Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 13 136
Apply for PAR 13 136
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 7, 2013 and posted on Mar 7, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 1, 2016. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Small businesses Independent school districts City or township governments Special district governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity titled "Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 13-136) was designed to support short, fast-moving environmental health studies that become possible only when an unexpected real-world event creates a narrow window to collect critical data. The core idea is that certain environmental exposures or human biosample collection opportunities cannot be planned in advance because they arise suddenly, for example after natural disasters, man-made disasters, major industrial accidents, sudden regulatory or health care policy changes, or other unforeseen events that alter exposures, behaviors, or health-relevant environments. When those situations happen, data and biosamples can be perishable in a scientific sense: if researchers cannot launch quickly, the chance to measure exposure profiles, early biological responses, or immediate health impacts may disappear.
This FOA emphasizes three main features that a proposed project must clearly satisfy to be considered appropriate. First, the opportunity must be genuinely unforeseeable, meaning it is not a routine or predictable event that could have been incorporated into a standard grant timeline. Second, the study must have clear scientific value and be feasible to execute quickly and credibly, with an approach that can realistically deliver meaningful results despite the compressed timeline. Third, and most central to the program, the project must require rapid review and funding that is substantially faster than the typical NIH review and award cycle, because waiting for the normal process would make the research question impossible to answer or would significantly compromise the study design and the quality of the data that could be collected.
The mechanism used is the NIH R21, which is commonly associated with exploratory or developmental research. In this specific program, the R21 structure is used to enable rapid-response environmental health research, particularly research focused on collecting human exposure information and/or human biosamples at a critical moment. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and the activity category is environmental health. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.113 (Environmental Health). The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which helps reduce barriers for applicants who need to mobilize quickly.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that might be positioned to respond rapidly to time-sensitive events. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the exception noted for institutions of higher education in the listing); small businesses; and other for-profit organizations besides small businesses. The FOA also explicitly includes a range of institution types and communities in its expanded eligibility language, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based and community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, non-U.S. entities are eligible to apply, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed, including non-domestic components of U.S. organizations. This matters for environmental health because exposure events and time-sensitive opportunities can occur anywhere, and international expertise or local capacity may be essential to collect data rapidly and ethically.
From a practical standpoint, the projects envisioned under this FOA typically require quick coordination with local partners, clinics, community groups, emergency response systems, or public health authorities to secure access to populations and to collect high-quality exposure measurements or biospecimens (for example blood, urine, saliva, hair, or other matrices) before conditions change. The emphasis on feasibility signals that applicants should already have credible plans, access pathways, and operational readiness, since the point is not to fund long ramp-up periods but to enable immediate implementation when the opportunity arises.
Administrative details in the source information show that the FOA was posted and created on March 7, 2013, with an original and final closing date of April 1, 2016, and it was archived on May 2, 2016. While that means this specific announcement is no longer active, it reflects NIH's broader approach to enabling rapid-response environmental health science when conventional grant timelines are too slow for the moment-sensitive nature of exposure and biosample data collection. For full archived details, NIH listed an additional information link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-136.html and provided NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access or linking issues.
FAQs: Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) (PAR 13-136)
What is the purpose of this NIH funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity was designed to support short, fast-moving environmental health studies that can only happen when an unexpected real-world event creates a narrow window to collect critical data. The intent is to enable rapid research when exposure information or human biosamples would otherwise be lost because conditions change quickly.
What kinds of situations is this program meant to respond to?
It targets research opportunities triggered by unforeseen events that abruptly change environmental exposures, behaviors, or health-relevant environments. Examples described include natural disasters, man-made disasters, major industrial accidents, sudden regulatory changes, sudden health care policy changes, and other unexpected events that create a brief opportunity to measure exposures and early responses.
What makes a study "time sensitive" under this FOA?
A study is time sensitive when the scientific value depends on launching quickly enough to capture perishable data, such as exposure profiles, early biological responses, or immediate health impacts. If researchers cannot start promptly, the opportunity to collect valid measurements or biosamples may disappear or become scientifically compromised.
What are the three main features a proposal must satisfy to fit this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes three required features: (1) the opportunity must be genuinely unforeseeable (not routine or predictable), (2) the study must have clear scientific value and be feasible to execute quickly and credibly, and (3) the project must require rapid review and funding substantially faster than the typical NIH cycle because normal timelines would make the research question impossible to answer or would significantly weaken the study design and data quality.
What does "genuinely unforeseeable" mean in this context?
It means the triggering event is not something routine, predictable, or expected that could have been accommodated using a standard grant submission, review, and award timeline. The rationale is that this program exists specifically for sudden situations that cannot be planned far in advance.
Why is rapid review and funding so central to this program?
Because the key scientific measurements can be perishable. The FOA is intended for cases where waiting for the normal NIH review and award process would cause the critical exposure data or biosamples to be missed, or would significantly compromise the integrity and usefulness of the study.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly associated with exploratory or developmental research. In this program, the R21 structure is used to enable rapid-response environmental health research, particularly when immediate data or biosample collection is essential.
What is the funding instrument and activity category?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and the activity category is environmental health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.113 (Environmental Health).
What is the award ceiling for this FOA?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the noted exception in the listing for institutions of higher education); small businesses; and other for-profit organizations besides small businesses.
Does the FOA explicitly include certain institution types and community organizations?
Yes. The expanded eligibility language explicitly includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs). It also includes faith-based and community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities are eligible, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions.
Are foreign components allowed for U.S. organizations?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed, including non-domestic components of U.S. organizations.
What types of research activities are particularly emphasized?
The FOA particularly emphasizes rapid-response environmental health research focused on collecting human exposure information and/or collecting human biosamples at a critical moment when the opportunity is brief.
What kinds of biosamples are referenced as examples?
Examples of biospecimens mentioned include blood, urine, saliva, hair, and other matrices.
Why does feasibility matter so much for projects under this FOA?
Because the premise is rapid action, the FOA signals that applicants should already have credible operational readiness, including realistic plans and access pathways. The program is not meant to fund long ramp-up periods; it is meant to enable immediate implementation when the opportunity arises.
What kinds of coordination might be needed to carry out these projects quickly?
Projects typically require quick coordination with local partners such as clinics, community groups, emergency response systems, or public health authorities to secure access to affected populations and to collect high-quality exposure measurements or biospecimens before conditions change.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and title?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 13-136, titled "Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)."
When was this FOA posted, and is it still active?
It was posted and created on March 7, 2013. The original and final closing date was April 1, 2016, and it was archived on May 2, 2016. Based on these dates, this specific announcement is no longer active.
Where can someone find the archived announcement details?
NIH listed an archived information link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-136.html.
Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were provided for access or linking issues related to the archived information.
What is the overarching concept reflected by this archived FOA?
Although the specific announcement is archived, it reflects NIH's broader approach to enabling rapid-response environmental health science in situations where conventional grant timelines are too slow for moment-sensitive exposure measurement and biosample collection.
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