Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the Quality Samples Program, 15583-15586 [07-1593]

Download as PDF jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES3 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 61 / Friday, March 30, 2007 / Notices https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/ proposals.html. 3. Content and Form of Application Submission: All TASC proposals must contain complete information about the proposed projects as described in § 1487.5(b) of the TASC Program regulations. In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s policy directive regarding the use of a universal identifier for all Federal grants and cooperative agreements, all applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated tollfree DUNS number request line on 1– 866–705–5711. Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review. 4. Submission Dates and Times: TASC funding is limited, and in order to assure sufficient resources are available to meet unanticipated needs during the fiscal year, TASC proposals will, generally, only be evaluated on a semi-annual basis. That is: • Proposals received prior to, but not later than, 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007, will be considered for funding with other proposals received by that date; • Proposals not approved for funding during the review period will be reconsidered for funding after the review period only if the applicant specifically requests such reconsideration in writing, and only if funding remains available; • Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007, will be considered for funding only if funding remains available. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a proposal may be submitted for expedited consideration under the TASC Quick Response process if, in addition to meeting all requirements of the TASC program, a proposal clearly identifies a time-sensitive activity. In these cases, a proposal may be submitted at any time for an immediate evaluation. FAS will track the time and date of receipt of all proposals. 5. Funding Restrictions: Proposals which request more than $250,000 of CCC funding in a given year will not be considered. Proposals to fund projects that exceed three years in duration will not be considered. No TASC participant may have more than three approved projects underway at any given time. Although funded projects may take place in the United States, all eligible projects must specifically address VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:28 Mar 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers to the export of U.S. specialty crops. Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the program, including the costs of market research, advertising, or other promotional expenses. CCC will not reimburse unreasonable expenditures or any expenditure made prior to approval of a proposal. 6. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on May 14, 2007, to be considered. All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies) and any other applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on May 14, 2007, at one of the following addresses: Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024. U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Stop 1042, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–1042. Application Review Information 1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation criteria set forth in § 1487.6 of the TASC regulations. 2. Review and Selection Process: FAS will review proposals for eligibility and will evaluate each proposal against the factors referred to above. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level for each proposal based upon these factors, and submit the proposals and funding recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs. FAS may, when appropriate, request the assistance of other U.S. government subject area experts in evaluating the merits of a proposal. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the final disposition of its application. FAS will send an approval letter and agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the project, including levels of funding, timelines for implementation, and written evaluation requirements. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: The agreements will PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 15583 incorporate the details of each project as approved by FAS. Each agreement will identify terms and conditions pursuant to which CCC will reimburse certain costs of each project. Agreements will also outline the responsibilities of the participant. Interested parties should review the TASC Program regulations found at 7 CFR part 1487 in addition to this announcement. 3. Reporting: TASC participants are required to submit a written report(s), on no less than an annual basis, and a final report, each of which evaluates their TASC project using the performance measures presented in the approved proposal. VII. Agency Contact For additional information or assistance, contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720–4327, fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. W. Kirk Miller, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 07–1592 Filed 3–29–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the Quality Samples Program Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.605 SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of $2.5 million in funding for the 2008 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for participation in the FY 2008 QSP. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This notice supercedes any prior notices concerning QSP. DATES: All proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007. Applications received after this date will be considered only if funds are still available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding assistance should contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, Suite E:\FR\FM\30MRN3.SGM 30MRN3 15584 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 61 / Friday, March 30, 2007 / Notices jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES3 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720–4327, fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at https:// www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/ OSP.asp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Funding Opportunity Description Authority: QSP is authorized under Section 5(f) of the CCC Charter Act, 15 U.S.C. 714c(f). Purpose: QSP is designed to encourage the development and expansion of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality of U.S. agricultural commodities. QSP participants will be responsible for procuring (or arranging for the procurement of) commodity samples, exporting the samples, and providing the technical assistance necessary to facilitate successful use of the samples by importers. Participants that are funded under this announcement may seek reimbursement for the sample purchase price and the costs of transporting the samples domestically to the port of export and then to the foreign port, or point, of entry. Transportation costs from the foreign port, or point, of entry to the final destination will not be eligible for reimbursement. CCC will not reimburse the costs incidental to purchasing and transporting samples, for example, inspection or documentation fees. Although providing technical assistance is required for all projects, CCC will not reimburse the costs of providing technical assistance. A QSP participant will be reimbursed after CCC reviews its reimbursement claim and determines that the claim is complete. General Scope of QSP Projects: QSP projects are the activities undertaken by a QSP participant to provide an appropriate sample of a U.S. agricultural commodity to a foreign importer, or a group of foreign importers, in a given market. The purpose of the project is to provide information to an appropriate target audience regarding the attributes, characteristics, and proper use of the U.S. commodity. A QSP project addresses a single market/commodity combination. As a general matter, QSP projects should conform to the following guidelines: • Projects should benefit the represented U.S. industry and not a specific company or brand; VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:35 Mar 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 • Projects should develop a new market for a U.S. product, promote a new U.S. product, or promote a new use for a U.S. product, rather than promote the substitution of one established U.S. product for another; • Sample commodities provided under a QSP project must be in sufficient supply and available on a commercial basis; • The QSP project must either subject the commodity sample to further processing or substantial transformation in the importing country, or the sample must be used in technical seminars designed to demonstrate to an appropriate target audience the proper preparation or use of the sample in the creation of an end product; • Samples provided in a QSP project shall not be directly used as part of a retail promotion or supplied directly to consumers. However, the end product, that is, the product resulting from further processing, substantial transformation, or a technical seminar, may be provided to end-use consumers to demonstrate to importers consumer preference for that end product; and, • Samples shall be in quantities less than a typical commercial sale and limited to the amount sufficient to achieve the project goal (e.g., not more than a full commercial mill run in the destination country). QSP projects shall target foreign importers and target audiences who: • Have not previously purchased the U.S. commodity which will be transported under QSP; • Are unfamiliar with the variety, quality attribute, or end-use characteristic of the U.S. commodity; • Have been unsuccessful in previous attempts to import, process, and market the U.S. commodity (e.g., because of improper specification, blending, or formulation, or sanitary or phytosanitary issues); • Are interested in testing or demonstrating the benefits of the U.S. commodity; or, • Need technical assistance in processing or using the U.S. commodity. II. Award Information Under this announcement, the number ofprojects per participant will not be limited. However, individual projects will be limited to $75,000 of QSP reimbursement. Projects comprised of technical preparation seminars, that is, projects that do not include further processing or substantial transformation, will be limited to $15,000 of QSP reimbursement as these projects require smaller samples. Financial assistance will be made available on a reimbursement basis PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 only; cash advances will not be made available to any QSP participant. All proposals will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained herein and funds will be awarded on a competitive basis. Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific agreements. These agreements will incorporate the proposal as approved by FAS. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the project. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants. Any United States private or government entity with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government organizations consist of federal, state, and local agencies. Private organizations include non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and profitmaking entities. 2. Cost Sharing. FAS considers the applicant’s willingness to contribute resources, including cash and goods and services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties, when determining which proposals are approved for funding. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package. Organizations are encouraged to submit applications to FAS through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. Applicants also have the option of submitting electronic versions in the UES format (along with two paper copies) of their applications to FAS on diskette. However, the UES format is not required. Applicants planning to use the UES Internet-based system must contact the FAS Program Policy Staff on (202) 720– 4327 to obtain site access information including a user ID and password. The UES Internet-based application, including a Help file containing step-bystep instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ cooperators.html. Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain an application format at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ programs/qsp_appl.html. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission. To be considered for QSP, an applicant must submit to FAS information detailed in this notice. In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s policy directive regarding the need to identify entities that are receiving government E:\FR\FM\30MRN3.SGM 30MRN3 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES3 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 61 / Friday, March 30, 2007 / Notices awards, all applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated tollrtee DUNS number request line at 1–866–705–5711. Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review. FAS recommends that proposals contain, at a minimum, the following: (a) Organizational information, including: • Organization’s name, address, Chief Executive Officer (or designee), Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN), and DUNS number; • Type of organization; • Name, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the primary contact person; • A description of the organization and its membership; • A description of the organization’s prior export promotion experience; and • A description of the organization’s experience in implementing an appropriate trade/technical assistance component. (b) Market information, including: • An assessment of the market; • A long-term strategy in the market; and • U.S. export value/volume and market share (historic and goals) for 2002–2007; (c) Project information, including: • A brief project title; • Amount of funding requested; • A brief description of the specific market development trade constraint or opportunity to be addressed by the project, performance measures for the years 2008–2010 which will be used to measure the effectiveness of the project, a benchmark performance measure for 2006, the viability of long term sales to this market, the goals of the project, and the expected benefits to the represented industry; • A description of the activities planned to address the constraint or opportunity, including how the sample will be used in the end-use performance trial, the attributes of the sample to be demonstrated and its end-use benefit, and details of the trade/technical servicing component (including who will provide and who will fund this component); • A sample description (i.e., commodity, quantity, quality, type, and grade), including a justification for selecting a sample with such characteristics (this justification should explain in detail why the project could not be effective with a smaller sample); VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:35 Mar 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 15585 • An itemized list of all estimated costs associated with the project for which reimbursement will be sought; • Beginning and end dates for the proposed project; • The importer’s role in the project regarding handling and processing the commodity sample; and (d) Information indicating all funding sources and amounts to be contributed by each entity that will supplement implementation of the proposed project. This may include the organization that submitted the proposal, private industry entities, host governments, foreign third parties, CCC, FAS, or other Federal agencies. Contributed resources may include cash or goods and services. 3. Submission Dates and Times. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007. Applications received after this date will be considered only if funds are still available. 4. Funding Restrictions. Proposals which request more than $75,000 of CCC funding for individual projects will not be considered. Projects comprised of technical preparation seminars will be limited to $15,000 in QSP funding. CCC will not reimburse expenditures made prior to approval of a proposal or unreasonable expenditures. 5. Other Submission Requirements. All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies) and any other form of application must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007, at one of the following addresses: Hand Delivery (including FedEx, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024. U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Stop 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–1042. how well it is addressed by the proposal; • The extent to which the importer’s contribution in terms of handling and processing enhances the potential outcome of the project; • The amount of reimbursement requested and the organization’s willingness to contribute resources, including cash and goods and services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties; and • How well the proposed technical assistance component assures that performance trials will effectively demonstrate the intended end-use benefit. Highest priority for funding under this announcement will be given to meritorious proposals that target countries meeting either of the following criteria: • Per capita income less than $10,725 (the ceiling on upper middle income economies as determined by the World Bank [World Development Indicators; July 2006]); and population greater than 1 million. Proposals may address suitable regional groupings, for example, the islands of the Caribbean Basin; or • U.S. market share of imports of the commodity identified in the proposal of 10 percent or less. 2. Review and Selection Process. Proposals will be evaluated by the applicable FAS Commodity Branches in the Market Development and Grants Management Division. The Commodity Branches will review each proposal against the factors described above. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level for each proposal based upon these factors, and submit the proposals and funding recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs. 3. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding decisions for QSP are anticipated during August 2007. v. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices. FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the final disposition of its application. FAS will send an approval letter and agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the project, including the levels of QSP funding and any costshare contribution requirements. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. The agreements will incorporate the details of each project as approved by FAS. Each agreement will 1. Criteria. FAS will use the following criteria in evaluating proposals: • The ability of the organization to provide an experienced staff with the requisite technical and trade experience to execute the proposal; • The extent to which the proposal is targeted to a market in which the United States is generally competitive; • The potential for expanding commercial sales in the proposed market; • The nature of the specific market constraint or opportunity involved and PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30MRN3.SGM 30MRN3 15586 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 61 / Friday, March 30, 2007 / Notices identify terms and conditions pursuant to which CCC will reimburse certain costs of each project. Agreements will also outline the responsibilities of the participant, including, but not limited to, procurement (or arranging for procurement) of the commodity sample at a fair market price, arranging for transportation of the commodity sample within the time limit specified in the agreement (organizations should endeavor to ship commodities within 6 months of effective date of agreement), compliance with cargo preference requirements (shipment on United States flag vessels, as required), compliance with the Fly America Act requirements (shipment on United States air carriers, as required), timely and effective implementation of technical assistance, and submission of a written evaluation report within 90 days of expiration of the agreement. QSP agreements are subject to review and verification by the FAS Compliance, Security and Emergency Planning Division. Upon request, a QSP participant shall provide to CCC the original documents which support the participant’s reimbursement claims. CCC may deny a claim for reimbursement if the claim is not supported by adequate documentation. If a participant receives a reimbursement which is later disallowed, the participant shall within 30 days of such disallowance repay CCC the amount owed by submitting a check payable to CCC. 3. Reporting. A written evaluation report must be submitted within 90 days of the expiration of each participant’s QSP agreement. Evaluation reports should address all performance measures that were presented in the proposal. VII. Agency Contact(s) jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES3 For additional information and assistance, contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, Stop 1042, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720–4327, fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. W. Kirk Miller, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 07–1593 Filed 3–29–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–M VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:35 Mar 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Emerging Markets Program Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603. SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of approximately $8 million in funding for the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) for fiscal year (FY) 2007. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2007 and award funds in August 2007. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). DATES: All proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007. Applications received after this time will not be considered. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding assistance should contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720–4327, fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at https:// www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/emmarkets.asp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Funding Opportunity Description Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1)(D) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (The Act), as amended. EMF regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486. 1. Purpose: The EMP provides funding for technical assistance to assist U.S. organizations, public and private, to improve market access through generic, rather than branded, activities that can develop and promote U.S. agricultural products and/or processes in low- to middle-income countries that offer promise of emerging market opportunities. Activities funded are those that primarily benefit U.S. industry as a whole. All agricultural products, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration. Proposals which include multiple commodities are also eligible. Only technical assistance activities are eligible for reimbursement. 2. Appropriate Activities: Following are types of project activities that may be funded: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 —Projects designed specifically to improve market access in emerging foreign markets. Examples: Activities intended to mitigate the impact of sudden political events or economic and currency crises in order to maintain U.S. market share; responses to time-sensitive market opportunities; —Marketing and distribution of valueadded products, including new products or uses. Examples: Food service development; market research on potential for consumer ready foods or new uses of a product; —Studies of food distribution channels in emerging markets, including infrastructural impediments to U.S. exports; such studies should be specific in their focus and may include cross-commodity activities which address specific problems. Examples: Grain storage handling and inventory systems development; distribution infrastructure development; —Projects that specifically address various constraints to U.S. exports, including sanitary and phytosanitary issues and other non-tariff barriers. Examples: Seminars on U.S. food safety standards and regulations; assessing and addressing pest and disease problems that inhibit U.S. exports; —Assessments and follow up activities designed to improve country-wide food and business systems, to reduce trade barriers, to increase prospects for U.S. trade and investment in emerging markets, and to determine the potential use for general export credit guarantees for commodities and services. Examples: Product needs assessments and market analysis; assessments to address infrastructural impediments; —Projects that help foreign governments collect and use market information and develop free trade policies that benefit U.S. exporters as well as the target country or countries. Examples: Agricultural statistical analysis; development of market information systems; policy analysis; and, —Short-term training in broad aspects of agriculture and agribusiness trade that will benefit U.S. exporters, including seminars and training at trade shows designed to expand the potential for U.S. agricultural exports by focusing on the trading system. Examples: Retail training; marketing seminars; transportation seminars; training on opening new or expanding existing markets. The program funds technical assistance activities on a project-by-project basis. E:\FR\FM\30MRN3.SGM 30MRN3

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 61 (Friday, March 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15583-15586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1593]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the 
Quality Samples Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.605

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the 
availability of $2.5 million in funding for the 2008 Quality Samples 
Program (QSP). The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications 
for participation in the FY 2008 QSP. QSP is administered by personnel 
of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This notice supercedes any 
prior notices concerning QSP.

DATES: All proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 
May 14, 2007.
    Applications received after this date will be considered only if 
funds are still available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, Suite

[[Page 15584]]

400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-
4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information 
is also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at 
https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/OSP.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: QSP is authorized under Section 5(f) of the CCC Charter 
Act, 15 U.S.C. 714c(f).
    Purpose: QSP is designed to encourage the development and expansion 
of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. 
entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers 
to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality 
of U.S. agricultural commodities.
    QSP participants will be responsible for procuring (or arranging 
for the procurement of) commodity samples, exporting the samples, and 
providing the technical assistance necessary to facilitate successful 
use of the samples by importers. Participants that are funded under 
this announcement may seek reimbursement for the sample purchase price 
and the costs of transporting the samples domestically to the port of 
export and then to the foreign port, or point, of entry. Transportation 
costs from the foreign port, or point, of entry to the final 
destination will not be eligible for reimbursement. CCC will not 
reimburse the costs incidental to purchasing and transporting samples, 
for example, inspection or documentation fees. Although providing 
technical assistance is required for all projects, CCC will not 
reimburse the costs of providing technical assistance. A QSP 
participant will be reimbursed after CCC reviews its reimbursement 
claim and determines that the claim is complete.
    General Scope of QSP Projects: QSP projects are the activities 
undertaken by a QSP participant to provide an appropriate sample of a 
U.S. agricultural commodity to a foreign importer, or a group of 
foreign importers, in a given market. The purpose of the project is to 
provide information to an appropriate target audience regarding the 
attributes, characteristics, and proper use of the U.S. commodity. A 
QSP project addresses a single market/commodity combination.
    As a general matter, QSP projects should conform to the following 
guidelines:
     Projects should benefit the represented U.S. industry and 
not a specific company or brand;
     Projects should develop a new market for a U.S. product, 
promote a new U.S. product, or promote a new use for a U.S. product, 
rather than promote the substitution of one established U.S. product 
for another;
     Sample commodities provided under a QSP project must be in 
sufficient supply and available on a commercial basis;
     The QSP project must either subject the commodity sample 
to further processing or substantial transformation in the importing 
country, or the sample must be used in technical seminars designed to 
demonstrate to an appropriate target audience the proper preparation or 
use of the sample in the creation of an end product;
     Samples provided in a QSP project shall not be directly 
used as part of a retail promotion or supplied directly to consumers. 
However, the end product, that is, the product resulting from further 
processing, substantial transformation, or a technical seminar, may be 
provided to end-use consumers to demonstrate to importers consumer 
preference for that end product; and,
     Samples shall be in quantities less than a typical 
commercial sale and limited to the amount sufficient to achieve the 
project goal (e.g., not more than a full commercial mill run in the 
destination country).
    QSP projects shall target foreign importers and target audiences 
who:
     Have not previously purchased the U.S. commodity which 
will be transported under QSP;
     Are unfamiliar with the variety, quality attribute, or 
end-use characteristic of the U.S. commodity;
     Have been unsuccessful in previous attempts to import, 
process, and market the U.S. commodity (e.g., because of improper 
specification, blending, or formulation, or sanitary or phytosanitary 
issues);
     Are interested in testing or demonstrating the benefits of 
the U.S. commodity; or,
     Need technical assistance in processing or using the U.S. 
commodity.

II. Award Information

    Under this announcement, the number ofprojects per participant will 
not be limited. However, individual projects will be limited to $75,000 
of QSP reimbursement. Projects comprised of technical preparation 
seminars, that is, projects that do not include further processing or 
substantial transformation, will be limited to $15,000 of QSP 
reimbursement as these projects require smaller samples. Financial 
assistance will be made available on a reimbursement basis only; cash 
advances will not be made available to any QSP participant.
    All proposals will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria 
contained herein and funds will be awarded on a competitive basis. 
Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific 
agreements. These agreements will incorporate the proposal as approved 
by FAS. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the 
project.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Any United States private or government 
entity with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S 
agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government 
organizations consist of federal, state, and local agencies. Private 
organizations include non-profit trade associations, universities, 
agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and profit-
making entities.
    2. Cost Sharing. FAS considers the applicant's willingness to 
contribute resources, including cash and goods and services of the U.S. 
industry and foreign third parties, when determining which proposals 
are approved for funding.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. Organizations are 
encouraged to submit applications to FAS through the Unified Export 
Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. Applicants also have the 
option of submitting electronic versions in the UES format (along with 
two paper copies) of their applications to FAS on diskette. However, 
the UES format is not required.
    Applicants planning to use the UES Internet-based system must 
contact the FAS Program Policy Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site 
access information including a user ID and password. The UES Internet-
based application, including a Help file containing step-by-step 
instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL address: 
https://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain 
an application format at the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/qsp_appl.html.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. To be considered for 
QSP, an applicant must submit to FAS information detailed in this 
notice. In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's policy directive regarding the need to identify entities that 
are receiving government

[[Page 15585]]

awards, all applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a DUNS number 
at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-rtee DUNS number request line 
at 1-866-705-5711.
    Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise 
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
    FAS recommends that proposals contain, at a minimum, the following:
    (a) Organizational information, including:
     Organization's name, address, Chief Executive Officer (or 
designee), Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN), and DUNS number;
     Type of organization;
     Name, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of 
the primary contact person;
     A description of the organization and its membership;
     A description of the organization's prior export promotion 
experience; and
     A description of the organization's experience in 
implementing an appropriate trade/technical assistance component.
    (b) Market information, including:
     An assessment of the market;
     A long-term strategy in the market; and
     U.S. export value/volume and market share (historic and 
goals) for 2002-2007;
    (c) Project information, including:
     A brief project title;
     Amount of funding requested;
     A brief description of the specific market development 
trade constraint or opportunity to be addressed by the project, 
performance measures for the years 2008-2010 which will be used to 
measure the effectiveness of the project, a benchmark performance 
measure for 2006, the viability of long term sales to this market, the 
goals of the project, and the expected benefits to the represented 
industry;
     A description of the activities planned to address the 
constraint or opportunity, including how the sample will be used in the 
end-use performance trial, the attributes of the sample to be 
demonstrated and its end-use benefit, and details of the trade/
technical servicing component (including who will provide and who will 
fund this component);
     A sample description (i.e., commodity, quantity, quality, 
type, and grade), including a justification for selecting a sample with 
such characteristics (this justification should explain in detail why 
the project could not be effective with a smaller sample);
     An itemized list of all estimated costs associated with 
the project for which reimbursement will be sought;
     Beginning and end dates for the proposed project;
     The importer's role in the project regarding handling and 
processing the commodity sample; and
    (d) Information indicating all funding sources and amounts to be 
contributed by each entity that will supplement implementation of the 
proposed project. This may include the organization that submitted the 
proposal, private industry entities, host governments, foreign third 
parties, CCC, FAS, or other Federal agencies. Contributed resources may 
include cash or goods and services.
    3. Submission Dates and Times. All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007. Applications received after 
this date will be considered only if funds are still available.
    4. Funding Restrictions. Proposals which request more than $75,000 
of CCC funding for individual projects will not be considered. Projects 
comprised of technical preparation seminars will be limited to $15,000 
in QSP funding. CCC will not reimburse expenditures made prior to 
approval of a proposal or unreasonable expenditures.
    5. Other Submission Requirements. All applications on diskette 
(with two accompanying paper copies) and any other form of application 
must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007, at one 
of the following addresses:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, 
Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024.
    U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Stop 1042, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042.

v. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria. FAS will use the following criteria in evaluating 
proposals:
     The ability of the organization to provide an experienced 
staff with the requisite technical and trade experience to execute the 
proposal;
     The extent to which the proposal is targeted to a market 
in which the United States is generally competitive;
     The potential for expanding commercial sales in the 
proposed market;
     The nature of the specific market constraint or 
opportunity involved and how well it is addressed by the proposal;
     The extent to which the importer's contribution in terms 
of handling and processing enhances the potential outcome of the 
project;
     The amount of reimbursement requested and the 
organization's willingness to contribute resources, including cash and 
goods and services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties; and
     How well the proposed technical assistance component 
assures that performance trials will effectively demonstrate the 
intended end-use benefit.
    Highest priority for funding under this announcement will be given 
to meritorious proposals that target countries meeting either of the 
following criteria:
     Per capita income less than $10,725 (the ceiling on upper 
middle income economies as determined by the World Bank [World 
Development Indicators; July 2006]); and population greater than 1 
million. Proposals may address suitable regional groupings, for 
example, the islands of the Caribbean Basin; or
     U.S. market share of imports of the commodity identified 
in the proposal of 10 percent or less.
    2. Review and Selection Process. Proposals will be evaluated by the 
applicable FAS Commodity Branches in the Market Development and Grants 
Management Division. The Commodity Branches will review each proposal 
against the factors described above. The purpose of this review is to 
identify meritorious proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level 
for each proposal based upon these factors, and submit the proposals 
and funding recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of 
Trade Programs.
    3. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding 
decisions for QSP are anticipated during August 2007.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices. FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the 
final disposition of its application. FAS will send an approval letter 
and agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and 
agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the 
project, including the levels of QSP funding and any cost-share 
contribution requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. The agreements 
will incorporate the details of each project as approved by FAS. Each 
agreement will

[[Page 15586]]

identify terms and conditions pursuant to which CCC will reimburse 
certain costs of each project. Agreements will also outline the 
responsibilities of the participant, including, but not limited to, 
procurement (or arranging for procurement) of the commodity sample at a 
fair market price, arranging for transportation of the commodity sample 
within the time limit specified in the agreement (organizations should 
endeavor to ship commodities within 6 months of effective date of 
agreement), compliance with cargo preference requirements (shipment on 
United States flag vessels, as required), compliance with the Fly 
America Act requirements (shipment on United States air carriers, as 
required), timely and effective implementation of technical assistance, 
and submission of a written evaluation report within 90 days of 
expiration of the agreement.
    QSP agreements are subject to review and verification by the FAS 
Compliance, Security and Emergency Planning Division. Upon request, a 
QSP participant shall provide to CCC the original documents which 
support the participant's reimbursement claims. CCC may deny a claim 
for reimbursement if the claim is not supported by adequate 
documentation. If a participant receives a reimbursement which is later 
disallowed, the participant shall within 30 days of such disallowance 
repay CCC the amount owed by submitting a check payable to CCC.
    3. Reporting. A written evaluation report must be submitted within 
90 days of the expiration of each participant's QSP agreement. 
Evaluation reports should address all performance measures that were 
presented in the proposal.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Program 
Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, Stop 1042, 1250 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: 
(202) 720-9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov.

W. Kirk Miller,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 07-1593 Filed 3-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.