Opportunity Information: Apply for FOR FD 20 021
The grant opportunity titled "Advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS)" is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FOR FD 20 021 under CFDA 93.103, and it sits in the Food and Nutrition and Health funding activity areas. The core goal is to strengthen retail food regulatory programs by helping them move closer to full alignment with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, a nationally recognized framework that describes what an effective, modern, and responsive retail food safety program should look like.
At the practical level, the funding is designed to help State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) jurisdictions reduce risk factors that lead to foodborne illness in restaurants and retail food establishments. The opportunity emphasizes real-world capacity building: meeting training needs for inspectors and program staff, improving systems for tracking inspector standardization, and supporting other targeted projects that directly improve a jurisdiction's ability to oversee retail food safety. The underlying public health rationale is clear: CDC data cited in the notice (2014) indicates that more than half of foodborne illness outbreaks each year are linked to food from restaurants, so improving the consistency and effectiveness of retail food regulation is positioned as a high-impact prevention strategy.
A notable feature of the opportunity is that the primary grantee is expected to function not only as an implementer but also as a pass-through source of support. The FOA states that the grantee "may provide financial assistance to SLTT retail food regulatory programs" so those jurisdictions can carry out projects that advance their conformance with the VNRFRPS. In other words, the award is meant to create a mechanism for distributing resources, technical help, and program improvements across multiple retail food regulatory programs, rather than supporting only a single jurisdiction's internal activities. Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, FDA involvement is typically more hands-on than with a standard grant, often including collaboration on goals, reporting, and technical direction as the project progresses.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was created on May 25, 2021, and the listing forecasts archiving, with an expected number of awards listed as one. The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which usually signals that a specific maximum dollar amount is not provided in that field of the listing (rather than implying no funding), so applicants typically need to rely on the full FOA details for actual budget expectations, allowable costs, and any limits.
In summary, this FOA is aimed at improving the quality and consistency of retail food safety oversight across SLTT programs by pushing measurable progress toward VNRFRPS conformance. It supports training, inspector standardization, and other improvement projects that strengthen inspection programs and reduce outbreak risks tied to restaurants and retail food settings, thereby contributing to a broader strategy to protect the safety and security of the U.S. food supply at the retail level.Apply for FOR FD 20 021
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS)" 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 May 25, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Archiving forecast. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS)."
2) Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
3) What type of funding is this?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally involves more ongoing collaboration and involvement from the federal agency than a typical grant.
4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FOR FD 20 021.
5) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing shown is 93.103.
6) What funding activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity areas listed are Food and Nutrition and Health.
7) What is the main purpose of the award?
The core goal is to strengthen retail food regulatory programs by helping them move closer to full alignment with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS), a nationally recognized framework describing an effective, modern, and responsive retail food safety program.
8) What are the VNRFRPS?
The VNRFRPS are the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, described here as a nationally recognized framework that outlines what an effective retail food safety regulatory program should look like.
9) Who is this funding intended to help at the practical level?
The funding is designed to support State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) jurisdictions and their retail food regulatory programs as they work to reduce foodborne illness risk factors in restaurants and retail food establishments.
10) What kinds of activities or projects does the funding emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes capacity-building activities such as meeting training needs for inspectors and program staff, improving systems for tracking inspector standardization, and supporting other targeted projects that directly improve a jurisdiction's ability to oversee retail food safety.
11) How does this opportunity connect to foodborne illness prevention?
The public health rationale cited in the notice references CDC data (2014) indicating that more than half of foodborne illness outbreaks each year are linked to food from restaurants. Improving the consistency and effectiveness of retail food regulation is presented as a high-impact prevention strategy.
12) Is this award meant to support only one jurisdiction, or multiple jurisdictions?
Based on the description, the award is structured to support improvements across multiple retail food regulatory programs. The FOA indicates the primary grantee may provide financial assistance to SLTT retail food regulatory programs so they can carry out projects that advance conformance with the VNRFRPS.
13) What does it mean that the grantee may provide financial assistance to SLTT programs?
It means the primary awardee is expected to act as more than an implementer for its own internal activities. The award can create a mechanism for distributing resources and support to SLTT retail food regulatory programs to help them complete VNRFRPS-related improvement projects.
14) What role does FDA typically play in a cooperative agreement?
The description notes that FDA involvement is typically more hands-on than with a standard grant, often including collaboration on goals, reporting, and technical direction as the project progresses.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education).
16) Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. Nonprofit organizations are included, but institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded in the eligibility description provided.
17) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 25, 2021.
18) How many awards are expected?
The listing forecasts an expected number of awards as one.
19) Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data. This is presented as an indicator that a specific maximum dollar amount is not provided in that particular field of the listing, rather than implying that no funding is available. The full FOA is the place to look for budget expectations and any limits.
20) What should applicants rely on for budget details and allowable costs?
The description indicates applicants typically need to rely on the full FOA details for actual budget expectations, allowable costs, and any limits, since the listing field shows an award ceiling of 0.
21) What is the ultimate intended outcome of this FOA?
The FOA aims to improve the quality and consistency of retail food safety oversight across SLTT programs by pushing measurable progress toward VNRFRPS conformance, strengthening inspection programs, and reducing outbreak risks tied to restaurants and retail food settings.
22) What types of retail settings are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity references restaurants and retail food establishments as key settings where reducing risk factors can help prevent foodborne illness.
23) What is meant by "inspector standardization" in this context?
The description highlights improving systems for tracking inspector standardization as a supported activity, framing it as part of strengthening the consistency and effectiveness of retail food regulatory programs.
24) Does the opportunity mention technical assistance in addition to funding?
Yes. The description notes the award is meant to create a mechanism for distributing resources, technical help, and program improvements across multiple retail food regulatory programs.
25) Why is VNRFRPS conformance described as important?
The VNRFRPS are presented as a nationally recognized framework for an effective, modern, and responsive retail food safety program. Advancing conformance is positioned as a way to improve program quality and consistency, which in turn supports prevention of restaurant- and retail-linked outbreaks.
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