Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, 24171-24173 [2012-9638]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices
overseas marketing and promotion
activities) compared to;
• The applicant’s 4-year average share
(2010–2013) of the funding level for all
MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
• The 3-year average share (2009–
2011) of the value of exports promoted
by the applicant compared to;
• The applicant’s 2-year average share
(2011–2012) of the funding level for all
MAP participants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program,
the 2-year average share (2011–2012) of
all Cooperator program budgets.
(c) Projected Export Goals (15)
• The total dollar value of projected
exports promoted by the applicant for
2013 compared to;
• The applicant’s requested funding
level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
• Actual exports for 2011 as reported
in the 2013 MAP application compared
to;
• Past projections of exports for 2011
as specified in the 2011 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 2012.
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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
program agreement to each approved
applicant. The approval letter and
program 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.
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).
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15:11 Apr 20, 2012
Jkt 226001
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 at: Room
6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250, or by phone:
(202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) 720–
9361, or by email:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Dated: Signed at Washington, DC, on the
13th of April 2012.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service, and Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2012–9639 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting
Applications for the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.600.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2013 Foreign
Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program. The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for
2013 and to set out criteria for the award
of funds under the program in October
2012. The Cooperator program is
administered by personnel of the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
The statutory authority for FMD
expires at the end of fiscal year 2012.
This notice is being published at this
time to allow awards to be made early
in fiscal year 2013, provided that the
program is reauthorized prior to that
time. In the event this program is not
reauthorized, or is substantially
modified, FAS will publish a notice in
the Federal Register rescinding this
Notice of Funds Availability.
DATES: All applications must be
received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, May 21, 2012. 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,
Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by
phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
24171
720–9361, or by email:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is
also available on the FAS Web site at
https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/
fmdprogram.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The Cooperator program is
authorized by title VII of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as
amended. Cooperator program
regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.
Purpose: The Cooperator program is
designed to create, expand, and
maintain foreign markets for U.S.
agricultural commodities and products
through cost-share assistance. Financial
assistance under the Cooperator
program will be made available on a
competitive basis and applications will
be reviewed against the evaluation
criteria contained herein and in the
Cooperator program 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. In deciding
whether a proposed project will
contribute to the effective creation,
expansion, or maintenance of foreign
markets, the FAS considers whether the
applicant provides 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.
II. Award Information
Under the Cooperator program, the
FAS enters into agreements with eligible
nonprofit U.S. trade organizations to
share the cost of certain overseas
marketing and promotion 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.
Cooperators may receive assistance only
for generic activities that do not involve
promotions targeted directly to
consumers. The program generally
operates on a reimbursement basis.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To participate
in the Cooperator program, an applicant
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices
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must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural
trade organization.
2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the
Cooperator program, an applicant must
agree to contribute resources to its
proposed promotional activities. The
Cooperator program is intended to
supplement, not supplant, the efforts of
the U.S. private sector. The contribution
must be at least 50 percent of the value
of resources provided by CCC for
activities conducted under the project
agreement.
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
activities. The Cooperator program
regulations, including sections 1484.50
and 1484.51, 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 FMD applications to the
FAS through the Unified 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 faced,
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 site access information. The
Internet-based application may be found
at the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
The FAS highly recommends
applying via the Internet-based
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:11 Apr 20, 2012
Jkt 226001
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 at
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: To be considered for the
Cooperator program, an applicant must
submit to the FAS information required
by the Cooperator program regulations
in section 1484.20. 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.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 25, each entity that applies to the
Cooperator program and does not
qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR
25.110 must:
(i) Be registered in the CCR prior to
submitting an application or plan;
(ii) Maintain an active CCR
registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application or plan
under consideration by CCC; and
(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each
application or plan it submits to CCC.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170, each entity that applies to the
Cooperator program and does not
qualify for an exception under 2 CFR
170.110(b) must ensure it has the
necessary processes and systems in
place to comply with the applicable
reporting requirements of 2 CFR part
170 should it receive funding under the
Cooperator program. 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 Market Access Program
(MAP), 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
Cooperator program but would like to
request assistance through one of the
other programs mentioned should
contact the Program Operations
Division.
3. Submission Dates and Times: All
applications must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, May 21, 2012.
All Cooperator program applicants,
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regardless of the method of submitting
an application, also must submit by the
application deadline, an original signed
certification statement as specified in 7
CFR 1484.20(a)(14) to the Program
Operations Division, Office of Trade
Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room
6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250. 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
Cooperator program regulations,
including sections 1484.54 and 1484.55.
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
Cooperator program funds.
(1) Phase 1—Sufficiency Review and
FAS Divisional Review
Applications received by the closing
date will be reviewed by FAS to
determine the eligibility of the
applicants and the completeness of the
applications. These requirements appear
in sections 1484.14 and 1484.20 of the
Cooperator program regulations as well
as in this Notice. Applications that meet
the requirements then will be further
evaluated by the appropriate
Commodity Branch office of the FAS/
Cooperator Programs Division. The
Commodity Branch will review each
application against the criteria listed in
section 1484.21 of the Cooperator
program regulations. The purpose of
this review is to identify meritorious
proposals. The Commodity Branch then
recommends an appropriate funding
level for each approved application for
consideration by the Office of the
Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade
Programs.
(2) Phase 2—Competitive Review
Meritorious applications are passed
on to the Office of the Deputy
Administrator, Office of Trade
Programs, for the purpose of allocating
available funds among those applicants.
Applicants will compete for funds on
the basis of the following allocation
criteria as appropriate (the number in
parentheses represents a percentage
weight factor):
(a) Contribution Level (40)
• The applicant’s 6-year average share
(2008–2013) of all contributions under
the Cooperator program (contributions
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices
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may include cash and goods and
services provided by U.S. entities in
support of foreign market development
activities) compared to;
• The applicant’s 6-year average share
(2008–2013) of the funding level for all
Cooperator program participants.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
• The 6-year average share (2007–
2012) of the value of exports promoted
by the applicant compared to;
• The applicant’s 6-year average share
(2007–2012) of the funding level for all
Cooperator participants plus a 6-year
average share (2007–2012) of all MAP
budgets, if any.
(c) Past Demand Expansion
Performance (20)
• The 6-year average share (2007–
2012) of the total value of world trade
of the commodities promoted by the
applicant compared to;
• The applicant’s 6-year average share
(2007–2012) of all Cooperator program
expenditures plus a 6-year average share
(2007–2012) of all MAP expenditures, if
any.
(d) Future Demand Expansion Goals
(10)
• The projected total dollar value of
world trade of the commodities being
promoted by the applicant for the year
2018 compared to;
• The applicant’s requested funding
level.
(e) Accuracy of Past Demand
Expansion Projections (10)
• The actual dollar value share of
world trade of the commodities being
promoted by the applicant for the year
2011 compared to;
• The applicant’s past projected share
of world trade of the commodities being
promoted by the applicant for the year
2011, as specified in the 2008
Cooperator program application.
The Commodity Branches’
recommended funding levels for each
applicant are converted to percentages
of the total Cooperator program funds
available and then multiplied by each
weight factor to determine the amount
of funds allocated to each applicant.
2. Anticipated Announcement Date:
Announcements of funding decisions
for the Cooperator program are
anticipated during October 2012.
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 Cooperator
program funding, and cost-share
contribution requirements.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:11 Apr 20, 2012
Jkt 226001
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: Interested parties should
review the Cooperator program
regulations, which are available at the
following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/
fmdprogram.asp. Hard copies may be
obtained by contacting the Program
Operations Division.
3. Reporting: The FAS requires
various reports and evaluations from
Cooperators. Reporting requirements are
detailed in the Cooperator program
regulations in sections 1484.53, 1484.70,
and 1484.72.
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.
Courier address: Room 6512, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,
or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Signed at Washington, DC, on the 13th of
April 2012.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service, and Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2012–9638 Filed 4–20–12; 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
The Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2013
Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The
intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from the private sector and
from government agencies for FY 2013
and to set out criteria for the award of
funds under the program in October
2012. The EMP is administered by
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS).
The statutory authority for EMP
expires at the end of fiscal year 2012.
This notice is being published at this
time to allow awards to be made early
in fiscal year 2013, provided that the
program is reauthorized prior to that
time. In the event this program is not
reauthorized, or is substantially
modified, FAS will publish a notice in
the Federal Register rescinding this
Notice of Funds Availability.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
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24173
To be considered for funding,
applications must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, May 21, 2012.
Any 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,
Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by
phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)
720–9361, or by email:
podadmin@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:
DATES:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.
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.
2. Appropriate Activities. All EMP
projects must fall into at least one of the
following four categories:
(a) Assistance to teams consisting
primarily of U.S. individuals expert in
assessing the food and rural business
systems of other countries. This type of
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24171-24173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9638]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the
Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.600.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2013 Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for 2013 and to set out criteria
for the award of funds under the program in October 2012. The
Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS).
The statutory authority for FMD expires at the end of fiscal year
2012. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be
made early in fiscal year 2013, provided that the program is
reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not
reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice
in the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, May 21, 2012. 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, Room 6512, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-
4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Information is also available on the FAS Web site at https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/fmdprogram.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The Cooperator program is authorized by title VII of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. Cooperator program
regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.
Purpose: The Cooperator program is designed to create, expand, and
maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products
through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under the
Cooperator program will be made available on a competitive basis and
applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained
herein and in the Cooperator program 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. In deciding whether a proposed project will
contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of
foreign markets, the FAS considers whether the applicant provides 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.
II. Award Information
Under the Cooperator program, the FAS enters into agreements with
eligible nonprofit U.S. trade organizations to share the cost of
certain overseas marketing and promotion 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. Cooperators may receive assistance only for
generic activities that do not involve promotions targeted directly to
consumers. The program generally operates on a reimbursement basis.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To participate in the Cooperator program,
an applicant
[[Page 24172]]
must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization.
2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the Cooperator program, an
applicant must agree to contribute resources to its proposed
promotional activities. The Cooperator program is intended to
supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. private sector. The
contribution must be at least 50 percent of the value of resources
provided by CCC for activities conducted under the project agreement.
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 activities.
The Cooperator program regulations, including sections 1484.50 and
1484.51, 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 FMD applications to the FAS through the
Unified 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 faced, 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 site access information.
The Internet-based application may be found at the following URL
address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
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
at podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
the Cooperator program, an applicant must submit to the FAS information
required by the Cooperator program regulations in section 1484.20. 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.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that
applies to the Cooperator program and does not qualify for an exemption
under 2 CFR 25.110 must:
(i) Be registered in the CCR prior to submitting an application or
plan;
(ii) Maintain an active CCR registration with current information
at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration by CCC; and
(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it
submits to CCC.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, each entity that
applies to the Cooperator program and does not qualify for an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b) must ensure it has the necessary processes and
systems in place to comply with the applicable reporting requirements
of 2 CFR part 170 should it receive funding under the Cooperator
program. 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 Market Access Program (MAP), 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 Cooperator program but would like to
request assistance through one of the other programs mentioned should
contact the Program Operations Division.
3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 21, 2012. All Cooperator program
applicants, regardless of the method of submitting an application, also
must submit by the application deadline, an original signed
certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 1484.20(a)(14) to the
Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 6512, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. 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 Cooperator program regulations, including sections
1484.54 and 1484.55.
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 Cooperator program funds.
(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review
Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by FAS
to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness of
the applications. These requirements appear in sections 1484.14 and
1484.20 of the Cooperator program regulations as well as in this
Notice. Applications that meet the requirements then will be further
evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch office of the FAS/
Cooperator Programs Division. The Commodity Branch will review each
application against the criteria listed in section 1484.21 of the
Cooperator program regulations. The purpose of this review is to
identify meritorious proposals. The Commodity Branch then recommends an
appropriate funding level for each approved application for
consideration by the Office of the Deputy Administrator, Office of
Trade Programs.
(2) Phase 2--Competitive Review
Meritorious applications are passed on to the Office of the Deputy
Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of allocating
available funds among those applicants. Applicants will compete for
funds on the basis of the following allocation criteria as appropriate
(the number in parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
(a) Contribution Level (40)
The applicant's 6-year average share (2008-2013) of all
contributions under the Cooperator program (contributions
[[Page 24173]]
may include cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in
support of foreign market development activities) compared to;
The applicant's 6-year average share (2008-2013) of the
funding level for all Cooperator program participants.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
The 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to;
The applicant's 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the
funding level for all Cooperator participants plus a 6-year average
share (2007-2012) of all MAP budgets, if any.
(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20)
The 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the total value of
world trade of the commodities promoted by the applicant compared to;
The applicant's 6-year average share (2007-2012) of all
Cooperator program expenditures plus a 6-year average share (2007-2012)
of all MAP expenditures, if any.
(d) Future Demand Expansion Goals (10)
The projected total dollar value of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2018 compared
to;
The applicant's requested funding level.
(e) Accuracy of Past Demand Expansion Projections (10)
The actual dollar value share of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2011 compared
to;
The applicant's past projected share of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2011, as
specified in the 2008 Cooperator program application.
The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each
applicant are converted to percentages of the total Cooperator program
funds available and then multiplied by each weight factor to determine
the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding
decisions for the Cooperator program are anticipated during October
2012.
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 Cooperator program
funding, and cost-share contribution requirements.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested
parties should review the Cooperator program regulations, which are
available at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/fmdprogram.asp. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the
Program Operations Division.
3. Reporting: The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from
Cooperators. Reporting requirements are detailed in the Cooperator
program regulations in sections 1484.53, 1484.70, and 1484.72.
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.
Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by
email: podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Signed at Washington, DC, on the 13th of April 2012.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2012-9638 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
