Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Market Access Program, 19501-19503 [E9-9733]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Commodity Credit Corporation

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19501-19503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9733]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
Market Access Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2010 Market Access Program (MAP). The 
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
applicants and award funds in October 2009. The MAP is administered by 
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time, May 29, 2009. Applications received after this date will not be 
considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of 
Trade Programs, 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: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 
Information is also available on the FAS Web site at https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The MAP is authorized under Section 203 of the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear at 7 
CFR part 1485.
    Purpose: The MAP is designed to create, expand, and maintain 
foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products through 
cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under the MAP will be made 
available on a competitive basis, and applications will be reviewed 
against the evaluation criteria contained herein and in the MAP 
regulations. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are 
eligible for consideration.
    The FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the USDA's Food and Agricultural Policy 
(FAP). In deciding whether a proposed project will contribute to the 
effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets, the 
FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade strategy 
and a program effectiveness time line against which results can be 
measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country 
goals. The FAS also considers the extent to which a proposed project 
targets markets with the greatest growth potential. These factors are 
part of the FAS resource allocation strategy to fund applicants who can 
demonstrate performance and address the objectives of the GPRA and FAP.

II. Award Information

    Under the MAP, the CCC enters into agreements with eligible 
participants to share the cost of certain overseas marketing and 
promotion activities. MAP participants may receive assistance for 
generic or brand promotion activities. For generic activities, funding 
priority is given to organizations that have the broadest possible 
producer representation of the commodity being promoted and that are 
nationwide in membership and scope. Only small companies, U.S. 
agricultural trade organizations, nonprofit state regional trade 
groups, nonprofit U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and state agencies 
can participate in the brand program. The program generally operates on 
a reimbursement basis.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To participate in the MAP, an applicant 
must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit 
state regional trade group (SRTGs), a nonprofit U.S. agricultural 
cooperative, or a State agency. A small-sized U.S. commercial entity 
may participate through a MAP participant.
    2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree 
to contribute resources to its proposed promotional activities. The MAP 
is intended to supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. 
private sector. In the case of generic promotion, the contribution must 
be at least 10 percent of the value of resources provided by CCC for 
such generic promotion. In the case of brand promotion, the 
contribution must be at least 50 percent of the total cost of such 
brand promotion.
    The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional 
strategies contained in its application, as represented by the agreed 
cost share contributions specified therein, is considered by the FAS 
when determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-
share may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as 
professional staff time spent on design and execution of

[[Page 19502]]

activities. The MAP regulations, in section 1485.13(c), provide 
detailed discussion of eligible and ineligible cost-share 
contributions.
    3. Other: Applications should include a justification for funding 
assistance from the program--an explanation as to what specifically 
could not be accomplished without federal funding assistance, and why 
participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project 
without such assistance.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Organizations are 
encouraged to submit their MAP applications to FAS through the Unified 
Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. The UES allows 
interested applicants to submit a single consolidated and strategically 
coordinated proposal that incorporates requests for funding and 
recommendations for virtually all of the FAS marketing programs, 
financial assistance programs, and market access programs. The 
suggested UES format encourages applicants to examine the constraints 
or barriers to trade that they face, identify activities that would 
help overcome such impediments, consider the entire pool of 
complementary marketing tools and program resources, and establish 
realistic export goals.
    Applicants planning to use the Internet-based system must contact 
the FAS/Program Operations Division at (202) 720-4327 to obtain Web 
site access information. The Internet-based application, including a 
help file that contains step-by-step instructions, may be found at the 
following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    The FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based 
application as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites 
the FAS processing and review cycle. However, applicants also have the 
option of submitting an electronic version of their application to FAS 
on compact disc along with two paper copies. Organizations that choose 
to submit applications on compact disc can obtain the application 
format by contacting the Program Operations Division at (202) 720-4327.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for 
the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by 
the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. In addition, in accordance with 
the Office of Management and Budget's policy (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 
2003)) regarding the need to identify entities that are receiving 
government 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-free DUNS number 
request line at 1-866-705-5711.
    Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise 
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
    The FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance 
programs including the Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) program, the Emerging Markets Program, the Quality Samples 
Program, and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program. Any 
organization that is not interested in applying for the MAP, but would 
like to request assistance through one of the other programs mentioned, 
should contact the Program Operations Division at (202) 720-4327.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 29, 2009. All MAP applicants, 
regardless of the method of submitting an application, must also submit 
by the application deadline, an original signed certification statement 
as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). Applications or 
certifications received after this date will not be considered.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible 
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other 
categories of expenses. CCC also will not reimburse unreasonable 
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are 
available in the MAP regulations in section 1485.16.
    5. Other Submission Requirements and Considerations: All Internet-
based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time, May 29, 2009. Signed certification statements also must 
be received by that time at the address listed below.
    All applications on compact disc (with two accompanying paper 
copies and a signed certification statement) and any other form of 
application must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 29, 
2009, at the following address:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Trade Programs, 
Program Operations Division, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 
Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20024.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria and Review Process: Following is a description of the 
FAS process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating 
available MAP funds.
    (1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review:
    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the 
FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness 
of the applications. These requirements appear at sections 1485.12 and 
1485.13 of the MAP regulations. Applications that meet the requirements 
then will be further evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch in 
FAS' Cooperator Programs Division. The Commodity Branch will review 
each application against the criteria listed in section 1485.14 of the 
MAP regulations. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious 
proposals and to recommend an appropriate funding level for each 
application based upon these criteria.
    (2) Phase 2--Competitive Review:
    Meritorious applications then will be passed on to the Office of 
the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of 
allocating available funds among the applicants. Applicants will 
compete for funds on the basis of the following allocation criteria 
(the number in parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
    (a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
     The applicant's 4-year average share (2007-2010) of all 
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in 
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to;
     The applicant's 4-year average share (2007-2010) of the 
funding level for all MAP participants.
    (b) Past Performance (30)
     The 3-year average share (2006-2008) of the value of 
exports promoted by the applicant compared to;
     The applicant's 2-year average share (2008-2009) of the 
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups 
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share 
(2008-2009) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets.
    (c) Projected Export Goals (15)
     The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by 
the applicant for 2010 compared to;
     The applicant's requested funding level;
    (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
     Actual exports for 2008 as reported in the 2010 MAP 
application compared to;

[[Page 19503]]

     Past projections of exports for 2008 as specified in the 
2008 MAP application.
    The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each 
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available 
and then multiplied by each weight factor as described above to 
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
    2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding 
decisions for the MAP are anticipated during October 2009.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: The FAS will notify each applicant in writing of 
the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval 
letter and project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval 
letter and project agreement will specify the terms and conditions 
applicable to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and 
cost-share contribution requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested 
parties should review the MAP regulations, which are available at the 
following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp. 
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the Program Operations 
Division at (202) 720-4327.
    3. Reporting: The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from 
MAP participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP 
regulations in section 1485.20(b) and (c).

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Program 
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mailing Address: AgBox 1020, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1020. Courier 
Address: Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-
mail: podadmin@fas.usda.gov.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on the 17th of April 2009.
Patricia R. Sheikh,
Acting, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. E9-9733 Filed 4-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P