A Breath of Fresh Air: BREATHE Initiative Pioneers Next-Gen Indoor Air Quality Systems
Time is Running Out to Utilize Funds For BREATHE and ESSER
On April 10, 2024, The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced the launch of the Building Resilient Environments for Air and Total Health (BREATHE) program, aimed at ushering in a new era of indoor air quality management across the United States and hopefully around the world. The agency was created as part of the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into law on March 15, 2022. (Public Law No.117-103).
advanced research projects agency for health
(including transfer of funds)
For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act with
respect to advanced research projects for health, $1,000,000,000, to
remain available through September 30, 2024: Provided,
That <<NOTE: Appointment. 42 USC 241 note.>> the President shall
appoint in the Department of Health and Human Services a director of
advanced research projects for health (Director): Provided further,
That funds may be used to make or rescind appointments of scientific,
medical, and professional personnel without regard to any provision in
title 5 governing appointments under the civil service laws: Provided
further, That funds may be used to fix the compensation of such
personnel at a rate to be determined by the Director, up to the amount
of annual compensation (excluding expenses) specified in section 102 of
title 3, United States Code: <<NOTE: Grants. Contracts.>> Provided
further, That the Director may use funds made available under this
heading to make awards in the form of grants, contracts, cooperative
agreements, and cash prizes, and enter into other transactions (as
defined in section 319L(a)(3) of the PHS Act): Provided further, That
activities supported with funds provided under this heading shall not be
subject to the requirements of sections 406(a)(3)(A)(ii) or 492 of the
PHS Act: Provided further, That <<NOTE: Deadline.>> the Secretary may
transfer the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, including the
functions, personnel, missions, activities, authorities, and funds,
within 30 days of enactment of this Act to any agency or office of the
Department of Health and Human Services, including the National
Institutes of Health: Provided further, That the Committees on
[[Page 136 STAT. 466]]
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be
notified at least 15 days in advance of any transfer pursuant to the
preceding proviso.According to the law, the agency has until September 30, 2024, to use the funds. They seem to be cutting it kind of close to the deadline to initiate this program.
The primary objective is to develop scalable smart building systems capable of continuous monitoring and real-time intervention to ensure safer indoor environments nationwide. This initiative is particularly significant considering the pervasive health risks associated with poor indoor air quality, which often leads to preventable respiratory illnesses such as the flu, RSV, and COVID-19. The announcement added that “Airborne disease-causing pathogens and allergens can have a significant effect on people’s health, especially children, the elderly, and those living with chronic illnesses or are otherwise susceptible.”
One of the core focuses of BREATHE is to address the presence of airborne pathogens and allergens, which pose significant health threats, especially to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses. By harnessing advanced technology and data-driven approaches, the program seeks to enhance our ability to detect, assess, and mitigate these indoor air contaminants.
Key areas of research within the BREATHE program include:
Development of indoor air biosensors capable of rapidly detecting airborne biothreats
Creation of respiratory risk assessment software to evaluate potential health impacts
Optimization of building controls to enhance both health and energy efficiency
To accomplish these ambitious goals, BREATHE will collaborate with experts from various domains, including molecular diagnostics, data analysis, property management, and healthcare. By leveraging the collective expertise of these diverse stakeholders, the program aims to catalyze innovation in indoor air quality management and contribute to significant advancements in public health.
Ultimately, the success of BREATHE hinges on its ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions that can be implemented on a large scale. Through the forthcoming Program Solicitation, BREATHE invites proposals from qualified teams to tackle these critical challenges and drive forward the development of next-generation building systems for safer and healthier indoor environments. Multiple awards are anticipated under the program, reflecting the importance of this initiative in addressing a pressing public health need.
"Even though Americans spend 90% of their lives indoors, we do more to monitor and reduce health threats from the air we breathe outside than we do inside," remarked BREATHE Program Manager Jessica Green. "As we experienced through the pandemic, having the ability to monitor, track, and improve the air we breathe indoors is urgently needed. BREATHE aims to revolutionize public health by transforming our ability to eliminate indoor air threats."
While this initiative might not provide immediate solutions for children in schools and hospital patients, it's a significant step forward. It paves the way for developing more inclusive and effective indoor air quality management systems that could ultimately benefit a large portion of the population.
In the meantime, several actions can be taken to improve air quality right now. These include:
Monitor CO2 levels and maintain a CO2 level below 600 ppm or as close to it as possible.
Increasing natural ventilation: Opening windows in classrooms and buses allows fresh air in and stale air out.
Utilizing window fans: These can actively draw fresh air in while expelling stale indoor air.
Installing air purifiers: Placing air purifiers throughout buildings, including bathrooms, can help capture pollutants and infectious pathogens.
Upgrading existing HVAC systems: Replacing filters with MERV 13 options, where possible, improves filtration efficiency.
Implementing new policies and procedures: Strategies to reduce airborne transmission of viruses and bacteria should also be established.
Wearing N-95, or similar quality masks in all healthcare settings.
Additional Info on BREATHE:
Proposers' Day
Hybrid Proposers' Day: May 2, 2024, 8:30 AM PST - 5:00 PM PST in Oakland, Calif.
Proposers' Day registration closes on April 30, 2024.
BREATHE Teaming Profiles
“If either you or your organization are interested in teaming, please submit your information via the form below. Your details will then be added to the list below, which is publicly available.”
Link: BREATHE Teaming Profile Form
“BREATHE anticipates that teaming will be necessary to achieve the goals of the program. Prospective performers are encouraged (but not required) to form teams with varied technical expertise to submit a proposal to the BREATHE solicitation.”
ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief)
The window to use funds for another part of the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, meant to be used by schools to install or upgrade indoor air quality systems, closes September 30, 2024.
Funds have specific deadlines for both obligating the funds and completely liquidating them. Here's what you need to know:
Obligation Deadline: SEAs (State Education Agencies) and LEAs (Local Education Agencies) generally have until September 30, 2024, to obligate their ESSER grant funds. This means they need to have committed the money to specific projects or contracts by this date.
Liquidation Deadline: Once ESSER funds are obligated, there's an additional grace period for liquidation. LEAs typically have 90 days after the obligation deadline (September 30, 2024) to fully liquidate the funds. Liquidation is the process of making final payments for the goods or services purchased with the grant money.
Important Notes
These deadlines are general guidelines. Some states may have slightly different timeframes, so it's crucial to check with your specific SEA for the most accurate deadlines in your area.
Unexpended Funds: Any ESSER funds not obligated or liquidated by the respective deadlines will likely need to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education.
Where to Find More Information
Pennsylvania Department of Education ESSER FAQs: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/CARESAct/Monitoring/Pages/FAQ.aspx
U.S. Department of Education ESSER Resources: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilization-fund/elementary-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund/: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/education-stabilization-fund/elementary-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund/
Also included in the 2022 Law,
School Improvement Programs
For carrying out school improvement activities authorized by part B
of title I, part A of title II, subpart 1 of part A of title IV, part B
of title IV, part B of title V, and parts B and C of title VI of the
ESEA; the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; section 203 of the
Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002; the Compact of Free
Association Amendments Act of 2003; and the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
$5,595,835,000, of which $3,757,312,000 shall become available on July
1, 2022, and remain available through September 30, 2023, and of which
$1,681,441,000 shall become available on October 1, 2022, and shall
remain available through September 30, 2023, for academic year 2022-
2023:Please share your thoughts, insights, and ideas by leaving a comment.
Let’s work together and send the message to our representatives and leaders that we must make Clean Air for Kids a priority.
wear N95s in all healthcare settings. Ha. Ha. Ha. (How about public transport. And pharmacies? and maybe just maybe an hour a day at grocery stores? places people have to go...