Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FSIS 05012008
Apply for USDA FSIS 05012008
- The Food Safety Inspection Service in the agriculture food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FSIS FERN Cooperative Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.479 Food Safety Cooperative Agreements.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2008 and posted on May 1, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 12, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $840,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- State, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories
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Opportunity Summary:
The FSIS FERN Cooperative Agreements opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FSIS 05012008) is a discretionary cooperative agreement program run by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to strengthen the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). FERN is a nationwide network of regulatory laboratories across federal, state, local, and tribal governments, but the labs in the network do not all have the same capability to test for microbiological threat agents. This funding is designed to close those gaps by helping more state, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories build or expand the capacity to perform threat agent testing using established FERN methods, ultimately improving readiness for food defense events and supporting faster, more reliable outbreak response.
The main goal is to augment microbiological threat agent testing capacity and increase the number of laboratories that can perform this specialized testing for the network. In practical terms, the cooperative agreements focus on enabling laboratories to conduct analyses for microbiological threat agents using FERN-approved methods and to improve operational capability for assignments tied to food defense and emergency response. By supporting method implementation and readiness at more locations, FSIS is aiming for broader geographic coverage, more surge capacity during incidents, and more consistent laboratory performance across the network when high-consequence testing is needed.
Allowable support under the agreements includes training on FERN threat agent methods, purchasing the equipment and supplies needed to perform the selected methods, and reimbursing personnel expenses associated with building and carrying out this work. A key restriction is that construction costs are not supported, meaning applicants cannot use these funds for building new facilities or major facility construction projects. The emphasis is on equipping and enabling existing laboratory operations rather than expanding physical infrastructure.
Eligibility is limited to state, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can make participation more feasible for public laboratories operating under tight budgets. FSIS anticipated making about four awards, with an estimated total funding level of $840,000 under CFDA 10.479 (Food Safety Cooperative Agreements), placing the opportunity within the Agriculture and Food and Nutrition activity area.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on May 1, 2008, with an application closing date of June 12, 2008, and an archive date of July 12, 2008. For access issues or questions about the announcement, the listed contact was Michael Myers, Staff Officer, at 706-546-3664.
FAQs: FSIS FERN Cooperative Agreements (USDA FSIS 05012008)
What is the FSIS FERN Cooperative Agreements opportunity (USDA FSIS 05012008)?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement program run by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to strengthen the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) by expanding laboratory capability for microbiological threat agent testing using established FERN methods.
What is FERN?
FERN is a nationwide network of regulatory laboratories across federal, state, local, and tribal governments that supports food defense and emergency response activities. Not all member labs have the same testing capabilities, especially for microbiological threat agents.
Why is this funding being offered?
The funding is intended to close capability gaps within the FERN laboratory network by helping more state, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories build or expand their capacity to test for microbiological threat agents using FERN-approved methods.
What is the main goal of the cooperative agreements?
The main goal is to augment microbiological threat agent testing capacity and increase the number of laboratories in the network that can perform this specialized testing using established FERN methods.
What outcomes is FSIS trying to achieve through this program?
FSIS is aiming for broader geographic coverage, more surge capacity during incidents, and more consistent laboratory performance across the FERN network when high-consequence testing is needed, ultimately improving readiness for food defense events and supporting faster, more reliable outbreak response.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories.
Are federal laboratories eligible to apply under this opportunity?
The information provided specifies eligibility for state, local, and tribal FERN member laboratories only.
What types of activities or projects does the funding support?
The cooperative agreements focus on enabling laboratories to conduct analyses for microbiological threat agents using FERN-approved methods and improving operational capability for assignments tied to food defense and emergency response.
What costs are allowable under these cooperative agreements?
Allowable support includes training on FERN threat agent methods, purchasing equipment and supplies needed to perform selected methods, and reimbursing personnel expenses associated with building and carrying out the work.
Can grant funds be used for construction or building new laboratory facilities?
No. Construction costs are not supported. The emphasis is on equipping and enabling existing laboratory operations rather than expanding physical infrastructure or undertaking major facility construction projects.
Does the program require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
How many awards did FSIS anticipate making?
FSIS anticipated making about four awards.
What is the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level was $840,000.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.479 (Food Safety Cooperative Agreements).
What activity area does this opportunity fall under?
It is within the Agriculture and Food and Nutrition activity area.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 1, 2008.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was June 12, 2008.
When was the archive date for the opportunity?
The archive date was July 12, 2008.
What is the funding intended to help laboratories do, in practical terms?
In practical terms, it is intended to help laboratories implement established FERN threat agent methods, build readiness to perform specialized analyses, and improve operational capability to support food defense and emergency response testing assignments.
How does expanding threat agent testing capacity help during incidents?
By supporting method implementation and readiness at more locations, the network can provide broader geographic coverage and additional surge capacity, helping response efforts when multiple samples or urgent testing needs arise.
Who was the contact for access issues or questions about the announcement?
The listed contact was Michael Myers, Staff Officer, reachable at 706-546-3664.
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| FSIS FERN Training Support Cooperative Agreement Apply for USDA FSIS FERN 07012008 Funding Number: USDA FSIS FERN 07012008 Agency: Food Safety Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| FSIS FERN Training Support Cooperative Agreement Apply for USDA FSIS FERN 11252008 Funding Number: USDA FSIS FERN 11252008 Agency: Food Safety Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Food Aid Nutrition Enhancement Program Apply for USDA NIFA FANEP 003016 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FANEP 003016 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services Program Apply for USAID WASHINGTON EGAT 10 000003 RFA Funding Number: USAID WASHINGTON EGAT 10 000003 RFA Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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