Notice Number: NOT-FD-17-001

Key Dates
Release Date: December 12, 2016

Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: February 1, 2017
First Estimated Application Due Date: April 1, 2017
Earliest Estimated Award Date: June 30, 2017
Earliest Estimated Start Date: August 1, 2017

Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Purpose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs intends to promote an integrated food safety system by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit cooperative agreement applications for projects designed to advance efforts for a nationally integrated food safety system by assisting State, Tribal and Territorial manufactured food regulatory programs to achieve and maintain conformance with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS).

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The FOA is expected to be published in February 2017 with an expected application due date in April 2017.

This FOA will utilize the U18 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

The MFRPS are intended to ensure that State manufactured food regulatory programs develop and maintain best practices for a high-quality regulatory program. Also, the program standards are intended to enhance food safety by establishing a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of manufactured food regulatory programs in the United States. Conformance with these program standards will help Federal and State programs better direct their regulatory activities at reducing hazards in firms that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods.

MFRPS allows for the development of risk-based food safety programs by establishing a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of State manufactured food regulatory programs in the United States. By achieving and sustaining conformance with these program standards, Federal and State programs can better direct their regulatory activities toward reducing hazards in food facilities. Consequently, the safety and security of the United States food supply will improve.

The program standards are comprised of ten standards that establish requirements for the critical elements of a regulatory program designed to protect the public from foodborne illness and injury. These elements include the program’s regulatory foundation, training program, inspection program, inspection audit program, food-related illness outbreak response, compliance and enforcement, industry and community relations, program resources, program assessment, and laboratory support. More information about the MFRPS can be found at http://www.fda.gov/ForFederalStateandLocalOfficials/ProgramsInitiatives/RegulatoryPrgmStnds/ucm475064.htm.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Allison Mandel
Grants Management Officer
Email: Allison.Mandel@fda.hhs.gov