FSIS Seeking Proposals For New Technologies For Small And Very Small Plants - WASHINGTON – USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced that it is seeking proposals to develop new technologies that will help small and very small meat, poultry, and egg product plants meet USDA’s food safety requirements.

FSIS is seeking proposals from state, academic and research institutions to help identify, develop and validate new food safety technologies for these plants to incorporate. A new technology is defined as new or new applications of, equipment, substances, methods, processes or procedures affecting the slaughter of livestock and poultry or processing of meat, poultry, or egg products.

“New technologies are becoming an important part of our success in driving down the prevalence of pathogens in meat, poultry and egg products,” said Acting FSIS Administrator Barbara J. Masters. “We want new technologies to be available to smaller establishments that sometimes lack the resources of larger establishments who have the resources to develop their own.”

FSIS will determine whether the proposals that are submitted will receive funding. Proposals that meet FSIS criteria will be funded through cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements provide a means to transfer money, property, services or anything of value to recipients to accomplish specific projects. FSIS collaborates or participates in the management of the project. FSIS will provide funding up to $75,000 per cooperative agreement for one year.

To obtain the complete announcement, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/topics/newtech.htm or call David Zeitz or Debbie Gaida at (202) 205-0675. Proposals should be sent to the attention of Bobby Palesano, Acting Director, USDA, FSIS, OPPD, NTS, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2932, South Building, Washington, D.C., 20250. Proposals must be received by COB April 16, 2004.

Source: - Food Safety and Inspection Service - 7th April 2004