NIOSH Underground Mine Evacuation Technologies and Human Factors Research

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, administers this cooperative agreement to support research advancing the safety of underground miners. The program responds to mandates from the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, which established the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research to promote innovation in mine safety technology. This opportunity builds upon NIOSH’s ongoing mining research portfolio and is part of its commitment to the national strategic goal of improving occupational safety and health for miners across the United States. The purpose of the “Underground Mine Evacuation Technologies and Human Factors Research” program is to fund one U.S. academic institution with specialized capacity in mining and explosives engineering to conduct research on technologies, training systems, and tools that improve miner self-escape and post-disaster survivability. Key focus areas include developing wireless communication devices and methodologies suitable for underground environments, refining the design of refuge alternatives, and improving understanding of human factors affecting emergency response. The cooperative agreement will support studies directly related to mine emergencies caused by fires and explosions and encourage integration with existing graduate research facilities, such as underground test sites or explosion-capable laboratories. Applicants must be U.S. higher education institutions that meet strict eligibility criteria. Each eligible applicant must operate an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree program in mining or mineral engineering and offer distinct graduate programs in both mining and explosives engineering. The Principal Investigator must hold a full-time academic appointment at the level of Assistant Professor or higher. Only one application per institution is permitted. Non-U.S. entities, foreign collaborators, and organizations lacking these academic programs are ineligible. There is no cost share or matching requirement under this announcement. The anticipated total funding for the full period of performance is up to fifteen million dollars over five years, with approximately three million dollars available in the first fiscal year. NIOSH expects to issue a single cooperative agreement award with an annual budget ceiling of three million dollars and a floor of one million dollars per 12-month period. Funding continuation is contingent upon satisfactory annual progress and availability of appropriations. Subaward budgets must be counted as direct costs, and indirect costs follow the applicant’s federally negotiated rate. Applications open on December 26, 2024. Letters of intent are requested by January 17, 2025, and full proposals are due by February 24, 2025, and again on November 3, 2025, for the next cycle. Scientific merit reviews occur on April 30 each year, advisory council reviews on May 30, and successful projects are expected to begin September 1 of the same year. The NOFO expires on December 3, 2025. All submissions must be completed electronically through Grants.gov using NIH ASSIST, institutional S2S systems, or Workspace, and must conform to CDC’s Research (R) application instructions. No clinical trials are permitted under this mechanism. Evaluation emphasizes the scientific significance, innovation, and feasibility of the research plan, as well as the investigator’s qualifications, institutional resources, and proposed collaborations with NIOSH and industry partners. Applicants must demonstrate clear linkage between their objectives and NIOSH’s mining safety goals. Required attachments include detailed budgets, data management plans, and documentation verifying ABET accreditation and graduate programs. Questions about scientific content should be directed to Maria Lioce, MD, Office of Extramural Coordination and Special Projects (mlioce@cdc.gov | 404-498-2575). Financial or submission inquiries may be directed to Christina Park (lsk1@cdc.gov | 404-498-5014) or Michael Goldcamp, PhD (mgoldcamp@cdc.gov | 304-285-5951). This funding opportunity aligns with NIOSH’s Mining Program Strategic Plan 2019–2024, supporting research to reduce mining-related fatalities and enhance post-disaster survivability. Outcomes of the program are expected to include new communication technologies, improved training tools for self-escape, enhanced refuge chamber designs, and strengthened collaborative research capacity across academia, industry, and government.