[Federal Register: June 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 123)]
[Notices]
[Page 36035-36037]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn08-47]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 36035]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0018]
Notice of Funding Opportunity With the Food Safety and Inspection
Service for Food Safety and Defense Training for Spanish-Speaking Plant
Owners and Operators
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is soliciting
applications for one or more cooperative agreements for a collaborative
outreach program on food safety and defense. The program will target
Spanish-speaking owners and operators of small and very small
establishments producing meat and poultry products. The goal is to
increase knowledge of and compliance with FSIS requirements regarding
meat and poultry products sold in the U.S. by this segment of the
regulated industry. FSIS will allocate between $50,000 and $100,000 to
one or more cooperative agreements this fiscal year 2008, with
agreements being renewable for up to five years.
DATES: Applications must be received by August 11, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mildred Rivera-Betancourt, Training
Operations Branch, telephone (515)727-8987; facsimile (515)727-8992; e-
mail mildred.rivera-betancourt@fsis.usda.gov. Application materials can
be downloaded from the Government grants Web site at http://
www.grants.gov. Click on ``Find Grant Opportunities,'' then select
``Basic Search;'' type in ``10.479'' in the Search by Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number field and select ``Search'';
click on ``Food Safety Cooperation Agreements'' and select
``Application'' to access the application for this announcement.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FSIS relies on partner agencies, organizations and institutions to
help it in many aspects of its public health mission. These partners
share FSIS's public health and food safety goals and through their
activities make important contributions to national food safety and
food defense.
On occasion, FSIS supports such partnerships with state or local
agencies, educational institutions or other non-profit organizations by
funding projects to address specific areas of mutual concern. This is
done under FSIS's authority to enter into cooperative agreements for
educational programs or special studies to improve the safety of the
nation's food supply (Pub. L. 108-7, sec. 713, 117 Stat. 39).
Cooperative agreements are federal grants where the granting
Federal agency is substantially involved with the cooperator that
receives the funding during both project development and project
execution.
The nature and the number of cooperative projects funded each year
are determined by the Agency's current priorities, the availability of
discretionary funds, the number of proposals received, and the Agency's
assessment of how well proposals will address its stated priority goals
and objectives.
Outreach is an essential component of FSIS's regulatory program.
Improving outreach is one of FSIS's six priorities in its Strategic
Plan for 2008 to 2013. The Web site for the Strategic Plan is: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Strategic_Plan_2008-2013.pdf .
Outreach is essential because the agency's implementation of its
Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
regulation requires that regulated establishments develop and implement
their own controls to ensure production of safe products. It is a
public health imperative that all producers of meat, poultry and egg
products for American consumers employ effective systems for food
safety and food defense.
Program Description
FSIS wants to improve its outreach to underserved and non-English
speaking persons engaged in meat and poultry processing. The initial
focus is on Spanish-speaking operators of small plants (fewer than 500
employees) and very small plants (fewer than 10 employees, or less than
$2.5 million in sales.) Operators of small and very small plants
generally have fewer technical and financial resources by which to
ensure compliance with Federal inspection requirements than do large
plants. This disadvantage is exacerbated if English is not the
predominant language spoken because difficulties may arise in
understanding and complying with applicable inspection laws and
guidance generally available only in English.
In addition to U.S. plants affected, the ability of plant operators
in countries exporting to the U.S. to meet equivalency requirements
directly relates to their ability to understand our requirements and
establish systems that are as effective as our own.
Therefore, FSIS intends to fund one or more cooperative projects to
provide training and education to Spanish-speaking owners and operators
of establishments producing meat and poultry products subject to FSIS's
regulations. This includes establishments in the U.S., including the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and establishments in other countries
producing imports to the U.S. in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and
South America. The goal is for those trained to be able to enhance
their own food safety programs, better demonstrate compliance with
applicable regulations, and communicate more effectively with FSIS and
other Agencies regarding the production and export of their meat,
poultry, and egg products.
The cooperator that receives the funding will design, develop, and
deliver training for Spanish-speaking operators of meat and poultry
facilities that addresses the effective use of HACCP systems,
appropriate responses to emerging food safety and food defense
concerns, understanding of the latest information on foodborne illness
and hazards, and the availability of new procedures and technologies
for hazard avoidance and mitigation. HACCP training should encompass
products
[[Page 36036]]
entering plants as well as products produced.
Training will address U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products
regulations, policies, and procedures. It will also provide guidance on
how small and very small plant owners and operators can manage their
operations to better ensure compliance with applicable FSIS
regulations.
The training program will be designed to reach a large proportion
of the targeted operators, directly or indirectly. Training will be
delivered through workshops and other kinds of group instruction but
will also be delivered through alternative methods such as electronic
self-teaching materials and distance learning programs.
Materials developed will have educational value independent of the
cooperative project and will be made available by FSIS or the
cooperator for reproduction and public use.
Available Funding
Fiscal year 2008 funding will total between $50,000 and $100,000.
Project Period
Projects are funded for a period of up to one year from the project
starting date. Awarded cooperative agreement(s) may be renewed yearly
for up to four additional years.
Eligible Applicants
Educational institutions, state, local and tribal government
agencies, and other non-profit organizations with demonstrable
capabilities to provide outreach and education to Spanish-speaking
owners and operators of meat and poultry establishments are invited to
submit applications.
Content and Form of Application
1. Application for Federal Assistance, OMB Standard Form 424.
Please complete this form in its entirety. The original copy of the
application must contain a pen-and-ink signature of the authorized
organizational representative--an individual with the authority to
commit the organization's time and other relevant resources to the
project. The CFDA (block 10) is ``10.479--Food Safety Cooperative
Agreements.'' The Web site for OMB Standard Form 424 is: http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aforms_repository_information.jsp.
2. Project Description. The description should provide reviewers
sufficient information to effectively evaluate the merits of the
application under the review criteria listed below. It should include a
statement of the objectives; the steps necessary to implement the
objectives of the outreach program; an evaluation plan for the
activities; a program delivery plan; and a statement of work describing
how the activities will be implemented and managed by the applicant. It
should be no longer than eight pages.
The statement of work should be in a table format that identifies
each objective, the key tasks to achieve it, the entity responsible for
the task, the completion date, the task location, and FSIS' role.
3. Budget. Applicants must complete OMB Standard Form 424-A,
``Budget Information, Non-Construction Program'', and a budget
narrative itemizing costs for each line item on the SF-424-A. The Web
site for OMB Standard Form 424-A is: http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aforms_repository_information.jsp.
4. Key Personnel and Collaborative Arrangements. Applicants should
provide information on the roles and responsibilities of each person
working on the project, specifying the project leader and including
collaborators from other organizations.
Address to Submit Applications
Applications may be submitted through http://www.grants.gov, or
directly to FSIS, electronically or by mail. Applications sent directly
should be e-mailed to mildred.rivera-betancourt@fsis.usda.gov, or
mailed to Mildred Rivera-Betancourt, U.S Department of Agriculture,
FSIS, OEET/CFL/TOB, 210 Walnut Street, Room 985, Des Moines, IA 50320.
All applications must be submitted by the deadline. Applications
meet the deadline if they are received in the mailroom at the above
address on or before the date applications are due.
Date Applications Are Due
Applications are due August 11, 2008.
Acknowledgment of Applications
FSIS will acknowledge receipt of applications by e-mail. If receipt
of application is not acknowledged by FSIS within 15 days of the
submission deadline, the applicant should contact Mildred Rivera-
Betancourt at (515) 727-8987, e-mail: mildred.rivera-
betancourt@fsis.usda.gov, or Ralph Stafko at (202) 690-6592, e-mail:
ralph.stafko@fsis.usda.gov.
Application Review Process
Applications will be reviewed on their merits by a panel of at
least three reviewers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other
agencies or disinterested organizations as needed. The panel will
examine and score applications based on each of the five criteria
listed below. Reviewers will assign a point value up to the maximum for
each criterion. After all reviewers have evaluated and scored each of
the applications, the scores for the entire panel will be averaged to
determine a final score for the application.
After assigning points for each criterion, applications will be
listed in order of their final score and presented, along with funding
level recommendations, to the FSIS Assistant Administrator for
Outreach, Employee Education and Training, who will make the final
decision on awarding of the cooperative agreement(s). Decisions may be
tentative, pending additional information subject to negotiation
between FSIS and the applicant.
FSIS will review and critique applications, and select those to be
made cooperative projects, by September 23, 2008.
Evaluation Criteria and Weights
Proposals for funding will be reviewed and ranked in accord with
the following factors:
Project Design. The project description demonstrates
understanding of the needs of Spanish-speaking operators of small and
very small meat and poultry plants. It shows how the project will
assist small and very small plants to maintain effective HACCP systems,
produce safe products, and otherwise comply with federal regulations.
The project provides for effective outreach, including development of
work products that can be used to expand coverage through independent
use of materials subsequent to the cooperative agreement. The project
includes well-constructed plans for assessing needs, targeting those
needs, and measuring the program's effectiveness. Maximum 40 points.
Delivery Plan. The plan specifies applicant's
responsibilities for each part of the program delivery. The plan
demonstrates ability to identify specific tasks required and time lines
to accomplish them. Higher scores will be given to the extent tasks are
specific, measurable, and reasonable, have specific periods for
completion, relate to required activities, and reflect program
objectives. Maximum 20 points.
Project Management. The applicant demonstrates an ability
to implement sound and effective project management. Organizational
skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs
are indicative of ability to execute project plans. Maximum 20 points.
[[Page 36037]]
Investment in Project. The cooperator agrees to contribute
significant resources to the project. Maximum 10 points.
Collaborative Partnering. The plan reflects intent to work
collaboratively with other partners, and demonstrated experience and
capacity to partner with other agencies, organizations or institutions,
to enhance the effectiveness of the program. Maximum 10 points.
Award Administration
Notification of Award. FSIS will notify project leaders whose
applications have been selected for funding. The FSIS awarding official
will enter into cooperative agreements with applicants whose
applications have been judged most meritorious under the procedures set
forth in this announcement. Cooperative agreements will provide the
amount of Federal funds for use in the project period, the terms and
conditions of the award, and the time-period for the project. The
effective date of the award is the date the agreement is executed by
both parties. All funds provided must be expended solely for the
purposes for which they are obligated under the approved agreement and
budget, the regulations, and applicable Federal cost principles.
Awarded agreements are subject to applicable Federal regulations and
OMB circulars. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project
period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice.
Applicants that are not funded will be notified within 120 days
after the submission deadline.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2008_Notices_Index/. FSIS
will also make copies of this Federal Register publication available
through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition,
FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and
customized access to selected food safety news and information. This
service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/
email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to export information
to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves, and they have the option to password protect
their accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on: June 19, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-14287 Filed 6-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P