Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 15 018
Apply for RFA ES 15 018
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training (UH4)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.142 NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 7, 2015 and posted on Aug 7, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 21, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training (UH4) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-15-018) was a discretionary National Institutes of Health program administered through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), specifically its Worker Training Program (WTP). It used the cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning awardees would not simply receive funds and operate independently; instead, they would work in an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the federal program staff. The central purpose of the program was to build and deliver practical, job-relevant training that improves occupational safety and health protections and strengthens infection control practices for workers who could be exposed during infectious disease outbreaks. While the title references Ebola, the description makes clear the broader intent: preparing a workforce to respond safely to infectious disease events by improving biosafety, hazard recognition, and infection control competence in real-world work settings.
From a program design standpoint, the grant was focused on the development and implementation of training, not basic research. Applicants were expected to create or adapt training curricula and then deliver training to target worker populations who face elevated risk during outbreak response or in settings where infectious agents may be encountered. The emphasis on occupational safety and health and infection control signals that the training content would likely cover topics such as safe work practices, appropriate selection and use of protective measures, and procedures that reduce the likelihood of workplace exposure and transmission. Because it is housed under the NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety Training CFDA (93.142), the opportunity fits within a broader federal effort to ensure workers have the competencies to operate safely in high-hazard environments, with this particular announcement applying that mission to infectious disease outbreak conditions.
The award structure set an upper funding limit (award ceiling) of $500,000. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which typically lowers barriers for organizations that can deliver training but may not have the ability to contribute substantial non-federal funds. The posting date and creation date were August 7, 2015, with an original and current closing date of October 21, 2015, and an archive date of November 21, 2015. Those dates indicate this was a time-bounded call aligned with the period when Ebola response readiness was a national priority, while still leaving room for broader infectious disease preparedness outcomes.
Eligibility was intentionally broad within the domestic U.S. landscape, encompassing nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that specific nonprofit category listing) as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The announcement also explicitly included a range of mission-focused and minority-serving institutions as eligible applicants, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). At the same time, the opportunity restricted foreign participation: non-U.S. entities were not eligible, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) were not allowed. In practice, that means projects and training activities needed to be domestically based and implemented under U.S.-eligible institutional structures.
Operationally, the opportunity was positioned as a workforce protection and readiness initiative. The training programs supported under this cooperative agreement were meant to help ensure that workers who might be called upon during outbreaks, or who may be exposed as part of their routine duties during an outbreak scenario, have the knowledge and skills to perform their jobs while reducing risk to themselves, their coworkers, and the communities they serve. The full announcement was available through the NIH grants guide at the provided link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-15-018.html). For technical access issues related to the announcement, the listed point of contact was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training (UH4).
What is the funding opportunity number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-ES-15-018.
Which federal agency and institute administered this opportunity?
This was a discretionary program under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), administered through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), specifically the Worker Training Program (WTP).
What type of award mechanism was used?
The program used a cooperative agreement mechanism. Awardees were expected to operate in an ongoing, collaborative relationship with federal program staff rather than working completely independently after receiving funds.
What was the central purpose of this program?
The central purpose was to build and deliver practical, job-relevant training that improves occupational safety and health protections and strengthens infection control practices for workers who could be exposed during infectious disease outbreaks.
Was this opportunity only about Ebola?
While the title references Ebola, the description makes clear a broader intent: preparing the workforce to respond safely to infectious disease events by improving biosafety, hazard recognition, and infection control competence in real-world work settings.
Was this grant intended to fund research?
No. The focus was on the development and implementation of training, not basic research. Applicants were expected to create or adapt curricula and deliver training to relevant worker populations.
What kinds of activities were applicants expected to carry out?
Applicants were expected to develop or adapt training curricula and implement training for target workers who face elevated risk during outbreak response or in settings where infectious agents may be encountered.
What training topics were emphasized by the opportunity description?
The opportunity emphasized occupational safety and health and infection control. The description suggests content such as biosafety, hazard recognition, safe work practices, selection and use of protective measures, and procedures to reduce workplace exposure and transmission.
How does this opportunity fit within broader federal training efforts?
The opportunity was housed under the NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety Training CFDA (93.142), aligning it with broader federal efforts to ensure workers have competencies to operate safely in high-hazard environments, applied here to infectious disease outbreak conditions.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $500,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date and creation date were August 7, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date was October 21, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was November 21, 2015.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad within the domestic U.S. landscape and included:
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that specific nonprofit category listing)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Were minority-serving institutions explicitly eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly included multiple minority-serving and mission-focused institution types as eligible applicants, including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Were foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities were not eligible for this opportunity.
Could a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component or foreign component?
No. The announcement stated that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) were not allowed.
Where did projects and training activities need to be based?
In practice, the restrictions on foreign participation meant that projects and training activities needed to be domestically based and implemented under U.S.-eligible institutional structures.
What was the practical workforce need this opportunity aimed to address?
The opportunity was positioned as a workforce protection and readiness initiative, supporting training so that workers who might be called upon during outbreaks (or exposed during routine duties in outbreak scenarios) can perform their jobs while reducing risk to themselves, coworkers, and the communities they serve.
Where could applicants find the full funding announcement?
The full announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-15-018.html
Who was the contact for technical access issues with the announcement?
For technical access issues, the listed contact was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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