Radiation Protection of the Public as Practiced by the State and Local Radiation Programs | CDC RFA EH18 1803

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA EH18 1803

The grant opportunity titled "Radiation Protection of the Public as Practiced by the State and Local Radiation Programs" (Funding Opportunity Number: CDC RFA EH18-1803) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically within the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH). It is designed to strengthen how radiation protection is carried out across the country by helping state, local, and federal partners coordinate their work, share expertise, and focus limited public health and regulatory resources on radiological health issues that affect multiple jurisdictions. Rather than funding a single narrow technical project, the opportunity centers on building and sustaining a national forum where agencies can align practices, respond to emerging issues, and improve consistency in radiation protection efforts.

At its core, the purpose of the award is to make collaboration easier and more productive among radiation programs that often face similar challenges but may lack the time, staffing, or funding to tackle them independently. The CDC’s intent is to support a structured, multi-part approach where participating organizations can jointly identify high-priority radiation health concerns, develop practical guidance and recommendations, and share information that can be translated into better day-to-day regulatory and public health practice. The overall public health rationale is straightforward: when the people responsible for radiation oversight have better tools, clearer guidance, and stronger coordination, the country is better positioned to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and reduce the risk of radiation-associated illness and death.

The work supported under this funding is described as multi-faceted. One major component is the creation or support of joint working groups focused on specific technical or policy issues of mutual interest. These working groups are meant to concentrate expertise, divide the workload across partners, and produce outputs that can be used broadly by radiation protection staff nationwide. Another key component is participation in annual meetings that provide space for presentations and discussion. These meetings are expected to address shared problems, highlight new developments in the field, anticipate upcoming challenges, and generate recommendations that help programs adapt to changes in technology, practice, and regulation. In addition, the opportunity emphasizes training and workshops to keep state and federal regulatory personnel informed and educated on new technologies, emerging issues, and evolving regulatory procedures. The training aspect signals that the CDC is not only looking for information exchange but also for structured professional development that improves competency and readiness across the workforce.

The expected outcomes focus on strengthening national capacity in radiological health. The grant aims to increase the tools, knowledge, and capabilities available to radiological health staff throughout the United States by producing guidance, recommendations, and suggested regulations, and by encouraging active exchange of information between jurisdictions and with federal partners. In practical terms, this could include harmonizing approaches to inspection and enforcement, improving understanding of new radiation-emitting technologies, clarifying best practices for managing incidents or unusual exposure scenarios, and helping programs interpret or implement regulatory procedures more consistently. The emphasis on recommendations and suggested regulations also implies the project should generate tangible products that others can adopt or adapt, rather than limiting benefits only to the award recipient.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) categorized under Health, with CFDA Number 93.070. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the opportunity anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1), indicating a competitive selection where one recipient would serve as the central hub or organizer for the national forum and its associated activities. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement text. The original posting date is May 31, 2018, with an original application deadline of July 31, 2018, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as capacity-building for radiation protection programs through coordination, shared problem-solving, and workforce development. The CDC’s stated goal is to improve the ability of state and local radiation programs, working alongside federal agencies, to protect the public from unnecessary radiation exposure. By creating ongoing mechanisms for collaboration, training, and consensus-driven guidance, the program is meant to reduce gaps between jurisdictions, improve preparedness for new and emerging radiological issues, and ultimately strengthen public health protections nationwide.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - NCEH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Radiation Protection of the Public as Practiced by the State and Local Radiation Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.070.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2018 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 p.m., 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for CDC RFA EH18 1803

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