Deadline: 7 April 2020
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking applications for Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Program that will complement and expand the national infrastructure of the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program.
The Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) will build upon that national infrastructure, with a sustained focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences.
Awardees will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.
Grant applications will be solicited directly from those in local communities to include those from community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, food hubs, farm cooperatives, extension, and other local groups.
Purpose and Priorities
FSOP will maintain and continue to grow the training, education, outreach and coordination across FSOP by soliciting new Community Outreach Projects and Collaborative Education and Training Projects. This request for Applications (RFA) will solicit proposals for two project types:
- Community Outreach Projects (awards: $80,000 – $150,000) – An additional $150,000 is available for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget of $300,000.
- Collaborative Education and Training Projects (awards: $200,000 – $400,000) – An additional $150,000 is available for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget of $550,000.
Community Outreach Projects will support the development of new food safety education and outreach programs in local communities and expand upon existing food safety education and outreach programs that address the needs of small, specialized audiences whose education needs have not previously been adequately addressed. Projects will focus on building the capacity of local groups to identify very specific needs within their communities, and to implement appropriately customized food safety education and outreach programs to meet those specific needs.
Collaborative Education and Training Projects will support the development of multi-county, state-wide or multi-state programs. For example, these projects will support collaborations among states not necessarily located within the same regions, but having common food safety concerns, or addressing common commodities. Potential applicants must have an established track record of working with target audiences, and must be capable of developing and modifying food safety training curricula to meet new FSMA rules for a variety of agricultural production and processing systems.
The FSOP is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Goals:
- Ensure USDA Programs Are Delivered Efficiently, Effectively, With Integrity and a Focus on Customer Service;
- Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers To Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World;
- Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development;
- Provide all Americans Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food Supply
Funding Information
The anticipated amount available for FSOP in FY 2020 are approximately $8M.
Eligibility Criteria
Entities are eligible to apply to this RFA if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The Cooperative Extension Service for a U.S. state or territory;
- Non-government organizations and/or community based organizations 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;
- Federal, State, local, or tribal agencies;
- An institution of higher education (as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education;
- A collaboration of two or more eligible entities.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically via given website.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=324736
