Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement (U01)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, administers the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement under funding opportunity number RFA-OH-22-005. This program was established by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 and amended by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. It is designed to improve the occupational safety of commercial fishing workers, one of the most dangerous professions in the United States, by funding research projects that reduce fatalities, injuries, and hazardous exposures. The program builds on NIOSH’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and the commercial fishing industry, emphasizing collaborative approaches to safety research and intervention development. The cooperative agreement supports a range of activities, including improving vessel and deck equipment design, developing emergency and protective equipment, advancing vessel monitoring systems, and enhancing communication and severe weather detection technology. It also funds studies on occupational health risk factors such as fatigue, stress, and substance use. Projects may evaluate the feasibility and adoption of new safety practices and technologies, as well as create methods for identifying and reducing hazards. Research plans must directly relate to NIOSH and U.S. Coast Guard safety priorities and are expected to provide evidence that can be translated into practical solutions for the fishing industry. The estimated total funding available is $19.5 million, with an anticipated 20 awards made during the period of performance. Each project may receive between $150,000 and $975,000 for a 36-month budget period. Federal support covers 75 percent of allowable costs, requiring recipients to provide a 25 percent non-federal cost match, which may include cash or third-party in-kind contributions. The cost match must be fully documented in the budget to proceed to peer review. Unlike typical 12-month grant cycles, these cooperative agreements operate with three-year budget periods that align with the project performance period. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments, special districts, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations including small businesses, public housing authorities, and other entities involved in maritime safety. Faith-based organizations and federally funded research and development centers may also apply. Foreign organizations and collaborators are not eligible. Individuals are not directly eligible for funding but may serve as principal investigators if applying through an eligible institution. Applicants must also meet federal registration requirements including SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. Applications are submitted electronically through Grants.gov or ASSIST and must conform strictly to page limits and formatting rules. Letters of intent are encouraged but not required and follow multiple deadlines throughout the funding cycle. Applications are due on specific recurring dates, including August 29, 2025, and January 30, 2026, with subsequent cycles through January 2027. Scientific merit reviews and secondary reviews are scheduled shortly after submission deadlines, and funded projects typically begin on September 1 of the following year. The final expiration date for this opportunity is January 31, 2028. Applications are evaluated based on scientific significance, innovation, investigator expertise, and feasibility of the proposed approach. Reviewers also assess alignment with NIOSH and Coast Guard safety goals, potential for research translation into practice, and adequacy of collaborations with fishing industry partners. Awardees must comply with federal reporting requirements, including progress reports, financial reports, and data management plans. The program emphasizes outputs such as new safety equipment, guidelines, and training materials, as well as outcomes like reduced injuries and fatalities in commercial fishing operations. Contact for programmatic questions is Michael Goldcamp, PhD, at [email protected] or 304-285-5951.