BB26 Occupant Protection Regional Coordination Solicitation

The Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Health Improvement and Wellness, through its Violence and Injury Prevention Section, announces the continuation of funding for the Occupant Protection Regional Coordination (BB26) program for the period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. This program is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The program is designed to promote occupant protection initiatives across eight designated regions in Ohio through a comprehensive set of deliverables aligned with health and safety objectives. The purpose of the grant is to support activities that enhance child passenger safety through data monitoring, education, public outreach, training, and technical assistance. The program requires agencies to conduct specific tasks such as monitoring Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) sites, hosting regional meetings, offering technician training and continuing education opportunities, facilitating fitting stations and seat check events, and promoting occupant safety awareness campaigns. Each regional grantee must maintain a Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor (CPSTI) or demonstrate access to one through a subcontract. Only applicants that were awarded funding in the 2023-2024 fiscal year are eligible to apply. Applicants must meet several compliance criteria, including up-to-date supplier and financial records, audit submission, and adherence to civil rights and federal transparency requirements. All applications must be submitted electronically via the Grants Management Information System (GMISP) by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025. Late, faxed, or mailed submissions will not be accepted. Application components include a program narrative outlining any updates or changes from the previous year, a budget narrative, documentation related to health disparity reduction, and various compliance forms. Applicants should reference the Evidence of Health Disparity Strategies Checklist when drafting their objectives and work plans. No matching funds are required for this program, and the deliverables are reimbursed on a quarterly basis. Funding for each region varies, with a maximum award of $553,100 for base funding and additional supplemental opportunities totaling $30,000. The minimum grant award is $30,000. There are four supplemental funding opportunities targeted to specific regions or open to all for competitive proposals. These include digital check form pilots, instructor development, a Buckeye update series, and planning the 2026 Child Passenger Safety Conference. For questions, applicants are directed to contact Gregory Schneider at Gregory.Schneider@odh.ohio.gov. Key reporting dates for the quarterly program and expenditure reports are provided, with a final expenditure report due by November 5, 2026. Applicants must also submit evaluation data and documentation throughout the grant year using the REDCap system.