Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement (U01)

The Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement (U01), administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offers federal funding to support research aimed at improving occupational safety in the commercial fishing industry. This grant was established by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 and further amended by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. Its purpose is rooted in addressing the disproportionately high risks faced by commercial fishing workers, including fatalities from vessel disasters, falls overboard, and onboard injuries. NIOSH, working in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, leads the program, which supports applied and innovative research efforts designed to mitigate these hazards and improve overall safety outcomes. The scope of funding under this cooperative agreement includes a variety of research aims such as improving vessel and deck equipment design, developing emergency and protective equipment, enhancing vessel monitoring systems, and improving communication and severe weather detection technologies. Tailored proposals that address specific regional or fleet-specific hazards are encouraged. Projects may also focus on understanding hazardous working conditions, assessing emerging risks like fatigue and opioid use, and evaluating leading indicators of injury and death. Additionally, research can address the development of new safety procedures, work practices, and technologies that can be widely adopted within the industry. Evaluation of economic feasibility and the diffusion of innovations is also an acceptable focus. Funding of up to $975,000 is available over a three-year period for each awarded project, with a mandatory cost match of 25% of total project costs. For example, a project with the full federal award amount of $731,250 must be matched with $243,750 in non-federal contributions, which can be in cash or in-kind. This is a cooperative agreement, meaning that NIOSH will maintain substantial involvement in project execution, including technical guidance and collaborative oversight. Eligible applicants include a broad range of U.S.-based entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses. Foreign organizations are not eligible, and all participants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The application requires several components, including a detailed research strategy (not exceeding 12 pages), budget justification, data management plan, and documentation of the cost match. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST platform and must conform to the SF424 (R&R) format guidelines. The opportunity is recurring, with multiple application cycles each year. Upcoming application deadlines include January 30, 2026, August 28, 2026, and January 29, 2027. While a Letter of Intent is not mandatory, it is encouraged and can be submitted by specified deadlines preceding each application date. Applications will undergo peer review and secondary CDC review, with award start dates typically set for September 1 of each year. The performance period is fixed at 36 months. Applicants are advised to incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the proposal, including project design and dissemination of results. Strong collaborative partnerships with fishing industry stakeholders are encouraged to ensure practical implementation and wide adoption of research outcomes. Proposals must also articulate the expected outputs and anticipated occupational safety outcomes, aligning with NIOSH’s Research-to-Practice (r2p) initiative and national occupational health priorities under Healthy People 2030.

Align with NORA priorities; Provide preliminary data; Emphasize Research-to-Practice strategy and DEI integration.