RFA-ES-27-004-Full-Announcement.html

Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Funding Opportunity Title

Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional)

Activity Code

P42 Hazardous Substances Basic Research Grants Program

Announcement Type

Reissue of

RFA-ES-23-001

Related Notices

Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

RFA-ES-27-004

Companion Notice of Funding Opportunity

None

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility. See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s)

93.143

Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is announcing the continuation of the Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program, referred to as Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers. SRP Center grants will support problem-based, solution-oriented research Centers that consist of multiple, integrated projects representing both the biomedical and environmental science and engineering disciplines; as well as cores tasked with administrative (which includes Center leadership, data management, and training); translational research and engagement; and research support functions. The scope of the SRP Centers is taken directly from the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, which limits competition for this program to accredited institutes of higher education.Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.

Funding Opportunity Goal(s)

To support innovative research and training through multi-project, interdisciplinary grants. Areas of research may include: (1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health; (2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; (3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and (4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

Key Dates

Posted Date

May 19, 2026

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

June 01, 2026

The following table includes NIH standard due dates marked with an asterisk.

September 25, 2026 *

September 25, 2026 *

Not Applicable

July 2027

September 25, 2027 *

September 25, 2027 *

Not Applicable

July 2028

September 25, 2028 *

September 25, 2028 *

Not Applicable

July 2029

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

No late applications will be accepted for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Expiration Date

September 26, 2028

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information Key Dates Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

Research Objectives The NIEHS invites qualified investigators from domestic institutions of higher education to submit an application for an SRP Center grant. SRP legislation, under SARA of 1986, allows NIEHS the flexibility to create university-based Centers to conduct research to address the wide array of scientific uncertainties facing the national Superfund program. Per 42 USC 9660 (a)(3) eligible applicants are limited to accredited institutes of higher education. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding. The complex problems related to sites impacted by hazardous substances requires the expertise of both biomedical research (BMR) and environmental science and engineering (ESE) disciplines. Applicants responding to this Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) are expected to design a research Center that integrates BMR (e.g., toxicology, epidemiology, mechanistic studies) with ESE (e.g., remediation, geosciences, ecological sciences). The goal of a NIEHS SRP Center is to improve public health by supporting integrative, multidisciplinary research incorporating the following: responsiveness to mandates; problem-based, solution-oriented research; relevance to SRP and Superfund.

Responsiveness to Mandates: SARA Section 311(a) “Hazardous Substances Research and Training,” authorizes NIEHS to create a basic research and training program for the development of:

1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect of hazardous substances on human health;

2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances;

3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and

4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

To accomplish these mandates, Centers are expected to assemble interdisciplinary research teams with expertise in BMR and ESE to advance scientific knowledge using innovative and integrated approaches. Moreover, the SRP's fourth mandate reinforces the program's problem-solving mission; whereby, the research generated by SRP Centers would lead to strategies to prevent exposure and improve public health. Centers are also expected to facilitate transfer of research findings through coordinated data management and analysis; engage communities, end-users, and stakeholders with prevention/intervention strategies to reduce exposures; share findings to broader audiences; and train the next generation of scientists. (SRP defines stakeholders as those individuals and entities that benefit from SRP research and technologies in improving public health.)

Problem-based, Solution-oriented Research: Applicants are expected to design Centers that will contribute to solving a scientific problem(s) related to SRP’s mandates and with relevance to Superfund. The problem being solved could be a discreet but critical gap in the larger context of a complex issue, or it may answer a specific question, that if left unanswered, would create an impediment to effectively protect public health.

Relevance to SRP Mandates and Superfund: Given SRP’s broad mandates, it is important for interdisciplinary teams to work together to foster research that addresses Superfund relevant exposure pathways. Ultimately, problem-solving research seeks to find answers to inform real-life exposures – both in terms of understanding health implications as well as developing remedies for these exposures. For these reasons, applicants should assemble teams that consider multiple vantage points to address research challenges within a given mandate area, contaminant, or exposure scenario that may have the greatest potential for supporting the SRP's goal of protecting human health and the environment from the impact of hazardous substances.

The SRP also considers the diverse research and information needs of its end-users as important criteria for determining relevance. SRP end-users include the Superfund programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In addition, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are important end-users of research and technology to manage and mitigate sites impacted by hazardous substances. In addition, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other NIH Institutes and Centers may provide valuable opportunities to promote and leverage the findings of SRP research. The SRP also considers other federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, and communities impacted by hazardous substances as important end-users. Other stakeholders to be considered include formal/informal educational groups, hazardous waste practitioners, the general public, and other academic researchers. Therefore, investigators should seek input from end-users mentioned above during application development and identify critical issues for which fundamental science is needed.

(Note: Applications lacking clear relevance to SRP Mandates and Superfund will be considered nonresponsive.)

Center Structure To achieve a broad and sustained impact, SRP Centers are expected to include the following:

Administrative Core: an Administrative Core is required in each SRP Center grant application (which includes Center leadership, data management, and training functions):

Translational Research and Engagement Core: a Translational Research and Engagement Core (TREC) is required in each SRP Center grant application. In support of the NIEHS Strategic Plan and its cross-cutting themes, SRP values not only solutions-focused research, but also its translation to enable health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence-based intervention. This is accomplished through two key core activities:

Research Projects: Collectively, the Center's research projects (consisting of biomedical research projects and environmental science and engineering research projects) should represent a range of basic and applied research that contributes to the problem-based, solution-oriented goal of the Center. Projects should be hypothesis-driven or product-oriented research.

(Note: Centers should be comprised of a minimum of 3 (maximum of 4) Research Projects and could be a combination of 2 BMR/2 ESE or 2 BMR/1 ESE or 1 BMR/2 ESE.)

Research Support Core (Optional): Applicants may include a Research Support Core (RSC) to provide centralized resources/services in support of the scientific goals of at least two projects. This may include, but would not be limited to, analytical services, biostatistics, bioinformatics, geographical information systems, data visualization, and computational modeling, etc.

Integration: The SRP considers integration of a Center's projects and core as an important way to target complex problem(s) relevant to the SRP's mandates. A Center should demonstrate evidence of synergy between its projects and core - including interaction between BMR and ESE disciplines.

Scope of the SRP Center Grant The scope of the SRP Center is defined by the SRP Mandates. Research and supporting activities under this NOFO may utilize a variety of approaches to achieve SRP mandates, listed here:

1) Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect of hazardous substances on human health.

2) Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances.

3) Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment.

4) Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

(Note: There is a requirement for Center applications to include at least one ESE project that supports Mandate #4.)

Examples of Research Topics: For a listing of research areas of interest to the SRP and its end-users, please refer to the Suggested Research and Activities document found on the SRP website.

Applicants are also encouraged to propose research that fills gaps or needs not currently addressed within the SRP. Applicants are also encouraged to review its list of current grant recipients.

Hazardous Substances: The following substances are relevant to SRP:

The applicants should refer to the SRP's website for a list of hazardous substances, including emerging contaminants, that have been suggested for study by SRP end-users/stakeholders.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with SRP staff for specific questions about the relevancy of a hazardous substance for this NOFO, as the presence of a compound on one of the lists mentioned above does not automatically make it relevant to the SRP. The SRP will place priority on research with a clear connection to understanding health effects relevant to populations living near or affected by sites impacted by hazardous substances. In addition, SRP encourages investigations on understudied chemicals found at Superfund sites to gain an understanding their health effects.

Although the SRP recognizes the important public health impact of research focusing on exposures to consumer product-related chemicals, non-point source air pollution, and non-point source water pollution, the SRP will place a higher priority on research with a clear connection to understanding exposures relevant to populations living near or affected by sites impacted by hazardous substances. Per SARA Mandates, hazardous substances do not include petroleum, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel.

Activities on Hazardous Waste Sites The SRP is not a site-specific program; research activities proposed by the Center are not required to take place on Superfund or hazardous waste sites. However, whether through research project or core activity(ies), Centers are strongly encouraged to seek opportunities for interactions at Superfund sites, managed hazardous waste sites, and facilities where hazardous substances are located, which greatly increases the positive impact of SRP research and its utility to end-users. Superfund sites serve as a good conceptual model for research focusing on hazardous substances. (Note: The SRP is a research program, and activities that propose preliminary site assessment activities may not be considered responsive.) If on-site activities will be conducted, researchers must coordinate with appropriate federal/state/local/Tribal agencies and site officials in the early stages of project development and throughout the process. They should also observe best safety practices and include a process and timeline for reporting results. When applicable, applicants must:

Links to end-user points of contact and suggestions for Hazardous Waste Site access are included on the following webpage (under Additional Resources).

Annual Meetings It is the intent of the NIEHS to hold annual SRP grant recipient meetings. It is anticipated that the location of the meeting site will rotate among the different grant recipients and Research Triangle Park, NC. For more information, see Section IV. Application and Submission Information.

Investigators proposing NIH-defined clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New

Renewal

Resubmission

The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provides details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Clinical Trial?

Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s).

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

NIEHS intends to fund an estimate of up to 10 awards based on programmatic needs and availability of funds, corresponding to a total of up to approximately $22 million, for fiscal year 2027. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations.

Award Budget

Applications may request a budget for direct costs of up to $1.75 million dollars for each year.

Award Project Period

Applications may propose a project period of up to 5 years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. Foreign organizations must obtain a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)- A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

All PD(s)/PI(s) must be registered with ORCID. The personal profile associated with the PD(s)/PI(s) eRA Commons account must be linked to a valid ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2- Definitions of Terms.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:

A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.

A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications).

Based on 42 USC 9660(a)(3) eligible applicants are limited to accredited institutes of higher education. Eligible applicants are permitted under the law, and encouraged by NIEHS, to subcontract as appropriate with other organizations as necessary to conduct portions of the research. Examples of other organizations may include generators of hazardous wastes; persons involved in the detection, assessment, evaluation, and treatment of hazardous substances; owners and operators of facilities at which hazardous substances are located; and/or State and local governments.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution. A button to apply using ASSIST is available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See the administrative office for instructions if planning to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise (in this NOFO, in a policy notice, or other notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Page Limitations All page limitations described in the How to Apply- Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Required

Required

Required

Required

Optional

Instructions for the Submission of Multi-Component Applications

The following section supplements the instructions found in How to Apply- Application Guide and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.

Centers must be comprised of a minimum of 3 (maximum of 4) Research Projects and could be a combination of 2 BMR/2 ESE or 2 BMR/1 ESE or 1 BMR/2 ESE.

Overall Component When preparing the application, use Component Type ‘Overall’.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424(R&R) Cover (Overall) Complete entire form.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Overall) Follow standard instructions.

Research & Related Other Project Information (Overall) Follow standard instructions.

Project Narrative: It should be clear in the "Project Narrative" (i.e., the "public health relevance" statement) the relevance of the Center’s activities to public health, end-users/stakeholders, Superfund, and the SRP mandates.

Other Attachments: The following "Other Attachments" must be included with the overall component to aid in the review of applications. The filename provided for each attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the application image.

Please refer to the following website for example illustrations of the tables.

Project/Performance Site Locations (Overall) Enter primary site only.

A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Overall) Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this NOFO) for the entire application.

A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.

Budget (Overall) The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.

A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

PHS 398 Research Plan (Overall) Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is required in the Overall component.

Specific Aims: Applicants must provide Specific Aims for the Overall Center describing the objectives and goals of the Center, as they relate to the SRP Mandates and Superfund. The Specific Aims section should provide greater scientific detail and approaches than the overall Summary/Abstract. In addition, it should be clear how the components of the Center will interact to solve the target scientific problem(s) proposed by the Center, and the role of each project and core in contributing to resolving the problem(s) stated in the application.

Research Strategy: The Research Strategy section should highlight the following subsections: Significance and Relevance to SRP Mandates and Superfund; Research Team; Innovation, Approach; Environment; and Center Integration. Descriptions should include:

Significance and Relevance to SRP Mandates and Superfund

Research Team

Innovation, Approach, and Environment:

Center Integration:

(For Center integration, the applicant may also wish to cross-reference other sections of the application where more detailed information is found. For example, the Overall "Other Attachments" includes the “Center Organizational Structure”; “Integration with Center,” “End-users and Field Sites,” and “Changes to Projects and Cores” (as applicable). Other sections where interaction may be demonstrated include the Relation to Overall Center sections.)

For Renewal Applications. Renewal applications must include, in the Research Strategy, a general progress report that describes achievements under the grant since the last competitive review. The progress report should not be a copy of the material included for the individual projects. (The individual research projects/cores will also provide a “Progress Report” in their respective Research Strategy sections). Items to be included are the following:

Timeline: Applicants should also provide an Overall Center timeline for the completion of problem-solving goals.

Letters of Support: Applicants should include all letters of support pertaining to the Overall Center in this section. For example, these letters may include collaborative agreements for the entire Center (e.g., from potential end-users/stakeholders), institutional support (if applicable), etc. However, only those Letters of Support that pertain to a specific project/core should be placed in the respective project/core. Applications that propose work with American Indian or Alaska Native populations, tribes or communities must include letters of support from the appropriate tribal officials and/or tribal organizations as applicable. See the Application Guide for instructions.

Resource Sharing Plan:

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Other Plan(s):

All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

A Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) is required for any NIH-funded or conducted research that will generate scientific data. Applicants must submit the DMS Plan at the time of application using the NIH DMS Plan Format Page. The DMS Plan must address the elements in the structured format should not exceed two (2) pages. Where the DMS Plan Format Page requires a “Yes or No” response, no additional narrative is allowed. The Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan must be provided in the Overall component.

Appendix:

Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in How to Apply- Application Guide; any instructions provided here are in addition to the How to Apply - Application Guide instructions.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (Overall) When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:

If you answered “Yes” to the question “Are Human Subjects Involved?” on the R&R Other Project Information form, there must be at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record within the application. The study record(s) must be included in the component(s) where the work is being done, unless the same study spans multiple components. To avoid the creation of duplicate study records, a single study record with sufficient information for all involved components must be included in the Overall component when the same study spans multiple components.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

Delayed Onset Study

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.

PHS Assignment Request Form (Overall) All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.

Administrative Core When preparing your application, use Component Type ‘Admin Core.’

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (Administrative Core) Complete only the following fields:

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Administrative Core) Follow standard instructions.

Research & Related Other Project Information (Administrative Core) Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved?’ and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations?’ questions.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the ‘Are Vertebrate Animals Used?’ question.

Project Summary/Abstract: Include a Core Summary/Abstract that briefly describes:

Project Narrative: It should be clear in the "Project Narrative" (i.e., the "public health relevance" statement) the relevance of the Center’s activities to public health, end-users/stakeholders, Superfund, and the SRP mandates.

Other Attachments: Trainee List (For renewal applications only). Renewal applications must provide a "Trainee List".