State Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program (U60)

The State Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program (U60) is a cooperative agreement opportunity offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program is part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) mission to improve worker safety and health by strengthening surveillance systems across the United States. With an estimated total program funding of $40 million, this initiative continues CDC’s long-standing commitment to evidence-based occupational health monitoring and intervention, designed to prevent workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. The purpose of this funding is to support state and jurisdictional programs that build capacity for occupational safety and health (OSH) surveillance. Funded programs are expected to assess the extent and severity of workplace exposures, illnesses, injuries, and fatalities while identifying high-risk workers and occupations. The program also seeks to set priorities for further surveillance, outreach, and prevention activities, including policy development to address state-specific and emerging OSH issues. Applicants are encouraged to leverage and expand existing public health practices, capacities, and expertise while filling critical gaps in federal and national surveillance systems. Program scope includes a wide range of surveillance activities such as collecting occupation data within public health data systems, creating data linkages, and developing new surveillance methods. Successful applicants are expected to collaborate with partners to interpret OSH data and disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders. Additionally, grantees should develop and share audience-specific educational materials to enhance the adoption of effective prevention strategies. Measurement of prevention effectiveness will be a critical component, ensuring that activities funded under this program yield actionable results for protecting workers. Funding will be provided as cooperative agreements, with award amounts ranging from $140,000 to $705,000 per recipient. Approximately 23 awards are expected to be distributed. While cost sharing or matching is not required, recipients must demonstrate the capacity to develop and maintain strong surveillance systems. Awards are estimated to be announced on June 1, 2026, with projects beginning on July 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization, and the forecasted posting date of the Notice of Funding Opportunity is May 30, 2025. Eligibility is broad, encompassing state governments, county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private higher education institutions, nonprofits (both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), Native American tribal governments and organizations, special district governments, and public housing authorities. However, non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions are not eligible, nor are foreign components of U.S. organizations. Applications will be evaluated based on the program’s ability to generate reliable occupational safety and health surveillance data, develop prevention activities, disseminate findings effectively, and address state or regional OSH priorities. Contact for further information is provided through Eduardo O’Neill, PhD, MS, MPH at the CDC, who can be reached by phone at 404-718-8844 or by email at fzt4@cdc.gov. This forecasted opportunity reflects CDC’s intent to build upon its network of state-based OSH surveillance programs. It provides an avenue for states and jurisdictions to establish or strengthen their occupational health monitoring infrastructure. Applicants should prepare to engage in long-term capacity building, as the program is structured to continue through December 31, 2030, with the potential for ongoing impact in worker safety nationwide.