The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a funding opportunity titled "Pesticides Health Care Initiative: National and Community-Based Health Care Provider Training for Pesticide Illness." This initiative aims to improve health care providers' (HCPs) ability to prevent, recognize, treat, manage, and report pesticide-related illnesses, with a focus on vulnerable populations like farmworkers and communities disproportionately affected by pesticide exposure. The funding is being provided under the statutory authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as amended by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5).

The initiative seeks to award one cooperative agreement of up to $2.1 million over a five-year period. The funding will support activities in two main areas: national training and technical assistance for HCPs, and partnerships with community organizations to ensure that the training and support provided are both locally relevant and widely accessible. The project period is estimated to start in June 2025 and end in June 2030.

Eligible entities for this funding opportunity include nonprofit organizations with experience in providing training and technical assistance to HCPs serving farmworker populations. Other eligible entities include coalitions of multiple nonprofit organizations, provided that one of the entities takes responsibility as the primary applicant. The award will be provided as a cooperative agreement, allowing for substantial involvement between EPA and the selected applicant throughout the project.

The scope of work for this initiative includes activities like developing and delivering continuing education units (CEUs) for HCPs on pesticide-related illness, adapting these resources to specific regional needs, and ensuring that cultural competence and the social determinants of health are incorporated into the training. Additionally, the project should build partnerships with community-based organizations to better understand and address the needs of high-risk communities. The recipient will also be expected to provide technical assistance to health centers to improve the tracking, diagnosis, and reporting of pesticide-related illnesses.

The application process requires submission through Grants.gov by December 19, 2024. Applications must be accompanied by all required documents, including a cover page, an executive summary, a detailed project workplan, and a budget narrative. Outputs and outcomes of the project must be well-defined, measurable, and directly aligned with EPA's strategic objectives to ensure chemical and pesticide safety.

Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including the quality of the proposed project design, the applicant's experience in working with similar initiatives, and the clarity and feasibility of the project milestones. EPA aims to select the applicant that demonstrates the ability to effectively collaborate with stakeholders, disseminate information, and ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes beyond the period of EPA funding.

This initiative emphasizes collaboration and community engagement, and applicants are encouraged to form partnerships to maximize the reach and impact of the project. All proposals must also ensure compliance with EPA regulations, including requirements related to indirect costs, reporting, and maintaining data quality throughout the project lifecycle.