Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 21 030
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released this funding opportunity to support strategies that strengthen global food safety through a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). The opportunity is focused on expanding and sharing the worldwide evidence base on food safety, including the current landscape of scientific research, practical challenges faced by countries, major risks, and emerging trends that affect the safety of food across borders. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, and the work is intended to be programmatic and scientific in nature (for example, surveillance, risk assessment, expert convenings, and technical guidance rather than human subject clinical intervention studies).
A key feature of this announcement is that it is a single-source opportunity. FDA stated its intention to accept and consider one application for one award, specifically to the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses (FOS). In other words, this is not a broadly competed grant for general applicants; it is structured to fund WHO FOS as the implementing partner because of WHO's established global reach, convening power, and existing technical networks that already serve as core infrastructure for international food safety collaboration.
The cooperative agreement is designed to leverage and strengthen WHO's existing global food safety systems and networks. The description highlights WHO-led platforms such as the Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN), the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), the Global Environment Monitoring System for Food (GEMS/Food), the Global Early Warning System for major animal diseases including zoonoses (GLEWS), and the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG). By working through these channels, the project aims to improve how countries detect, understand, and respond to foodborne hazards, including outbreaks and cross-border events, and to improve the global comparability and usefulness of food safety data.
The activities described emphasize knowledge-sharing and scientific coordination at a global level. The award supports the exchange of research findings and data through expert meetings, technical consultations, and written products that synthesize the latest evidence (such as documents summarizing research, investigations, and studies). This kind of work is meant to help translate current science into actionable information for regulators, laboratories, public health agencies, and other food safety stakeholders, while also identifying gaps where further research or improved methods are needed.
Another major goal is capacity building at both international and national levels. The opportunity calls out strengthening laboratory analysis capability, encouraging scientific research engagement, improving surveillance systems, and advancing risk assessment and risk management approaches. It specifically references work that can be done through the Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR), reflecting an emphasis on integrated monitoring of antimicrobial resistance as it relates to food and zoonotic pathways, and on improving the evidence used to manage AMR-related food safety risks.
The announcement also ties the work to global standard-setting, particularly the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The cooperative agreement is expected to contribute to the scientific foundation that informs Codex guidance and standards by supporting scientific advisory processes and expert groups. Examples listed include the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), and the FAO/WHO Joint Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA). It also mentions the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Nutrition (JEMNU), noted as being in a development phase, signaling interest in building or strengthening the scientific advisory pipeline in related areas. In practical terms, this part of the project supports the technical underpinnings of international food standards by helping ensure that decisions are informed by up-to-date assessments of hazards, exposure, and risk.
In addition to these core functions, the award allows for food safety projects of mutual interest to FDA and WHO, including projects that promote and disseminate current scientific research. It also includes enabling participation of WHO Member States through the Codex Trust Fund, which is a mechanism used to help countries, especially those with fewer resources, engage in Codex processes and contribute to the development of international standards that affect trade and public health protections.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement instrument, which generally indicates substantial involvement or partnership expectations between the federal agency and the recipient during project execution (as opposed to a more hands-off grant). It falls under the activity category of Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition, and is associated with CFDA number 93.103. The opportunity was created on March 25, 2021, with an original closing date of May 24, 2021. The anticipated funding level is up to $1,000,000 (award ceiling), with one expected award.
Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as a targeted FDA-WHO collaboration meant to strengthen global food safety systems by improving the international evidence base, expanding technical coordination and data-sharing, building country-level capacity in surveillance and laboratory science, supporting antimicrobial resistance surveillance integration, and reinforcing the scientific work that feeds into Codex international food standards and guidance.Apply for RFA FD 21 030
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration in the agriculture, consumer protection, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies that Support Global Food Safety (U01) Clinical Trial Not Allowed" 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 Mar 25, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This opportunity supports strategies to strengthen global food safety through a cooperative agreement (U01). The work centers on expanding and sharing the worldwide evidence base on food safety, including the landscape of scientific research, practical country-level challenges, major risks, and emerging trends that affect food safety across borders.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
The award uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). This typically means FDA expects substantial involvement during the project, reflecting an active partnership approach rather than a fully hands-off grant.
Is this a competitive grant open to general applicants?
No. This is described as a single-source opportunity. FDA stated its intention to accept and consider one application for one award, specifically to the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses (FOS).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses (FOS), identified as the implementing partner due to WHO's global reach, convening role, and existing technical networks for international food safety collaboration.
How many awards are expected to be made?
One award is expected.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The anticipated award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on March 25, 2021. The original closing date was May 24, 2021.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed. The work is intended to be programmatic and scientific (for example, surveillance, risk assessment, expert convenings, and technical guidance), rather than human-subject clinical intervention studies.
What kinds of activities does the project support?
The supported activities focus on global knowledge-sharing and scientific coordination, including surveillance, risk assessment, expert meetings, technical consultations, and written products that synthesize the latest evidence (such as summaries of research, investigations, and studies).
What is meant by expanding the global "evidence base" on food safety?
It means improving what is known and documented globally about food safety by collecting, synthesizing, and sharing scientific findings and data on risks, hazards, trends, and practical challenges, so that information is more comparable and usable across countries.
How does this award aim to help countries respond to foodborne hazards?
By strengthening detection, understanding, and response capabilities through improved surveillance systems, better data comparability, stronger laboratory analysis capacity, and faster coordination around outbreaks and cross-border events using established global platforms.
Which WHO systems and networks are highlighted as part of the approach?
The announcement emphasizes leveraging WHO-led platforms and networks, including the Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN), the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), the Global Environment Monitoring System for Food (GEMS/Food), the Global Early Warning System for major animal diseases including zoonoses (GLEWS), and the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG).
What role do expert meetings and technical consultations play in this work?
They are a primary way the award supports exchange of research findings and data, builds shared understanding among experts and stakeholders, and produces written outputs that translate current science into actionable information for regulators, laboratories, and public health agencies.
Does the opportunity include capacity building?
Yes. Capacity building is a major goal, including strengthening laboratory analysis capability, encouraging scientific research engagement, improving surveillance systems, and advancing risk assessment and risk management approaches internationally and at the country level.
How is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) addressed in the announcement?
The opportunity references work through the Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR), emphasizing integrated monitoring of AMR in food and zoonotic pathways and improving the evidence used to manage AMR-related food safety risks.
How does this work connect to global food standards like Codex?
The cooperative agreement is expected to contribute to the scientific foundation that informs Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) guidance and standards by supporting scientific advisory processes and expert groups that assess hazards, exposure, and risk.
Which scientific advisory bodies are specifically mentioned?
The announcement lists the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), and the FAO/WHO Joint Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA). It also mentions the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Nutrition (JEMNU) as being in a development phase.
What is the Codex Trust Fund and how is it related to this award?
The opportunity includes enabling participation of WHO Member States through the Codex Trust Fund, which helps countries, especially those with fewer resources, engage in Codex processes and contribute to the development of international standards impacting trade and public health protections.
Can the award support additional FDA-WHO food safety projects beyond the core scope?
Yes. The announcement allows for food safety projects of mutual interest to FDA and WHO, including projects that promote and disseminate current scientific research.
What is the listed activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the activity category of Agriculture, Consumer Protection, Food and Nutrition.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.103.
What does "discretionary funding" mean in this context?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding, indicating it is a program where the awarding agency has discretion in making the award, consistent with the described single-source intent and cooperative agreement structure.
What is the overall goal of this FDA-WHO collaboration?
The overall goal is to strengthen global food safety systems by improving the international evidence base, expanding technical coordination and data-sharing, building capacity for surveillance and laboratory science, supporting integrated AMR surveillance, and reinforcing the scientific work that feeds into Codex international standards and guidance.
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