NIOSH Underground Mine Evacuation Technologies and Human Factors Research
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-OH-25-183
- Agency
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,000,000 to $3,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- County Governments
- Unrestricted
- Special District Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- State Governments
- Independent School Districts
- Small Businesses
- For Profit Organizations
- Points of contact
-
- Maria Lioce mlioce@cdc.gov (404) 498-2575
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is soliciting research applications from U.S. academic institutions with ABET-accredited graduate degree programs in mining and explosives engineering. The funding opportunity focuses on underground mine evacuation technologies and human factors research, specifically aimed at advancing mine worker safety through the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. Research priorities include developing new wireless communication devices, training systems for miner self-escape, and improving refuge alternative designs. Evaluation criteria will assess scientific merit, technical design, investigator competency, available resources, budget appropriateness, and alignment with program objectives. Applications are due by December 5, 2025, with an earliest project start date of September 1, 2025.
The federal grant will provide approximately $15 million in total costs over a 5-year period, with individual awards capped at $3 million per budget period. Only one application per institution is permitted, and applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a valid Unique Entity Identifier. The research will be conducted through a cooperative agreement mechanism under the Occupational Safety and Health Program (CFDA 93.262), targeting academic institutions with specialized facilities and expertise in mining and explosives engineering. Successful applicants will contribute to developing innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance underground mine worker safety, with a particular focus on emergency response and communication technologies.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The closing date is being updated to address system and operational delays resulting from the federal shutdown, including limited access to technical assistance needed for resolving submission issues. This extension is consistent with federal interim guidance on rescheduling deadlines following the lapse in funding and ensures that applicants have sufficient time and access to complete their submissions once normal operations resumed. - The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) is to solicit meritorious applications from U.S. academic institutions that offer graduate degree programs in both mining and explosives engineering. This NOFO seeks to support research specifically focused on underground mine evacuation technologies and human factors related to mine emergencies, building on NIOSH's efforts to meet the mandates of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, which aims to advance the safety and health of mine workers in the United States. Research priorities include developing new wireless communication devices and methodologies; developing training, systems, and tools to facilitate miner self-escape; and continuing to improve the design of refuge alternatives. Possible research topics of interest may include other health and safety issues in related areas, particularly those associated with mine emergencies caused by mine fires and explosions. Interested applicants are encouraged to consider aspects of their graduate degree programs in mining and explosives engineering, including unique facilities, that could best support research related to mine emergencies and other aspects of the MINER Act. A key factor of this announcement is the congressional intention that the award goes to a U.S. academic institution that (1) offers an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)-accredited undergraduate degree program in mining or mineral engineering (under the Mining and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria) and (2) offers graduate degree programs in both mining and explosives engineering.
Update #1 ·
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) is to solicit meritorious applications from U.S. academic institutions that offer graduate degree programs in both mining and explosives engineering. This NOFO seeks to support research specifically focused on underground mine evacuation technologies and human factors related to mine emergencies, building on NIOSH's efforts to meet the mandates of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, which aims to advance the safety and health of mine workers in the United States. Research priorities include developing new wireless communication devices and methodologies; developing training, systems, and tools to facilitate miner self-escape; and continuing to improve the design of refuge alternatives. Possible research topics of interest may include other health and safety issues in related areas, particularly those associated with mine emergencies caused by mine fires and explosions. Interested applicants are encouraged to consider aspects of their graduate degree programs in mining and explosives engineering, including unique facilities, that could best support research related to mine emergencies and other aspects of the MINER Act. A key factor of this announcement is the congressional intention that the award goes to a U.S. academic institution that (1) offers an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)-accredited undergraduate degree program in mining or mineral engineering (under the Mining and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria) and (2) offers graduate degree programs in both mining and explosives engineering.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFA-OH-25-183_ U60 Research Cooperative Agreement_FINAL NIH Version_Published.pdf |
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