Education and Outreach to Tribal Producers through the Tribal Food Safety Alliance

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Human Foods Program has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (RFA-FD-26-009) for a cooperative agreement titled "Education and Outreach to Tribal Producers through the Tribal Food Safety Alliance." Armed with an estimated $500,000 in FY 2026, this single-source renewal award is restricted to the University of Arkansas. The project period spans up to five years, contingent upon annual appropriations and satisfactory performance. The primary purpose of the cooperative agreement is to develop and deliver culturally appropriate produce safety education, outreach, and technical assistance aligned with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule (PSR) to federally recognized Tribal farmers. The recipient must execute the program through a phased implementation framework, requiring FDA approval before advancing: * **Phase 1 (Foundation and Planning):** Develop an annual work plan, conduct a Tribal produce landscape analysis and annual needs assessment, and build a program logic model. * **Phase 2 (National Trainer Network Development):** Establish and maintain a qualified national database of Tribal produce safety trainers. * **Phase 3 (Implementation, Integration, and Continuous Improvement):** Co-develop tailored environmental co-management materials, coordinate outreach and On-Farm Readiness Reviews with federal and state partners, and evaluate program effectiveness. Applications are due by August 20, 2026. Submissions will undergo an FDA programmatic objective review based on five scored criteria: Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment. The recipient must comply with standard HHS administrative policies under 2 CFR Parts 200 and 300, submit quarterly and annual performance progress reports, and implement cybersecurity plans to protect data.