Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM)
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is offering a funding opportunity titled the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) aimed at enhancing the capacities of state human and animal food testing laboratories to support an integrated food safety system. This cooperative agreement focuses on prioritized sample testing and method development in microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemistry, with the goal of improving food safety and defense capabilities. The program is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring the safety of food in the U.S., with approximately $25 million in funding anticipated for fiscal year 2025 and a total of 75 awards expected. Eligible applicants include accredited private institutions of higher education and government entities, with key deadlines starting with letters of intent due on January 17, 2025. For further details, interested parties can contact Lisa Pendleton at lisa.pendleton@fda.hhs.gov or refer to the funding announcement at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-25-007.html.
Eligible Applicants
Applicant organizations applying for product testing tracks must be accredited to ISO 17025 in at least one human or animal food testing method applicable to the discipline for which they are applying.Applicant organizations applying for tracks other than product testing must be accredited to ISO 17025 or have a quality system that ensures quality assurance and quality control of laboratory testing including but not limited to: validated methods, document control, training programs, and analyst competency requirements.Applicant organizations applying to any track other than Whole Genome Sequencing must have a valid 20.88 agreement with FDA prior to the time of application.