Integrated Food Safety System Regulatory and Laboratory Training System National Coordination Center

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), operating under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity under the number FOR-FD-25-005. This funding opportunity aims to establish and support a National Coordination Center (NCC) for the Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (RLTS). The cooperative agreement will be administered by the FDA’s Office of Partnerships (OP) and has an anticipated award amount of $1.5 million for a single recipient. The NCC is envisioned as the centralized coordinating entity responsible for daily operations of the RLTS, a training infrastructure designed to enhance access to high-quality human and animal food regulatory and laboratory education. The initiative seeks to leverage the collective expertise and training assets of IFSS partners to standardize, streamline, and improve training delivery and evaluation. Central responsibilities of the NCC will include implementing the IFSS RLTS Strategic and Implementation Plans, managing communications, and updating core plans in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The NCC will also be tasked with establishing a governance framework and operational processes for the RLTS. This includes managing stakeholder input mechanisms that enable the recommendation of changes to training content, formats, delivery mechanisms, and alignment standards. The NCC will assess course content in relation to the National Curriculum Standard (NCS) and other RLTS benchmarks and will propose modifications to the IFSS RLTS Steering Committee for formal approval. Moreover, the NCC will coordinate committees to revise and develop content and structural standards, oversee alignment assessments, and manage sub-awards or contracts necessary for fulfilling RLTS objectives. The funding provided must be used in alignment with these operational goals and any support activities related to executing the strategic vision of the RLTS. Eligibility for this cooperative agreement is strictly limited under Section 1009 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC § 399). Eligible applicants must be state, local, territorial, or tribal agencies or nonprofit training entities that partner with one or more accredited institutions of higher education. This ensures that applicants bring both practical experience and academic collaboration to the development and administration of regulatory and laboratory training efforts. As of now, this grant is in forecasted status with no exact application or award dates provided. Additional dates, including the estimated post, application, and award start dates, remain unspecified. Interested applicants should monitor the Grants.gov website for updates to the opportunity status and timeline. For direct inquiries, applicants can contact the designated grant officer, Terrin Brown, at terrin.brown@fda.hhs.gov or by phone at 240-402-7610.