Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) Practice-based Research to Improve Food Safety

Background
The Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) is a collaborative initiative supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at improving food safety practices in retail food establishments. This funding opportunity seeks to address the significant public health issue of foodborne illnesses, which affect about one in six people in the U.S. annually. The goal is to enhance research on food safety practices, thereby reducing the incidence of foodborne illnesses linked to retail food establishments.

Grant Details
Key activities under this grant include:
1) Conducting practice-based research focused on retail food establishments;
2) Investigating foodborne outbreaks;
3) Collaborating with other EHS-Net recipients and partners.

Topics of interest for research projects encompass:
a) Food safety management systems;
b) Foodborne illness risk factors such as sick workers and inadequate temperature control;
c) Interventions to mitigate these risks;
d) Norovirus prevention;
e) Cottage food regulations;
f) Restaurant inspection practices.

Recipients are expected to report data from outbreak investigations to CDC’s National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS). The program will award funding for an initial 12-month period, with potential for four additional 12-month budget periods based on satisfactory progress and availability of funds.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include state, territorial, local, and tribal government organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Applicants must demonstrate governmental authority to regulate retail food service establishments and provide evidence of support from their epidemiology program.

Period of Performance
The grant has a total performance period of five years, structured into five separate 12-month budget periods contingent upon satisfactory progress and availability of funds.

Grant Value
The total expected program funding over the performance period is up to $10 million, with individual budget periods capped at $2 million. Each applicant may receive up to $200,000 per budget period.

Place of Performance
The grant activities are expected to be conducted within the jurisdictions of the eligible applicants across various states.