RFA-OH-24-001 National Construction Center (U54).pdf

RFA-OH-24-001: National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (U54) https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-24-001.html[9/5/2023 3:42:28 PM]

Department of Health and Human Services Part 1. Overview Information Participating Organization(s)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions of the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) might differ from those used by the HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH). If written guidance for completing this application is not available on the CDC website, then CDC will direct applicants elsewhere for that information.

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Funding Opportunity Title

National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (U54)

Activity Code

U54 Specialized Center- Cooperative Agreements

Announcement Type

Reissue of RFA-OH-19-001

Related Notices

None

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number

RFA-OH-24-001

Companion Notice of Funding Opportunity

None

Number of Applications http://www.cdc.gov/ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/ac_search_results.htm?text_curr=u54&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&Search_Type=Activity https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=306707

Key Dates

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

Assistance Listing Number(s)

93.262

Funding Opportunity Purpose

NIOSH is seeking applications from qualified organizations for a National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (also known as the NIOSH National Construction Center). Applicants are expected to propose multi-disciplinary approaches for impactful applied and intervention research and hazard identification and controls, to develop partnerships for implementing prevention and intervention activities, and to serve as leaders in research translation and research-to-practice for the protection of construction workers in the United States. The NIOSH National Construction Center will accomplish these goals by 1) integrating and advancing research, 2) translating and disseminating best practices, 3) disseminating information, 4) informing policy, and 5) building capacity. Applicants must describe the occupational health and safety burden(s) addressed in their proposals. In addition, they must link the need for the proposed research and related activities to the planned outputs and outcomes that will help address or alleviate the construction sector burdens described. Applicants should also describe the anticipated impacts and potential outcomes of the proposed research and related activities that will occur during the 5-year project period and beyond.

Posted Date

August 28, 2023

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

November 1, 2023

Letter of Intent Due Date(s)

The first Letter of Intent due date is November 1, 2023. Thereafter, 30 days prior to the application due date

Application Due Date(s)

December 1, 2023; October 31, 2024; October 31, 2025; October 30, 2026

On-time submission requires that electronic applications be error-free and made available to CDC for processing from the NIH eRA system on or before the deadline date. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time on the listed application due date.

Applicants will use a system or platform to submit their applications through Grants.gov and eRA Commons to CDC. ASSIST and an institutional system to system (S2S) solution are options. ASSIST is a commonly used platform because it provides a validation of all requirements prior to submission and prevents errors.

For more information on accessing or using ASSIST, you can refer to the ASSIST Online Help Site at: https://era.nih.gov/erahelp/assist . Additional support is available from the NIH eRA Service Desk via https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help.

· E-mail: commons@od.nih.gov

· Phone: 301-402-7469 or (toll-free) 1-866-504-9552

· Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding Federal holidays.

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.

Note: HHS/CDC grant submission procedures do not provide a period beyond the application due date time to correct any error or warning notices of noncompliance with application instructions that are identified by Grants.gov or eRA systems (i.e., error correction window).

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Scientific Merit Review

May 2024; March 2025; March 2026; March 2027

Advisory Council Review

June 2024; April 2025; April 2026; April 2027

Earliest Start Date

September 1, 2024

Expiration Date

December 1, 2026 https://era.nih.gov/erahelp/assist https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help mailto:commons@od.nih.gov http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward

Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise in this NOFO. Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced.

Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Telecommunications for the Hearing-Impaired: TTY 1-888-232-6348.

There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.

1. Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online.

2. Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants.gov and eRA Commons to track your application. Check with your institutional officials regarding availability.

Table of Contents Part 1. Overview Information Part 2. Full Text of the 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 Statutory Authority

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82400 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82400 https://public.era.nih.gov/commons/

This program is described in the Assistance Listings and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review. Awards are made under the authorization of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 20(a) and 21(a) (29 USC 669(a) and 29 USC 670); Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, Section 501(a), 30 USC 1 (Note), and 30 USC 951(a); and Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52. All awards are subject to 45 CFR Part 75, the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement.

Background and Purpose Every day, millions of U.S. workers go to work with the expectation of returning home healthy and safe. However, the workplace environment can significantly impact a worker's physical and psychological health. Depending on the nature of the job, workers may be at risk for various types of injuries, illnesses, or even death. Work-related illnesses are often underestimated because it can be challenging to recognize or associate them with past occupational exposures.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2021, private industry employers reported approximately 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, based on the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) data. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reports 5,109 fatal work injuries in 2021 in the United States. Work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths are costly to American society. In 2020, employers spent $93 billion on workers' compensation, as reported by the National Academy of Social Insurance.

BLS estimates indicate that in 2021, there were 2.5 nonfatal workplace injuries per 100 full-time construction workers. Additionally, construction and extraction occupations had 951 fatal injuries in 2021, accounting for 19% of the nation's total work-related deaths.

Most of these deaths are preventable. Falls and struck-by incidents are the leading causes of fatalities in construction, with falls accounting for about 39% of work-related deaths in construction followed by struck-by incidents. Specifically, in 2021, 370 out of 951 total construction fatalities were due to falls. Within the construction industry groups at higher risk for different health outcomes have been identified – where possible, it is important to increase efforts to focus prevention efforts where impact may be greatest. For example, among construction workers roofers had the highest rate of fatal injuries, 59 per 100,000 FTE, in 2020. Beyond physical health risks, current issues related to mental health (including suicide) and substance use disorder (including opioid use disorder) are having a major impact among construction workers and workplaces. The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates compared to other industries, with suicide rates rising dramatically in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 80,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021 -https://sam.gov/content/assistance-listings https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://www.bls.gov/ https://www.nasi.org/research/workers-compensation-2/ https://www.nasi.org/research/workers-compensation-2/ a 15% increase from the previous year. Construction workers are at greater risk for overdose and at greater risk of dying from opioid-related overdoses than the average worker.

NIOSH is an agency operating within the CDC. The mission of NIOSH is to generate new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and transfer that knowledge into practice to prevent worker injury, illness, and death. To accomplish this mission, NIOSH conducts and funds scientific research, develops methods to prevent occupational hazards, develops guidance and authoritative recommendations, translates scientific knowledge into products and services, disseminates information, identifies factors underlying work-related disease and injury, and responds to requests for workplace health hazard evaluations.

NIOSH organizes its research program under the framework of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). NORA is a partnership program to stimulate innovative research and improved workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA began its third decade (2017–2026) with an enhanced structure. It now consists of ten industry sectors based on major areas of the U.S. economy, and seven health and safety cross-sectors organized according to the major health and safety issues affecting the U.S. working population.

This funding opportunity provides support for a National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (National Construction Center) to address the significant and varied burden of work-related injuries and illnesses in the U.S. construction industry. The NIOSH National Construction Center serves as a national leader in construction research, implementation, and dissemination of scientific discoveries to benefit construction workers by working to prevent or reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. The NIOSH National Construction Center recipient will address both regional and national construction worker safety and health issues and prioritize the creation, dissemination, and widespread use of evidence-based solutions to address the most critical safety and health problems in the construction industry. Furthermore, the NIOSH National Construction Center will establish a publicly accessible online repository for research data, indicators, and research-to-practice materials and products. The overarching goal of the National Construction Center is to reduce adverse construction worker health and safety outcomes by studying, developing, and implementing evidence-based practices and solutions.

Healthy People 2030 and other National Strategic Priorities

The United States Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving a society in which all people live long, healthy lives. The vision, mission, and goals are found in Healthy People 2030, a PHS-led national activity to achieve better health in the United States by the year 2030. This funding announcement is linked to the goals of Healthy http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about.html https://www.cdc.gov/nora/ https://www.cdc.gov/nora/ https://health.gov/healthypeople

People 2030, which are intended to prevent work-related diseases, injuries, and deaths while improving worker health, safety, and well-being.

According to Healthy People 2030, more than 160 million people participate in the U.S.

labor force, and their work has an intrinsic connection to their safety and health. Decades of public health surveillance and research have demonstrated that work-related injuries adversely affect employers, workers, and communities. Workplace settings vary widely in size, sector, design, location, processes, culture, and resources. In addition, workers themselves have different ages, genders, education levels, cultural backgrounds, health practices, vulnerabilities, and levels of access to preventive health care. This translates into great diversity and disparity in the safety and health risks for each industry sector and the need for tailored interventions.

The Healthy People 2030 occupational safety and health objectives aim to prevent illness, injury, and disease due to working conditions. All objectives, core and developmental, align with NIOSH’s strategic plan and are addressed through NORA, a program established by NIOSH that works with partners from academia, industry, labor, and government to stimulate research and improve workplace practices.

Public Health Impact

NIOSH programs support research and related activities that address worker safety, injury prevention, and health concerns across a wide spectrum of industries and occupations.

NIOSH also supports approaches that include basic research through implementation research, which takes research knowledge and promotes implementation and use through development and application of engineering controls, new technologies, and communication products. Through this announcement, NIOSH is seeking meritorious applications for a National Construction Center that will assist NIOSH and NIOSH construction program leadership in reducing and preventing occupational injury, illness, death, and disability among U.S. construction workers.

Relevant Work

For over three decades, NIOSH has funded extramural research covering a diverse range of topics and approaches related to construction safety and health. Through a series of cooperative agreements, the NIOSH-sponsored National Construction Center has played a key role in conducting and synthesizing research, implementation, policy, training, and education. NIOSH has successfully supported the advancement of new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and its transfer into practice, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. More information can be found at the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs and the NIOSH Construction Research Program.

Approach https://health.gov/healthypeople https://health.gov/healthypeople https://www.cdc.gov/nora/ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/const/ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/const/

Applications for this funding opportunity should have a national scope for research, implementation, dissemination, and related activities described in this announcement. The proposed projects should aim to achieve the following objectives: 1) reducing and preventing construction worker exposures to safety and health hazards, 2) improving the safety culture and safety climate within the construction industry, 3) applying prevention through design, the hierarchy of controls, and emerging technologies where appropriate to address industry hazards, and 4) widely disseminating best practices and other information for use by workers, employers, contractors, and site owners. The National Construction Center is expected to work closely with NIOSH construction program leadership, academic and research partners, and other organizations to advance research integration and inform best practices and effective worksite solutions in the U.S.

construction industry. Applicants should clearly describe how the intended outcomes of the proposed work will contribute to the specified goals in NIOSH's Strategic Plan and, in the NIOSH Priority Goals for Extramural Research.

National Construction Center Structure

The NIOSH National Construction Center provides interdisciplinary research and outreach efforts to address occupational health and safety hazards in construction. Applicants should consider the required and optional components essential to the National Construction Center function, detailed below, in providing an overall description of the proposed Center, addressing 1) the burden of occupational injuries and illnesses for the construction sector, 2) the national need for the Center’s proposed programs and projects, and 3) the Center’s impact, or potential for impact, on construction worker health and safety.

To effectively address the purpose and scope of this NOFO, the following required components will enable the Center to cohesively address established goals and objectives for providing impact:

Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core Communication, Outreach, and Education Core Research-to-Practice Core Applied Research Projects (collectively, the Applied Research Core)

Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core (up to 20% of total costs/year). The purpose of this core is to 1) provide oversight, leadership, and management for the Center, including establishment and maintenance of advisory committees; 2) engage in long-range planning, coordination, and implementation of work that crosses multiple cores, programs or projects; and 3) develop and assist in implementing evaluation efforts at the Center, core, program and project levels.

Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core (up to 10% of total costs/year). This core acquires, analyzes, interprets and disseminates data, indicators, and important changes/trends within and impacting the construction sector. The types of data can include construction related injury, illness, disability, deaths, industry characteristics, advances in methods, equipment, or technologies, as well as indicators such as employment and demographic economic variables.

Communication, Outreach, and Education Core (up to 10% of total costs). The purpose of this core is to ensure that evidence-based approaches, technologies, guidelines, policies, best practices, or similar activities that are known to be effective are promoted and disseminated to benefit workers and their associated work environments. This core develops partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders to help ensure that research outputs, outcomes, and impacts can be disseminated widely. A variety of pathways should be used, such as live meetings, webinars, websites, and social media.

Research-to-Practice Core (up to 30% of total costs/year). This core ensures a systematic approach focused on the use, adoption, and adaptation of interventions and technologies that translate research findings into practice to reduce and eliminate occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the construction sector. The purpose of this core is to bridge the gap between research and practice by effectively integrating knowledge, interventions, and technologies into workplace policies, procedures, and practices.

Applied Research Core (up to 30% of total costs/year). This core consists of a variety of individual research projects that address burden, need, and impact to improve occupational safety and health in the construction sector. Applied research builds the evidence base for effective prevention and intervention practices.

Guidance has been provided for the approximate budget allocation expected for each core. Applicants may request, with justification, more or less funding for any of the cores, provided they do not exceed the total costs allowed under this NOFO.

Applicants are encouraged to propose a pilot studies subprogram as part of the Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core or the Research-to-Practice Core. Provide a clear description of the program within the appropriate core and fully justify the requested budget. All laws and regulations related to federal funding will apply. NIOSH will neither peer-review individual pilot project proposals nor make available an institutional review board for that purpose.

Research Project Categories

The types of research projects that are strongly recommended within the Applied Research and Research to Practice Cores are described below.

Applied Research builds the evidence base upon which future programs, policies, and progress are supported. Examples of research falling within this category include epidemiological studies, laboratory studies combined with field studies, and other projects that work to reveal disease and injury causation or exacerbation. NIOSH encourages applicants to propose rigorous study designs, such as longitudinal studies, adequately powered study designs, studies involving comparison populations, the use of objective measures, and state-of-the-art data analysis techniques. Results from this type of research are most frequently disseminated via publications, conference presentations, and trade journals/bulletins. Generally, proposals of laboratory-only basic research will not be considered unless there is a compelling rationale, such as studying a new or emerging problem/exposure in the construction sector.

Intervention Research engages in the development, testing, or evaluation of biomedical, human factors, and/or behavioral solutions to an occupational safety and health problem or the improvement of an existing intervention. Intervention research may include the development of a new training program, testing of new technologies or approaches, or the evaluation of new workplace policies, procedures, or tailored programs. Intervention research is differentiated from implementation research through the performance of research or field tests to develop interventional strategies, whereas implementation research develops channels and/or partnerships to disseminate these strategies.

The proposed NIOSH National Construction Center is expected to identify the kinds of construction sector research questions and intervention research questions that can be accomplished through partnerships, collaborations, networks, and consortia. It should take full advantage of the scientific expertise and infrastructure offered by specialized programs and partners. Access to construction worker populations or jobsites is paramount and should be clearly described.

Implementation Research (previously referred to as Translation Research): These projects study the processes by which interventions that were developed and tested to address occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards and risks and/or promote health and well-being (i.e., under the intervention research umbrella) are disseminated, adopted, implemented, sustained, and scaled up equitably in real-world settings. Research under this area will use models, methods, and measures to systematically identify, develop, evaluate, and refine strategies that support the dissemination, adoption, implementation, sustained use, and scale up of previously tested interventions into community and workplace settings for all workers and especially those who are disproportionately impacted by OSH risks and hazards.

In the context of implementation research, strategies are defined as a set of activities (often multicomponent) that support the dissemination, adoption, implementation, sustainment, and scale up of tested interventions. Implementation research answers the ultimate question of what strategies work for whom under what circumstances to support the dissemination, adoption, implementation, sustainment, and scale up of tested interventions.

The proposed National Construction Center is expected to overcome technical and/or communication 'bottleneck' issues through collaborations and leverage external specialized programs and partners to advance implementation effectiveness.

Scientific/academic collaboration is crucial for achieving intended outputs and outcomes.

Surveillance Research guides efforts to detect and monitor disease, injuries, and disabilities and to assess the impact of interventions. Surveillance information can inform policy changes, new program interventions, public communications, and priorities for research investment. Surveillance research may involve the identification and melding of disparate, available data sources to generate reliable morbidity and mortality estimates or the development of unique surveillance methods for specific trades, business sizes, hazards, or adverse health outcomes. Analyses of available surveillance data are not considered research in this context.

The National Construction Center is strongly encouraged to leverage financial and technical resources/systems for the design and operation of a construction sector surveillance system. The Center is expected to identify the types of construction research questions that can be accomplished through formal data access or sharing agreements, collaborations, networks, and consortia. Specialized consulting/expertise may be warranted for computing and data management infrastructure, data set linking, longitudinal and other types of analyses, website data depiction and access, among other areas. One output of this activity should be a publicly accessible yearly update of statistical data, such as an electronic injury and illness chart book.

For all of the above categories, the National Construction Center should have appropriate policies and procedures to ensure scientific integrity and responsible conduct and protections for federally sponsored research.

Note: Federally sponsored data access and open access publication policies will apply.

Strategic Goals

The NIOSH Strategic Plan for FY2019-2026 identifies strategic and intermediate goals for the NIOSH research portfolio. The strategic goals listed below represent the major health and safety issues facing the U.S. workforce and are the broad focus areas for this funding opportunity. The NIOSH Construction Program has highlighted components of the NIOSH Strategic Plan for the purposes of prioritizing work within NIOSH - the priority areas are:

Preventing harmful noise exposure Reducing occupational musculoskeletal disorders Reducing occupational respiratory diseases Improving workplace safety to reduce traumatic injuries from events such as falls from elevation and struck-by incidents Promoting safe and healthy workplaces, including use of Total Worker Health® approaches, to address adverse mental health outcomes and issues related to harmful substance use.

The NIOSH Construction Program has, through work of the NORA Construction Sector https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about/strategicplan/ https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/const/default.html https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/const/default.html

Council, identified 16 priority areas and emerging issues currently most relevant to the construction workforce in the U.S. Those priorities and emerging areas are published in the National Occupational Research Agenda for Construction.

Intermediate Goals

NIOSH has identified intermediate goals defined as specific actions needed to be taken in order to achieve or advance the strategic goals. In some cases, NIOSH has also identified areas where extramural research is needed to fill a gap or provide a capacity that NIOSH alone cannot fill. Extramural priority research goals have been identified as areas where work in the extramural community is sought. Priority will be given to projects that address the extramural research goals. A full description of the strategic and intermediate goals is available on the NIOSH Strategic Plan website. See the Extramural Priority Research Goals for more information on extramural priorities.

Applicants: Review the following websites for updates about NIOSH strategic and intermediate goals, research goal priorities, and other current information as you craft and submit your research proposals:

National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) - https://www.cdc.gov/nora/ NIOSH Programs - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep NIOSH Priority Goals for Extramural Research - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs /prioritygoals.html NIOSH Construction Program Evaluation Review report -https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/review/default.html

Burden, Need and Impact

The Center should address the burden, need, and potential impact of work-related injury and illness in the construction sector through a comprehensive and integrated approach to research, dissemination and implementation of evidence-based knowledge, interventions, and practices. The third decade of NORA encompasses a new framework for assessing research priorities and aligning NIOSH research investments. This burden-need-impact framework is known by its acronym, BNI. Research funded under this announcement will advance the strategic and intermediate goals of the NIOSH Strategic Plan based on BNI.

More information on the BNI Framework is available at the NIOSH website.

Burden. Burden is risk from any of the following: exposure to hazards; occurrence of injuries, illnesses, or deaths due to work-related factors; and impacts on economic factors and well-being. The extent of exposure can be in terms of the number of workers exposed, the magnitude of the exposure, or both. The assessment of burden is based on several main constructs: magnitude of the problem; health impact severity; exposure to workers; societal costs; new or emerging issues; and relationship to the work environment. The assessment of burden should consider whether there are disparities in workers’ exposures and should examine social determinants of health which may be https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/const/default.html https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/const/pdfs/National_Occupational_Research_Agenda_for_Construction_June_2018_508.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/const/pdfs/National_Occupational_Research_Agenda_for_Construction_June_2018_508.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/nora/ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs%20/prioritygoals.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs%20/prioritygoals.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/review/default.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/bni.html responsible for inequities in workers’ exposures. For emerging issues, the burden is anticipatory.

Need. Although burden is a foundational factor in setting priorities, need is also a critical factor. NIOSH should not only invest in an important burden area but also focus time and resources on the most relevant and impactful issues pertaining to the burden. The need for research also includes whether social determinants of health among the study population have been considered.

Impact. The assessment of impact is based on the potential for the activity to be successful in generating knowledge or products that will be used by NIOSH partners (intermediate outcomes). Researchers should describe how these intermediate outcomes might result in reduced burden or improved health, safety, and well-being of workers in the near-or long-term. An important component of impact addresses whether, and how, the benefits of the research are to be equitably distributed to all affected worker group.

Objectives/Outcomes

Center Goals and Objectives

Clearly state proposed goals and objectives of the National Construction Center in the application and directly link them to the health and safety burdens in construction being addressed. Justify the proposal by describing the burden of the problem, the need for the proposed research or activity, and the potential for impact or likelihood of successful results. Objectives should support the strategic and intermediate goals NIOSH has established.

Applicants may propose other topics, provided you describe a clear, compelling scientific rationale including stakeholder needs; target audience information for research and/or dissemination, and implementation; anticipated outputs and outcomes; and how and for whom the research will advance the scientific body of knowledge, policy, and/or practices.

These topics may be proposed in the form of a research project proposal (for example, robotic–worker integration risk factors for occupational safety and health). NIOSH will not accept or fund surveillance-only or training-only proposals.

State which NIOSH construction strategic and intermediate goals are addressed for each core and individual research project and provide a rationale for how the proposed research will contribute to the specified priority area(s). Put this information in both the Description/Abstract and the Research Strategy (Significance) sections for each core and project of the application. For research projects, the proposal should identify the NIOSH strategic and intermediate goals your work will address.

Explain how the proposed activities and research will contribute to the NIOSH Research to Practice effort for construction and state the expected outputs and outcomes.

Target Population

The ultimate beneficiaries of this cooperative agreement are all construction workers in the United States. The construction industry is a high hazard industry, and all construction workers are important. Some worker groups have overlapping vulnerabilities that increase risks for adverse health outcomes even further. These include (but are not limited to) young, Hispanic immigrant workers who are employed by small construction businesses.

Which population(s) of workers will you address in your research? Clearly identify them, either specifically or more broadly (for example, tradespeople, laborers, foremen, or professionals). See the National Occupational Research Agenda for Construction document for a discussion of target audiences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In June 2019, NIOSH began an initiative to take substantive action in creating greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce, the workplace and in its service to the public. This initiative led to the establishment of the NIOSH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office. The associated strategic plan is intended to guide actions that specifically address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of NIOSH's work, including NIOSH-supported extramural programs. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to DEIA in all aspects of their proposed Center (including partnerships, outputs, and outcomes) in the Research Strategy section of the application.

Asymmetrical power relationships along social axes such as age, class, gender, nativity, and race/ethnicity not only result in social, economic, and environmental disadvantages that impact the distribution of work-related benefits and risks, but also result in exclusionary research practices.

Developing inclusive research and dissemination practices, and the institutional capacity to effectively advance data equity and produce data driven solutions that reduce avoidable disparities and inequities, is essential to ensuring the well-being of the increasingly diverse workforce. Applicants should identify how the Center will ensure that research questions, data collection methods and analysis, and dissemination of results will be inclusive of the diversity in the construction sector workforce, especially those from groups that have historically been underrepresented. Applicants should also demonstrate how the design, content, format, and dissemination of outreach efforts will be tailored to the needs of workers from diverse backgrounds.

Collaboration/Partnerships

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborations that share expertise are essential to advancing occupational safety and health. Partnerships are also critical to translate research findings into effective work practices, and these are encouraged by the NIOSH Research to Practice program (see below). Applicants are expected to propose relevant collaborations and/or partnerships that will strengthen the proposed work and seek to https://www.cdc.gov/nora/comment/agendas/default.html address a wide range of occupational safety and health concerns, as determined by the burdens posed by these hazards and are encouraged to describe how their efforts will alleviate or eliminate these burdens.

Evaluation/Performance Measurement

Evaluations provide information for management and improve program effectiveness.

Information concerning Evaluation of NIOSH Programs may be helpful. Effective program evaluation is a systematic way to improve and account for public health actions by involving procedures that are useful, feasible, ethical, and accurate. Understanding and applying the elements of a framework for evaluation of research projects may enhance the planning of effective public health strategies, the improvement of existing programs (including evidence-based activities), and the demonstration of beneficial results and impact of federal funding.

Ongoing evaluation of NIOSH National Construction Center activities as well as specific research and outreach projects or programs is expected and should be managed and coordinated by the Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core. Submission of annual NIOSH Program Performance One-page summaries is expected. The Center is also strongly encouraged to interact with NIOSH and other partners to increase awareness of projects and evaluation techniques across partners and stakeholder groups. In addition to center-specific evaluation and performance measurement, the collaboration Center may be asked to contribute to periodic NIOSH program reviews.

Translation Plan

The NIOSH National Construction Center is expected to develop and implement a translation plan to move effective solutions into the workplace. The Center should use and leverage resources of NIOSH and other partners wherever feasible to strengthen and prevent duplication of effort.

Data Resources

NIOSH data resources are available to researchers at the NIOSH Data and Statistics Gateway. This includes Worker Health Charts that NIOSH creates from data it gathers from the BLS. These specialized charts assess the rates, distribution, and trends in workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The data can be used to help provide the context and estimate the burden of the problems being addressed, the need for the proposed work, the impact on the workforce, and the potential long-term benefits of the proposed projects and activities. Additionally, issues can be contextualized through economic metrics including societal cost, medical cost, productivity losses, and disability costs.

Research-to-Practice

NIOSH has established a Research to Practice (r2p) approach to reduce or eliminate https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/review/default.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/data/default.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/data/default.html https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-whc https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/r2p/default.html occupational illness and injury by increasing the transfer and implementation of knowledge, interventions, and technologies into highly effective prevention practices and products into the workplace. Through r2p, NIOSH collaborates with partners on the use, adoption, and adaptation of NIOSH knowledge, interventions, and technologies that will move research into practice in order to reduce and eliminate injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The r2p approach is an interactive process in which the occupational safety and health community—including researchers, communicators, decision-makers, and employer/employee groups—works collaboratively to

Identify research needs Design, plan, and conduct studies Translate and disseminate existing knowledge, interventions, and technologies to relevant users for implementation in the workplace.

Evaluate results to determine the impact on occupational safety and health.

Note to Applicants:

Applicants are expected to state how the proposed research addresses r2p, in both the Description (Abstract) and the Research Strategy (Significance) in Section IV. For example, describe the anticipated strategies for implementation and/or dissemination of research findings, including by audience segmentation and by the characteristics of the channels or modes of dissemination.

Outputs and Outcomes

Governmental agencies and organizations have been faced with increasing demand to measure the effectiveness of their funded research in improving public health. The products (outputs) of research activities and subsequent outcomes—that is, benefits or changes at an individual or population level—can measure effectiveness. Outputs are the immediate products or direct result of research or other occupational health activities.

Examples include publications, reports, conference proceedings, presentations/posters, investigator career development, databases, tools, methods, guidelines, and recommendations.

The causes of work-related injuries and illnesses are complex and determining the effect that specific research activities have on them can take years. Thus, outcomes can be measured over time as either short-term, intermediate, or end outcomes.

Short-term outcomes are the immediate effects of NIOSH or NIOSH-funded initiatives, projects, or programs. Often, these effects include changes in learning, awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills, opinions, motivations, and intent. While short-term outcomes are less compelling than intermediate outcomes because no change has yet occurred, project officers have more control over short-term outcomes than intermediate outcomes.

Collecting data on all types of outcomes, as appropriate, is encouraged.

Intermediate outcomes are specific changes that occur as a result of research outputs.

Examples of intermediate outcomes include public or private policy changes, conduct of training or workshops based on project outputs, citations in the literature, inventions and patents, and adoption of technologies or methods developed by the researcher.

End outcomes are the ultimate goal of the research and the result of what individuals and organizations do with the knowledge or products generated by the research. Examples of end outcomes include a) reduction in construction-related illnesses, injuries, fatalities, near-miss incidents, and/or hazardous exposures and b) improvement in qualitative and/or quantitative indicators for safety culture and safety climate, safety program administration, construction safety costs/economics, and safety intervention and/or implementation effectiveness.

Applicants should provide a brief statement about expected outputs/products of the research and outcomes of their proposed research in the Description (Abstract) and in the Research Strategy (Significance) in Section IV.

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

Section II. Award Information Funding Instrument

Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, CDC/NIOSH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. See Section VI.2 for additional information about the substantial involvement for this NOFO.

Application Types Allowed

New Renewal Resubmission Revision

Note to Applicants:

After the December 2023 application due date, only Revision and Resubmission applications from the funded Center will be accepted for research projects that competed and were not funded in FY2024. New and Renewal applications will not be accepted for future application due dates.

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Clinical Trial?

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=11116 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=11116

HHS/CDC grants policies as described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement will apply to

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

Estimated Total Funding: $5.75 million total costs (direct and indirect costs) in FY 2024.

NIOSH intends to commit approximately $28.75 million in total costs (direct and indirect) over the entire project period (up to 5 years).

Anticipated number of awards: NIOSH anticipates funding one award through this announcement.

The award issued under this NOFO is contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficiently meritorious application.

Award Budget

$5,750,000 Total Costs per budget period

Award Ceiling: $5,750,000 total costs per budget period

Award Floor: $3,000,000 total costs per budget period

It is anticipated that the maximum amount for each application/award will be $5,750,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) for each 12-month budget period.

Award Project Period

5 years

The total project period for an application submitted in response to this NOFO may not exceed 5 years.

Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of awards will depend on the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and CDC’s determination that continued funding is in the best interests of the federal government.

If you are successful and receive a Notice of Award, in accepting the award, you agree that the award and any activities thereunder are subject to all provisions of 45 CFR Part 75, currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82370 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.htm?id=82370 the applications submitted and awards made in response to this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Organizations Higher Education Institutions

Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for CDC support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

o Hispanic-serving Institutions o Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) o Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) o Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions o Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

For-Profit Organizations

Small Businesses For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

State Governments County Governments City or Township Governments Special District Governments Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)

Federal Government

Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

Independent School Districts Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Faith-based or Community-based Organizations Regional Organizations

3. Bona Fide Agents: A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application. If applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, a legal, binding agreement from the state or local government as documentation of the status is required. Attach with "Other Attachment Forms."

4. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): FFRDCs are operated, managed, and/or administered by a university or consortium of universities, other not-for-profit or nonprofit organization, or an industrial firm, as an autonomous…