Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03) | RFA OH 22 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OH 22 006

The Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA OH 22 006; CFDA 93.262) is a discretionary grant program run through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the CDCs National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. Its central purpose is to improve both the quality and the real-world availability of safety training for U.S. commercial fishermen, with an emphasis on getting effective training to crews and communities that need it most and delivering it in ways that actually fit how fishing operations work.

At a practical level, the program is looking to fund applicants that can build, strengthen, and deliver training and education programs tailored to commercial fishing. "Availability" is treated broadly, meaning applicants are expected to think beyond simply offering a class and instead address factors like how often training is offered, whether it is reachable in remote coastal regions, what partners or distribution channels can be used to reach working fishermen, and whether the materials and teaching methods are culturally appropriate and matched to varying education and literacy levels. The intent is to support training that is not only technically correct, but also realistic, accessible, and repeatable within the fishing industry.

Funded projects are expected to cover several core functions. These include developing and delivering training that addresses the safety needs of U.S. commercial fishermen; ensuring instruction is delivered by qualified marine safety instructors (including instructors and faculty who are qualified or otherwise accepted by the National Maritime Center, when applicable); evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the training, including whether it contributes to reducing injuries among fishermen; and coordinating rather than competing with existing safety training efforts by working with industry partners, fishermen, and relevant agencies. The program also highlights the need for alignment with federal requirements tied to commercial fishing safety training standards, specifically referencing 46 U.S.C. 4502(i), which relates to safety standards and training expectations in the commercial fishing sector.

The opportunity reflects a shared federal approach to commercial fishing safety. The Coast Guard, along with OSHA, has regulatory oversight for safety and health matters in the industry, while NIOSH (as part of CDC) focuses on research, prevention methods, guidance and recommendations, and translating science into practice to prevent workplace injury, illness, and death. A Memorandum of Understanding signed May 17, 2018, between the Coast Guard and NIOSH underpins how the partners coordinate to support and administer this grant program, effectively pairing Coast Guard operational and regulatory perspective with NIOSHs occupational safety and health expertise and evaluation mindset.

Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage strong regional and sector-specific training capacity. Eligible applicants include state, county, 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 tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, with an additional catch-all category indicating other entities may be eligible depending on the notice details.

In terms of funding scale, the listed award ceiling is $975,000, and the program anticipated making about 20 awards under this announcement. The posting shows a creation date of July 11, 2022, and an original closing date of August 30, 2022, with electronic applications due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. Overall, the grant is designed for organizations that can demonstrate they will deliver credible marine safety training, reach fishermen effectively (including in hard-to-serve locations and communities), collaborate with existing industry and public partners, and build in serious evaluation to show whether training is translating into fewer injuries and safer outcomes on the water.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.262.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 11, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm ET on the listed application due date.. (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 $975,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• 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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