Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 16 005
Apply for RFA ES 16 005
- The HHS-NIH11 in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Opportunity 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,.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 03, 2016 and posted on May 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2019. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Opportunity in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-16-005) is designed for environmental health studies where an unexpected incident creates a narrow, fast-closing chance to gather critical information. The core idea is that certain events, like disasters or sudden public health threats, may produce exposures or health-relevant conditions that cannot be reconstructed later. If researchers miss the moment, the most valuable human biological samples (such as blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, or other biospecimens) or environmental exposure measurements (such as air, water, soil, dust, or surface contamination samples) may be impossible to collect, which would permanently limit what can be learned about health impacts.
This FOA is motivated by the need to understand the environmental health consequences of both natural and human-caused disasters, as well as emerging or rapidly developing environmental public health threats. It is intended to support research relevant to the United States and also to events occurring internationally, recognizing that environmental emergencies and exposure incidents can have global relevance and may involve U.S. populations, collaborators, or broader scientific lessons. The emphasis is on capturing perishable exposure and health data during the brief period when conditions are observable and samples can be collected before cleanup, dispersal, behavioral changes, or other time-dependent factors alter the exposure picture.
A defining feature of this opportunity is speed. Unlike standard NIH grant timelines, which often take many months from application to award, this mechanism is structured to enable rapid review and rapid funding when a time-sensitive event occurs. The FOA explicitly highlights that the research must require quick action and that the proposed study should be ready to implement immediately once funded. To make that possible, the program uses more frequent application due dates and an expedited process for peer review, council concurrence, and award issuance. The expected end-to-end timeframe from submission to award is about 3 to 4 months, which is substantially shorter than typical NIH cycles and is meant to align with the urgent nature of these research windows.
The award uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly associated with exploratory and developmental projects. In this specific FOA, the R21 structure fits the purpose of quickly deploying a focused study to capture data that would otherwise be lost. The stated award ceiling is $200,000. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed under environment and health. The associated CFDA numbers are 93.113 (and also listed as 93), reflecting its placement within NIH environmental health-related assistance programs.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizations that might be positioned to respond quickly to an environmental incident. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The listing also notes an “Others” category with additional eligibility details referenced in the full FOA text, which typically clarifies any special conditions or exceptions.
Administratively, the sponsoring agency is within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH). The FOA was created and posted on May 3, 2016, and the closing date shown in the provided record is June 1, 2019. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a rapid-response research pathway for environmental health scientists who need to mobilize quickly in the wake of an unforeseen event, with the goal of collecting high-value exposure and biological data fast enough to meaningfully evaluate health risks and consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is the Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Opportunity in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)?
It is a government grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-16-005) designed to support environmental health research when an unexpected incident creates a narrow, fast-closing window to collect critical data. The key purpose is to capture exposure and health information that would be difficult or impossible to obtain later.
2) What kinds of situations is this funding meant for?
This opportunity is meant for sudden events such as natural disasters, human-caused disasters, or rapidly developing environmental public health threats. The underlying idea is that these events can produce exposures or health-relevant conditions that are temporary and cannot be reliably reconstructed after the fact.
3) Why does the FOA emphasize speed and time sensitivity?
Because the most valuable information can disappear quickly. Cleanup activities, dispersal of contaminants, changes in behavior, and other time-dependent factors can alter or erase the exposure picture. If data and samples are not collected during the brief period when conditions are observable, the opportunity to learn about health impacts may be permanently reduced.
4) What types of data or samples does the FOA consider "perishable" or time-sensitive?
The FOA highlights the need to rapidly collect both human biological samples and environmental exposure measurements. Examples of human biospecimens include blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, and other biospecimens. Examples of environmental samples include air, water, soil, dust, and surface contamination samples.
5) What is the main goal of projects supported under this FOA?
The main goal is to capture critical exposure and health data fast enough to meaningfully evaluate environmental health risks and consequences associated with an unforeseen incident, particularly when delayed collection would make that information unavailable or unreliable.
6) Is this intended for research in the United States only?
No. The FOA supports research relevant to the United States and also to events occurring internationally. It recognizes that environmental emergencies can have global relevance and may involve U.S. populations, U.S. collaborators, or broader scientific lessons that are important for environmental health.
7) How is this different from a typical NIH research grant timeline?
This mechanism is structured to enable rapid review and rapid funding compared to standard NIH timelines, which often take many months from application to award. The FOA uses more frequent application due dates and an expedited process for peer review, council concurrence, and award issuance to better match urgent research windows.
8) How long does it typically take from submission to award under this FOA?
The FOA states an expected end-to-end timeframe of about 3 to 4 months from submission to award. This shortened timeline is intended to align with the urgency of time-sensitive events.
9) What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
Awards are made using the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory and developmental research projects. In this FOA, the R21 structure is used to quickly deploy a focused study aimed at collecting data that would otherwise be lost.
10) What is the maximum award amount under this FOA?
The stated award ceiling is $200,000.
11) What is the funding instrument type and activity category?
The funding instrument type is a grant. The activity category is listed under environment and health.
12) Which agency sponsors this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH).
13) What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers are listed as 93.113 (and also noted as 93), indicating its placement within NIH environmental health-related assistance programs.
14) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in this nonprofit category)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in this nonprofit category)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
15) What does the FOA mean by an "Others" eligibility category?
The listing mentions an "Others" category and indicates that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full FOA text. This typically signals that the full FOA includes clarifications, conditions, or exceptions beyond the summarized categories.
16) What kinds of projects are a good fit for this FOA?
Projects are a good fit when they require immediate action to capture exposure or health-related measurements that cannot be recreated later. The research should be focused, rapidly deployable, and tied to an unforeseen event where delaying collection would permanently limit what can be learned.
17) What does "ready to implement immediately once funded" imply?
It implies that the proposed study should be positioned for quick startup after an award is made. The FOA emphasizes that the research must require quick action and should be able to mobilize in the narrow time window created by the unexpected incident.
18) What happens if researchers miss the narrow window this FOA is designed around?
The FOA notes that the most valuable biospecimens and environmental exposure measurements may become impossible to collect. Missing that moment can permanently limit the ability to assess exposures and evaluate health impacts associated with the event.
19) When was this FOA posted, and what closing date is shown in the record provided?
The FOA was created and posted on May 3, 2016. The closing date shown in the provided record is June 1, 2019.
20) What is the overall purpose of this opportunity in plain terms?
It is a rapid-response research pathway for environmental health scientists and organizations that need to act quickly after an unforeseen event, with the aim of collecting high-value exposure and biological data before conditions change and the chance to learn from the event is gone.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 16 005) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Collaborative Activities to Expedite Environmental Health Science Research, Translation, and Community Engagement Across EHS Core Centers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 16 327 Funding Number: PA 16 327 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54) Apply for PAR 16 329 Funding Number: PAR 16 329 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT): Optimization of Therapeutic Lead Compounds (U01) Apply for PAR 16 331 Funding Number: PAR 16 331 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT): Identification of Therapeutic Lead Compounds (U01) Apply for PAR 16 330 Funding Number: PAR 16 330 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Enhancing Diversity in Biomedical Data Science (R25) Apply for RFA MD 16 002 Funding Number: RFA MD 16 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Collaborative Activities to Expedite Environmental Health Science Research, Translation, and Community Engagement Across EHS Core Centers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 317 Funding Number: PA 17 317 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 046 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 046 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Collaborative Activities to Expedite Environmental Health Science Research, Translation, and Community Engagement Across EHS Core Centers (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 770 Funding Number: PA 18 770 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NIEHS Research Intensive Short Courses and Educational Opportunities (NIEHS RISE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 20 015 Funding Number: RFA ES 20 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2022 Apply for PAS JOR FY22 003 Funding Number: PAS JOR FY22 003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01) Apply for RFA ES 16 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01) Apply for PAR 16 360 Funding Number: PAR 16 360 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35) Apply for RFA ES 16 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Environmental Health Cohorts Maintenance and Infrastructure (R24) Apply for RFA ES 16 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Powering Research through Innovative Methods for mixtures in Epidemiology (PRIME) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NIH Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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