OP IS SUMMARY STATEMENT FOR MARICOPA COUNTY FOR OBJECTIVE REVIEW PANELS ....DOC

Maricopa 5592 Jaime Alberto Vinaras
SUMMARY STATEMENT
(Privileged Communication)
PROGRAM CONTACT:
Catherine Hosman
781-587-7443
Catherine.hosman@fda.hhs.gov
Application Number: 1 U18 FD005592-01
Principal Investigator: Jaime Alberto Vinaras
Applicant Organization: Maricopa County Department of Environmental Services
Meeting Date: 8/5/2015 FOA Number: RFA-FD-15-018
Requested Start Date: 9/1/2015 FOA Title: Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary
National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) (U18)
Project Title: AMC Educational Strategies for Reducing the Occurrence of Foodborne
Illness.
Composite Score: 94.33
Budget Period Subtotal Direct Costs Total Costs (Direct + Indirect)
(excludes consortium F&A)
Year 1 67,198
Year 2 69,596
Year 3 66,830
Year 4 69,327
Year 5 67,198
Total: 340,149
ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE: The budget shown above is the requested budget and has not been adjusted
to reflect any recommendations made by reviewers. If an award is planned, the costs will be calculated
by FDA grants management staff based on the recommendations of the review committee and results of
the Business Management Review (BMR).
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FOA Purpose:
The intended outcome of this FOA is to advance efforts for a nationally integrated food safety system by assisting
retail food regulatory programs in achieving conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory
Program Standards (VNRFRPS or Retail Program Standards). The Retail Program Standards apply to the operation
and management of a retail food regulatory program that is focused on the reduction of risk factors known to cause or
contribute to foodborne illness and to the promotion of active managerial control of these risk factors. These
cooperative agreements are intended to regulatory food retail programs in developing, implementing, and improving
the infrastructure necessary to support conformance with the VNRFRPS.
Project Summary/Abstract (provided by applicant):
The vision of the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
(MCESD) is to develop and foster innovative environmental health protection
programs for the safety of our residents and their environment. The
Department’s mission is to ensure safe food is provided to the people of
Maricopa County.
MCESD strives to provide excellent customer service to permit holders and
residents who rely on food inspection staff to ensure that their food supply is
safe. MCESD staff educate customers on the best food safety practices, yet
violations still occur. The average number of violations is not decreasing and the
incidence of foodborne illness and outbreak investigations remains constant.
MCESD’s goal is to reduce the incidence of the top 10 most frequently occurring
foodborne illness risk factors by educating permit holders on the effectiveness of
Active Managerial Control (AMC) and empowering them to implement long-term
preventative controls in their food establishments. The most frequently occurring
violations will be determined by conducting a risk factor study.
MCESD developed and implemented a free AMC class in 2012. Although
attendance has been limited, attendees experienced a 53% reduction in the
occurrence of risk factor violations. Given these results, MCESD wants to create
demand and increase attendance of the class. In addition, alternative methods
will be developed to deliver this vital information to our customers. MCESD will
develop an AMC Toolbox, consisting of guidance documents, templates, logs,
videos, and handouts on policies, training, and verification. These materials will
emphasize the shift to a population that learns through the oral and visual
delivery of information. Access to these materials will be streamlined via
inspection reports, website design, and other mobile platforms. AMC will be
further incentivized by increasing public awareness of the Department’s voluntary
AMC program: the “Cutting Edge Food Safety Partnership.” Our Department will
develop media to showcase Cutting Edge Program participants. Finally, another
risk factor study will be conducted in year five to see if the program efforts have
reduced foodborne illness risk factors.
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Project Narrative/Public Health Relevance (provided by applicant):
The public demands safe food and foodborne illness prevention. Active
Managerial Control provides the tools necessary for restaurant operators to
reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors. This is done through the
development of policies on food safety systems, training staff on these policies,
and then verifying that the food safety systems are working.
Criteria 1: Rational and Design
Strengths:
 Uses foodborne illness trends in jurisdiction as basis for action.
 Focus on reduction of risk factors.
 Building on previous success with AMC training.
 Using pre and post risk factor data to measure success- excellent measurement strategy.
 Training staff and reiterating training regularly to reinforce importance and focus on AMC.
 Adjust policies to support focus on AMC.
 Multi-language approach on e-materials.
 Creation of templates that industry can use immediately
e-materials linked to other existing resources.
 Great idea to have marketing piece to increase awareness.
 Acknowledgment of gaps in current training and addresses them.
 Good use of oral culture learning tools tied to actual RF reduction.
 Benchmarks listed.
 Measureable.
 The proposal identifies many of the key requirements of the cooperative agreement and the
strategy is appropriate to accomplish the aims of the project.
 Problems are identified, including limited involvement from permit holders that need the
training the most.
Weaknesses:
 None noted.
Criteria 2: Program Resources
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Maricopa 5592 Jaime Alberto Vinaras
Strengths:
 Team has multi-expertise for effort.
 Expert for video editing will be hired short term only.
 Plans to share materials with other jurisdictions.
 Strong staff experience.
 The budget proposal and research strategies identify the staff and project needs, and
demonstrates that the staff is well suited to accomplish the project.
Weaknesses:
 None noted.
Criteria 3: Approach
Strengths:
 Once materials are created, all maintenance will be internal and work will continue.
 Tools developed can be used for several years after grant period.
 The proposal demonstrates that the project can be sustained after the initial project period.
 Expected challenges have been identified.
Weaknesses:
 More detail needed on what ifs.
 Does not address challenges.
Additional Review Considerations (if applicable):
Budget and Period of Support: (non-scored)
Strengths:
 Supports time of current staff to work on effort.
Weaknesses:
 None noted.
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