Data / Federal grants / RFA-OH-27-044

NIOSH Robotics and Intelligent Mining Technology and Workplace Safety Research (U60)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA (Department of Health and Human Services) expects to post this opportunity around November 12, 2026, with applications due around February 8, 2027. It lists awards of up to $2 million, 2 awards expected, $10 million in total.

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Key facts

Opportunity number

RFA-OH-27-044

Status

Forecast

Posted

July 22, 2026

Closes

February 8, 2027

Award ceiling

$2,000,000

Expected awards

2

Total funding

$10,000,000

Cost sharing

Not required

Funding instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Category

Health

Assistance listing

93.262 Occupational Safety and Health Program

Contact

Maria Lioce, MD, Scientific Program Official · [email protected] · 404-498-2575

Who can apply

• Independent school districts
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• City or township governments
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Private institutions of higher education
• State governments
• County governments
• Small businesses
• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Special district governments

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 HHS Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.Congress intends for the award to go to a U.S. academic institution that (1) offers an ABET accredited undergraduate program in mining or mineral engineering (under the Mining and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria) and (2) offers graduate programs in both mining engineering and explosives engineering.

What the agency says

Purpose This NOFO supports applied research to advance automation, robotics, and intelligent mining systems that improve safety and health in U.S. mining operations. Projects should deliver field-ready solutions that strengthen communication, self-escape, refuge performance, and overall safety through modern autonomy, sensing, and decision-support technologies. Background Mining remains hazardous. In 2025, MSHA recorded 33 fatalities, including powered-haulage and machinery incidents. Early 2026 data show continued roof and rib failures and pressure-vessel events. Although the 2025 injury rate reached a historic low, gaps persist in emergency communication reliability, low-visibility self-escape, and refuge performance. Advances in robotics and intelligent systems offer potential for rapid assessment, resilient communications, and improved decision-making. Approach The Miner Health Program, 2020–2030 Strategic Agenda provides a long term framework for improving miner health and well being through integrated research, evaluation, and community engagement. This cooperative agreement aligns with that agenda by supporting research in robotics and intelligent mining to reduce hazardous exposures, strengthen emergency response, and improve miner safety and health. Objectives Objectives support research in automation, robotics, and intelligent systems that enhance mining safety and health. Projects should advance "assured autonomy," ensuring autonomous equipment improves worker safety while maintaining productivity. Potential impacts include: Advances and implementation of human-centered design principles for automated equipment and related systems. New methods, guidance, and best practices in change management, training/retraining, technology integration, and safety evaluation. New methods and evaluation techniques for safe design considering the full mining operation. Advances and availability of enabling technologies for assured autonomy, including sensors, data fusion, AI, and systems improving machine and operator situational awareness. Availability of new miner-rescue and post-disaster surveillance technologies. Applicants are encouraged to leverage mining and explosives-engineering graduate program facilities. Proposals must clearly state goals, link them to documented burdens, and provide concise evidence on exposures, populations at risk, and expected impact. Include supporting data such as morbidity or mortality rates and indicators of population risk. Eligibility Congress intends for the award to go to a U.S. academic institution that (1) offers an ABET-accredited undergraduate program in mining or mineral engineering (under the Mining and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria) and (2) offers graduate programs in both mining engineering and explosives engineering.

The notice on Grants.gov

Other open grants from the Department of Health and Human Services

All grants open to Independent school districts · All grants open to Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status · All grants open to City or township governments · Everything closing in February 2027

Read from the Grants.gov API, last updated 2026-10-23. The agency's notice on Grants.gov is the official record; check it before you apply.