Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 12 002
Apply for RFA FD 12 002
- The Food Drug Administration in the community development consumer protection health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Tobacco Regulation Awareness, Communication, and Education Program (U1A)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 27, 2012 and posted on Mar 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 9, 2012. (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 $10,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- CTP s cooperative agreement program is meant to foster partnerships between governmental agencies and community based organizations to promote the publics health by educating Americans about the goals of FDA tobacco product regulation and the risks of tobacco use. These efforts are rooted in the Tobacco Control Act and in regulatory activities that CTP has conducted and will conduct. To best accomplish this goal, non profit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), governmental agencies, and faith based or community based organizations are uniquely positioned to engage partners and build coalitions in unique, efficient and highly effective ways and have the experience to implement evidence based tobacco prevention and cessation programs aimed at reaching vulnerable target populations. Higher education organizations will have the opportunity to participate in this program as sub awardees. A community based organization is defined as a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that (1) Is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and (2) Provides educational or related services to individuals in the community. This cooperative agreement program is only available to eligible organizations who demonstrate collaboration between at least one governmental agency and at least one community based organization. If a lead applicant is a government agency, it must partner with at least one community based organization. If a lead applicant is a community based organization, it must partner with a governmental agency. The following organizations/entities are eligible to apply Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) State Governments County Governments City or Township Governments Special District Governments Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) U.S. Territory or Possession and Faith based or Community based Organizations. This cooperative agreement program is not available to any organization if it or any of its officers or employees, partners, affiliates, agents, contractors, or subcontractors maintains any of the following financial interests or business arrangements (a) provides consulting services or other contractual services to a tobacco product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, as those terms are defined by the Tobacco Control Act (hereinafter tobacco entity (b) serves as an expert witness on behalf of a tobacco entity (c) conducts research sponsored by or directed by a tobacco entity (either directly or indirectly) (d) sits on a corporate board or advisory board of a tobacco entity (e) lobbies or testifies on regulatory or legislative matters on behalf of a tobacco entity (f) names any building, program, or project after a tobacco entity, a tobacco brand, or a tobacco entity employee or (g) receives funds from a tobacco entity. The above does not apply where an organization receives funds from a tobacco entity pursuant to a court order or statutory directive and the tobacco entity does not retain any control over the use of such funds. If awarded a cooperative agreement, the organization and its officers and employees, as well as its partners, affiliates, agents, contractors and subcontractors must refrain from engaging in any of the activities listed in (a) (g) above during the course of the cooperative agreement program. By submitting an application, applicants affirm that they meet the eligibility requirements described in this section. Foreign Institutions Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Tobacco Regulation Awareness, Communication, and Education Program (U1A) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cooperative agreement funding opportunity (RFA-FD-12-002) designed to help communities build or expand local health education and communication efforts that align with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The central idea is to translate federal tobacco product regulation into practical, community-level public education that improves health outcomes, especially in populations that are more vulnerable to tobacco use and its harms. Rather than funding isolated campaigns, the program emphasizes comprehensive, coordinated education and communication activities grounded in evidence and tailored to documented local needs.
This FOA anticipated awarding roughly 12 to 15 cooperative agreements, meaning recipients would work in close partnership with the FDA rather than operating with minimal federal involvement. Projects are expected to support public health by identifying, sharing, and scaling evidence-based best practices at the community level, while also improving access to standardized local data that can guide and evaluate prevention and cessation work. Strong applications are those that can show, through a needs assessment, what gaps exist in the target community and how a structured education and communication strategy tied to federal tobacco regulations will address those gaps.
The program highlights three core communication and education outcomes that applicants should aim to influence. First, it seeks to promote clearer understanding of the consequences of tobacco use and how both individual choices and community actions shape those outcomes. Second, it prioritizes protecting youth from the dangers of tobacco use, reflecting the longstanding public health focus on preventing initiation and reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing and social norms that encourage use. Third, it aims to increase cessation among current tobacco users, meaning funded efforts should not only discourage uptake but also actively support quitting through education, referral pathways, and community-level systems that make cessation resources more accessible and more likely to be used.
Eligibility is intentionally structured around partnership and coalition capacity. The program is built to foster collaboration between at least one governmental agency and at least one community-based organization, and that collaboration is mandatory. If a government agency serves as the lead applicant, it must partner with at least one community-based organization; if a community-based organization leads, it must partner with a governmental agency. Eligible applicants include a wide range of domestic entities such as nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, but excluding institutions of higher education as direct applicants), state and local governments, special districts, U.S. territories or possessions, and federally recognized or non-federally recognized tribal governments, as well as faith-based and other community-based organizations. Institutions of higher education are not eligible as primary applicants, but they may participate as sub-awardees, which positions them to contribute evaluation, research translation, or technical assistance capacity without being the direct recipient.
A major compliance feature of this opportunity is strict separation from the tobacco industry. The cooperative agreement is not available to any organization if it, or its leadership and associated parties (including partners, affiliates, agents, contractors, or subcontractors), has certain financial interests or business relationships with tobacco product manufacturers, distributors, or retailers as defined under the Tobacco Control Act. Disqualifying ties include providing consulting services to tobacco entities, serving as an expert witness for them, conducting tobacco-entity-sponsored research, sitting on their corporate or advisory boards, lobbying or testifying on their behalf, naming facilities or programs after tobacco entities or brands, or receiving funds from tobacco entities. A narrow exception is allowed when funds are received under a court order or statutory directive and the tobacco entity has no control over their use. Importantly, even if an applicant is eligible at the time of applying, awardees and all associated parties must refrain from engaging in the prohibited activities throughout the period of performance, reinforcing the program’s intent to keep public health education independent of industry influence.
The award structure indicates a high potential funding level, with an award ceiling listed at $10,500,000, and the FOA specifies no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on March 15, 2012, and closed on May 9, 2012 (with the archive date of May 10, 2012), reflecting that this particular announcement is historical, though its design provides a clear blueprint for how FDA’s tobacco education cooperative agreements are framed: community-centered, evidence-based, regulation-aligned, and delivered through partnerships that combine governmental reach with community organization credibility and access.
In practical terms, a competitive project under this FOA would typically look like a community-wide education and communication program that explains what FDA tobacco regulation is meant to accomplish, clarifies the health risks of tobacco use, and delivers targeted messaging and support strategies for youth prevention and adult cessation. It would also include a plan for collecting or improving local data and using that data to refine outreach, measure progress, and share replicable best practices with other communities. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. entities or non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, underscoring that the program is intended to strengthen domestic community public health infrastructure tied to U.S. tobacco regulatory goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Tobacco Regulation Awareness, Communication, and Education Program (U1A)?
The Tobacco Regulation Awareness, Communication, and Education Program (U1A) is an FDA cooperative agreement funding opportunity (RFA-FD-12-002) intended to help communities build or expand local health education and communication efforts that align with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Its focus is translating federal tobacco product regulation into practical, community-level public education designed to improve health outcomes, especially for populations more vulnerable to tobacco use and its harms.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is meant to support comprehensive, coordinated education and communication activities that are evidence-based, tailored to documented local needs, and aligned with federal tobacco regulation. It is not designed to fund isolated campaigns; instead, it emphasizes community-wide strategies that can be guided and evaluated using local data and that can share and scale best practices.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?
This FOA anticipates awarding cooperative agreements, which means recipients would work in close partnership with the FDA rather than operating with minimal federal involvement. The partnership model implies a higher level of federal programmatic engagement compared to awards where recipients act more independently.
How many awards were anticipated?
The FOA anticipated awarding approximately 12 to 15 cooperative agreements.
What outcomes should funded projects aim to influence?
The program highlights three core outcomes applicants should aim to influence:
- Improved understanding of tobacco consequences: Promoting clearer understanding of the consequences of tobacco use and how both individual choices and community actions shape outcomes.
- Youth protection: Protecting youth from the dangers of tobacco use, including preventing initiation and reducing exposure to influences that encourage use.
- Increased cessation: Increasing cessation among current tobacco users by supporting quitting through education, referral pathways, and community-level systems that improve access to cessation resources.
What kinds of activities does the program emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes comprehensive, coordinated education and communication activities grounded in evidence and tailored to local needs identified through a needs assessment. It also emphasizes identifying, sharing, and scaling evidence-based best practices at the community level and improving access to standardized local data to guide and evaluate prevention and cessation work.
How important is a community needs assessment for an application?
A needs assessment is central to a strong application. Competitive proposals are expected to show what gaps exist in the target community and how a structured education and communication strategy tied to federal tobacco regulations will address those gaps.
Who is eligible to apply as a lead applicant?
Eligible applicants include a range of domestic entities, such as:
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), excluding institutions of higher education as direct applicants
- State and local governments
- Special districts
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Federally recognized or non-federally recognized tribal governments
- Faith-based and other community-based organizations
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply directly?
No. Institutions of higher education are not eligible as primary (lead) applicants under this FOA. However, they may participate as sub-awardees to contribute capacity such as evaluation, research translation, or technical assistance.
Is a partnership required to apply?
Yes. Collaboration is mandatory and is intentionally structured around coalition capacity. The program requires partnership between at least one governmental agency and at least one community-based organization.
What partnership structure is required if a government agency is the lead applicant?
If a governmental agency serves as the lead applicant, it must partner with at least one community-based organization.
What partnership structure is required if a community-based organization is the lead applicant?
If a community-based organization serves as the lead applicant, it must partner with a governmental agency.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. entities are not eligible. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. The FOA is intended to strengthen domestic community public health infrastructure tied to U.S. tobacco regulatory goals.
What restrictions apply regarding ties to the tobacco industry?
The cooperative agreement is not available to any organization if it, or its leadership and associated parties (including partners, affiliates, agents, contractors, or subcontractors), has certain financial interests or business relationships with tobacco product manufacturers, distributors, or retailers (as defined under the Tobacco Control Act). The intent is to keep public health education independent of industry influence.
What types of tobacco industry relationships can disqualify an applicant?
Disqualifying ties described in the FOA include relationships such as:
- Providing consulting services to tobacco entities
- Serving as an expert witness for tobacco entities
- Conducting tobacco-entity-sponsored research
- Sitting on corporate or advisory boards of tobacco entities
- Lobbying or testifying on behalf of tobacco entities
- Naming facilities or programs after tobacco entities or brands
- Receiving funds from tobacco entities
Is there any exception to the prohibition on receiving tobacco-entity funds?
Yes. A narrow exception is allowed when funds are received under a court order or statutory directive and the tobacco entity has no control over how the funds are used.
If an applicant is eligible at the time of application, can they later become noncompliant?
Yes. The FOA indicates that awardees and all associated parties must refrain from engaging in prohibited tobacco-industry-related activities throughout the entire period of performance. Compliance is not limited to the time of application.
What is the maximum funding amount listed for an award?
The award ceiling listed in the FOA is $10,500,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on March 15, 2012, and it closed on May 9, 2012. The archive date is May 10, 2012, indicating this specific announcement is historical.
What would a competitive project under this FOA typically look like?
A competitive project would typically be a community-wide education and communication program that explains what FDA tobacco regulation is meant to accomplish, clarifies the health risks of tobacco use, and delivers targeted messaging and support strategies for youth prevention and adult cessation. It would also include a plan for collecting or improving local data and using that data to refine outreach, measure progress, and share replicable best practices with other communities.
Does the FOA emphasize data collection and evaluation?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes improving access to standardized local data that can guide and evaluate prevention and cessation work, as well as using data to refine outreach, measure progress, and share best practices.
Is the program focused only on preventing tobacco use, or also on helping current users quit?
It is focused on both. The FOA prioritizes protecting youth from tobacco use and also aims to increase cessation among current tobacco users through education, referral pathways, and systems that make cessation resources more accessible and more likely to be used.
How does the program relate to the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act?
The program is designed to align local education and communication efforts with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act by translating federal tobacco product regulation into practical, community-level public education.
Browse more business programs for Education Programs
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Food Drug Administration
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development Consumer Protection Health
Next opportunity: Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents
Previous opportunity: Violent Victimization Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities
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 12 002
[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 12 002", 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.