collections include items like surveys and questionnaires. If you have collections requiring PRA approval, CDC is responsible for working with OMB to gain the approval.

For more information about CDC’s requirements under PRA see CDC Paperwork Reduction Act Compliance.

Translation plan You are encouraged to present and publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals. You are also expected to develop a translation plan for sharing research findings beyond presentations and publications to the scientific community.

To this end, your application should:

• Describe how your research may be applied to prevention practice, including how your research findings will be used to expand the evidence base for populations at risk for interpersonal violence, suicide, or both.

• Include plans to inform impacted communities about the proposed study.

• Outline a plan for working collaboratively and in partnership with communities, and community members impacted by interpersonal violence and/or suicide, including plans for disseminating findings to these communities.

• Clearly describe the potential for widespread dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of the proposed policies or programs.

Travel budget As a recipient, you may be required to travel to Atlanta once per year to meet with CDC/NCIPC staff during the performance period to review your progress and findings and to discuss opportunities for widespread dissemination of your research achievements and lessons learned. You must include travel costs for attending this meeting in your travel budget for this NOFO.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23 https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm#cdc_data_surveillance_section_1-cdc-paperwork-reduction-act-compliance https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm#cdc_data_surveillance_section_1-cdc-paperwork-reduction-act-compliance

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS has adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75. You can find details in HHS Summary of Regulatory Changes, which is posted in the Grants.gov Related Documents tab for this opportunity.

General guidance All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate;

racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

• You may use funds only for reasonable program purposes consistent with the award, its terms and conditions, and federal laws and regulations that apply to the award. If you have questions about these purposes, ask the grants management specialist.

• Your budget is arranged in eight categories: salaries and wages, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other (includes consultant costs), and indirect costs.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

• Generally, you may not use funds to purchase furniture or equipment.

Clearly identify and justify any such proposed spending in the budget.

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 24 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

Unallowable costs You may not use funds for:

• Clinical care, except as allowed by law.

• Pre-award costs, unless we give you prior written approval.

• Other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships:

◦ Publicity or propaganda purposes, including preparing, distributing, or using any material designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before any legislative body.

◦ The salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or executive order proposed or pending before any legislative body.

See Anti-Lobbying Restrictions for CDC Recipients.

For guidance on some types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see 2 CFR 200.420, Considerations for Selected Items of Cost.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated. Learn more at CDC Budget Preparation Guidelines.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

Enclose a copy of the current approved rate agreement in your Other Attachments form.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). This rate is 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

Other indirect cost policies As described in 2 CFR 200.403(d), you must consistently charge items as either indirect or direct costs and may not double charge.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 25 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/Anti-Lobbying-Restrictions.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.420 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/budget-preparation-guidance.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.403(d)

Indirect costs may include the cost of collecting, managing, sharing, and preserving data.

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. As of January 2026, the salary rate limitation is $228,000. We update this limitation when it changes.

Program income If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

Expanded authority For more information on expanded authority and pre-award costs, see the HHS Grants Policy Statement and speak to the grants management contact.

Pre-award costs may be allowable as an expanded authority, but only if we authorize the costs.

Public health data We require that awards include the needed costs and methods to share public health data. You may include the reasonable cost of sharing or archiving public health data as part of your requested budget for first-time or continuation awards. For more information, see Data Management and Access.

Human subjects We will restrict funds related to conducting research involving human subjects until the appropriate assurances and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals are in place. To lift the restrictions, we require copies of all current local IRB approval letters, local IRB-approved protocols, and CDC IRB approval letters, when applicable.

If the proposed research project involves more than one institution and will be conducted in the United States, we expect you to:

• Use a single Institutional Review Board (sIRB) to conduct the required ethical review.

• Include a single IRB plan in your research plan and PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form, unless either of the following is true:

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 26 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.307 https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-grants-policy-statement-october-2024.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html

◦ Review by an sIRB would be prohibited by a federal, tribal, or state law, regulation, or policy.

◦ You provide a compelling justification based on ethical or human subject protection issues or other well-justified reasons.

Do not duplicate information in the research plan form and the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form.

In your research plan, discuss the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses of your proposed research. Use the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form to provide detailed information for human subjects studies and clinical trials.

We will review and approve exceptions in accordance with 45 CFR part 46 and, as applicable, 21 CFR part 50 and 21 CFR part 56, or we may place a restriction on the award.

Note: The sIRB requirement applies to participating sites in the United States.

Foreign sites participating in CDC-funded, cooperative research studies do not need to follow the requirement for sIRB.

For more information, please consult the scientific and research contact listed for this NOFO.

Statutory authority Awards are made under the authorization of Section 301 (a) [42 U.S.C. 241(a)] of the Public Health Service Act, and section 391 (a) [42 U.S.C. 280 b(a)] of the Public Service Health Act, as amended.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 27 http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-50 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-56

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 29

Get registered 29

Help applying 31

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov or eRA ASSIST and search for opportunity number RFA-CE-26-021 After opening the opportunity, select the “package” tab to see the forms.

We recommend that you select the Subscribe button from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for help.

Get registered You must be registered in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov to apply. You can review the requirements and get started on developing your application before your registrations are complete.

SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 29 https://grants.gov/search-grants https://public.era.nih.gov/assist/public/login.era?TARGET=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.era.nih.gov%3A443%2Fassist%2F https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

eRA Commons You must register in eRA Commons. Your senior and key personnel must also register and affiliate their accounts with your organization’s account.

Register at least four weeks before the application deadline.

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 30 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://public.era.nih.gov/commonsplus/public/login.era?TARGET=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.era.nih.gov%3A443%2Fcommons

Help applying For help with the application process and tips for preparing your application, see How to Apply on our website and the Research Instructions for NIH and Other PHS Agencies [PDF].

If any instructions differ from those in this NOFO, follow the instructions in this NOFO.

For other questions, see Contacts and Support.

Join the informational call For more information about this opportunity, join our informational call. A pre-application webinar call will be conducted on June 1, 2026, to address questions from prospective applicants regarding NOFO RFA-CE-26-021. The call will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and end at 2:50 p.m. ET, or sooner if all questions are addressed. Questions and answers from the discussion are anticipated to be included in an amended NOFO approximately 3 weeks after the webinar.

Join the meeting via Microsoft Teams.

• Meeting ID: 298 378 324 129 351

• Passcode: it2Co95w

If you are not able to join through your computer, you can call in.

• +1 (404) 498-3000,,396573768# United States, Atlanta

• (888) 994-4478,,396573768# United States (Toll-free)

• Find a local number

• Phone conference ID: 396 573 768#

Joining and participating is voluntary and does not affect eligibility, application scoring, or award selection. You can attend anonymously.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 31 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/applying/index.html https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/research-forms-i.pdf https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/298378324129351?p=TA3PuOEzKf1In1JVK0 tel:+14044983000,,396573768 tel:8889944478,,396573768 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/f157e5c8-9e01-4021-b245-b3aec6e9a1bc?id=396573768

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 33

Application contents and format 34

Application checklist You must follow the research instructions [PDF] to complete your application.

In this section, we…