A Research Study of Contaminants in School Meals (U18)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a funding opportunity titled "A Research Study of Contaminants in School Meals (U18)" through its Human Foods Program (HFP). This initiative aims to support a pilot study that evaluates the toxicological safety and nutritional quality of meals served in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Schools and school districts, both public and nonprofit private, are eligible to apply. The program will utilize cooperative agreements, which include substantial federal involvement to guide and support grantees throughout the project. The initiative addresses growing concerns around contaminants, such as heavy metals, detected in school meals by independent laboratory analyses. This pilot study focuses on reducing such contaminants and improving overall meal quality through structured food service interventions. Projects must be executed within a 12-month period and will include phases such as baseline assessment, implementation, full rollout, refinement, and post-intervention evaluation. Sustainability plans for maintaining improvements post-funding are also strongly encouraged. Applicants must collaborate with a qualified healthy school foods partner and be prepared to implement food service changes during the 2025–2026 academic year. Only one application per school or district is allowed. The maximum funding is $250,000 per school, with a cap of $2,000,000 per school district. A total of $20 million is available in FY 2025 for up to 20 awards, with an additional $20 million anticipated in FY 2026, contingent on performance and appropriations. Applications are due by July 7, 2025, and must be submitted electronically through one of the accepted systems: NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system platforms. All standard federal registrations must be complete before submission, including SAM, UEI, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Review criteria include significance, approach, partnership, sustainability, and effectiveness, each with specific expectations around project feasibility, collaboration, impact, and institutional support. Required application components include background, goals, implementation plan, evaluation strategy, and budgets, along with optional letters of support and a description of alternative interventions. Applications must adhere to specific guidance outlined in the NOFO, even where it diverges from NIH standards. Contact information for questions includes Melissa Shea (Melissa.Shea@fda.hhs.gov) for scientific/research inquiries and Kimberly Pendleton (Kimberly.Pendleton@fda.hhs.gov) for financial or grants management issues. The program is not subject to intergovernmental review and does not require cost sharing. Final award announcements are expected after the application review process concludes.

Follow NOFO instructions strictly, especially where they deviate from NIH guidelines. Begin registrations early due to potential delays (up to 6 weeks). Engage qualified partners early and define clear implementation timelines. Highlight sustainability plans beyond the funding period.