OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIPS (OP)

WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

How to contact the Office of Partnerships Association Partnership Partnership for Food Protection (PFP)

12420 Parklawn Drive

ELEM-3033

Rockville, MD 20857

Phone: (301) 796-5390

Fax: (301) 827-3588

Email: OP.Feedback@fda.hhs.gov

www.fda.gov/regulatorypartners

American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)

Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)

National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO)

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH)

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)

National Egg Regulatory Officials (NERO)

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA)

Leveraging resources, talents, expertise to build and 

achieve integrated food safety systems (IFSS) and 

public health outcomes

www.pfp-ifss.org

A global partnership that protects public health.

OUR VISION

We make partnerships happen by fostering 

funding opportunities and promoting domestic and 

international mutual reliance and systems recognition.

OUR MISSION

The DSI coordinates the agency’s development and maintenance of regulatory program standards (RPS), such as the Manufactured Food 

Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) and Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS), as well as the Rapid Response Team (RRTs) 

and Food Protection Task Forces (FPTF) states. DSI provides technical support and guidance to states that are implementing these programs and 

collaborates across ORA and FDA Centers and external alliances and associations to implement a system of continuous improvement and training 

for the RPS. DSI also collaborates with ORA’s Office of State Cooperative Programs (OSCP) and FDA Centers and associations to provide technical 

support and guidance for cooperative program areas.

DIVISION OF STANDARDS IMPLEMENATION

DSI

The DPIA serves as the primary focal point for the coordination of programmatic aspects of ORA’s non-training-related contracts, cooperative 

agreements, and partnership agreements with state, local, tribal, and territorial regulatory and public health agencies, as well as national 

associations, international partners, and other awardee organizations. In partnership with ORA Office of Management, DPIA coordinates, 

develops, and manages ORA contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements related to human and animal food, medical products, and regulatory 

science. It collaborates with other ORA offices, FDA Centers, and FDA Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services, and other federal agencies to 

ensure cohesive and uniform application of regulations and policies related to the administration of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements 

and partnership agreements, as well as international funded and non-funded agreements.

DIVISION OF PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENTS AND AGREEMENTS

DPIA

The DI formulates strategies to promote and coordinate solutions related to integration of federal, state, and local activities. DI reviews practices, 

procedures, and processes relative to implementation of a national integrated food safety system (IFSS). It fosters collaborative food safety 

networks and provides high level support to food safety integration counterparts. DI develops, tracks and reports on performance measures for 

programs, processes, cooperative agreements, and grants that directly foster mutual reliance and IFSS. DI also coordinates ORA’s international 

activities through information sharing and collaboration with FDA Offices/Centers on international engagements and U.S. facility inspection 

notifications. 

DIVISION OF INTEGRATION 

DI

OP’s Quality Management System (QMS) is implemented out of the Immediate Office (IO). The Partnership Services Group (PSG) within the IO 

provides for the internal administration of OP while also providing technical and administrative support to the remaining branches. It supports 

travel and other administrative functions for state officials related to ORA-funded activities. It also coordinates training for state regulatory 

officials in collaboration with the ORA Office of Training, Education and Development (OTED). PSG supports the commissioning and credentialing 

of state, local, and territorial officials. Working with OP management and staff, PSG facilitates the development and implementation of OP’s 

strategic plan and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to advance the mission and initiatives of FDA and OP. Budget management, travel 

monitoring, website maintenance, and data trending and analysis are also performed by PSG.

IMMEDIATE OFFICE

IO

OFFICE OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF PARTNERSHIPS 

OP serves as the ORA focal point for the coordination 

of cooperative relationships with federal, state, local, 

tribal, territorial (SLTT), and international regulatory, 

public health agencies, and associations. OP coordinates 

with other ORA offices, Office of International Programs, 

FDA Intergovernmental Affairs Staff, and FDA Centers 

on collaborations with federal, SLTT, international, 

regulatory and public health partners to ensure 

cohesive and uniform application of FDA policy.

We continuously strive to:

• Be creative, flexible and open to new ideas, providing 

cost-effective and innovative solutions in support of 

OP, ORA and the Agency.

• Maintain the highest levels of integrity in providing 

the most efficient, timely and accurate information 

on Agency policies and procedures that impact our 

regulatory and public health partners.

• Present an atmosphere of cooperation, courtesy, 

respect and professionalism.

• Serve as a conduit for our regulatory and public 

health partners to exchange information.

ABOUT THE OFFICE

ORA’s 2018 FSI Budget ($100M+) directly contributes to the 

improvement and enhancement of the National Integrated 

Food Safety System (IFSS):

• 20,000 state inspections and visits concerning food, feed, 

egg, animal tissue and medical devices

• 9,746 state-collected samples

• 41 state laboratories achieving ISO 17025 accreditation 

• 43 states in Flexible Funding Model (MFRPS/RRT/FPTF)

• 46 states and one territory in the Produce Safety

Infrastructure CAP

RESULTS OF FEDERAL-STATE INITIATIVE (FSI) FUNDING 

FSI COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT OVERVIEW

18 Major Cooperative Agreement Programs (CAPs)

These programs can be grouped into roughly 6 buckets:

FY18

Funding

15%

8%

7% 35%

14%

21% 15%

8%

7% 35%

14%

21%

Flexible Funding Model 

(Manufactured Food Stds, RRT 

and FPTF)

$14,465,597

Lab Programs/ISO

$7,961,283

Produce Programs

$33,733,547

Retail Standards

$6,700,000

Animal Feed Standards

$12,792,525 

Other Uncategorized Programs

$19,960,107