FSIS FERN Cooperative Agreement Program

The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is seeking to award one cooperative agreement to assess the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) program members' capacity and capability for food defense and food safety testing. The agreement will be used to administer proficiency samples to FERN laboratories and evaluate their performance. The project will involve three major areas: FERN-wide proficiency samples for microbiological and chemical agents, providing challenge samples to FERN laboratories, and thermally processed foods testing. The cooperative agreement will be for one year, with a possible renewal for up to five years, and will have a funding amount of up to $100,000 annually. • The project will involve assessing FERN program members' capacity and capability for food defense and food safety testing. • The agreement will be used to administer proficiency samples to FERN laboratories and evaluate their performance. • The project will involve three major areas: FERN-wide proficiency samples for microbiological and chemical agents, providing challenge samples to FERN laboratories, and thermally processed foods testing. • The cooperative agreement will be for one year, with a possible renewal for up to five years. • The funding amount will be up to $100,000 annually.