Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 16 013

  • The HHS-FDA in the agriculture, consumer protection, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Federal and University Partnership to Improve the Safety of Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico (U19)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.103.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 07, 2016 and posted on Mar 07, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 2016. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for RFA FD 16 013

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Opportunity Summary:

The grant opportunity titled "Federal and University Partnership to Improve the Safety of Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico (U19)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA FD 16 013) is a discretionary cooperative agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (HHS-FDA), specifically through the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). Its core purpose is to fund a formal partnership between FDA/CFSAN and the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, operating through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), to strengthen scientific and public health efforts connected to seafood safety in the Gulf of Mexico region. Rather than functioning like a typical research grant where the recipient works largely independently, the cooperative agreement format signals that FDA expects to be actively involved in shaping and carrying out the work, making it a collaborative, joint-effort model.

At a practical level, the opportunity is designed to combine FDA's strengths in science, public health, and policy with DISL's established capabilities in marine and environmental science. FDA brings national regulatory expertise and a mandate to protect consumers, while DISL contributes a well-regarded academic and research environment, including multidisciplinary programs, research collaborations, and connections to innovative business partnerships. The stated intent is to create a sustained platform where federal experts and university-affiliated researchers can work side by side, share knowledge, and develop initiatives that support both agencies' missions, with an emphasis on improving the safety of seafood sourced from the Gulf of Mexico.

The announcement emphasizes that the partnership is meant to enable multiple types of joint activity. This includes developing scientific collaborations (for example, coordinated research questions, shared technical approaches, and joint problem-solving related to hazards in seafood), conducting outreach efforts (such as communicating best practices or risk information to relevant audiences), and building educational initiatives (which could involve training, curriculum development, or professional development opportunities connected to seafood safety and marine science). It also highlights "intellectual partnerships," suggesting an ongoing exchange of expertise and strategic coordination rather than a one-time project, with the expectation that the relationship will foster multidisciplinary exchanges and strengthen the overall seafood safety ecosystem in the region.

In terms of funding details, the maximum award amount listed is $125,000 (award ceiling), and FDA expected to make one award. The activity category is listed under Agriculture, Consumer Protection, and Food and Nutrition, and the CFDA number is 93.103. The opportunity was posted on March 7, 2016, created the same day, and had an application closing date of May 6, 2016 (both original and current closing dates match). Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the note that additional eligibility clarification would be provided in the full opportunity text, but the description clearly points to DISL as the intended partner for this specific cooperative agreement.

Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as targeted support for a single, structured federal-university collaboration meant to improve Gulf seafood safety by linking FDA's regulatory public health capabilities with DISL's research and educational infrastructure. The outcome FDA is aiming for is not just a standalone deliverable, but a stronger, ongoing collaborative framework that can generate scientific insight, improve communication and training, and support coordinated actions that ultimately reduce seafood safety risks for consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Federal and University Partnership to Improve the Safety of Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico (U19)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA FD 16 013.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

What type of funding mechanism is this?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement.

How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical research grant in this opportunity?

The cooperative agreement format indicates FDA expects to be actively involved in shaping and carrying out the work. It is described as a collaborative, joint-effort model rather than a recipient-led project with minimal agency involvement.

What is the main purpose of the opportunity?

The core purpose is to fund a formal partnership between FDA/CFSAN and the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, operating through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), to strengthen scientific and public health efforts connected to seafood safety in the Gulf of Mexico region.

Who is the intended partner for this cooperative agreement?

The description points to the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, operating through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), as the intended partner for this specific cooperative agreement.

What is the geographic focus of the funded work?

The partnership is focused on improving the safety of seafood sourced from the Gulf of Mexico and strengthening seafood safety efforts in the Gulf of Mexico region.

What kinds of activities does the partnership aim to support?

The announcement highlights multiple types of joint activity, including scientific collaborations, outreach efforts, and educational initiatives, as part of an ongoing federal-university partnership.

What does the opportunity mean by scientific collaborations?

Scientific collaborations are described in practical terms such as coordinated research questions, shared technical approaches, and joint problem-solving related to hazards in seafood.

What does the opportunity mean by outreach efforts?

Outreach efforts are described as communicating best practices or risk information to relevant audiences as part of improving seafood safety.

What does the opportunity mean by educational initiatives?

Educational initiatives could include training, curriculum development, or professional development opportunities connected to seafood safety and marine science.

What are "intellectual partnerships" in the context of this grant?

The announcement uses the term "intellectual partnerships" to indicate an ongoing exchange of expertise and strategic coordination, not just a one-time project. The intent is sustained multidisciplinary exchange that strengthens the region's seafood safety ecosystem.

What strengths does FDA/CFSAN bring to this partnership?

FDA brings strengths in science, public health, and policy, including national regulatory expertise and a consumer protection mandate.

What strengths does DISL bring to this partnership?

DISL contributes an established academic and research environment with multidisciplinary programs, research collaborations, and connections to innovative business partnerships.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed is $125,000.

How many awards did FDA expect to make?

FDA expected to make one award.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 93.103.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed under Agriculture, Consumer Protection, and Food and Nutrition.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 7, 2016, and it was created the same day.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was May 6, 2016. The original and current closing dates match.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with a note that additional eligibility clarification would be provided in the full opportunity text. However, the description clearly points to DISL as the intended partner for this specific cooperative agreement.

Is this opportunity designed for multiple unrelated applicants or a specific partnership?

Based on the description, it is best understood as targeted support for a single, structured federal-university collaboration rather than an open, multi-recipient competition.

What outcome is FDA aiming for through this award?

The intended outcome is not just a standalone deliverable, but a stronger, ongoing collaborative framework that can generate scientific insight, improve communication and training, and support coordinated actions that reduce seafood safety risks for consumers.

What does "sustained platform" mean in this funding description?

It refers to creating an ongoing partnership structure where federal experts and university-affiliated researchers can work side by side, share knowledge, and develop initiatives over time to support seafood safety in the Gulf region.

What is the role of FDA in this partnership, according to the announcement?

FDA is expected to be actively involved in shaping and carrying out the work, reflecting the cooperative agreement structure and the intent for close federal-university coordination.

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