Retail Program Standards Assessment (RSA) Tool
About the Retail Standards Assessment Tool
The Retail Program Standards Assessment (RSA) Tool is a cloud-based platform designed to help retail food regulatory programs assess and track conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
Built from the FDA Gap Analysis CSIP spreadsheet, the RSA Tool provides a modern digital experience that simplifies:
- Self-assessment of the 9 Retail Program Standards(SA9)
- Developing and updating of CSIPs
- For more information on completing your CSIP, please visit our Completing Your Comprehensive Strategic Improvement Plan page
- Collaborative program planning
- Grant reporting and documentation
The tool allows multiple users within the same jurisdiction to work together and keep assessments and improvement plans up to date.
At this time, access to the RSA Tool is limited to jurisdictions currently funded through the NEHA–FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model (RFFM) Grant Program. Current grantees can log into the portal at https://rsatool.neha.org/login . If you are not a current RFFM Grantee, we recommend that your jurisdiction use the FDA Gap Analysis spreadsheet linked above to complete your SA9 and CSIP.
Getting Started
Before using the tool, we recommend reviewing the guides below. These resources walk you through how the tool works and how to complete your assessment.
Written Guide
Step-by-step instructions covering login, navigation, completing the assessment, and developing your CSIP.
Video Walkthrough
Prefer to watch first? Our video guide provides a full walkthrough of the tool’s key features and assessment flow, so you can see exactly how it works in action.
Both guides are designed to support users at any level of experience, helping you maximize the value of the tool. The written and video guide cover the same information.
NEHA also hosted three training webinars for each of the three RFFM Grant Tracks. You can view these recordings below:
CSIP Resources
The RSA Tool helps jurisdictions build and update their Comprehensive Strategic Improvement Plan (CSIP) as part of the self-assessment process.
Visit the CSIP page for additional guidance and resources.
Why Use the RSA Tool
The Retail Standards Assessment Tool:
- Standardizes SA9 and CSIP sheets into one up-to-date tool
- Provides a user-friendly experience that walks users through all elements of all 9 Standards
- Establishes a cloud-based, collaborative platform allowing for multiple users from the same jurisdiction to update their SA9 and CSIP at any time
- Promotes efficient data collection to better tailor NEHA and FDA support to jurisdictions
The tool is available for current RFFM grantees. Reviewing the written or video guides beforehand will help ensure a smooth first assessment experience.
For Current Grantees
- All 2026-27 grantees (Tracks 1, 2, and 3) must enter their SA9 and CSIP information into the RSA Tool by the end of the project year. Now is the best time to register for and begin using this new tool. For complete information, please access the Retail Program Standards Assessment (RSA) Tool webpage.
- All 2026-27 activities must be completed by March 31, 2027 when the annual project period ends.
- Final or Annual Progress Reports must be submitted by May 14, 2027, and must include an RSA Tool export (.pdf or .csv file) of a complete CSIP covering all 9 Standards
For Future RFFM Applicants
- Track 2 applicants without an open grant can request no-cost access to the RSA Tool by reaching out to NEHA at rsatool@neha.org
Need Help?
If you have questions about using the RSA Tool or accessing the guides, or need to request access to the tool, please contact support at rsatool@neha.org.