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Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the Food and Drug Administration under the Small Scientific Conference Grant mechanism (R13), is to solicit applications from institutions/ organizations that propose to organize Food Protection Task Force meetings to foster communication and cooperation and collaboration within the States among State, local, and tribal food protection, public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies. The meetings should: (1) Provide a forum for all the stakeholders of the food protection system—regulatory agencies, academia, industry, consumers, State legislators, Boards of Health and Agriculture, and other interested parties; (2) assist in adopting or implementing the Food Code and other food protection regulations; and (3) promote the integration of an efficient statewide food protection/defense system that maximizes the protection of the public health through prevention, intervention and response including the early detection and containment of foodborne illness.

Conference grant funds will be awarded only for the direct costs incurred to secure meeting facility rental expenses, supplies, publication costs, and in-state travel expenses for meeting attendees (or other such expenses as approved in the application) which support the Task Force and its goals. Each Task Force shall develop its own guidelines for work, consensus decision making, size, and format at its initial meeting. Federal agency representatives may be invited to be nonmember liaisons or advisors to the task force and its meetings. Conference grant funds may not be used for Federal employees to travel to or participate in these meetings.

Eligible Institutions

The following organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:

State Governments
Indian/native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
City or Township Governments
This grant program is only available to State, Local, and tribal government agencies, which include State public health, agriculture, and food protection agencies. Grants are available to State agencies that have an existing Food Safety and Food Defense Task Force, as well as those that are in the process of developing a new Food Protection Task Force. Only one grant will be awarded per State per year. States are urged to collaborate between agencies to submit a single application.

Grantees with active grant applications under the Food Protection Task Force Program are not eligible to apply under this FOA.

Eligible Individuals

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for FDA support.

Funds Available

Because the nature and scope of the proposed activities will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the number of applications, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received and the availability of funds.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs are not allowed under this program.

Multiple year awards may be made for conferences held annually or biennially on a recurring topic. The total project period for an application requesting support may not exceed five years.

Under this announcement, the FDA anticipates providing approximately $160,000 in direct costs in support of this program in Fiscal Year 2009. It is estimated that about 32 grants, each at the level requested but not exceeding $5,000 total (direct costs only) for the first year, will be awarded. An additional 4 years of support of up to approximately $5,000 (direct costs only) each year will be available, depending upon fiscal year appropriations and successful performance.

A decrease in the amount of the non-competitive segment may occur if there is an unobligated balance from the prior year, in which case prior year funds can be used as an offset for the current year award.

Continued funding of a noncompetitive segment is contingent upon satisfactory progress as determined annually by FDA procedures, the receipt of a non-competing continuation application, submission of a satisfactory final yearly Task Force report, and the availability of Federal funds.

Mechanism of Support.

This FOA will utilize the R13 grant mechanism. Under the R13 mechanism, the applicant will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards.

Under this announcement, the FDA anticipates providing approximately $160,000 in direct costs in support of this program in Fiscal Year 2009. It is estimated that about 32 grants at the level requested, but not exceeding $5,000 total (direct costs only) for the first year, will be awarded.

Budget and Project Period.

An additional 4 years of support, up to $5,000 (direct costs only) each year will be available, depending upon fiscal year appropriations, and successful performance.

Eligible Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs).

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed activities are invited to work with their institution/ organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for FDA support.