Occupant Protection Regional Coordiantion for the OBB Program

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), through its Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness and the Violence and Injury Prevention Section, is offering continuation funding for the Occupant Protection Regional Coordination (BB26) program. The program runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, as part of a five-year project period that started on October 1, 2023, and ends on September 30, 2028. Funding is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered through the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office. This program supports regional efforts to improve child passenger safety and occupant protection through training, outreach, and technical support across Ohio’s regions. Eligible applicants must have been awarded grants during the 2023–2024 cycle and must maintain a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor on staff. Applications are due electronically via the GMISP system by 4:00 p.m. on June 9, 2025. Hard copy or faxed applications will not be accepted. Applicants must comply with federal, state, and local regulations, and submission acknowledges adherence to the ODH’s policies, Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG), and GMISP requirements. Training for GMISP access is required for new staff. Up to eight regional grants will be awarded, each with a maximum of $553,100, varying by region and number of counties served. Additionally, four optional supplemental funding opportunities are available, bringing the maximum potential award to $583,100. These supplemental options include piloting digital check forms, instructor development, technician forums, and planning a statewide safety conference. Applications for amounts under $30,000 will not be reviewed. Allowable activities and required deliverables include monitoring Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) sites, conducting technician training courses, hosting continuing education sessions, supporting community-based seat check events, and coordinating National Child Passenger Safety Week efforts. Applicants must also submit narrative responses, updated work plans, and budget justifications as outlined in Appendices C through E. The grant is reimbursed quarterly and costs must be reasonable, allowable, and well-documented. Eligibility requirements include compliance with ODH financial and cybersecurity standards, submission of required documentation (e.g., audit reports, SAM.gov registration), and maintenance of supplier portal information. Specific application components include a program narrative, program updates, documentation of outreach to reduce health disparities, and completion of various federal and state assurance certifications. Contact for questions regarding the grant is Gregory Schneider, available via email at Gregory.Schneider@odh.ohio.gov. Reporting requirements include quarterly program and expenditure reports, with deadlines set for January 5, April 5, July 5, and October 5, 2026. A final expenditure report is due by November 5, 2026.