Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 15 003
Apply for RFA FD 15 003
- The Food Drug Administration in the education food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grants to Enhance Food Safety National Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program (U18)" 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 Apr 1, 2015 and posted on Jan 13, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2015 This announcement is now CLOSED. No further applications will be accepted for this FOA.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 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).
- (A) A State cooperative extension service (B) a Federal, State, local, or tribal agency, a nonprofit community based or non governmental organization, or an organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001(a) of title 20) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education(D) A collaboration of 2 of more eligible entities described in this subsection,(E) Such other appropriate entity, as determined by the Secretary, or
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (RFA-FD-15-003) is a cooperative agreement run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in partnership with USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to build a coordinated national system for food safety training, education, outreach, and technical assistance tied to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The overall purpose is to increase understanding and real-world adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, and protocols, especially among groups that often have less access to training and compliance support. A key emphasis is making sure food safety education can be integrated across many types of production systems, including conventional, sustainable, organic, and conservation-focused operations, and that services are coordinated where possible with other federal programs so effort is not duplicated and support is easier for stakeholders to navigate.
The grant competition described in this announcement specifically funds the creation of a National Coordination Center (NCC). The NCC is meant to serve as the backbone of a larger national program that will later include multiple Regional Centers (RCs) established through separate RFAs when funding becomes available. The model is that RCs will do the on-the-ground work in their regions, using project teams that engage directly with local communities and FSMA-affected audiences, while the NCC ensures consistency, quality, and alignment with FSMA requirements nationwide. In other words, the NCC sets the direction, supports and harmonizes the regional work, and acts as the hub for communication, shared tools, and national reporting.
The program is rooted in FSMA, signed into law in 2011, which shifted U.S. food safety policy toward prevention and required FDA to establish standards for produce safety and for preventive controls covering the manufacturing/processing, packing, and holding of food. Because small and mid-sized entities often face barriers such as cost, limited staffing, and limited access to specialized expertise, the program targets audiences that may struggle most to interpret and implement new regulatory requirements. The intended audiences include owners and operators of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Training and technical assistance are expected to start even before final rules are in place, using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and other existing guidance to help operations build a foundation, and then be updated as needed once FSMA rules are finalized so materials reflect the actual regulatory requirements.
Applications for the NCC are expected to present a clear strategic plan with methods and milestones that show how the center will lead and coordinate the future RC network. Core responsibilities include maintaining frequent and structured communication with regional project teams (for example through site visits, in-person meetings, teleconferences, and webinars) to ensure regions are collaborating and moving toward shared goals. The NCC must also work with RCs to make sure curricula and training resources cover fundamental food safety practices relevant to the target audiences and align with FSMA produce safety standards and preventive controls requirements once finalized. Another required element is helping regions integrate FSMA-related standards and guidance into varied production approaches, so that food safety practices are taught in a way that makes sense for different farming and handling contexts rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all model.
Evaluation and national reporting are central performance expectations. The NCC is responsible for working with RCs so that all centers actively evaluate the impacts of their training, education, outreach, and technical assistance. The NCC must create a mechanism to compile regional evaluation results into an overall annual national impact report and submit that report to FDA. In addition, the NCC serves as a liaison between FDA and the regional network. Even before RCs are fully funded, the NCC is expected to prepare for implementation by developing fact sheets and informational resources that communicate new FSMA guidelines, identifying training and educational resources consistent with FSMA, developing shared impact measures, and recruiting key stakeholders such as food safety professionals, food safety organizations, and industry contacts who can serve as information resources for the national and regional effort.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted January 13, 2015 and is now closed (final closing date March 31, 2015; archive date April 15, 2015). It offered one expected award with an estimated total funding amount of $600,000 for a project period of up to three years, with total project costs (including indirect costs) not to exceed $600,000. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals substantial involvement and collaboration with the funding agency during project performance. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. The activity focus is categorized under Education / Food and Nutrition, and the CFDA number is 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration).
Eligible applicants are broad and designed to capture the kinds of organizations that can credibly coordinate a national food safety capacity-building effort. Eligible entities include state cooperative extension services; federal, state, local, or tribal agencies; nonprofit community-based or non-governmental organizations; organizations representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small merchant wholesalers with relevant public health and program administration expertise; institutions of higher education (or their foundations); collaborations of two or more eligible entities; and other appropriate entities as determined by the agency. The practical takeaway is that FDA was looking for an organization (or partnership) with national-level coordination strength, food safety expertise, training and extension capability, and the ability to build a consistent evaluation and reporting system across regions, all while tailoring support to the realities of small and mid-sized operations impacted by FSMA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is RFA-FD-15-003?
RFA-FD-15-003 is a federal funding opportunity for a cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in partnership with USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It focuses on building a coordinated national system for food safety training, education, outreach, and technical assistance connected to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The overall purpose is to increase understanding and real-world adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, and protocols, especially for groups that often have less access to training and compliance support. The effort emphasizes practical implementation and prevention-oriented food safety practices aligned with FSMA.
What is being funded through this specific announcement?
This announcement funds the creation of a National Coordination Center (NCC). The NCC is intended to serve as the backbone of a broader national program that will later include multiple Regional Centers (RCs), to be funded under separate announcements when funds become available.
What is the National Coordination Center (NCC)?
The NCC is the national hub responsible for setting direction, supporting consistency and quality, coordinating communication and shared tools, and aligning regional work with FSMA requirements nationwide. It is designed to harmonize efforts across regions and provide national-level evaluation and reporting.
How is the NCC different from the Regional Centers (RCs)?
The model described is that Regional Centers will do the on-the-ground work in their regions by engaging directly with local communities and FSMA-affected audiences. The NCC, by contrast, provides national coordination: ensuring consistency, supporting shared curricula and tools, aligning activities to FSMA, and compiling national evaluation and impact reporting.
How does this program relate to FSMA?
The program is rooted in FSMA, signed into law in 2011, which shifted U.S. food safety policy toward prevention and required FDA to establish standards for produce safety and preventive controls for the manufacturing/processing, packing, and holding of food. This funding supports training, education, outreach, and technical assistance tied to those requirements.
Who are the intended audiences for training and technical assistance?
The intended audiences include owners and operators of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. These groups are highlighted because they may face barriers such as cost, limited staffing, and limited access to specialized expertise.
Does the program consider different farming and production approaches?
Yes. A key emphasis is integrating food safety education across many types of production systems, including conventional, sustainable, organic, and conservation-focused operations, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.
How is duplication with other federal programs addressed?
The opportunity emphasizes coordinating services where possible with other federal programs so effort is not duplicated and support is easier for stakeholders to navigate.
What are the NCC's core responsibilities?
Core responsibilities include leading and coordinating the future regional network, maintaining frequent and structured communication with regional project teams (such as via site visits, in-person meetings, teleconferences, and webinars), supporting consistent and FSMA-aligned curricula and training resources, helping integrate FSMA guidance into varied production approaches, and managing evaluation and national reporting expectations.
What kinds of communication activities are expected between the NCC and regions?
The announcement describes frequent and structured communication, including examples such as site visits, in-person meetings, teleconferences, and webinars, to ensure regions collaborate and move toward shared goals.
What is expected regarding training content and curricula?
The NCC is expected to work with Regional Centers to ensure curricula and training resources cover fundamental food safety practices relevant to the target audiences and align with FSMA produce safety standards and preventive controls requirements once finalized.
Can training and technical assistance begin before FSMA rules are finalized?
Yes. Training and technical assistance are expected to begin even before final rules are in place, using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and other existing guidance to help operations build a foundation. Materials are expected to be updated as needed once FSMA rules are finalized so they reflect actual regulatory requirements.
What evaluation and reporting requirements are included?
Evaluation and national reporting are central expectations. The NCC must work with Regional Centers so that all centers actively evaluate impacts of training, education, outreach, and technical assistance. The NCC must also compile regional evaluation results into an overall annual national impact report and submit it to FDA.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement and collaboration with the funding agency during project performance (in this case, FDA).
What is the role of the NCC as a liaison?
The NCC is expected to serve as a liaison between FDA and the regional network, supporting alignment, communication, and coordinated implementation across the national and regional effort.
What is the NCC expected to do before Regional Centers are fully funded?
Even before Regional Centers are fully funded, the NCC is expected to prepare for implementation by developing fact sheets and informational resources communicating new FSMA guidelines, identifying training and educational resources consistent with FSMA, developing shared impact measures, and recruiting key stakeholders such as food safety professionals, food safety organizations, and industry contacts as information resources.
How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
The announcement listed one expected award.
How much funding was available?
The estimated total funding amount was $600,000, with total project costs (including indirect costs) not to exceed $600,000.
What was the project period?
The project period could be up to three years.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration).
How is the activity/category described?
The activity focus is categorized under Education / Food and Nutrition.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included state cooperative extension services; federal, state, local, or tribal agencies; nonprofit community-based or non-governmental organizations; organizations representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small merchant wholesalers with relevant public health and program administration expertise; institutions of higher education (or their foundations); collaborations of two or more eligible entities; and other appropriate entities as determined by the agency.
Are collaborations allowed?
Yes. Collaborations of two or more eligible entities are explicitly listed as eligible.
What kind of organizational capabilities was FDA looking for?
Based on the description, FDA was looking for an organization (or partnership) with national-level coordination strength, food safety expertise, training and extension capability, and the ability to build a consistent evaluation and reporting system across regions, while tailoring support to small and mid-sized operations impacted by FSMA.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on January 13, 2015. The final closing date was March 31, 2015, and the archive date was April 15, 2015.
Is this opportunity currently open?
No. The opportunity is described as closed, with a final closing date of March 31, 2015.
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