UPCOMING — NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model 2027–28 applicant competition; open December 9, 2026 through January 27, 2027 (7:59 p.m. ET).
National — NEHA-FDA RFFM 2027–2028 Special Projects Optional Add-On Grants (January 27)
UPCOMING: Special Projects Optional Add-On Grants for qualifying FDA Retail Program Standards state/local/tribal/territorial agencies. Up to $30,000 per applicant for a Network Planning Special Project OR up to $20,000 for a Retail Program Standards Innovation Special Project. Applicants submit only one Special Projects proposal per jurisdiction; reimbursement-based awards require approved budgets and itemized receipts. Apply December 9, 2026 through January 27, 2027 at 7:59 p.m. Eastern.
FundingUp to $30,000 per applicant for a Network Planning Special Project OR up to $20,000 for a Retail Program Standards Innovation Special Project. Applicants submit only one Special Projects proposal per jurisdiction; reimbursement-based awards require approved budgets and itemized receipts.
DeadlineUPCOMING — NEHA 2027–28 portal opens December 9, 2026; the controlling application deadline is January 27, 2027 at 7:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
Last verified2026-11-07
Required next actionIdentify whether Network Planning (up to $30,000) or RPS Innovation (up to $20,000) fits the agency, assemble a standalone one-year deliverables workplan, detailed budget and justification, coordinate with any funded RPS Network, and submit the separate Special Projects application by January 27, 2027 at 7:59 p.m. ET.
Broad Eligibility
State, local, tribal or territorial retail food regulatory jurisdictions that are 2027–28 Track 2 Development Base applicants or current Track 3 grantees in good standing. Projects must directly improve conformance with FDA Retail Program Standards and be feasible within the one-year award period.
Atlas Analysis
Authoritative 29-page NEHA-FDA RFFM 2027-28 Application Guidance (updated October 2026), reviewed November 7 2026, pages 5–16, 23–28. Network Planning funds outreach, network structure, prospective member recruitment and sustainability planning for new or currently unfunded RPS Networks. RPS Innovation supports testable improvements such as data-sharing methods, risk factor analysis tools or reusable resources. The $30,000 and $20,000 limits are applicant-level limits for the two alternative project types, not an overall pool. Only one Special Projects application per jurisdiction; members of an already funded RPS Network should coordinate and collectively limit submissions as specified. These are traditional reimbursement awards: prior authorization for expenditures, documented actual costs, approved budget and itemized receipts required. No fixed universal cash match in guidance. Construction, vehicle procurement, ordinary meals, promotional goods and unrelated costs excluded. Apr 1, 2027–Mar 31, 2028 performance. Specific type: Special Projects Optional Add-On; grant-year 2027-28. Official PDF: https://www.neha.org/PDFs/RFFM_ApplicationGuidance_2027-28_October2026.pdf. Real competitive applicant financial assistance, not procurement.
NEHA–FDA RFFM 2027–2028 — Special Projects Optional Add-On
A distinct 2027–28 competitive Special Projects grant application reopens after two years of insufficient project funding. It supports either planning for a new/unfunded regional Retail Program Standards Network or shareable innovation that could improve multiple food regulatory jurisdictions. This is legitimate applicant-facing financial assistance for eligible government food regulatory agencies, not procurement.
Individual Applicant Funding
Up to $30,000 per applicant for a Network Planning Special Project OR up to $20,000 for a Retail Program Standards Innovation Special Project. Applicants submit only one Special Projects proposal per jurisdiction; reimbursement-based awards require approved budgets and itemized receipts.
Eligibility and Requirements
State, local, tribal or territorial retail food regulatory jurisdictions that are 2027–28 Track 2 Development Base applicants or current Track 3 grantees in good standing. Projects must directly improve conformance with FDA Retail Program Standards and be feasible within the one-year award period.
Application Dates
UPCOMING: Portal opens December 9, 2026; the deadline is January 27, 2027 at 7:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Identify whether Network Planning (up to $30,000) or RPS Innovation (up to $20,000) fits the agency, assemble a standalone one-year deliverables workplan, detailed budget and justification, coordinate with any funded RPS Network, and submit the separate Special Projects application by January 27, 2027 at 7:59 p.m. ET.
Program Details
Network Planning funds outreach, network structure, prospective member recruitment and sustainability planning for new or currently unfunded RPS Networks. RPS Innovation supports testable improvements such as data-sharing methods, risk factor analysis tools or reusable resources. The $30,000 and $20,000 limits are applicant-level limits for the two alternative project types, not an overall pool.
Restrictions and Payment
Only one Special Projects application per jurisdiction; members of an already funded RPS Network should coordinate and collectively limit submissions as specified. These are traditional reimbursement awards: prior authorization for expenditures, documented actual costs, approved budget and itemized receipts required. No fixed universal cash match in guidance. Construction, vehicle procurement, ordinary meals, promotional goods and unrelated costs excluded. Apr 1, 2027–Mar 31, 2028 performance.
Controlling official documentation: NEHA–FDA RFFM Program; 2027–28 Application Guidance, updated October 2026. Last verified November 7, 2026. This is a distinct funding type in the five-grant 2027–28 application round.
Source verificationReferenced source · www.neha.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-11-07. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
