Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, 19113-19115 [2016-07637]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices
marital status, or sexual orientation. To
ensure that the recommendations of the
NOSB take into account the needs of the
diverse groups that are served by the
Department, membership on the NOSB
shall include, to the extent practicable,
individuals with demonstrated ability to
represent minorities, women, and
persons with disabilities.
The information collection
requirements concerning the
nomination process have been
previously cleared by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under
OMB Control No. 0505–0001.
Dated: March 30, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–07616 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–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 2017 Foreign
Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program. The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for
fiscal year 2017 and to set out criteria
for the award of funds under the
program in October 2016. The
Cooperator program is administered by
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS).
DATES: All applications must be
received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, June 3, 2016. Applications
received after this date will not be
considered.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 e–mail:
uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is
also available on the FAS Web site at
the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreignmarket-development-program-fmd.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:03 Apr 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
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.
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, 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. 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, 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
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
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19113
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 cost–share
contributions specified therein, is
considered by 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 Foreign Market
Development (FMD) applications to the
FAS through the web–based Unified
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 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 web–
based application must contact FAS’
Program Operations Division to obtain
site access information. The web–based
application may be found at the
following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
FAS highly recommends applying via
the web–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 uesadmin@fas.usda.gov.
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
19114
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: To be considered for the
Cooperator program, an applicant must
submit to FAS information required by
section 1484.20 of the Cooperator
program regulations. 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) 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
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 or the Cooperator
program regulations will not be
accepted for review.
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, June 3, 2016. By
the application deadline, all Cooperator
program applicants, regardless of the
method of submitting an application,
must also submit a signed certification
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:03 Apr 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
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 sections
1484.54 and 1484.55 of the Cooperator
program regulations.
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 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 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 (2012–2017) of all contributions
under the Cooperator program
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(contributions 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 (2012–
2017) of the funding level for all
Cooperator program participants.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
• The 6–year average share (2011–
2016) of the value of exports promoted
by the applicant compared to the
applicant’s 6–year average share (2011–
2016) of the funding level for all
Cooperator participants plus, for those
groups participating in the MAP
program, a 6–year average share (2011–
2016) of all MAP budgets.
(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance
(20)
• The 6–year average share (2011–
2016) of the total value of world trade
of the commodities promoted by the
applicant compared to the applicant’s
6–year average share (2011–2016) of all
Cooperator program expenditures plus,
for those groups participating in the
MAP program, a 6–year average share
(2011–2016) of all MAP expenditures.
(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
2022 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
2015 compared to the applicant’s past
projected share of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the
applicant for the year 2015, as specified
in the applicant’s 2012 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 2016.
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 project
agreement to each approved applicant.
The approval letter and project
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices
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/programs/foreignmarket-development-program-fmd.
Hard copies may be obtained by
contacting the Program Operations
Division.
3. Reporting: 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 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: uesadmin@
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. 2016–07637 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting
Applications for the Market Access
Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2017 Market
Access Program (MAP). The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for
fiscal year 2017 and to set out criteria
for the award of funds under the
program in October 2016. The MAP is
administered by personnel of the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: All applications must be
received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, June 3, 2016. Applications
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:03 Apr 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
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
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:
uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is
also available on the FAS Web site at
the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/programs/marketaccess-program-map.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The MAP is authorized
under Section 203 of the Agricultural
Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP
regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485.
Purpose: The MAP is designed to
create, expand, and maintain foreign
markets for U.S. agricultural
commodities and products through costshare assistance. Financial assistance
under the MAP will be made available
on a competitive basis, and applications
will be reviewed against the evaluation
criteria contained herein and in the
MAP regulations. All U.S. agricultural
commodities, except tobacco, are
eligible for consideration.
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, 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. 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 MAP, the CCC enters into
agreements with eligible Participants to
share the cost of certain overseas
marketing and promotion activities.
MAP Participants may receive
assistance for generic or brand
promotion activities. For generic
activities, funding priority is given to
organizations that have the broadest
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19115
possible producer representation of the
commodity being promoted and that are
nationwide in membership and scope.
For branded activities, only nonprofit
U.S. agricultural trade organizations,
nonprofit state regional trade groups
(SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives,
and state government agencies can
participate directly in the brand
program. The MAP generally operates
on a reimbursement basis.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To participate
in the MAP, an applicant must be a
nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade
organization, a nonprofit state regional
trade group, a U.S. agricultural
cooperative, or a state government
agency. A small-sized U.S. commercial
entity may participate through a MAP
Participant.
2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the
MAP, an applicant must agree to
contribute resources to its proposed
promotional activities. The MAP is
intended to supplement, not supplant,
the efforts of the U.S. private sector. In
the case of generic promotion, the
contribution must be at least 10 percent
of the value of resources provided by
CCC for such generic promotion. In the
case of brand promotion, the
contribution must be at least 50 percent
of the total cost of such brand
promotion.
The degree of commitment of an
applicant to the promotional strategies
contained in its application, as
represented by the cost-share
contributions specified therein, is
considered by 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
MAP regulations, in section 1485.16,
provide a detailed discussion of eligible
and ineligible cost-share contributions.
3. Other: Applications should include
a justification for funding assistance
from the program—an explanation as to
what specifically could not be
accomplished without federal funding
assistance and why participating
organization(s) are unlikely to carry out
the project without such assistance.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address To Request Application
Package: Organizations are encouraged
to submit their MAP applications to
FAS through the web-based Unified
Export Strategy (UES) application. The
UES allows interested applicants to
submit a single consolidated and
strategically coordinated proposal that
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19113-19115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07637]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2017 Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2017 and to set
out criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2016.
The Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, June 3, 2016. 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 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:
uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the FAS Web
site at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreign-market-development-program-fmd.
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.
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, 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. 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, 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 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 cost-
share contributions specified therein, is considered by 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 Foreign Market Development (FMD)
applications to the FAS through the web-based Unified 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 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 web-based application must contact
FAS' Program Operations Division to obtain site access information. The
web-based application may be found at the following URL address:
https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
FAS highly recommends applying via the web-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
uesadmin@fas.usda.gov.
[[Page 19114]]
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
the Cooperator program, an applicant must submit to FAS information
required by section 1484.20 of the Cooperator program regulations. 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) 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 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 or the Cooperator program regulations will
not be accepted for review.
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, June 3, 2016. By the application
deadline, all Cooperator program applicants, regardless of the method
of submitting an application, must also submit a 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 sections 1484.54 and 1484.55 of the Cooperator program
regulations.
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 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 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 (2012-2017) of all
contributions under the Cooperator program (contributions 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 (2012-2017) of the funding level for all Cooperator
program participants.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
The 6-year average share (2011-2016) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to the applicant's 6-year
average share (2011-2016) of the funding level for all Cooperator
participants plus, for those groups participating in the MAP program, a
6-year average share (2011-2016) of all MAP budgets.
(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20)
The 6-year average share (2011-2016) of the total value of
world trade of the commodities promoted by the applicant compared to
the applicant's 6-year average share (2011-2016) of all Cooperator
program expenditures plus, for those groups participating in the MAP
program, a 6-year average share (2011-2016) of all MAP expenditures.
(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 2022 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 2015 compared
to the applicant's past projected share of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2015, as
specified in the applicant's 2012 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
2016.
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 project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter
and project
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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/programs/foreign-market-development-program-fmd. Hard copies may be
obtained by contacting the Program Operations Division.
3. Reporting: 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 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: uesadmin@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. 2016-07637 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P