Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaboration

The Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaboration grant opportunity is a forecasted funding initiative issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This cooperative agreement aligns with the FDA’s continuing efforts to support retail food safety programs at the state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) levels. The initiative is rooted in the grant-making authority granted under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which aims to strengthen the United States' food safety framework and reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses through systematic and collaborative approaches. This funding opportunity is designed to reinforce partnerships between the FDA and non-profit national organizations affiliated with academic institutions that include SLTT regulatory personnel whose primary roles involve retail food safety. These organizations will be expected to assist SLTT food safety agencies in carrying out research and deploying targeted intervention strategies to minimize risk factors associated with foodborne illness. The broader aim of the program is to reduce public health risks related to food safety and support the development of a nationally integrated food safety system. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit national organizations with connections to institutions of higher learning. Furthermore, they must have memberships comprising SLTT regulatory personnel working in retail food safety. These criteria are explicitly set forth in accordance with FSMA’s grant-making provisions under 21 USC 399. This eligibility condition ensures that only highly specialized entities with a direct line to regulatory food safety operations are considered for funding. As of the current forecast issued on August 4, 2025, the opportunity anticipates an estimated total program funding pool of $4,000,000, with an expected number of five awards. However, the estimated award floor and ceiling amounts have not yet been disclosed. The program does not require matching funds from applicants, allowing more accessible participation for qualifying organizations without additional fiscal burden. Details regarding the specific submission dates, award dates, and project start dates have not yet been released. The grant is forecasted for the 2026 fiscal year. Because this is a forecasted opportunity, applications are not currently being accepted. No opening or closing dates have been specified, and the opportunity is not designated as rolling or recurring at this time. This positions the opportunity in the "Early Engagement" stage, making it essential for potential applicants to monitor Grants.gov and FDA updates for the official opening. For inquiries related to this grant, the primary contact is Danielle Head, a Grants Management Specialist at the FDA. She can be reached by phone at (301) 796-2984. No email address or additional contact method has been provided. Applicants are encouraged to engage early and prepare internally by aligning institutional objectives with the grant's strategic goals to support a unified national food safety framework.