
[Federal Register: June 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 112)]
[Notices]               
[Page 32715-32717]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn08-53]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

 
Food Protection Task Force Conference

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability of conference grant funding for meetings of State Food 
Protection Task Forces. The original announcement of availability of 
funding for State Food Safety Task Force Meetings, published in the 
Federal Register June 25, 2004 (69 FR 35651) and February 4, 2005 (70 
FR 6015) as revised on May 3, 2005 (70 FR 22889). This revised 
announcement provides for a change in the name of the grant program to 
align with the FDA Food Protection Plan and new policies that apply to 
the State Food Protection Task Force Meetings conference Grant Program. 
FDA anticipates providing approximately $160,000 in direct costs only 
in support of this program in fiscal year (FY) 2008. It is anticipated 
that 32 awards will be made for up to $5,000 per award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
     Regarding the administrative and financial management aspects of 
this notice: Gladys M. Bohler, Grants Management Specialist at 301-827-
7168 or by e-mail at gladys.melendez-bohler@fda.hhs.gov
    Regarding the programmatic aspects of this notice: Jennifer Gabb, 
(DFSR), Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA at 301-827-2899, e-mail: 
jennifer.gabb@fda.hhs.gov or access the Internet at: http://
www.fda.gov/ora/fedlstate/default.htm.
    Announcement Type: New limited competition Request for Applications 
(RFA) (R13)
    Request for Application Number: RFA-FD-08-06
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s): 93.103
    Dates: The application receipt date is July 15, 2008.
    Paper Applications will not be accepted. Applications may be 
submitted on or after the opening date and must be successfully 
received by Grants.gov no later than 5 p.m. local time (of the 
applicant institution/organization) on the application submission/
receipt date(s). If an application is not submitted by the receipt 
date(s) and time, the application may be delayed in the review process 
or not reviewed.
    The required application, SF 424 (5161) can be completed and 
submitted online. The package should be labeled, ``Response to RFA FD-
08-006.'' If you experience technical difficulties with your online 
submission you should contact Gladys M. Bohler by telephone at 301-827-
7168 or by e-mail at gladys.melendez-bohler@fda.hhs.gov.
    Please visit Grants.gov to view the full version of this Request 
for Applications. A full version of the RFA can also be found on the 
Grants.gov Web site along with the application package. FDA urges 
applicants to read the full version RFA in its entirety prior to 
submitting application packets. A publishing of this announcement in 
the Federal Register a copy of the full version RFA can also be 
requested from the ORA and Grants Management contacts listed in the 
following paragraphs.
    Funding Opportunity Description

I. Background

    The FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) is the inspection 
component of the FDA and has 1,000 investigators and inspectors who 
cover the approximately 95,000 FDA regulated businesses in the United 
States and inspect more than 15,000 facilities a year. In addition to 
the standard inspection program, FDA's investigators and inspectors 
conduct special investigations, food inspection recall audits, and 
perform consumer complaint inspections and sample collections.
    In the past, FDA has relied on the States in assisting with the 
previous duties through formal contracts, partnership agreements, and 
other informal arrangements. The inspection demands on both the Agency 
and the States are expected to increase. Accordingly, procedures need 
to be reviewed and innovative changes made that will increase 
effectiveness, efficiency, and conserve resources. Examples of support 
include providing effective and efficient compliance of regulated 
products and, providing high quality, science based work that maximizes 
consumer protection.

II. Research Objectives

    FDA views State based Food Protection Task Forces as an important 
mechanism for providing food safety and food defense program 
coordination, and information exchange within each State (``Food'' 
includes human food and animal feed and is defined in section 201 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321 (f))). This 
grant announcement is intended to encourage the development of a Task 
Force within each State and to provide funding for Task Force meetings. 
Conference grant funding is available to States that have an existing 
Food Safety and Food Defense Task Force, as well as to States that are 
in the process of developing a new Food Protection Task Force. State 
Food Protection Task Force meetings should foster communication and 
cooperation among State, local, and

[[Page 32716]]

tribal food protection public health, agriculture, and regulatory 
agencies.
    Before submission of an application, the State shall designate one 
public health or food safety agency to lead, coordinate, and host the 
Food Protection and Food Security Task Force and its meetings. The 
formation of Food Protection and Food Security Task Force meetings 
shall not interfere with existing Federal-state advisory mechanisms.

III. Project Goals

    The purpose of the Food Protection Task Force meetings is to foster 
communication and cooperation and collaboration within the States among 
State local and tribal food protection public health, agriculture and 
regulatory agencies. (For the purposes of this document and to be 
consistent with the FDA Food Protection Plan: Food means human food and 
animal feeds as defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(f). 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. Each Task Force shall develop its own guidelines for work, 
consensus decision making, size and format, at its initial meeting. 
FDA's Division of Federal State Relations (DFSR) will provide meeting 
guidelines and organization documents as requested.
    Conference grant funds will be awarded only for the direct costs. 
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.
    The following are the allowable and unallowable costs:
    Allowable costs include but are not limited to: (1) Salary (in 
proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the conference/
meeting); (2) facility and necessary equipment rental; (3) in-state 
travel and per diem or subsistence allowances; (4) supplies needed for 
conduct of the meeting (only if received for use during the budget 
period); (5) conference services; (6) publication costs; (7) 
registration fees; and (8) speakers' fees.
    Non-allowable costs include but are not limited to: (1) Travel or 
expenses other than local mileage for local participants; (2) 
organization dues; (3) travel or per diem costs for Federal employees; 
(4) purchase of equipment; (5) transportation costs exceeding U.S. 
carrier coach class fares; (6) visas; (7) passports; (8) entertainment; 
(9) tips; (10) bar charges; (11) personal telephone calls; (12) laundry 
charges; (13) honoraria or other payments for the purpose of conferring 
distinction or communicating respect, esteem or admiration; (14) 
patient care; (15) alterations or renovations; and (16) facilities and 
administrative costs/indirect costs.
    Please also refer to the DHHS Grants Policy Statement for 
additional information regarding costs http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/
adminis/gpd/index.htm.

IV. Reporting Requirements

    A Financial Status Report (FSR) and Mid-Year Progress Reports are 
required no later than 90 days after the end of a budget period. The 
Mid-Year Progress Report should contain a description of a specific 
plan for the next meeting, as well as all criteria listed in the 
previous paragraph.
    Program monitoring of recipients will be conducted on an ongoing 
basis and written reports will be reviewed and evaluated at least semi-
annually by the project officer. Project monitoring may also be in the 
form of telephone conversations between the project officer/grants 
management specialist and the principal investigator.
    When multiple years are awarded, awardees will be required to 
submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm).
    The PHS 2590 must be submitted at least 2 months prior to the next 
budget period start date and should include a report of the previous 
meeting supported by the current grant, as well as a full description 
of the next planned meeting.
    A final Progress Report of the meeting(s) (or Conference 
Proceedings), and FSR SF-269 are required within 90 days of the 
expiration date of the project period. An original and two copies of 
each report shall be submitted to FDA's Grants Management staff 
contact. The report of the meeting should include: (1) The grant 
number; (2) the title, date and place of time of the meeting; (3) the 
name of the person shown on the application as the conference director, 
principal investigator, or program director; (4) the name of the 
organization that conducted the meeting; (5) a list of individuals and 
their institutional affiliations who participated as speakers or 
facilitators in the formally planed sessions of the meeting; and, (6) a 
summary of topics discussed, next steps and conclusions.

V. Mechanism of Support

A. Award Instrument

    This funding opportunity will use the Conference/Scientific Meeting 
(R13) grant award mechanism. Under the R13 mechanism, the applicant 
will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the 
proposed project. Multiple year awards may be awarded to one 
permanently sponsoring organization for conferences held annually or 
biennially on a recurring topic. The total project period for an 
application requesting support may not exceed 5 years.
    This funding opportunity uses just-in-time budget concepts. It also 
uses the non-modular budget format. Applicants must complete and submit 
a detailed categorical budget in the SF424 application.
    Meetings covered by this notice will be supported under section 
1701-1706 of the Public Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-300u-5). 
FDA's Task Force Conference Grant program is described in the Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93-103. These grants will be subject 
to all policies and requirements that govern the Conference Grant 
Programs of the PHS, including the provisions of 42 CFR part 52 and 45 
CFR parts 74 and 92. The regulations issued under Executive Order 12372 
also apply to this program and are implemented through the Department 
of Health and Human Service's regulations at 45 CFR part 100. Executive 
Order 12372 sets up a system for State and local government review of 
applications for Federal financial assistance.

B. Eligibility

    These grants are available to State public health, agriculture and 
food protection agencies that have an existing Food Safety and Food 
Defense Task Force, as well as to States 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.

C. Length of Support

    It is anticipated that FDA will fund these grants at a level 
requested but not

[[Page 32717]]

exceeding $5,000 total direct costs only for the first year. An 
additional 4 years of support, up to $5,000 (direct costs only) each 
year may be available, depending upon fiscal year appropriations and 
successful performance of the conference.

D. Funding Plan

    Continued funding for future year, noncompetitive segments, will be 
contingent upon satisfactory progress as determined annually by the 
FDA, the receipt of a PHS 2590 application, the approval of yearly task 
force reports, and the availability of Federal funds. An estimated 
amount of $160,000 is available in FY 2008. The number of grants funded 
will depend on the quality of the applications received, their 
relevance to FDA's mission, priorities, and the availability of funds.

VI. Review Procedure and Criteria

    All applications submitted in response to this request for 
applications (RFA) will first be reviewed for responsiveness by grants 
management and program staff. Responsiveness is defined as submission 
of a complete on or before the required submission date as listed in 
the previous paragraphs. If applications are found to be nonresponsive, 
they will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
    Responsive applications will be reviewed and evaluated for 
scientific and technical merit by an ad hoc panel of experts. The 
following will be considered in making funding decisions: (1) 
Scientific merit of the proposed conference/scientific meeting as 
determined by the evaluation process; (2) availability of funds; and 
(3) relevance of program priorities. Final funding decisions will be 
made by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs or his or her designee.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact FDA Program staff to 
resolve any questions regarding criteria before the submission of their 
application.

VII. Submission Requirements

    FDA is accepting new applications for this program electronically 
via www.grants.gov. To download the SF424 (5161) Application forms for 
this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) link to http://
www.grants.gov/Apply and follow the directions provided on that site. A 
one-time registration is required for institutions at: Grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted). The application receipt date is 
July 15, 2008.
    Your organization will need to obtain a Data Universal Number 
System (DUNS) number as part of the Grants.gov registration process. 
The DUNS number is a 9-digit identification number, which uniquely 
identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there 
is no charge. The D&B number can be obtained by calling 866-705-5711 or 
through the Web site at http://www.dnb.com/us.
    The applicant must also register in the Central Contractor 
Registration (CCR) database in order to be able to submit the 
application. Information about the CCR is available at http://
www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.

VIII. Method of Application

A. Submission Instructions

    The SF424 (5161) application has several components. Some 
components are required, others are optional. The forms package 
associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/APPLY includes all applicable 
components, required, and optional.

B. Format for Application

    A completed application in response to this FOA includes the data 
in the following components:
    The face page of the application should indicate ``Response to Food 
Protection Task Force Conference Grant Program RFA FD 08-006''.
    Applications should include the following: (1) A title which has 
the term ``state food protection task force meetings'', ``conference'', 
``council'', ``workshop'', ``alliance'' or other similar description to 
assist in the identification of the request; (2) location of the 
conference; (3) expected number of registrants and type of audience 
expected with their credentials; (4) dates of conference(s); (5) 
conference format and projected agenda(s), including list of principal 
areas or topics to be addressed; (6) physical facilities required for 
the conduct of the meeting; (7) justification of the conference(s), 
including the problems it intends to clarify and any developments it 
may stimulate; (8) brief biographical sketches of individuals 
responsible for planning the conference(s) and details concerning 
adequate support staff; (9) information about all related conferences 
held on this subject during the last 3 years (if available); (10) 
details of proposed per diem/subsistence rates, transportation, 
printing, supplies and facility rental costs; and (11) the necessary 
checklist and assurances pages provided in each application package.

IX. Freedom of Information

    Data included in the application which have been specifically 
identified by the applicant as containing restricted and/or proprietary 
information may be entitled to confidential treatment as trade secret 
or confidential commercial information within the meaning of the 
Freedom of Information Act, (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), and FDA's implementing 
regulations (21 CFR 20.61).

    Dated: June 3, 2008.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning.
[FR Doc. E8-13015 Filed 6-9-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160-01-S
