Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 10 003
Apply for RFA FD 10 003
- The Food Drug Administration in the agriculture business and commerce community development consumer protection employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18), FERN Chemical Laboratories" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.448 Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 1, 2010 and posted on Apr 22, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 15, 2010 PLEASE NOTE This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) has been revised to reflect a change in the receipt date. The new application receipt date for this FOA has been changed to December 15, 2010.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments.
- This cooperative agreement program is only available to State, local, and tribal government FERN laboratories and is authorized by section 312 of the Bioterrorism Act. All grant application projects that are developed at State, local, and tribal levels must have national implications or application that can enhance Federal food safety and security programs. Only FERN Chemical labs that are currently receiving funding under this cooperative agreement program may apply for these competing continuation awards. Eligible Individuals Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for FDA support.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18) is an FDA cooperative agreement opportunity designed to strengthen the Food Emergency Response Laboratory Network (FERN) chemical laboratories operated by state, local, and tribal governments. The central purpose is to make sure the country has enough laboratory capacity and redundancy to quickly test foods and food products when a chemical terrorism incident, intentional adulteration, or other large-scale contamination event creates a surge in analytical demand. In practical terms, FDA is using these awards to expand and reinforce the national network of capable chemistry labs so that federal, state, local, and tribal partners can respond in a coordinated way when food safety or security is threatened.
This is a cooperative agreement, meaning FDA expects an active partnership with awardees rather than a hands-off grant. Funds are intended to support the real operating needs that determine whether a lab can scale up quickly: personnel time, consumable supplies, miscellaneous equipment, and targeted training. The program emphasizes building reliable, repeatable testing capacity through participation in proficiency testing, method enhancement activities that broaden what the lab can measure, and routine analysis of surveillance samples that keeps skills sharp and systems validated. A major theme is quality and consistency across the network, not just buying instruments; the goal is to ensure results are defensible and comparable when multiple labs are working the same incident.
A key expectation is that funded laboratories move toward or maintain formal laboratory accreditation through an internationally recognized accrediting body. To support that, successful applicants will receive a quality management system assessment conducted by FDA ORA Division of Field Science. This reflects the programs focus on readiness: during an emergency, labs need validated methods, documented quality controls, trained analysts, and audited systems that can stand up to scrutiny. The agreement also makes clear that, during a major event, recipients may be required to perform specific chemical analyses on domestic or imported food samples collected and provided through FDA or other government agencies via FDA.
The testing scope is broad and aligned with foods that might be impacted during an incident or targeted for surveillance. Example commodities listed include fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables, juice products, grains and grain-based foods, seafood, milk and other dairy products, infant formula and baby foods, bottled water, condiments, and alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits. The intent is to ensure labs can apply high-quality chemical testing across a wide range of matrices that vary in complexity, fat content, acidity, and potential interferences.
All proposed projects must have national implications, meaning the work should strengthen federal food safety and security capabilities beyond a single jurisdiction. The announcement identifies four required technical focus areas that applicants must address, centered on major analytical platforms used for rapid screening and confirmation of chemical hazards in foods: (1) Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for screening and identifying poisons, toxic substances, and unknown compounds; (2) Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) for similar screening and identification needs, often including less volatile or more polar compounds; (3) Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) for detecting heavy metals and other toxic elements; and (4) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and other antibody-based methods for screening and identifying unknown toxins. Together these areas cover a wide range of chemical threat agents and contaminants, and they reflect the laboratory technologies most likely to be mobilized during an intentional adulteration or chemical contamination response.
Eligibility is limited and targeted. The program is only open to FERN chemistry laboratories within state, local, and tribal governments, and the specific competition described is for continuation awards: only FERN chemical laboratories that are already receiving funding under this cooperative agreement program may apply. While the eligible applicant organizations are governmental FERN labs, the announcement also notes that any individual with the appropriate skills and resources may serve as the project director/principal investigator in coordination with the eligible organization, and it reiterates the FDA encouragement for participation by individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the opportunity is issued by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Division of Federal State Relations, under the authority of Section 312 of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The program is listed in CFDA as 93.448. The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-FD-10-003, with an expected 11 awards and an estimated total funding amount of $4.4 million. The stated award ceiling is $400,000 per award, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, and the announcement notes a revised application receipt date, with the closing date changed to December 15, 2010 (originally June 11, 2011). Contact information in the notice points applicants to an FDA contract specialist for assistance accessing the full announcement.
Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18) - FAQ
What is the Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18)?
It is an FDA cooperative agreement opportunity intended to strengthen the Food Emergency Response Laboratory Network (FERN) chemical laboratories operated by state, local, and tribal governments. The program is designed to ensure the nation has sufficient laboratory capacity and redundancy to rapidly test foods and food products during chemical terrorism incidents, intentional adulteration, or other large-scale contamination events that create a surge in analytical testing demand.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The central purpose is to expand and reinforce a national network of capable chemistry laboratories so that federal, state, local, and tribal partners can respond in a coordinated way when food safety or security is threatened. The emphasis is on readiness and surge capacity, including reliable, repeatable testing that produces defensible and comparable results across multiple laboratories.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement, and why does that matter?
This is a cooperative agreement. That means FDA expects an active partnership with awardees rather than a hands-off relationship. The program description indicates FDA involvement in supporting readiness and consistency across the network, including activities such as quality management system assessments and coordination during response events.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to FERN chemistry laboratories within state, local, and tribal governments. The specific competition described is for continuation awards, meaning only FERN chemical laboratories that are already receiving funding under this cooperative agreement program may apply.
Are non-government laboratories or new applicants eligible?
Based on the information provided, the opportunity is limited to governmental FERN chemistry laboratories and is specifically described as a continuation competition for labs already funded under the program. No other categories of applicants are identified as eligible.
Can an individual serve as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?
Yes. The notice states that any individual with the appropriate skills and resources may serve as the project director/principal investigator in coordination with the eligible organization.
Does FDA encourage participation by any specific groups?
Yes. The announcement reiterates FDA encouragement for participation by individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
What activities can the funding support?
Funds are intended to support practical operating needs that affect a laboratory's ability to scale quickly, including personnel time, consumable supplies, miscellaneous equipment, and targeted training. The program also emphasizes participation in proficiency testing, method enhancement activities, and routine analysis of surveillance samples to maintain validated capabilities and readiness.
Is the program mainly about buying new instruments and equipment?
No. While miscellaneous equipment can be supported, the description emphasizes quality, consistency, and repeatable testing capacity across the network. The goal is not simply equipment purchases, but ensuring laboratories have validated methods, documented quality controls, trained analysts, and audited systems that can produce defensible, comparable results during an emergency.
What are the required technical focus areas applicants must address?
All proposed projects must address four required technical focus areas aligned with major analytical platforms used for rapid screening and confirmation of chemical hazards in foods:
- Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for screening and identifying poisons, toxic substances, and unknown compounds
- Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) for screening and identifying poisons, toxic substances, and unknown compounds (often including less volatile or more polar compounds)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) for detecting heavy metals and other toxic elements
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and other antibody-based methods for screening and identifying unknown toxins
What kinds of incidents or situations is the program designed to support?
The program is intended to support rapid testing during chemical terrorism incidents, intentional adulteration events, or other large-scale contamination scenarios that generate a surge in analytical demand for food and food product testing.
Could awardees be required to perform specific testing during a major event?
Yes. The agreement states that during a major event recipients may be required to perform specific chemical analyses on domestic or imported food samples collected and provided through FDA or other government agencies via FDA.
What is meant by "national implications" for proposed projects?
All proposed projects must have national implications, meaning the work should strengthen federal food safety and security capabilities beyond a single jurisdiction. The intent is to improve coordinated, network-wide readiness and capability rather than supporting isolated local-only activities.
What foods and food products are included in the testing scope?
The testing scope is described as broad and aligned with foods that might be impacted during an incident or targeted for surveillance. Examples include fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables, juice products, grains and grain-based foods, seafood, milk and other dairy products, infant formula and baby foods, bottled water, condiments, and alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits.
Why does the program list so many different food commodities?
The intent is to ensure laboratories can apply high-quality chemical testing across a wide range of food matrices that vary in complexity, fat content, acidity, and potential analytical interferences.
What does the opportunity emphasize about quality and consistency?
A major theme is ensuring quality and consistency across the national laboratory network. The description highlights the need for validated methods, documented quality controls, trained analysts, and audited systems so that results are defensible and comparable when multiple labs are working on the same incident.
Is laboratory accreditation expected under this program?
Yes. A key expectation is that funded laboratories move toward or maintain formal laboratory accreditation through an internationally recognized accrediting body.
Will FDA assess a laboratory's quality management system?
Yes. The information provided states that successful applicants will receive a quality management system assessment conducted by FDA ORA Division of Field Science, which aligns with the program's readiness and accreditation emphasis.
What is FERN and how does it relate to this opportunity?
FERN is the Food Emergency Response Laboratory Network. This opportunity is designed specifically to strengthen FERN chemical laboratories operated by state, local, and tribal governments so the network can provide surge capacity and coordinated testing during food safety or security emergencies.
Which FDA office is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Division of Federal State Relations.
What is the legal authority for this program?
The program is issued under the authority of Section 312 of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The program is listed in CFDA as 93.448.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-FD-10-003.
How many awards does FDA expect to make, and what is the total estimated funding?
The announcement indicates an expected 11 awards and an estimated total funding amount of $4.4 million.
What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling is $400,000 per award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the application deadline?
The announcement notes a revised application receipt date, with the closing date changed to December 15, 2010 (originally June 11, 2011).
Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
The notice points applicants to an FDA contract specialist for assistance accessing the full announcement.
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