Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (T03)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has announced the reissue of the Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (TPGs) under announcement number RFA-OH-25-003. This program is authorized under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and related legislation. It seeks to ensure a sufficient pipeline of trained occupational safety and health professionals capable of addressing workplace health and safety challenges. TPGs are one of the principal means by which NIOSH fulfills its statutory mandate to provide adequate training for future practitioners and researchers in the field. The purpose of the program is to support high-quality training initiatives that strengthen workforce capacity in occupational safety and health. Most awards go to academic institutions that provide undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate training in core disciplines such as industrial hygiene, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine residency, and occupational safety, as well as allied fields like ergonomics, agricultural safety, mining safety, and occupational health psychology. A limited number of non-academic TPGs are also supported to deliver specialized training to targeted audiences, helping to fill specific workforce gaps and meet regional or national needs. Applicants must demonstrate clear evidence of workforce demand, outline a rigorous training curriculum, and maintain an advisory council to guide program development and effectiveness. Funding may be used to support trainee costs such as stipends, tuition, fees, and travel, which must account for at least 70 percent of direct costs in academic programs. Up to 30 percent of funds may cover training-related expenses such as faculty salaries, supplies, and non-trainee travel. For undergraduate programs, the maximum award is $50,000 per year. Graduate programs may request up to $150,000 annually, and occupational medicine residency programs up to $250,000 annually. Non-academic programs must justify their budgets, but equipment purchases are prohibited. Across all programs, between 20 and 30 awards are expected each year, with a total funding level of approximately $4 million to $4.8 million. Indirect costs are capped at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. Matching funds are not required. Eligible applicants include a broad range of higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public housing authorities, faith-based organizations, and regional organizations. Foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must ensure proper registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. Individuals may not apply directly, but qualified program directors with demonstrated expertise and leadership in occupational safety and health are expected to lead projects. Institutions may submit up to two applications for academic programs in distinct disciplines, but only one for a non-academic training program. Applications that request funds for curriculum development, or exceed budget limits without following required allocation rules, will be deemed non-responsive. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using NIH’s ASSIST system, institutional system-to-system solutions, or Grants.gov Workspace. Letters of intent are due 30 days prior to each application deadline, though they are not binding. Application due dates for this cycle are January 21, 2025; October 30, 2025; October 29, 2026; October 28, 2027; and October 24, 2028. Scientific merit reviews will take place in March 2025 and each November or December thereafter. Advisory council reviews follow in April 2025, February 2026, February 2027, February 2028, and February 2029. The earliest start dates for funded projects are July 1 of each award year, with the final expiration date for this opportunity being November 28, 2028. The program is recurring on an annual basis, requiring periodic verification of updated cycles and deadlines. Applications will be evaluated based on significance, innovation, faculty and trainee qualifications, training record, and institutional support. Academic programs will be assessed for their alignment with NIOSH’s core training needs, effectiveness in recruiting and retaining diverse trainees, and capacity to produce graduates who successfully enter OSH careers. Non-academic programs will be evaluated on their ability to meet identified workforce training needs, effectiveness of past performance, and innovative approaches. Advisory councils and evaluation plans are essential for both program types. Final awards depend on peer review, program priorities, and the availability of funds. Program questions should be directed to Elizabeth H. Maples, PhD, CIH, at emaples@cdc.gov or 404-498-2557. Questions about peer review should be directed to Michael Goldcamp, PhD, at mgoldcamp@cdc.gov or 304-285-5951. For grants management questions, Christina Park, Grants Management Officer, may be contacted at lsk1@cdc.gov or 404-498-5014. Applicants needing technical assistance with Grants.gov may contact the Grants.gov support center, while assistance with eRA Commons or ASSIST may be obtained via commons@od.nih.gov or 301-402-7469.