State Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program (U60)

NIOSH has provided financial and technical assistance to develop or expand state-level OSH surveillance capacity and infrastructure since the 1970s. From 2021-2026, NIOSH funded cooperative agreements in 23 states under announcement PAR-20-312. These programs varied in scope and focus, each providing a level of occupational health expertise to the public health system in their state. Grantees included 19 state health departments, 2 state Departments of Labor, and 5 formal partnerships between state health departments and universities (bona fide agents). More information about these OSH surveillance programs is available on the NIOSH Extramural Program website. With this funding announcement, NIOSH maintains its priority to develop OSH surveillance capacity within state and jurisdictional public health systems, utilizing public and other data sources such as electronic medical and laboratory reporting, hospital discharge databases, death records, cancer registries, and public health surveys. OSH surveillance, when coupled with other public health surveillance efforts, also provides the opportunity to assess the role of work in the overall health status of the U.S. population. State public health agencies and their partners can link OSH surveillance findings with voluntary interventions, education, and outreach activities. While federal and state regulatory programs establish and enforce health and safety standards, they do not include all workplaces and may have limited jurisdictional authority. Through the application of public health approaches, state OSH surveillance programs can identify new problems, develop tailored interventions, encourage participation, and evaluate impacts with a broader scope and in ways that regulatory counterparts cannot. By working in partnership with NIOSH, these programs help fill critical gaps to protect the health and safety of all working people.

Bona fide agents applying on behalf of state, territorial, local, and tribal government organizations.Bona fide agents must submit documentation that demonstrates their arrangement with the eligible applicant.

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to stated program objectives. Training Grants: Criteria used in evaluating training proposals include: (1) Overall potential contribution of the project toward meeting program objectives; (2) the need for training in the areas outlined in the application; (3) curriculum content and design; (4) previous record of training; (5) evaluation methods; (6) experience and training of the project director and staff; (7) institutional commitment; (8) academic and physical environment; (9) past performance; and (10) appropriateness of budget. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness...