- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking proposals for the Food Safety Outreach Program (FSOP) to develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, veteran farmers or ranchers, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.
In FY 2022, FSOP will maintain focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences by continuing to solicit Community Outreach Projects and Collaborative Education and Training Projects. New Community Outreach and Collaborative Education and Training projects will focus on, but are not limited to, providing on farm or on-site training and/or technical assistance that addresses knowledge and resource gaps for the target audiences in the areas of pre- and post-harvest water testing and sampling, soil amendments, developing supply chain programs, and/or developing food safety plans.
The program will also continue to fund projects that develop bilingual and culturally appropriate training.
This Request for Applications (RFA) will solicit proposals for two project types:
1) Community Outreach Projects will support the development of new food safety education and outreach programs in local communities and expand upon existing food safety education and outreach programs that address the needs of small, specialized audiences whose education needs have not previously been adequately addressed. Award requests: $80,000 - $150,000 - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $300,000.
Community Outreach Projects should at least include the following:
• Focus on developing, implementing, or expanding food safety education to non- traditional, niche, or hard-to-reach audiences.
• Be led by project teams who demonstrate a record of developing and maintaining community partnerships and working successfully to serve the educational needs of the target audiences identified; and
• Develop and implement customized food safety education and outreach programs for those working with various agricultural production and processing systems, including conservation systems, sustainable systems, and organic farming systems
2) Collaborative Education and Training Projects will support the development of multi-county, state-wide or multi-state food safety education and outreach programs. For example, these projects will support collaborations among states not necessarily located within the same regions, but having common food safety concerns, or addressing common commodities. Award requests: $200,000 - $400,000 - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $550,000.
Collaborative Education and Training Projects should at least include the following:
• Be led by project teams who demonstrate a record of developing and maintaining community partnerships and working successfully to serve the educational needs of the target audiences identified; and
• Develop and implement customized food safety education and outreach programs for those working with various agricultural production and processing systems, including conservation systems, sustainable systems, and organic farming systems.
To review the application requirements and apply, please see request for proposals: https://nifa.usda.gov/food-safety-outreach-program
Additionally, NIFA is hosting a 90-minute webinar on November 12, 2021 at 10:30 am PT to discuss the Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Program (FSOP). Webinar participants will learn the FSOP priorities and requirements and other essentials for applying to the program. Topics will include: (i) an overview of the FSOP, (ii) adhering to the RFA and the evaluation criteria, and (iii) grant writing fundamentals.
Please register at the link below and include questions you would like answered during the webinar. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing a link to join the webinar.
Registration Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsduytqzouHrbSriMAZhvEY_3CCbNMYX8
FSOP applications are due December 13, 2021 via Grants.gov.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)