NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (U19)
Forecasted Federal grant Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-OH-27-049
- Agency
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications expected due
- Award size
- $500,000 to $1,400,000
Opportunity facts
- Expected posting
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- Unrestricted
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Independent School Districts
- Small Businesses
- State Governments
- Special District Governments
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- County Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- For Profit Organizations
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- City/Township Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Points of contact
-
- Maria Lioce mlioce@cdc.gov (404) 498-2575
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is soliciting applications through a cooperative agreement to establish Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health that conduct research and translation activities to prevent occupational exposures, improve working conditions, and advance worker well-being; this is a forecast with no hard deadline stated. Applicants are unrestricted and include public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, small businesses, and for-profit organizations; foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are ineligible. All projects must use the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ), share data with the HERO Worker Well-Being Clearinghouse, and include economic evaluation for Large Research Projects. Priority areas include occupational exposures among first responders, vehicle mechanics, and technicians; young workers and small and medium-sized enterprises; chronic disease; mental health and stress; substance use disorder; and artificial intelligence and digital technologies in occupational health.
The Center operates as a multi-component structure. An Overall Component provides leadership and integration. An Administration, Evaluation, and Emerging Issues Core (required, up to 15% of total budget) supports management, Center-wide evaluation, data governance, and quality assurance. An Outreach, Dissemination, and Impact Core (required, up to 15%) funds communication, worker and employer engagement, training, translation, implementation, and dissemination. Research Projects constitute approximately 60 to 70% of the budget and must include at least one Small Research Project (exploratory, feasibility, or early-stage intervention work with up to three years of duration). Applicants should demonstrate scientific rigor, sustained impact potential, and strong coordination across all components. The program operates under CFDA 93.262 (Occupational Safety and Health Program). Award terms range from one to five years depending on scientific review committee recommendations and demonstrated performance.
Forecast synopsis
PURPOSE
NIOSH intends to support the Centers of Excellence in Total Worker Health® (TWH). These Centers will conduct rigorous research and translation activities to prevent harmful exposures, improve working conditions, and advance worker well-being. The Centers will develop practical, scalable solutions for employers and workers. All projects must use the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ) and share data with the HERO Worker Well-Being Clearinghouse. Large Research Projects require economic evaluation.
PRIORITY AREAS
• High-risk occupations: First responders, vehicle mechanics, and technicians, with emphasis on occupational exposures, related health risks, and prevention strategies
• Young workers, SMEs
• Chronic disease
• Mental health, stress
• Substance use disorder
• Artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies
This is a multi-component NOFO.
COMPONENT STRUCTURE
Percentages indicate maximum share of total budget.
Overall Component (Required)
Provides Center leadership and integration. Applicants should show strong coordination, scientific direction, and alignment across projects.
Administration, Evaluation, and Emerging Issues Core (Required; up to 15%)
Supports management and Center-wide evaluation. Applicants should describe oversight, data governance, and quality assurance.Optional activities include emerging issues and shared research resources.
Outreach, Dissemination, and Impact Core (Required; up to 15%)
Supports communication, worker/employer engagement, training, translation, implementation, and dissemination strategies.
Research Projects (Required; about 60 to 70%)
Includes all research activities. Applicants may propose a mix of projects. Research project distinctions are based on scope and complexity rather than cost. Projects should demonstrate scientific rigor and potential for sustained impact.
- Small Research Projects (Required; at least one project; up to 3 years)
Exploratory, feasibility, early-stage intervention, surveillance, or measurement studies.
Priority areas: high-risk occupations, young workers, SMEs.
Should show innovation and potential to expand. - Large Research Projects (Required; at least one project; up to 5 years)
Multiyear etiologic, mechanistic, intervention, or translational studies.
Priority areas: chronic disease, mental health, substance use disorder.
Economic evaluation is required. Projects should include strong design and analytic plans. - Pilot/Feasibility Program (Optional; 12-18 months)
Short-term studies generating preliminary data or testing AI/digital technology approaches.
Eligibility
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) 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 HHS Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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