Office of Sponsored Programs OSP Weekly 06/15/2020

Up to $200,000 in direct costs.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis from 6/10/20 to 12/15/20.

This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) highlights interest in research to strengthen the healthcare response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to future public health emergencies, including pandemics. While the direct clinical effects of COVID-19 are supported by other funding opportunities, the purpose of this NOSI is to support research to address secondary health effects of the social, behavioral, and economic changes, particularly among populations who experience  health disparities  and vulnerable populations through the use of digital health assessments and interventions to yield measurable near-term impact.

Collectively, Manufacturing USA institutes have over 2,000 member institutions including small manufacturers, two-thirds of Fortune 50 U.S. manufacturers, and nearly every top ranked research and engineering university in the United States. Its network of research and development institutes that engage with these industry-led institutions positions it well to distribute high-impact funding into existing efforts in the manufacturing sector to both stimulate the US economy and to support efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises.

Projects should focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects may include medical countermeasures; non-medical countermeasures; leveraging institute capabilities to strengthen state and community resilience; grants to companies and technical support to accelerate productions of critical materials, equipment, and supplies; creation of additional production facilities; technology roadmapping for pandemic response and recovery; reshoring the manufacture of critical conventional drugs and ensuring supply chain for critical materials related to pandemic response; or workforce development and training for a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce.

EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive merit basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA's Public Works program and EAA program (which includes Assistance to Coal Communities). Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities, including those negatively impacted by changes to the coal economy.

Through the EAA program, EDA provides investments that support a wide range of non-construction and construction activities, including Revolving Loan Funds, in regions experiencing severe economic dislocations, such as those brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of CARES Act Recovery Assistance, EDA will also fund projects that qualify for EAA funding but are similar to the kinds of projects funded under other EDA programs, such as Public Works, Research and National Technical Assistance, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, University Centers, and Build to Scale (formerly Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS)). In addition to projects with a regional focus, EDA anticipates making awards for projects of national scope as part of this funding opportunity.

CARES Act Recovery Assistance Projects:

Successful applications will enable affected communities to respond to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by supporting affected businesses and communities, including by providing technical assistance to retain existing and hire new employees; by providing a range of skills-training and workforce development projects to help employees compete for high-quality jobs; and by developing and implementing strategies to diversify regional economies to create jobs in new or existing industries. EAA investments are designed to help communities catalyze public-private partnerships to foster collaboration, attract investment, create jobs, and foster economic resiliency and prosperity.

Althea Sheets, Funding Opportunities Manager, [email protected], 702-895-1880