# Application for cooperative agreement funding to advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS).

> **NIH FDA U18** · VERMONT STATE AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES · 2020 · $70,000

## Abstract

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - FOOD AND LODGING PROGRAM
Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program
Standards
Vermont is a small New England state with a population of approximately 620,000 people. The
Vermont food landscape is diverse, with many small producers and retail establishments selling
and preparing local products from farm to table. The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is
the state’s lead agency for public health policy and advocacy. The Vermont Department of
Health Food & Lodging Program (VDHFL) is responsible for inspection and licensing of
approximately 6,000 licensees that include both retail establishments and manufactured food
producers. Inspection activities and outreach to retail food service establishments comprises
approximately 80% of VDHFL program resources and work. VDHFL has been enrolled in the
Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) since 2012, and
has used the self-assessment process and standards as a means for identifying program
improvements needed for the inspection, regulation, enforcement, and outreach for Vermont
food service establishments. A comprehensive action plan has been developed that serves as
the Strategic Plan for the state program. Several initiatives underway and priorities of the VDH
Division of Environmental Health Strategic Plan will directly support implementation of the retail
standards. The department is committed to a comprehensive update of program regulations
based on science, implementing the Model Inspection Form, and shifting toward a risk-based
inspection program. Cooperative agreement funding to support a Retail Standards Coordinator
has advanced conformance implementing the VNRFRPS. VDHFL is applying for cooperative
agreement funding to maintain a 0.5 FTE Retail Standards Coordinator to support significant
progress implementing Standards 1, 3, and 4 of the retail program standards.
1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10149472
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007042-01
- **Recipient organization:** VERMONT STATE AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisabeth Wirsing
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $70,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10149472

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10149472, Application for cooperative agreement funding to advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS). (1U18FD007042-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10149472. Licensed CC0.

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