Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the Quality Samples Program, 26185-26188 [2010-11144]

Download as PDF 26185 Notices Federal Register Vol. 75, No. 90 Tuesday, May 11, 2010 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Notice of Meetings In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, authorized by Executive Order 13531, dated February 18, 2010, announces the following meetings for the remainder of calendar 2010: Time and Date: Wednesday, May 26, 9 a.m.–11:30 p.m. EDT. Wednesday, June 30, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT. Wednesday, July 28, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT. Wednesday, September 29, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. EDT. Wednesday, November 10, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. EST. Wednesday, December 1, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. EST. Place: The meetings will be held in Washington, DC at locations to be determined and announced. The meeting address will be made publicly available approximately two weeks prior to each meeting on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fiscalcommission.gov. Public Access: The meetings will be open to the public, but seating will be limited by the space available. If you would like to attend the next scheduled meeting of the Commission, please RSVP to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Bruce Reed, at commission@fc.eop.gov. Registrations will be accepted until the space has reached capacity. Purpose: This notice announces the monthly meetings of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Commission). At these meetings the Commission will discuss VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:22 May 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 the Nation’s long-term fiscal challenges. Additionally, the Commission will receive updates from its three subcommittees: Mandatory Spending Working Group, Discretionary Spending Working Group, and Tax Reform Working Group. A more complete agenda and any meeting materials will be made publicly available prior to each meeting at https:// www.fiscalcommission.gov. Also, each meeting will be available via simultaneous webcast at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/live. Contact Person for Additional Information: Please contact Bruce Reed for any additional information about a specific meeting at commission@fc.eop.gov. Public Comment: If you would like to submit written comments for distribution prior to the meeting, your comments should be received by the Commission no later than 10 days prior to the meeting concerned. The preferred written comment format is MS Word submitted to commission@fc.eop.gov. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, please inform the DFO at commission@fc.eop.gov as soon as possible. Dated: May 5, 2010. Bruce Reed, Executive Director of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2010–11213 Filed 5–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3160–01–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Agency Information Collection Activities; Current Collection: Comment Request—Innovations for Healthy Kids Challenge To Promote the Open Government Initiative; Correction AGENCY: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA. ACTION: Notice; correction. SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion published a document in the Federal Register on April 28, 2010, PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 concerning requests for comments on the Innovations for Healthy Kids Challenge to Promote the Open Government Initiative. The document contained an incorrect Web address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Johnson-Bailey at 703–305–3300. Correction In the Federal Register of April 28, 2010, in FR/Vol. 75, No. 81 on page 22357, the third column, correct the Web site to read: https:// www.appsforhealthykids.com/. Dated: May 4, 2010. Robert Post, Acting Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. [FR Doc. 2010–11055 Filed 5–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 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 it is inviting proposals for the 2011 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2010. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010. 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 Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by e-mail: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the FAS Web site at https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/ QSP.asp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1 26186 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 2010 / Notices I. Funding Opportunity Description emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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 from QSP for the sample purchase price, the cost 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, QSP 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:22 May 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 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 audiences who: • Have not previously purchased the U.S. commodity that 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, formulation, 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 of projects 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 between PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the applicant and CCC. 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 (SRTGs), and profit-making entities. 2. Cost Sharing: FAS considers the applicant’s willingness to contribute resources, including cash, 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 strongly encouraged to submit their QSP applications to the FAS through the Uniform Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. The UES allows 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 to obtain Web site access information. The Internet-based application may be found at the following URL address: https:// www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/. Although the FAS highly recommends applying via the Internetbased application as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review cycle, applicants also have the option of submitting an electronic version of their application to FAS at podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for QSP, an applicant must submit to FAS information detailed in this notice. Additionally, in accordance with the E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1 emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 2010 / Notices Office of Management and Budget’s policy directive 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 (866) 705–5711. Incomplete applications and applications that 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 2004–2010; (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 2011–2013 which will be used to measure the effectiveness of the project, a benchmark performance measure for 2009, 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:22 May 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 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; and • The importer’s role in the project regarding handling and processing the commodity sample; (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, goods or services. 3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010. Applications received after this date will be considered only if funds are still available. 4. Funding Restrictions: Proposals that 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. 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 QSP funds. 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, goods and services of the U.S. industry, and foreign third parties; and PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26187 • How well the proposed technical assistance component assures that performance trials will effectively demonstrate the intended end-use benefit. Proposals will be evaluated by the applicable FAS Commodity Branches in the Cooperator Programs 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 proposals and funding recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs. 2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding decisions for QSP are anticipated during October 2010. 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 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 six 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 projects 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 that support the participant’s reimbursement claims. CCC may deny a claim for E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1 26188 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 2010 / Notices reimbursement if the claim is not supported by adequate documentation. 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 Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by e-mail: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Signed at Washington, DC, on May 4, 2010. John D. Brewer, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 2010–11144 Filed 5–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Emerging Markets Program emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603. SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2011 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2011. 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, June 11, 2010. Applications received after this time will be considered only if funds are still available. 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, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by e-mail: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at https:// VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:22 May 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 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) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (The Act), as amended. The EMP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486. 1. Purpose. The EMP assists U.S. entities in developing, maintaining, or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products by funding activities that improve emerging markets’ food and rural business systems, including reducing potential trade barriers in such markets. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also be used to assist public organizations. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration. Agricultural product(s) should be comprised of at least 50 percent U.S. origin content by weight, exclusive of added water, to be eligible for funding. Proposals that seek support for multiple commodities are also eligible. EMP funding may only be used to develop, maintain, or expand emerging markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products through generic activities. EMP funding may not be used to support the export of another country’s products to the United States, or to promote the development of a foreign economy as a primary objective. Funding provided for government participation may only be used to support the activities of government officials expert in assessing the food and rural business systems of other countries. 2. Appropriate Activities. All EMP projects must fall into at least one of the following four categories: (a) Assistance to U.S. individuals expert in assessing the food and rural business systems of other countries. This type of EMP project must include all three of the following: • Conduct an assessment of the food and rural business system needs of an emerging market; • Make recommendations on measures necessary to enhance the effectiveness of these systems; and • Identify opportunities and projects to enhance the effectiveness of the emerging market’s food and rural business systems. (b) To be eligible, such proposals must clearly demonstrate that experts are primarily agricultural consultants, farmers, government officials, and other PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 persons from the private sector, and that they have expertise in assessing the food and rural business systems of other countries. (c) Assistance to enable individuals from emerging markets to travel to the United States so that these individuals can, for the purpose of enhancing the food and rural business systems in their countries, become familiar with U.S. technology and agribusiness and rural enterprise operations by consulting with food and rural business system experts in the United States. (d) Assistance to enable U.S. agricultural producers and other individuals knowledgeable in agricultural and agribusiness matters to travel to emerging markets to assist in transferring their knowledge and expertise to entities in emerging markets. Such travel must be to emerging markets. Travel to developed markets is not eligible under the program even if the traveler’s targeted market is an emerging market. (e) Technical assistance to implement the recommendations, projects, and/or opportunities identified by assistance under (1) above. Technical assistance that does not implement the recommendations, projects, and/or opportunities identified by assistance under (1) above is not eligible under the EMP. Proposals that do not fall into one or more of the four categories above, regardless of previous guidance provided regarding the EMP, are not eligible for consideration under the program. EMP funds may not be used to support normal operating costs of individual organizations, nor as a source to recover pre-award costs or prior expenses from previous or ongoing projects. Proposals that counter national strategies or duplicate activities planned or already underway by U.S. non-profit agricultural commodity or trade associations (‘‘cooperators’’) will not be considered. Other ineligible expenditures include: branded product promotions (in-store, restaurant advertising, labeling, etc.); advertising, administrative, and operational expenses for trade shows; Web site development; equipment purchases; and the preparation and printing of brochures, flyers, and posters (except in connection with specific technical assistance activities such as training seminars.). For a more complete description of ineligible expenditures, please refer to the EMP regulations. 3. Eligible Markets. The Act defines an emerging market as any country that the Secretary of Agriculture determines: E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26185-26188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11144]


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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 it is 
inviting proposals for the 2011 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The 
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
applicants and award funds in October 2010. QSP is administered by 
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time, June 11, 2010. 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 Operations Division, Office of 
Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, 
Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by 
phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail: 
podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the FAS Web 
site at https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/QSP.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 26186]]

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 from QSP for the sample 
purchase price, the cost 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, QSP 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 audiences who:
     Have not previously purchased the U.S. commodity that 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, formulation, 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 of projects 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 between the applicant and CCC. 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 (SRTGs), and 
profit-making entities.
    2. Cost Sharing: FAS considers the applicant's willingness to 
contribute resources, including cash, 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 
strongly encouraged to submit their QSP applications to the FAS through 
the Uniform Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. The 
UES allows 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 to obtain Web site access 
information. The Internet-based application may be found at the 
following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
    Although the FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based 
application as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites 
the FAS processing and review cycle, applicants also have the option of 
submitting an electronic version of their application to FAS at 
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for 
QSP, an applicant must submit to FAS information detailed in this 
notice. Additionally, in accordance with the

[[Page 26187]]

Office of Management and Budget's policy directive 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 (866) 
705-5711.
    Incomplete applications and applications that 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 2004-2010;
    (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 2011-2013 which will be used to 
measure the effectiveness of the project, a benchmark performance 
measure for 2009, 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; and
     The importer's role in the project regarding handling and 
processing the commodity sample;
    (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, goods or services.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010. Applications received 
after this date will be considered only if funds are still available.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Proposals that 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.

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 QSP funds.
    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, 
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.
    Proposals will be evaluated by the applicable FAS Commodity 
Branches in the Cooperator Programs 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 proposals and funding recommendations to the Deputy 
Administrator, Office of Trade Programs.
    2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding 
decisions for QSP are anticipated during October 2010.

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 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 six 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 projects 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 that 
support the participant's reimbursement claims. CCC may deny a claim 
for

[[Page 26188]]

reimbursement if the claim is not supported by adequate documentation.
    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 
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 
400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by phone: 
(202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail: 
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 4, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010-11144 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
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