Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 14 001
Apply for RFA FD 14 001
- The Food Drug Administration in the business and commerce consumer protection food and nutrition health science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cigarette Tobacco Reference Products Program (UC2)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.103 Food and Drug AdministrationResearch.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 27, 2013 and posted on Sep 27, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the HHS Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cigarette Tobacco Reference Products Program (UC2) is a cooperative agreement funding opportunity from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specifically the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), aimed at creating a standardized set of cigarette tobacco reference products that reflect American blended cigarettes. The core purpose is to build a reliable reference materials program that can be used broadly across the tobacco science and regulatory ecosystem for investigational, non-clinical work. In practical terms, FDA is looking for an external organization (or organizations working with FDA under a cooperative agreement structure) to develop and supply consistent reference cigarette tobacco products that can serve as common benchmarks for testing, method development, and comparative studies. These reference products would be intended for use by tobacco manufacturers, contract laboratories, government labs, and academic researchers so that research and analytical results can be compared more consistently across different institutions and over time.
This opportunity was issued as a discretionary award using a Cooperative Agreement (UC2) mechanism, which signals that FDA expects to be substantially involved during the project rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. Because the work involves building reference products that will be used widely, FDA anticipates significant collaboration, coordination, and scientific rigor, including alignment on specifications, manufacturing controls, quality assurance, and distribution considerations. The activity category spans business and commerce, consumer protection, food and nutrition, health, science and technology, and research and development, reflecting the intersection of product standardization, laboratory science, and public health oversight.
The funding opportunity number is RFA-FD-14-001, with an estimated total funding amount of $6,700,000 and an award ceiling of $6,700,000, suggesting FDA expected to make a single award (Expected Awards: 1) at up to the full amount. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute additional non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award. The program falls under CFDA number 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration Research). Key dates include a posted and created date of September 27, 2013, with an original and current closing date of November 15, 2013, and an archive date of December 15, 2013.
Eligibility for the program was broad within the United States and included a wide range of organization types such as state, local, and tribal governments; public housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits, with small businesses explicitly listed); and special district governments. However, the opportunity explicitly excluded foreign participation: non-U.S. entities were not eligible, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in HHS grants policy) were not allowed. This restriction indicates the program was intended to be fully domestic, likely due to regulatory sensitivity, supply chain control, and the need for tight oversight in producing standardized tobacco reference materials.
Applicants seeking more detail were directed to the full announcement hosted via the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and the listed grants management contact for access issues was Lisa Ko, Grants Management Specialist (lisa.ko@fda.hhs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Cigarette Tobacco Reference Products Program (UC2)
1) What is the Cigarette Tobacco Reference Products Program (UC2)?
The Cigarette Tobacco Reference Products Program (UC2) is an FDA funding opportunity intended to create a standardized set of cigarette tobacco reference products that reflect American blended cigarettes. The goal is to establish a reliable reference materials program that can be used broadly for investigational, non-clinical work across the tobacco science and regulatory ecosystem.
2) Which FDA office is sponsoring this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specifically the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).
3) What is the main purpose of creating cigarette tobacco reference products?
The reference products are intended to serve as common benchmarks so testing, method development, and comparative studies can be performed more consistently. By using standardized reference products, manufacturers, laboratories, government labs, and academic researchers can better compare analytical results across institutions and over time.
4) What would the awardee be expected to do under this program?
Based on the description provided, the awardee would be expected to develop and supply consistent reference cigarette tobacco products. The work anticipates strong scientific rigor and coordination on specifications, manufacturing controls, quality assurance, and distribution considerations so the reference products can be used widely and reliably.
5) What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses a Cooperative Agreement (UC2) mechanism.
6) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (UC2)?
A cooperative agreement indicates FDA expects to be substantially involved during the project. In other words, the relationship is intended to be collaborative, rather than FDA simply providing funding without ongoing participation.
7) Is this considered a discretionary award?
Yes. The opportunity was issued as a discretionary award using the Cooperative Agreement (UC2) mechanism.
8) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-FD-14-001.
9) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount is $6,700,000, and the award ceiling is also $6,700,000.
10) How many awards did FDA expect to make?
The opportunity listed Expected Awards: 1, indicating FDA anticipated making a single award.
11) Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
12) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program falls under CFDA number 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration Research).
13) When was the opportunity posted?
The posted date (and created date) is September 27, 2013.
14) What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is November 15, 2013.
15) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is December 15, 2013.
16) What types of activities or topic areas does this opportunity cover?
The activity category spans business and commerce, consumer protection, food and nutrition, health, science and technology, and research and development. This reflects the intersection of product standardization, laboratory science, and public health oversight involved in creating reference cigarette tobacco products.
17) Who can use the reference products developed under this program?
The reference products are intended for use by tobacco manufacturers, contract laboratories, government labs, and academic researchers so that research and analytical results can be compared more consistently.
18) Are the reference products intended for clinical research?
No. The description specifies the program is intended for investigational, non-clinical work.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad within the United States and included: state, local, and tribal governments; public housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits, with small businesses explicitly listed); and special district governments.
20) Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses were explicitly listed as eligible.
21) Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations were listed as eligible, including small businesses and other for-profits.
22) Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible.
23) Are nonprofits eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, were listed as eligible (with the noted exclusion language regarding higher education where specified).
24) Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities were not eligible.
25) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component on the project?
No. The opportunity states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible.
26) Are foreign components allowed under HHS grants policy definitions?
No. The opportunity explicitly states that foreign components (as defined in HHS grants policy) were not allowed.
27) Where could applicants find the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to the full announcement hosted via the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.
28) Who was the listed grants management contact for access issues?
The listed grants management contact for access issues was Lisa Ko, Grants Management Specialist (lisa.ko@fda.hhs.gov).
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