Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 18 008
The Cooperative Agreement to Support the Western Center for Food Safety (WCFS) (U19) is an FDA funding opportunity designed to continue and strengthen a long-running public-private partnership focused on improving the safety of agricultural food production. The FDA describes the past decade of collaboration with WCFS as highly productive because it has generated applied research and practical education and outreach that fill real-world knowledge gaps in how agricultural foods can be produced more safely. This work directly supports FDA's broader public health mission by translating science into best practices that growers, processors, and other stakeholders can use to reduce contamination risks and improve food defense across FDA-regulated products.
A central driver behind this opportunity is the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 and FDA's ongoing push toward a prevention-based, modern food safety system. In particular, the partnership is positioned to support implementation of the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls regulations, which were finalized in 2016. FDA emphasizes that research and outreach from WCFS can help stakeholders understand these standards, adopt effective practices, and achieve compliance. The agency also notes that its research priorities are shaped by policy and implementation needs, including the development of guidance documents that accompany regulations. WCFS has already contributed research that informed policy decisions tied to produce safety and preventive controls, and FDA expects WCFS to continue providing science that supports FSMA implementation as the regulatory environment evolves.
The opportunity also reflects FDA's view that strong partnerships are essential for successful FSMA rollout. FDA highlights that it has historically had limited direct ties with parts of the agricultural community, while academic centers often have established relationships and credibility with growers and related industries. By funding WCFS through a cooperative agreement, FDA aims to use WCFS as a bridge to the agricultural sector, expanding education and technical assistance so the industry can build capacity to meet FSMA standards before enforcement actions become necessary. This aligns with FDA's broader strategy of pairing rulemaking with robust training, outreach, and practical support.
The cooperative agreement would provide continued support for WCFS to pursue several interconnected objectives. First, WCFS would continue multidisciplinary applied research across laboratory, field, and educational settings, with the goal of producing practical, implementable solutions for agricultural operations. This research is intended to directly enhance food safety and food defense outcomes for products under FDA oversight. Second, WCFS would maintain and expand communication with a wide range of domestic and international stakeholders involved in food production and food safety. FDA frames this stakeholder engagement as a way to identify emerging knowledge gaps, spot opportunities for collaboration, and leverage existing resources to maximize impact with limited funds. Third, WCFS would strengthen its technical assistance and education efforts through multiple channels such as seminars and presentations, participation on advisory boards and committees, and extension-based outreach tied to agricultural extension appointments. Fourth, WCFS would continue building multi-institution collaborations so FDA has access to current scientific thinking on best agricultural practices across different agro-ecological regions, reflecting the reality that risk factors and effective interventions can vary by climate, crop, and production system. Finally, WCFS would specifically assist FDA with implementing FSMA standards connected to produce safety and preventive controls, reinforcing the program's emphasis on practical support for real-world compliance.
This funding announcement is issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-FD-18-008. The mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement or partnership with the federal agency during the project period rather than a more hands-off grant relationship. The activity area is listed under agriculture, consumer protection, and food and nutrition, with CFDA number 93.103. The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $2,500,000. The original posting date was March 15, 2018, and the original closing date was May 21, 2018. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional details referenced in the full announcement, indicating that applicants likely needed to meet specific criteria laid out in the eligibility section of the funding notice.
Overall, the grant is best understood as targeted support for a specialized academic center to continue generating applied research and delivering training, outreach, and technical assistance that help the agricultural community prevent food safety problems and comply with FSMA. It is structured around the idea that prevention works best when regulators, scientists, and industry stakeholders share practical tools and evidence-based guidance, and when trusted intermediaries such as university-affiliated centers help translate regulatory requirements into workable on-farm and facility-level practices.Apply for RFA FD 18 008
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration in the agriculture, consumer protection, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement to Support the Western Center for Food Safety (U19)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.103.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 15, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2018. (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 $2,500,000.00 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).
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FAQs: Cooperative Agreement to Support the Western Center for Food Safety (WCFS) (U19) - RFA-FD-18-008
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an FDA funding opportunity issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue and strengthen a public-private partnership supporting the Western Center for Food Safety (WCFS). It is structured as a cooperative agreement (U19) and focuses on improving the safety of agricultural food production through applied research, education, outreach, and technical assistance.
Which agency is offering the award?
The award is offered by HHS, Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-FD-18-008.
What is the funding mechanism and what does it imply?
The mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This typically means FDA expects substantial involvement during the project period, with closer coordination and partnership than a more hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to support WCFS in producing applied, practical science and deliver outreach and technical assistance that help agricultural stakeholders reduce contamination risks, improve food defense, and better understand and implement FDA food safety standards.
How does this opportunity relate to FSMA?
The opportunity is closely tied to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 and FDA's shift toward a prevention-based food safety system. It is positioned to support implementation of FSMA standards, particularly the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls regulations finalized in 2016.
Which FSMA regulations are specifically highlighted?
FDA specifically highlights support for implementation of the Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls regulations.
Why is FDA emphasizing partnership for FSMA rollout?
FDA notes it has historically had limited direct ties with parts of the agricultural community, while academic centers often have stronger relationships and credibility with growers and industry. FDA intends WCFS to serve as a bridge, expanding education and technical assistance so stakeholders can build capacity to meet FSMA standards before enforcement actions become necessary.
What kinds of work is WCFS expected to continue or expand?
WCFS is expected to pursue interconnected objectives including multidisciplinary applied research; broad stakeholder communication and engagement; technical assistance and education through seminars, presentations, advisory roles, and extension-based outreach; multi-institution collaborations across regions; and direct assistance to FDA related to FSMA produce safety and preventive controls implementation.
What types of research are emphasized?
The emphasis is on multidisciplinary applied research conducted across laboratory, field, and educational settings. The goal is to produce practical, implementable solutions that improve food safety and food defense outcomes for products under FDA oversight.
What is meant by "translating science into best practices" in this program?
FDA describes the partnership as producing applied research and practical education/outreach that fill real-world knowledge gaps. The intent is to turn scientific findings into usable practices that growers, processors, and other stakeholders can apply to reduce contamination risks and strengthen food defense.
How does stakeholder engagement fit into the project?
Stakeholder engagement is framed as a way to identify emerging knowledge gaps, find collaboration opportunities, and leverage existing resources to maximize impact with limited funding. Engagement is expected to include domestic and international stakeholders involved in food production and food safety.
What outreach and education channels are mentioned?
The opportunity mentions seminars and presentations, participation on advisory boards and committees, and extension-based outreach linked to agricultural extension appointments.
Why does FDA mention multi-institution collaborations and different regions?
FDA highlights that food safety risks and effective interventions can vary by climate, crop, and production system. Multi-institution collaborations across different agro-ecological regions help ensure access to current thinking and best practices that are appropriate to varied conditions.
How does this work support FDA policy and guidance development?
FDA notes its research priorities are shaped by policy and implementation needs, including the development of guidance documents that accompany regulations. WCFS has contributed research that informed policy decisions related to produce safety and preventive controls, and FDA expects continued science support as FSMA implementation evolves.
What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The activity area is listed under agriculture, consumer protection, and food and nutrition.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.103.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1).
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $2,500,000.
When was the opportunity originally posted and when did it close?
The original posting date was March 15, 2018, and the original closing date was May 21, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Applicants would have needed to follow the specific criteria laid out in the eligibility section of the funding notice.
Is this opportunity primarily research-focused, outreach-focused, or both?
Both. The program description emphasizes applied research that leads to practical solutions, alongside strong education, outreach, and technical assistance to help stakeholders adopt effective practices and comply with FSMA-related standards.
What is the overall public health goal described by FDA?
FDA frames the work as supporting its broader public health mission by preventing food safety problems through science-based best practices, reducing contamination risks, and improving food defense across FDA-regulated products.
Why does FDA describe this as a continuation of a long-running partnership?
FDA references a past decade of collaboration with WCFS and describes it as highly productive, citing applied research and practical education/outreach that filled real-world knowledge gaps and supported food safety policy and implementation needs.
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