Advances in Contemporary Mining Safety and Health Challenges for Critical Minerals

The CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is soliciting research proposals under Broad Agency Announcement 75D30127Q79334 on mining safety and health challenges for critical minerals, with questions due November 30, 2026 at 12:00 pm Eastern and full proposals due January 11, 2027 at 3:00 pm Eastern. Eligibility is restricted by topic area. Topic Area 1 (deep mining of critical minerals and metals) is limited to U.S. academic institutions offering ABET-accredited undergraduate mining engineering programs, plus graduate programs in mining engineering and explosives engineering focused on mining applications. Topic Area 2 (air pollutant exposure risks in mining) is limited to research institutions in the western United States, defined as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and all states west thereof, that demonstrate mining air pollution expertise, familiarity with western mining challenges, and accredited environmental analytical laboratory capabilities. The notice carries No Set-Aside Used.

Place of performance is listed as Reno, NV 89509. The period of performance is one 12-month base period followed by three 12-month option periods. NIOSH anticipates two awards with an estimated total of $8 million, one in each topic area, each up to $1 million per year and $4 million in total. Awards will generally be firm-fixed-price contracts, though the Contracting Officer may negotiate fixed-price Other Transaction Agreements under 42 U.S.C. 242c. Grants and cooperative agreements will not be issued.

Proposals are submitted electronically by email to Jennifer Gartzke at xuy7@cdc.gov and consist of three mandatory volumes: a Technical Proposal limited to 20 pages, a Pricing Proposal consisting of narrative and supporting spreadsheet, and an Administrative Proposal. Evaluation considers scientific and technical merit, innovation and feasibility, pathway to implementation, past performance, and price reasonableness. The procurement is coded NAICS 541990 and PSC R499.