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                Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Grants and Cooperative Agreements

                        Alliance to Support Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Activities
          Building an Integrated Information Technology Infrastructure for State Regulatory Programs
          Human Food Preventive Controls
          Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program
          Retail Food Safety Association Collaboration Cooperative Agreement Program
          Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) by State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) Retail Food Regulatory Agencies Cooperative Agreement  (Retail Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program)
          Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) Cooperative Agreement (CAP)
          FDA-State Produce Safety Implementation Cooperative Agreement Program
          Flexible Funding Model (FFM) – Infrastructure, Development, and Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs Cooperative Agreement Program
          Food Protection Rapid Response Teams Program
          Food Protection Task Force Grant
          Grade "A" Milk Safety and Molluscan Shellfish Cooperative Agreement Program
          Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) CAP
          Produce Safety Association Cooperative Agreement Program
          Scientific Conference Grant Program Home
          For Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials
          Funding Opportunities
          Grants and Cooperative Agreements
          Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement ProgramGrants and Cooperative Agreements Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program
  
  	
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    PrintLaboratory Flexible Funding Model Program Cooperative Agreement Spotlight
	FERN and LFFM in Action
	What is the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program?
	What are its goals?
	Who are the current awardees?
	What are the types of assessments?
	What has been accomplished under the LFFM?
	Who can I contact for more information?
	Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program Fact Sheet (Version November 2023)Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Program Cooperative Agreement Spotlight



FERN and LFFM in Action

In early 2022, the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) leveraged LFFM laboratories to support surge capacity testing for Cronobacter in a coordinated laboratory response to the recall of powdered infant formula. LFFM labs utilized funds to support testing within their state that aligned with the testing criteria sent out through 50-state messaging. LFFM labs tested over 100 samples. Three LFFM laboratories (Maryland Department of Health — Laboratories Administration, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and West Virginia Department of Agriculture) provided surge capacity to states that were not able to perform their own analyses for product linked to complaints and illnesses.

The FERN was established in 2004 and is dedicated to integrating our nation’s food testing laboratories. The robust emergency response coordination framework (developed through FERN) and the resources provided through the LFFM have enabled these highly trained and competent laboratories to swiftly mobilize to protect our nation’s most precious consumers.

What is the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model?

This cooperative agreement is intended to enhance the capacity and capabilities of state human and animal feed testing laboratories in support of an integrated food safety system. Specifically, through sample testing in the areas of microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemistry, and the development of special projects that would support and expand that testing.

This project will strengthen FDA's efforts to minimize foodborne exposures and prevent foodborne illness through equipping our partner laboratories with additional resources to increase sample throughput capacity within their state. This enhanced proficiency will drive a risk-based and prevention-focused food safety system that both the FDA and our state partners can utilize.

Samples analyzed under this cooperative agreement could derive from a variety of sources including but not limited to: an approved sample plan, emergency outbreak situations, national special security exercises, or an FDA assignment. Laboratories may be requested to participate in national special security exercises and FDA assignments. Samples may also be collected by other organizations (e.g., FDA or a 3rd party) and submitted to participating laboratories for analysis.

What are its goals?

The major goals of this program are to:

Improve human and animal food testing surveillance programs.
	Enhance the network capacity of state laboratories by using sample testing in the areas of microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemistry, and the development of special projects.
	Expand the national capacity in scientific technology and other areas of interest.
	Accelerate foodborne illness outbreak investigations and reduce foodborne illnesses and deaths.
	Utilize sample data generated by these laboratories to remove adulterated food from commerce and aide regulatory programs in conducting inspections.
	Develop methods for early identification of emerging issues, monitoring and evaluation for future sampling initiatives.Who are the current awardees?

United States map displaying 40 FDA funded Laboratory Flexible Funding Model cooperative agreement states:



United States map displaying 40 FDA funded Laboratory Flexible Funding Model cooperative agreement states:

There are 55 state programs currently enrolled: AK; AR; AZ; CA*; CO*; CT; FL*; GA; HI; IA*; IL; IN*; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; MI*; MN*; MO; MS; NC*; NE; NH; NJ*; NM; NV; NY*; OH; PA*; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX*; VA; VT; WA*; WI*; WV.
	CA, CO, FL, IA, IN, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, PA, TX, WA, and WI each have 2 or more agencies with LFFM cooperative agreements.
	Laboratories were provided $23.2M in funding under this cooperative agreement program. This amount includes $382K provided by Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) in support of imported seafood safety.Microbiology, Chemistry, and Radiochemistry Assessments

Microbiology Assessment - Analytical Track 1: Food Defense
	Microbiology Assessment - Analytical Track 2: Human Food Product and Environmental Testing
	Microbiology Assessment - Analytical Track 3: Animal Food Product and Environmental Testing
	Microbiology Assessment - Analytical Track 4: Whole Genome Sequencing
	Chemistry Assessment - Analytical Tracks 1-3
	Radiochemistry Assessment - Analytical Track 1: Food DefenseThe first technical session for this program was held on February 24, 2020. Materials from this session include:

PowerPoint Presentation (LFFM Technical Session_2.24.20)
	Questions and Answers Document (PAR-20-105 Chat Questions and Answers - V1.1)What has been accomplished under the LFFM?

LFFM Year 2 Microbiology Surveillance Outcomes
	LFFM Year 2 AccomplishmentsWho can I contact for more information?

Specific questions on this program can be directed to the appropriate Office of Partnerships' contact within the Division of Partnership Investments and Agreements. Please visit the Office of Partnerships Contacts webpageto obtain a downloaded version of the staffing roster.

You can also find contact information and more on the funding opportunity announcement.

General questions can be directed to the Office of Partnerships' general mailbox: op.feedback@fda.hhs.gov.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      11/09/2023Grants and Cooperative Agreements

          
                        Alliance to Support Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Activities
          Building an Integrated Information Technology Infrastructure for State Regulatory Programs
          Human Food Preventive Controls
          Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program
          Retail Food Safety Association Collaboration Cooperative Agreement Program
          Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) by State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) Retail Food Regulatory Agencies Cooperative Agreement  (Retail Flexible Funding Model Cooperative Agreement Program)
          Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) Cooperative Agreement (CAP)
          FDA-State Produce Safety Implementation Cooperative Agreement Program
          Flexible Funding Model (FFM) – Infrastructure, Development, and Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs Cooperative Agreement Program
          Food Protection Rapid Response Teams Program
          Food Protection Task Force Grant
          Grade "A" Milk Safety and Molluscan Shellfish Cooperative Agreement Program
          Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) CAP
          Produce Safety Association Cooperative Agreement Program
          Scientific Conference Grant Program
 
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