Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaboration
Can you apply?
This grant is for national organizations and associations representing retail food regulatory programs or foodservice industries. Applicants must have membership, resources, and expertise to build consensus among state/local agencies or industry on food safety issues. A principal purpose must be harmonizing state standards related to retail food safety and reducing foodborne illness.
Organizations must be leaders serving state/local/tribal retail food agencies or industry. They must facilitate implementation of FDA Food Code adoption, risk-based inspection methods, and active managerial control strategies. Fiscal sponsorship arrangements may be permitted if the underlying organization meets eligibility criteria.
Program description
The purpose of this NOFO is to collaboratively advance retail food initiatives to reduce foodborne illness. This funding opportunity aims to advance practices in retail food protection and identify opportunities for collaboration to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors.
This opportunity aims to assist retail food regulatory programs and industry in reducing foodborne illness by implementing effective intervention strategies designed to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors; implementing and achieving full conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS); promoting use of risk-based inspection methods to effectively identify the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors, conduct root cause analysis, assess gaps in industry active managerial control (AMC), and promote regulatory compliance; promoting adoption of the most recent version of the FDA Food Code; effectively responding to foodborne illness outbreaks; and responding to emerging food safety trends. The program is also intended to encourage the research, development, and implementation of industry food safety management systems and the prerequisite food safety culture necessary to achieve AMC of foodborne illness risk factors.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Standard form SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project narrative/statement of work
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational documentation (501(c)(3) status, bylaws, membership proof)
- Letters of support from state/local agencies or industry partners
- Description of national reach and member base
Program contact
- 👤 Stephanie Bogan Grantor
- 📞 3018276802
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.103 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$121,795,918
-
$76,105,626
-
$50,217,964
-
$47,940,304
-
$36,000,000
-
$35,573,997
-
$35,391,995
-
$30,732,300
-
$23,332,999
-
$21,347,288
Top States by Funding
- AZ 3 awards $131.4M
- MD 7 awards $108.5M
- CA 9 awards $106.5M
- VA 5 awards $96.6M
- PA 10 awards $77.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.103). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2016 | $170,482,435 | |
| 2017 est. | $208,900,832 | |
| 2018 | $173,077,408 | |
| 2019 | $198,507,896 | |
| 2020 | $212,448,590 | |
| 2021 | $218,918,739 | |
| 2022 est. | $255,910,458 | |
| 2023 est. | $246,894,600 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
National organizations and associations representing retail food regulatory programs or foodservice industries. Your organization must have members in multiple states and serve as a leader for SLTT agencies or industry.
What is the funding timeline and deadline?
The deadline is July 14, 2026 (fixed). Award amounts are up to $750,000, with a total funding pool of $2.25 million.
What activities does this grant support?
Implementation of FDA Food Code, risk-based inspection methods, active managerial control systems, foodborne illness outbreak response, and industry food safety management systems.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this grant.
How competitive is this funding?
Competition is typically moderate. With $2.25 million total funding and awards up to $750,000, expect 3-4 awards nationally.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly demonstrate your organization's national reach and membership base. Use membership lists or documentation showing representation across multiple states and regions.
- Align your proposed work directly with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) and FDA Food Code adoption goals.
- Include letters of support from state/local regulatory agencies or industry members showing they value your leadership and collaboration.
- Develop a detailed plan for measuring outcomes like foodborne illness reduction and regulatory compliance improvements.
- Show how your organization will facilitate consensus-building and create position statements or resolutions that have uniform support.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly establish national scope and multi-state representation. Organizations must prove they serve SLTT agencies or industry across multiple states, not just a single region.
Proposing activities that duplicate federal FDA work instead of leveraging your role as a convener. Emphasize your unique value as a collaborative bridge between agencies and industry.
Underestimating the importance of consensus-building. This grant prioritizes harmonization and alignment, so vague or unilateral proposals will be less competitive.
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