Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 13 011
Apply for RFA FD 13 011
- The Food Drug Administration in the agriculture consumer protection education employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition Training for examination, inspection, and investigation of food manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, distribution, and importation, including retail food establishments (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 Mar 22, 2013 and posted on Mar 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 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 $1,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Special district governments County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- As set forth in section 1009(b)(1)(A) of the FDC Act, eligible entities must be one of the following 1. States 2. Localities 3. Indian tribes 4. Territories 5. Nonprofit food safety training entities that collaborate with one or more institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Limited Competition Training for examination, inspection, and investigation of food manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, distribution, and importation, including retail food establishments (U18)" is a discretionary cooperative agreement program issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specifically through the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). It was released under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-FD-13-011 and posted on March 22, 2013, with an application deadline of May 16, 2013 (and an archive date of June 15, 2013). The central purpose of the announcement is to support training efforts that strengthen the national food safety system over the long term by improving the skills and consistency of food regulatory officials who conduct examinations, inspections, and investigations across the full span of the food supply chain.
At its core, the program is designed to fund training that aligns food regulatory work with recognized standards for oversight of food manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, distribution, and importation. The scope explicitly includes retail food establishments as well, signaling that the FDA is looking for training capacity that reaches beyond traditional manufacturing or import settings and extends into the retail environment where food is sold or served. The emphasis on "standards" suggests the cooperative agreements are meant to promote uniformity and modernization in how regulatory officials approach inspection and investigative work, with the broader policy goal of improving public health protection through better regulatory performance and more consistent enforcement practices.
This is a limited competition FOA, meaning the applicant pool is restricted based on eligibility rules tied to statute. Eligibility is grounded in section 1009(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FDC) Act. Applicants must be one of the following: states, localities (such as county or city governments), Indian tribes, territories, or nonprofit food safety training entities that collaborate with one or more institutions of higher education. In the standardized eligibility categories listed for the opportunity, eligible applicants also include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and other tribal organizations, plus nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status) as long as they meet the program's collaboration requirement where applicable. The practical takeaway is that the program targets public-sector and quasi-public partners, along with specialized nonprofit training organizations capable of delivering structured food safety regulatory training at scale.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means the FDA expects an ongoing, substantive role in the project compared with a standard grant. While the announcement summary does not spell out all programmatic details, a cooperative agreement structure generally implies coordination with FDA/ORA on training approaches, curriculum alignment, quality assurance, or other shared responsibilities to ensure training meets federal objectives and standards. The activity categories attached to the listing reflect the cross-cutting nature of the work, spanning agriculture, consumer protection, education, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources. The CFDA listing associated with the program is 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration).
In terms of award size and scale, the FOA anticipated up to 20 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $1,400,000. Individual awards had a ceiling of $70,000, with a nominal floor of $1. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, lowering the barrier for eligible agencies and nonprofits to participate, especially smaller jurisdictions or training entities that may not have the budget flexibility to provide matching support. In practical terms, the funding levels indicate support for targeted training initiatives, curriculum delivery, instructor development, trainee participation, or related training infrastructure improvements, rather than large capital projects or extensive multi-year operational expansions.
The opportunity’s stated end goal is long-term improvement of the national food safety system through workforce development: better-prepared inspectors and investigators, greater consistency across jurisdictions, and stronger alignment with FDA expectations for regulatory oversight throughout domestic production and imported foods, including retail. By investing in training entities and government partners that can teach to standardized methods for examination, inspection, and investigation, the program aims to improve both the quality and the comparability of regulatory activities across the United States and its territories, which is particularly important when food supply chains cut across multiple jurisdictions.
For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Daniel Lukash, Grants Management Specialist at the FDA, reachable by phone at 301-827-6771 or by email at daniel.lukash@fda.hhs.gov. An additional information link referenced the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts as a source for related posting information.
FAQs: Limited Competition Training for Food Regulatory Examination, Inspection, and Investigation (U18)
What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Limited Competition Training for examination, inspection, and investigation of food manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, distribution, and importation, including retail food establishments (U18)."
Who is issuing this funding opportunity?
The program is issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-FD-13-011.
When was the opportunity posted and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on March 22, 2013. The application deadline was May 16, 2013. The archive date was June 15, 2013.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The purpose is to support training efforts that strengthen the national food safety system over the long term by improving the skills and consistency of food regulatory officials who conduct examinations, inspections, and investigations across the food supply chain.
What kinds of regulatory work does the training focus on?
The training focuses on examination, inspection, and investigation activities related to food manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, distribution, and importation, and it also explicitly includes retail food establishments.
Does the scope include retail food establishments?
Yes. The scope explicitly includes retail food establishments, indicating that training is intended to extend into the retail environment where food is sold or served, not only traditional manufacturing or import settings.
What is meant by training that aligns with "recognized standards"?
The opportunity emphasizes training that aligns food regulatory work with recognized standards for oversight across the food supply chain. The emphasis on standards signals a goal of promoting uniformity and modernization in inspection and investigative approaches.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
Funding is provided through discretionary cooperative agreements.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant in this program?
While the summary does not list all operational requirements, a cooperative agreement generally means the FDA expects an ongoing, substantive role in the project compared with a standard grant. This can involve coordination with FDA/ORA on training approaches, curriculum alignment, quality assurance, or other shared responsibilities to meet federal objectives and standards.
Is this a limited competition opportunity, and what does that mean?
Yes. This is a limited competition funding opportunity, meaning the applicant pool is restricted based on eligibility rules tied to statute.
What is the statutory basis for eligibility?
Eligibility is grounded in section 1009(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FDC) Act.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include states, localities (such as county or city governments), Indian tribes, territories, and nonprofit food safety training entities that collaborate with one or more institutions of higher education.
Which government applicant types are explicitly listed as eligible categories?
The standardized eligibility categories listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and other tribal organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible, and are there specific nonprofit requirements?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status. The summary notes that nonprofit food safety training entities must collaborate with one or more institutions of higher education (where applicable under the program's collaboration requirement).
How many awards were expected?
The FOA anticipated up to 20 awards.
What was the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding amount was $1,400,000.
What was the maximum award amount per award?
The ceiling for individual awards was $70,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
The nominal award floor was $1.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What does the funding level suggest about the size and type of projects?
The stated funding levels suggest support for targeted training initiatives (such as curriculum delivery, instructor development, trainee participation, or related training infrastructure improvements) rather than large capital projects or extensive multi-year operational expansions.
What is the broader goal or intended impact of the program?
The end goal is long-term improvement of the national food safety system through workforce development: better-prepared inspectors and investigators, greater consistency across jurisdictions, and stronger alignment with FDA expectations for regulatory oversight throughout domestic production and imported foods, including retail.
Why does consistency across jurisdictions matter in this program?
The program emphasizes consistent regulatory performance and comparable methods across jurisdictions, which is especially important when food supply chains cross multiple jurisdictions within the United States and its territories.
What activity areas are associated with this opportunity?
The activity categories reflect cross-cutting work spanning agriculture, consumer protection, education, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA listing associated with the program is 93.103 (Food and Drug Administration).
Who was the point of contact for questions about the announcement?
The listed point of contact was Daniel Lukash, Grants Management Specialist at the FDA.
How can the point of contact be reached?
Daniel Lukash could be reached by phone at 301-827-6771 or by email at daniel.lukash@fda.hhs.gov.
Where was additional posting information referenced?
An additional information link referenced the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts as a source for related posting information.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Food Drug Administration
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Consumer Protection Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Development and Characterization of Animal Models for Aging Research (R01)
Previous opportunity: Refugee Home Based Childcare Microenterprise Development Project
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA FD 13 011
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA FD 13 011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.