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

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to award a five-year cooperative agreement under solicitation RFA-FD-26-009 to develop and implement culturally relevant education, training, and outreach initiatives focused on the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule for farmers belonging to federally recognized Tribes. The program aims to increase awareness and capacity among Tribal producers, including those not currently subject to regulatory requirements, by providing tailored technical assistance that respects Tribal history, culture, and regional agricultural practices. Activities will include on-farm readiness reviews, workshops, and the development of culturally appropriate training materials in collaboration with FDA, USDA, land-grant institutions, and Tribal organizations. The total estimated funding is $2.5 million, allocated at $500,000 annually, with potential for continued support over four additional years contingent on appropriations and performance. The awardee must demonstrate a clear organizational structure, submit a data management and sharing plan, and comply with all federal reporting requirements including Federal Financial Reports and the Federal Subaward Reporting System for subawards exceeding $30,000. Programmatic involvement by FDA is substantial, requiring prior approval for all phases of implementation and coordination on all outreach and assessment activities. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management with a valid Unique Entity ID and must comply with 2 CFR Part 200 and HHS Grants Policy Statement. Proposals must be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution by August 20, 2026, and must include required attachments such as an organizational structure outline, indirect cost rate agreement if applicable, and PHS human subjects information only if human subjects are involved. Evaluation will be based on four factors: Innovation (30 points), Environment (25 points), Significance (10 points), and Investigator(s) (10 points), with no cost or price considered in the scoring. The awardee must adhere to strict cybersecurity protocols, including mandatory multifactor authentication, annual staff training via HHS platforms, system access controls, and incident reporting within 48 hours. Personnel must be adequately trained and cleared to deliver technical assistance, and all activities must align with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule and Produce Safety Alliance curriculum. Performance will be measured through quarterly and annual progress reports using FDA templates, tracking participant reach, partnership development, and program outcomes across Tribal lands nationwide.