Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Quality Samples Program, 19122-19125 [2016-07635]
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(2) The potential trade impact of the
proposed project on market retention,
market access, and market expansion,
including the potential for expanding
commercial sales in the targeted market
(12.5%);
(3) The completeness and viability of
the proposal. Among other things, this
can include the cost of the project and
the amount of other resources dedicated
to the project, including cash, goods,
and services of the U.S. industry and
foreign third parties (15%);
(4) The ability of the organization to
provide an experienced staff with the
requisite technical and trade experience
to execute the proposal (15%);
(5) The extent to which the proposal
is targeted to a market in which the
United States is generally competitive
(17.5%);
(6) The degree to which time is
essential to addressing specific export
barriers (5%);
(7) The ability of the applicant to
provide a broad base of producer
representation (12.5%);
(8) The effectiveness and potential of
the performance measures (10%);
2. Review and Selection Process: FAS
will review proposals for eligibility and
will evaluate each proposal against the
criteria referred to above. The purpose
of this review is to identify meritorious
proposals, recommend an appropriate
funding level for each proposal based
upon these factors, and submit the
proposals and funding
recommendations to the Deputy
Administrator, Office of Trade
Programs. FAS may, when appropriate,
request the assistance of other U.S.
government subject area experts in
evaluating the merits of a proposal.
F. Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices: FAS will
notify each applicant in writing of the
final disposition of the submitted
application. FAS will send an approval
letter and agreement to each approved
applicant. The approval letter and
agreement will specify the terms and
conditions applicable to the project,
including levels of funding, timelines
for implementation, and written
evaluation requirements.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: The agreements will
incorporate the details of each project as
approved by FAS. Each agreement will
identify terms and conditions pursuant
to which CCC will reimburse certain
costs of each project. Agreements will
also outline the responsibilities of the
participant. Interested parties should
review the TASC program regulations
found at 7 CFR part 1487 in addition to
this announcement. TASC program
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regulations are available at the following
URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/
programs/technical-assistancespecialty-crops-tasc. Hard copies may
be obtained by contacting the Program
Operations Division at (202) 720–4327.
3. Reporting: TASC participants will
be required to submit regular interim
reports and a final performance report,
each of which evaluate the TASC
project using the performance measures
presented in the approved proposal, as
set forth in the written program
agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact
For additional information and
assistance, contact the Program
Operations Division, Office of Trade
Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture by
courier: Room 6512, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, 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 the 25th of
March, 2016.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service, and Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2016–07633 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–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 2017 Quality
Samples Program (QSP). The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for
fiscal year 2017 and to set out the
criteria for the award of funds under the
program in October 2016. QSP is
administered by personnel of the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: To be considered for funding,
applications must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016.
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
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by courier: 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/programs/
quality-samples-program-qsp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. 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 on-site 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
and for 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 are not eligible for
reimbursement. CCC will not reimburse
the costs incidental to purchasing and
transporting samples, such as:
Inspection or documentation fees,
certificates of any kind, tariffs, etc.
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:
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• 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;
• Commodities provided under a QSP
project must be available on a
commercial basis and in sufficient
supply;
• 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 in
the importing country 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
preparation seminar) may be provided
to end-use consumers to demonstrate to
importers consumer preference for that
end product;
• 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); and
• Projects should be completed
within one year of CCC approval.
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 attributes, or end-use
characteristics 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.
B. 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
only of technical preparation seminars
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(that is, projects that do not include
further processing or substantial
transformation of the sample) will be
limited to $15,000 of QSP
reimbursement due to the need for
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.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Any United
States private or government entity with
a demonstrated role or interest in
exporting U.S. agricultural commodities
may apply to the program. Government
organizations consist of Federal, State,
and local agencies. Private organizations
include non-profit trade associations,
universities, agricultural cooperatives,
state regional trade groups, and profitmaking entities.
2. Cost Sharing: FAS considers the
applicant’s willingness to contribute
resources, including cash, goods, and
services of the U.S. industry and foreign
third parties, when determining which
proposals to approve for funding.
3. Proposals 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 the participating organization(s)
would be unlikely to carry out the
project without such assistance.
Applicants may submit more than one
proposal.
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: Organizations shall submit
their QSP applications to FAS through
the web-based Uniform Export Strategy
(UES) application. The UES allows
applicants to submit a single
consolidated and strategically
coordinated proposal that incorporates
requests for funding 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
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the entire pool of complementary
marketing tools and program resources,
and establish realistic export goals.
Applicants must contact FAS’
Program Operations Division to obtain
UES Web site access information. The
Internet-based application may be found
at the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: To be considered for QSP,
an applicant must submit to FAS, via
the UES, information detailed in this
notice. Additionally, in accordance with
the Office of Management and Budget’s
policy directive (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 tollfree DUNS number request line at (866)
705–5711.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 25, each entity that applies to the
QSP and does not qualify for an
exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must:
(i) Provide a valid DUNS number in
each application or plan it submits to
CCC;
(ii) Be registered in the System for
Award Management (SAM) prior to
submitting an application or plan; and
(iii) Continue to maintain an active
SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it
has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration
by CCC.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170, each entity that applies to the
QSP 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 QSP
funding.
Incomplete applications and
applications that do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not
be accepted for review.
Proposals should 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 email address of the
primary contact person;
• A description of the organization
and its membership;
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• 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
2010–2016.
(c) Project information, including:
• A brief project title;
• The amount of funding requested;
• The beginning and end dates for the
proposed project;
• A brief description of the specific
market development trade constraint or
opportunity to be addressed by the
project;
• 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 fund this component);
• The performance measures that will
be used to benchmark performance and
measure the effectiveness of the project,
the long-term sales to the market, and
the benefits to the represented industry;
• A description of the sample to be
provided (i.e., commodity, quantity,
quality, type, and grade), including a
justification for why a sample with such
characteristics is needed (this
justification should explain 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;
• The importer’s role in the project
regarding handling and processing the
commodity sample; and
• An explanation as to what
specifically could not be accomplished
without Federal funding assistance and
why the participating organization(s)
would be unlikely to carry out the
project without such assistance;
(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: QSP
applications are reviewed on a rolling
basis during the fiscal year as long as
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QSP funding is available as set forth
below:
• Proposals received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016,
will be considered for funding with
other proposals received by that date;
• Proposals not approved for funding
during this review period will be
reconsidered for funding after the
review period only if the applicant
specifically requests such
reconsideration in writing, and only if
funding remains available;
• Proposals received after 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016,
will be considered in the order received
for funding only if funding remains
available.
4. Other Submission Requirements:
All applications must be properly
submitted through the UES by 5 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016, in
order to be considered for funding;
submissions received after this deadline
will be considered only if funding
remains available.
5. Funding Restrictions: Proposals
that request more than $75,000 of CCC
funding for individual projects will not
be considered. Projects comprised only
of technical preparation seminars will
be limited to $15,000 in QSP funding.
CCC will not reimburse unreasonable
expenditures or expenditures made
prior to approval of a proposal.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria and Review Process: FAS
will use the following criteria in
evaluating QSP proposals, each
weighted at 10%:
• The income, population, or market
share growth potential in the proposed
market;
• Benefits of project would accrue to
entire industry, not a single company;
• The proposed sample size is
appropriate to the project;
• 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 identified 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,
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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.
FAS will also review and evaluate
how well the following unweighted
criteria are addressed in the proposal:
• The quality of the performance
measures and how effective they will be
in demonstrating the impact of the
project;
• The assessment of the market;
• The long-term strategy in the
market; and
• Export goals in each country.
Proposals will be evaluated by the
appropriate Commodity Branch in FAS’
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
2016.
F. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: FAS will notify
each applicant in writing of the final
disposition of the submitted
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 6
months of the effective date of the
agreement), compliance with cargo
preference requirements (shipment on
United States flag vessels, as required),
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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 or termination of the
agreement.
QSP projects are subject to review and
verification by 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
reimbursement if the claim is not
supported by adequate documentation.
3. Reporting: A written evaluation
report must be submitted via the UES
within 90 days of the expiration or
termination of each participant’s QSP
agreement. Evaluation reports should
address all performance measures that
were presented in the proposal.
G. 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 by
courier: 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 25th of
March, 2016.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service, and Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2016–07635 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Ashley Resource Advisory Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Ashley Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in
Vernal, Utah. The committee is
authorized under the Secure Rural
Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and
operates in compliance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
of the committee is to improve
collaborative relationships and to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with Title II of
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SUMMARY:
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the Act. RAC information can be found
at the following Web site: https://
cloudapps-usda-gov.force.com/FSSRS/
RAC_Page?id=001t0000002JcvKAAS.
DATES: Meeting will be held from 6:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on April 20, 2016.
All RAC meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of meeting prior
to attendance, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Ashley National Forest (NF)
Supervisor’s Office, 355 North Vernal
Avenue, Vernal, Utah.
Written comments may be submitted
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and are
available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received at Ashley NF
Supervisor’s Office. Please call ahead to
facilitate entry into the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Louis Haynes, RAC Coordinator, by
phone at 435–781–5105 or via email at
ljhaynes@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to:
1. Conduct a final evaluation and roll
call;
2. Vote on each submitted project; and
3. Finalize recommendations for
funding of project long forms for the
Designated Federal Officer’s approval.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda will include time for people
to make oral statements of three minutes
or less. Individuals wishing to make an
oral statement should request in writing
by April 6, 2016, to be scheduled on the
agenda. Anyone who would like to
bring related matters to the attention of
the committee may file written
statements with the committee staff
before or after the meeting. Written
comments and requests for time for oral
comments must be sent to Attention:
Louis Haynes, RAC Coordinator, Ashley
NF Supervisor’s Office, 355 North
Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah 84078; by
email to ljhaynes@fs.fed.us, or via
facsimile to 435–781–5142.
Meeting Accommodations: If you are
a person requiring reasonable
accommodation, please make requests
in advance for sign language
interpreting, assistive listening devices,
or other reasonable accommodation. For
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19125
access to the facility, please contact the
person listed in the section titled FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All
reasonable accommodation requests are
managed on a case by case basis.
Dated: March 25, 2016.
Dustin Bambrough,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016–07568 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
comments on this information
collection for which approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) will be requested.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by June 3, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, USDA Rural Utilities Service,
Rural Development, United States
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522,
Room 5164, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–4492. FAX: (202)
720–8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@
wdc.usda.gov
SUMMARY:
The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires
that interested members of the public
and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping activities
(see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice
identifies an information collection that
RUS is submitting to OMB for
extension.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19122-19125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07635]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2017 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible
applicants for fiscal year 2017 and to set out the criteria for the
award of funds under the program in October 2016. QSP is administered
by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: To be considered for funding, applications must be received by 5
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016. 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 by courier: 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/programs/quality-samples-program-qsp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. 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 on-site 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 and for 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 are not eligible for reimbursement. CCC
will not reimburse the costs incidental to purchasing and transporting
samples, such as: Inspection or documentation fees, certificates of any
kind, tariffs, etc. 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:
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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;
Commodities provided under a QSP project must be available
on a commercial basis and in sufficient supply;
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 in the
importing country 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 preparation
seminar) may be provided to end-use consumers to demonstrate to
importers consumer preference for that end product;
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); and
Projects should be completed within one year of CCC
approval.
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 attributes, or
end-use characteristics 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.
B. 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 only of technical
preparation seminars (that is, projects that do not include further
processing or substantial transformation of the sample) will be limited
to $15,000 of QSP reimbursement due to the need for 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.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Any United States private or government
entity with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S.
agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government
organizations consist of Federal, State, and local agencies. Private
organizations include non-profit trade associations, universities,
agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and profit-
making entities.
2. Cost Sharing: FAS considers the applicant's willingness to
contribute resources, including cash, goods, and services of the U.S.
industry and foreign third parties, when determining which proposals to
approve for funding.
3. Proposals 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 the
participating organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the
project without such assistance. Applicants may submit more than one
proposal.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Organizations shall
submit their QSP applications to FAS through the web-based Uniform
Export Strategy (UES) application. The UES allows applicants to submit
a single consolidated and strategically coordinated proposal that
incorporates requests for funding 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 must contact FAS' Program Operations Division to obtain
UES Web site access information. The Internet-based application may be
found at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
QSP, an applicant must submit to FAS, via the UES, information detailed
in this notice. Additionally, in accordance with the Office of
Management and Budget's policy directive (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 (866) 705-5711.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that
applies to the QSP and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR
25.110 must:
(i) Provide a valid DUNS number in each application or plan it
submits to CCC;
(ii) Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior
to submitting an application or plan; and
(iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or
an application or plan under consideration by CCC.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, each entity that
applies to the QSP 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 QSP funding.
Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
Proposals should 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 email address of
the primary contact person;
A description of the organization and its membership;
[[Page 19124]]
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 2010-2016.
(c) Project information, including:
A brief project title;
The amount of funding requested;
The beginning and end dates for the proposed project;
A brief description of the specific market development
trade constraint or opportunity to be addressed by the project;
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 fund this
component);
The performance measures that will be used to benchmark
performance and measure the effectiveness of the project, the long-term
sales to the market, and the benefits to the represented industry;
A description of the sample to be provided (i.e.,
commodity, quantity, quality, type, and grade), including a
justification for why a sample with such characteristics is needed
(this justification should explain 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;
The importer's role in the project regarding handling and
processing the commodity sample; and
An explanation as to what specifically could not be
accomplished without Federal funding assistance and why the
participating organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the
project without such assistance;
(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: QSP applications are reviewed on a
rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as QSP funding is
available as set forth below:
Proposals received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June
3, 2016, will be considered for funding with other proposals received
by that date;
Proposals not approved for funding during this review
period will be reconsidered for funding after the review period only if
the applicant specifically requests such reconsideration in writing,
and only if funding remains available;
Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time,
June 3, 2016, will be considered in the order received for funding only
if funding remains available.
4. Other Submission Requirements: All applications must be properly
submitted through the UES by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, June 3,
2016, in order to be considered for funding; submissions received after
this deadline will be considered only if funding remains available.
5. Funding Restrictions: Proposals that request more than $75,000
of CCC funding for individual projects will not be considered. Projects
comprised only of technical preparation seminars will be limited to
$15,000 in QSP funding. CCC will not reimburse unreasonable
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of a proposal.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria and Review Process: FAS will use the following criteria
in evaluating QSP proposals, each weighted at 10%:
The income, population, or market share growth potential
in the proposed market;
Benefits of project would accrue to entire industry, not a
single company;
The proposed sample size is appropriate to the project;
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 identified 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.
FAS will also review and evaluate how well the following unweighted
criteria are addressed in the proposal:
The quality of the performance measures and how effective
they will be in demonstrating the impact of the project;
The assessment of the market;
The long-term strategy in the market; and
Export goals in each country.
Proposals will be evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch in
FAS' 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 2016.
F. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the
final disposition of the submitted 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 6 months of the effective date of
the agreement), compliance with cargo preference requirements (shipment
on United States flag vessels, as required),
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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 or termination of the agreement.
QSP projects are subject to review and verification by 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 reimbursement if the claim is not supported by adequate
documentation.
3. Reporting: A written evaluation report must be submitted via the
UES within 90 days of the expiration or termination of each
participant's QSP agreement. Evaluation reports should address all
performance measures that were presented in the proposal.
G. 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 by courier: 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 25th of March, 2016.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2016-07635 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P