Status: Open. Concept papers due December 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET; invited full proposals due February 8, 2027.
Executive Summary
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of CDC, issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 75D30127Q79332) to develop, adapt, demonstrate and drive adoption of technology that makes coal, metal, nonmetal, stone, sand and gravel mines safer and healthier for workers.
NIOSH estimates $4 million in total funding for about 6 to 10 awards, most between $200,000 and $400,000. The first step is a concept paper, due December 14, 2026; only selected offerors are invited to submit a full proposal, due February 8, 2027. Awards are generally firm-fixed-price contracts, with a fixed-price Other Transaction possible.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: CDC NIOSH, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
- Opportunity: Development and Demonstration of Mine Safety and Health Technology
- BAA number: 75D30127Q79332 (issued November 5, 2026)
- Funding: About $4,000,000 total; about 6 to 10 awards; typical award $200,000 to $400,000; maximum $650,000
- Award type: Firm-fixed-price contracts; fixed-price OT agreements possible
- Period of performance: 24 to 36 months preferred (up to 48 if justified)
- Concept paper questions due: November 30, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET
- Concept papers due: December 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET
- Full proposals (by invitation): February 8, 2027, 3:00 p.m. ET
Think your technology qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the December 14 deadline.
What NIOSH Wants
- Advance prototypes toward mine-ready solutions, including permissibility changes and mine-site demonstrations.
- Adapt technology from other industries for mining: redesign, ruggedization, integration and in-mine testing.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and the barriers to using them in mines.
- Drive adoption of mature safety technology the industry has not taken up.
- Analyze data to identify emerging hazards and future technology needs.
Priority Research Areas
- Computer vision, sensor fusion and intelligent technologies: video and imaging combined with LiDAR, radar, ultra-wideband, thermal or depth cameras and wearables, with edge processing for proximity detection, worker monitoring, ground-control hazards and drone or robot inspections.
- Real-time personal monitoring for respirable dust and crystalline silica: small, low-cost wearables with demonstrated proof of concept.
- Lithium-ion battery safety underground: thermal runaway prevention and early detection, propagation control, fire suppression, gas and pressure management and advanced battery management systems.
- Other topics are welcome: robotics and autonomy, fiber-optic sensing, ground scanning, digital twins, emergency breathing, underground localization and communications, and new mining equipment prototypes.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Public, private, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, universities, NGOs and government entities in the U.S.
- Technology readiness level 4 to 6, with evidence for the starting TRL and a target TRL at completion.
- Technology for gassy underground mines must address intrinsic safety, explosion protection and permissibility.
How to Submit
- Concept paper: a cover page (including a rough order of magnitude cost and period of performance) and an abbreviated statement of work describing the safety problem, objectives, technical approach and TRL, and major tasks.
- Send it by email to the Contracting Officer named in the BAA, subject line "CONCEPT PAPER Submission for NIOSH BAA RFP# 75D30127Q79332", before 3:00 p.m. ET on December 14, 2026.
- Full proposal only if invited: a technical volume and a pricing volume, due February 8, 2027.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits companies with working autonomy, robotics, computer vision, wearable sensing, battery safety or communications technology that can be ruggedized for mines, especially if it already works in another harsh industry such as oil and gas, construction or tunneling. Early concepts below TRL 4 are a weaker fit.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For this BAA we help you:
- Choose the mine safety problem your technology answers best.
- Document TRL evidence and a realistic path to mine-site demonstration.
- Write the concept paper and, if invited, the full technical and pricing proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is it due?
Concept papers are due December 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET, by email to the Contracting Officer. Invited full proposals are due February 8, 2027, 3:00 p.m. ET.
How much money is available?
NIOSH estimates $4,000,000 in total for about 6 to 10 awards. Most awards will be $200,000 to $400,000 including options; exceptional proposals may go up to $650,000. Proposals above $650,000 will not be evaluated.
Can a startup or small company apply?
Yes. Public, private, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, universities and government entities in the U.S. are eligible.
Do I have to fit one of the listed research areas?
No. NIOSH says off-topic proposals have made up 50 to 70 percent of funded projects in some years, and they get equal consideration.
How mature does the technology need to be?
NIOSH focuses on technology readiness levels 4 to 6 and asks you to state the starting and ending TRL with evidence.
Can BW&CO help with the concept paper?
Yes. We can help you frame the mine safety problem, document your TRL evidence and write the concept paper and full proposal. Book a call with our team.
Source: SAM: NIOSH BAA 75D30127Q79332, Development and Demonstration of Mine Safety and Health Technology