Notice of Funding Opportunity: Inviting Applications for the Market Access Program, 24467-24470 [2019-11022]
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contribution requirements. All
successful applicants for all grant and
cooperative agreements are required to
comply with the Standard
Administrative Terms and Conditions,
which are available online at: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_
terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The
applicable Standard Administrative
Terms and Conditions will be those in
effect for the year in which the award
was originally made unless explicitly
stated otherwise in subsequent
mutually-agreed amendments to the
award.
Before accepting the award, the
potential awardee should carefully read
the approval letter and program
agreement for instructions on
administering the grant award and the
terms and conditions associated with
responsibilities under Federal Awards.
Recipients must accept all conditions in
this NOFA as well as any special terms
and conditions in the approval letter
and program agreement to receive an
award under this program.
2. Reporting: FAS requires various
reports and evaluations from
Cooperators. Required reports include
an annual contributions report that
identifies contributions made by the
Cooperator and the U.S. industry during
that marketing plan year. All
Cooperators must also complete at least
one program evaluation each year and
must provide program success stories on
an annual basis, or more often when
appropriate or required by FAS. There
are additional reporting requirements
for trip reports, evaluation reports, and
research reports. Reporting
requirements are detailed in the
Cooperator program regulations in
sections 1484.53, 1484.70, and 1484.72
of the Cooperator program regulations.
3. Federal Financial Reporting
Requirements: The Federal Financial
Reporting Form (FFR) is available
online at: https://www.gsa.gov/portal/
forms/download/149786.
4. Monitoring: FAS through its
authorized representatives, has the
right, at all reasonable times, to make
site visits to review project
accomplishments and management
control systems and to provide such
technical assistance as may be required.
During site visits, FAS will review grant
recipients’ files related to the grantfunded program.
As part of any monitoring and
program evaluation activities, grant
recipients must permit FAS, upon
reasonable notice, to review grantrelated records and to interview the
organization’s staff and clients regarding
the program, and to respond in a timely
and accurate manner to FAS requests for
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information relating to their grant
program.
G. Agency Contact(s)
1. Application Submission Contact(s)
and Program Support: 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.
2. Grants Management Contact(s):
Eric Bozoian, Grants Management
Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,
United States, Department of
Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@
fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Clay Hamilton,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Bill Northey,
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2019–11023 Filed 5–24–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Funding Opportunity: Inviting
Applications for the Market Access
Program
The Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting applications for the 2020
Market Access Program (MAP). The
MAP is administered by personnel of
the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of
this notice is to solicit proposals from
eligible applicants for fiscal year 2020
and to set out the criteria for the
awarding of funds under the program.
DATES: All applications must be
received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, Friday, June 28, 2019.
Applications received after this date
will not be considered. FAS anticipates
that the initial funding selections will
be made by the end of October 2019,
with the initial award dates estimated to
be by the end of December 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Applicants needing assistance should
contact the Program Operations
Division, Office of Trade Programs,
Foreign Agricultural Service by courier:
Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave.
SUMMARY:
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24467
SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by
phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)
720–9361, or by email: uesadmin@
fas.usda.gov. Information, including a
copy of the program regulations, is also
available on the FAS website at the
following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/programs/marketaccess-program-map.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Funding Opportunity Description
Announcement Type: New.
Award Instrument: Grant.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
Authorizing Authority: The MAP is
authorized under Section 203(b) of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
5623(b)), as amended. MAP regulations
appear at 7 CFR part 1485.
Appropriation Authority: Funding for
the MAP is provided under 7 U.S.C.
5623(f).
Purpose: The MAP is designed to
encourage the development,
maintenance, and expansion of
commercial export markets for United
States agricultural commodities and
products through cost-share assistance.
Under the MAP, FAS enters into
agreements with eligible Participants to
share the cost of certain overseas
marketing and promotion activities.
Financial assistance under the MAP is
made available on a competitive basis,
and applications are 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 an
effective program 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 best demonstrate performance
and address the objectives of the GPRA.
Funding Available: The Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 provides no
less than $200 million for MAP for each
of the fiscal years FY 2019 through FY
2023.
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B. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Organizations: 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. Small-sized private U.S.
commercial entities may participate in a
branded program through a MAP
Participant.
2. Eligible Activities: MAP
Participants may receive assistance for
generic or brand promotion activities.
For generic activities, funding priority is
given to organizations that have the
broadest possible producer
representation of the commodity being
promoted and that are nationwide in
membership and scope. 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.
3. Limits on Activities: MAP activities
are approved for a single program year,
with the approval dates specified in the
allocation approval letter that is
provided as part of the award approval
package. Only those MAP activities that
are approved in each applicant’s
allocation approval letter may be
implemented, and those activities must
be implemented during the 12-month
program year specified in the allocation
approval letter. Requests for activity
changes during the program year must
be approved in advance by FAS. MAP
Participants must re-apply for the
program every year.
4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types
of expenses are not eligible for
reimbursement by the program, and
there are limits on other categories of
expenses. FAS also will not reimburse
unreasonable expenditures or
expenditures made prior to approval.
Full details and a list of eligible and
ineligible expenses may be found in the
MAP regulations in section 1485.17.
5. Cost-Sharing: To participate in the
MAP, an applicant must agree to
contribute resources towards 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 FAS for such generic
promotion. In the case of branded
promotion, the contribution must be at
least 50 percent of the total cost of such
brand promotion.
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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 the
design and implementation of activities.
The MAP regulations, in section
1485.16, provide a detailed discussion
of eligible and ineligible cost-share
contributions.
6. 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
organizations are unlikely to carry out
the project without such assistance. The
MAP generally operates on a
reimbursement basis.
7. Intergovernmental Review: An
intergovernmental review may be
required. Applicants must contact their
state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to
comply with their state’s process under
Executive Order 12372 (see https://
www.fws.gov/policy/library/
rgeo12372.pdf). The names and
addresses of the SPOCs are maintained
at the Office of Management and
Budget’s home page at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf.
C. Award Information
Projected Period of Performance Start
Date(s): 01/01/2020
Projected Period of Performance End
Date(s): 09/30/2023
It is anticipated that FAS will award
approximately 70 awards under the
2020 MAP, subject to programmatic
approval and available funding. In
general, all qualified proposals received
before the submission deadline will
compete for funding. FAS will review
all proposals against the evaluation
criteria contained in the program
regulations.
Funding for successful proposals will
be provided through specific
agreements. FAS must approve in
advance any subsequent changes to the
agreement.
Within 90 days after the end of the
period of performance, or after an
amendment has been issued to close out
a grant, whichever comes first, FAS will
confirm that the participant has
provided all of the required reports and
will review the reports for completeness
and content. Once the required reports
are approved, FAS will prepare a
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closeout letter that advises the
participant of the award closeout
procedures. The notice will indicate the
period of performance as closed, list any
remaining funds that will be deobligated, and address the requirement
of maintaining the grant records for
three years from the date of the final
FFR.
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Submit Application
Package: Organizations should submit
their MAP applications to FAS through
the web-based Unified Export Strategy
(UES) system. The UES allows
interested applicants to submit a single
consolidated and strategically
coordinated proposal that incorporates
requests for funding under all of the
FAS market development programs. The
suggested UES format encourages
applicants to examine the constraints or
barriers to trade that they face, identify
activities that would help overcome
such impediments, consider the entire
pool of complementary marketing tools
and program resources, and establish
realistic export goals. Applicants
planning to use the UES system must
first 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/.
Applicants experiencing difficulty or
otherwise needing assistance applying
to the program 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.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: To be considered for MAP,
an applicant must submit to FAS an
application package consisting of
Standard Forms 424, ‘‘Application for
Federal Assistance’’ (SF–424), and
424A, ‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs’’ (SF–424A),
which are standard forms required for
use as cover sheets for submission of
applications and related information
under discretionary programs, and the
information required by Section 1485.13
of the MAP regulations. Incomplete
applications or applications that do not
otherwise conform to this
announcement and the MAP regulations
will not be accepted for review.
In addition, any applicant that has not
provided the following required
certifications through the System for
Award Management (SAM) must
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complete and provide them to FAS
before the application can be approved
for funding:
1. SF–424B, ‘‘Assurances—NonConstruction Programs’’
2. AD–3030 and AD–3031,
‘‘Representations Regarding Felony
Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status
For Corporate Applicants’’
3. AD–1047, ‘‘Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters’’
4. AD–1049 or AD–1052 (as
appropriate), ‘‘Certification Regarding
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements’’
5. Certification Regarding Lobbying. If
paragraph 2 of the certification applies,
then the form SF–LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities’’ must also be
completed and submitted.
3. Other Required Information: 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 (866) 705–5711.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 25, each entity that applies to the
MAP and does not qualify for an
exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must:
(i) Be registered in SAM prior to
submitting an application or plan; and
(ii) 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 FAS; and
(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each
application or plan it submits to FAS.
FAS may not make an award to an
applicant until the applicant has
complied with all applicable unique
entity identifier and SAM requirements,
and, if an applicant has not fully
complied with the requirements by the
time FAS is ready to make the award,
FAS may determine that the applicant is
not qualified to receive an award and
use that determination as a basis for
making an award to another applicant.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170, each entity that applies to
MAP 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 MAP
funding.
4. Submission Dates and Times: All
applications must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, June 28,
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2019. Applications received after the
deadline will not be considered.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria and Review Process: A
description of the FAS process for
reviewing applications and the criteria
for allocating available MAP funds is as
follows:
(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 1485.12
and 1485.13 of the MAP regulations.
Applications that meet the requirements
will then be further evaluated by the
appropriate Commodity Branch office of
FAS’ Cooperator Programs Division. The
Commodity Branches will review each
application against the criteria listed in
section 1485.14(b) and (c) of the MAP
regulations as well as in this Notice. The
purpose of this review is to identify
meritorious proposals and to
recommend an appropriate funding
level for each application based upon
these criteria.
(2) Phase 2—Competitive Review:
Meritorious applications then will be
passed on to the Office of the Deputy
Administrator, Office of Trade
Programs, for the purpose of allocating
available funds among the applicants.
Applicants will compete for funds on
the basis of the following allocation
criteria as applicable (the number in
parentheses represents the percentage
weight factor):
(a) Applicant’s Contribution Level
(40): The applicant’s 4-year average
share (2017–2020) of all contributions
under the MAP compared to the
applicant’s 4-year average share (2017–
2020) of the funding level for all MAP
Participants.
(b) Past U.S. Export Performance (30):
The 3-year average share (2016–2018) of
the value of U.S. exports promoted by
the applicant compared to the
applicant’s 2-year average share (2018–
2019) of the funding level for all MAP
Participants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program,
the 2-year average share (2018–2019) of
all Cooperator program budgets.
(c) Projected U.S. Export Goals (15):
The total dollar value of projected U.S.
exports of the commodities being
promoted by the applicant for the year
2020 compared to the applicant’s
requested funding level.
(d) Accuracy of Past U.S. Export
Projections (15): The actual dollar value
share of U.S. exports of the commodities
being promoted by the applicant for the
year 2018 as reported in the 2020 MAP
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24469
application compared to the projection
of U.S. exports for 2018 as specified in
the 2018 MAP application.
The Commodity Branches’
recommended funding levels for each
applicant are adjusted by each weight
factor as described above to determine
the amount of funds allocated to each
applicant.
In addition, FAS, prior to making a
Federal award with a total amount of
Federal share greater than the simplified
acquisition threshold, is required to
review and consider any information
about the applicant that is in the
designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM
(currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).
An applicant, at its option, may review
information in the designated integrity
and performance systems accessible
through SAM and comment on any
information about itself that a Federal
awarding agency previously entered and
is currently in the designated integrity
and performance system accessible
through SAM. FAS will consider any
comments by the applicant, in addition
to the other information in the
designated integrity and performance
system, in making a judgment about the
applicant’s integrity, business ethics,
and record of performance under
Federal awards when completing the
review of risk posed by applicants as
described in 2 CFR 200.205 ‘‘Federal
awarding agency review of risk posed by
applicants.’’
F. 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 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. All successful applicants
for all grant and cooperative agreements
are required to comply with the
Standard Administrative Terms and
Conditions, which are available online
at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/
general_terms_and_conditions/
default.asp. The applicable Standard
Administrative Terms and Conditions
will be those in effect for the year in
which the award was originally made
unless explicitly stated otherwise in
subsequent mutually-agreed
amendments to the award.
Before accepting the award, the
potential awardee should carefully read
the approval letter and program
agreement for instructions on
administering the grant award and the
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terms and conditions associated with
responsibilities under Federal Awards.
Recipients must accept all conditions in
this NOFO as well as any special terms
and conditions in the approval letter
and program agreement to receive an
award under this program.
2. Reporting: FAS requires various
reports and evaluations from MAP
Participants. Required reports include
an annual contributions report that
identifies, by cost category and in U.S.
dollar equivalents, contributions made
by the Participant, the U.S. industry,
and the States during that program year.
All MAP Participants must also report
annual results against their target
market and/or regional constraint/
opportunity performance measures and
must provide program success stories on
an annual basis, or more often when
appropriate or required by FAS. There
are additional reporting requirements
for trip reports, evaluation reports, and
research reports. Full reporting
requirements are detailed in sections
1485.22 and 1485.23 of the MAP
regulations.
3. Federal Financial Reporting
Requirements: The Federal Financial
Reporting Form (FFR) is available
online at: https://www.gsa.gov/portal/
forms/download/149786.
4. Monitoring: FAS through its
authorized representatives, has the
right, at all reasonable times, to make
site visits to review project
accomplishments and management
control systems and to provide such
technical assistance as may be required.
During site visits, FAS will review grant
recipients’ files related to the grantfunded program.
As part of any monitoring and
program evaluation activities, grant
recipients must permit FAS, upon
reasonable notice, to review grantrelated records and to interview the
organization’s staff and clients regarding
the program, and to respond in a timely
and accurate manner to FAS requests for
information relating to their grant
program.
G. Agency Contact(s)
1. Application Submission Contact(s)
and Program Support: 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.
2. Grants Management Contact(s):
Eric Bozoian, Grants Management
Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,
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United States, Department of
Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@
fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Clay Hamilton,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Bill Northey,
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2019–11022 Filed 5–24–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
Dated: May 23, 2019.
Brian Walch,
Director, Communications and Public
Engagement.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting Notice
United States Commission on
Civil Rights.
ACTION: Notice of Commission public
business meeting.
AGENCY:
DATES:
Friday, June 7, 2019, 11:30 a.m.
EDT.
Place: National Place
Building, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
11th Floor, Suite 1150, Washington, DC
20425. (Entrance on F Street NW.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Walch: (202) 376–8371; TTY:
(202) 376–8116; publicaffairs@
usccr.gov.
ADDRESSES:
This
business meeting is open to the public.
There will also be a call-in line (listenonly) for individuals who desire to hear
the meeting and presentations: 877–
211–3430, conference ID 837–0177. The
meeting will live-stream at: https://
www.youtube.com/user/USCCR/videos.
(Subject to change.) Persons with
disabilities who need accommodation
should contact Pamela Dunston at (202)
376–8105 or at access@usccr.gov at least
seven business days before the
scheduled date of the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Agenda
I. Approval of Agenda
II. Business Meeting
A. Presentation by Connecticut State
Advisory Committee (SAC) Chair
on the Committee’s recent Advisory
Memorandum on Prosecutorial
Practices
B. Presentation by Rhode Island State
Advisory Committee Chair on the
Committee’s recent Advisory
Memorandum on Voting Rights
C. Discussion and vote on project
timeline for the Commission’s
project on Title IX and campus free
speech
D. Discussion and vote on statement
deadlines for the Commission’s
project on stand your ground laws
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E. Discussion and vote on State
Advisory Committee slates
• Virginia
• Kentucky
• Oregon
• South Carolina
F. Management and operations
• Staff Director’s Report
G. [1:30 p.m. EDT] Speaker Series
Presentation by historian David
Carter: Stonewall at 50: The
Movement for LGBT Civil Rights.
III. Adjourn Meeting
[FR Doc. 2019–11153 Filed 5–23–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Order No. 2081]
Approval of Subzone Status; Calsonic
Kansei North America; Shelbyville and
Lewisburg, Tennessee
Pursuant to its authority under the ForeignTrade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the ForeignTrade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
following Order:
Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones
(FTZ) Act provides for ‘‘. . . the
establishment . . . of foreign-trade
zones in ports of entry of the United
States, to expedite and encourage
foreign commerce, and for other
purposes,’’ and authorizes the ForeignTrade Zones Board to grant to qualified
corporations the privilege of
establishing foreign-trade zones in or
adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection ports of entry;
Whereas, the Board’s regulations (15
CFR part 400) provide for the
establishment of subzones for specific
uses;
Whereas, the Metropolitan
Government of Nashville and Davidson
County, Tennessee, grantee of ForeignTrade Zone 78, has made application to
the Board for the establishment of a
subzone at the facilities of Calsonic
Kansei North America, located in
Shelbyville and Lewisburg, Tennessee
(FTZ Docket B–52–2018, docketed
August 15, 2018);
Whereas, notice inviting public
comment has been given in the Federal
Register (83 FR 42868, August 24, 2018)
and the application has been processed
pursuant to the FTZ Act and the Board’s
regulations; and,
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[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24467-24470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11022]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Funding Opportunity: Inviting Applications for the
Market Access Program
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting applications for the 2020 Market Access Program (MAP). The MAP
is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit
proposals from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2020 and to set out
the criteria for the awarding of funds under the program.
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, Friday, June 28, 2019. Applications received after this date will
not be considered. FAS anticipates that the initial funding selections
will be made by the end of October 2019, with the initial award dates
estimated to be by the end of December 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants needing 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: [email protected]. Information,
including a copy of the program regulations, is also available on the
FAS website at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Funding Opportunity Description
Announcement Type: New.
Award Instrument: Grant.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
Authorizing Authority: The MAP is authorized under Section 203(b)
of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623(b)), as amended.
MAP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485.
Appropriation Authority: Funding for the MAP is provided under 7
U.S.C. 5623(f).
Purpose: The MAP is designed to encourage the development,
maintenance, and expansion of commercial export markets for United
States agricultural commodities and products through cost-share
assistance. Under the MAP, FAS enters into agreements with eligible
Participants to share the cost of certain overseas marketing and
promotion activities. Financial assistance under the MAP is made
available on a competitive basis, and applications are 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 an effective program 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 best demonstrate performance and
address the objectives of the GPRA.
Funding Available: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 provides
no less than $200 million for MAP for each of the fiscal years FY 2019
through FY 2023.
[[Page 24468]]
B. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Organizations: 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. Small-sized private U.S. commercial entities may
participate in a branded program through a MAP Participant.
2. Eligible Activities: MAP Participants may receive assistance for
generic or brand promotion activities. For generic activities, funding
priority is given to organizations that have the broadest possible
producer representation of the commodity being promoted and that are
nationwide in membership and scope. 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.
3. Limits on Activities: MAP activities are approved for a single
program year, with the approval dates specified in the allocation
approval letter that is provided as part of the award approval package.
Only those MAP activities that are approved in each applicant's
allocation approval letter may be implemented, and those activities
must be implemented during the 12-month program year specified in the
allocation approval letter. Requests for activity changes during the
program year must be approved in advance by FAS. MAP Participants must
re-apply for the program every year.
4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other
categories of expenses. FAS also will not reimburse unreasonable
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details and a
list of eligible and ineligible expenses may be found in the MAP
regulations in section 1485.17.
5. Cost-Sharing: To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree
to contribute resources towards 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 FAS
for such generic promotion. In the case of branded 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 the design and implementation of
activities. The MAP regulations, in section 1485.16, provide a detailed
discussion of eligible and ineligible cost-share contributions.
6. 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 organizations are unlikely to carry out the project
without such assistance. The MAP generally operates on a reimbursement
basis.
7. Intergovernmental Review: An intergovernmental review may be
required. Applicants must contact their state's Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to comply with their state's process under Executive Order 12372
(see https://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf). The names and
addresses of the SPOCs are maintained at the Office of Management and
Budget's home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf.
C. Award Information
Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 01/01/2020
Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2023
It is anticipated that FAS will award approximately 70 awards under
the 2020 MAP, subject to programmatic approval and available funding.
In general, all qualified proposals received before the submission
deadline will compete for funding. FAS will review all proposals
against the evaluation criteria contained in the program regulations.
Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific
agreements. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the
agreement.
Within 90 days after the end of the period of performance, or after
an amendment has been issued to close out a grant, whichever comes
first, FAS will confirm that the participant has provided all of the
required reports and will review the reports for completeness and
content. Once the required reports are approved, FAS will prepare a
closeout letter that advises the participant of the award closeout
procedures. The notice will indicate the period of performance as
closed, list any remaining funds that will be de-obligated, and address
the requirement of maintaining the grant records for three years from
the date of the final FFR.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Submit Application Package: Organizations should
submit their MAP applications to FAS through the web-based Unified
Export Strategy (UES) system. The UES allows interested applicants to
submit a single consolidated and strategically coordinated proposal
that incorporates requests for funding under all of the FAS market
development programs. The suggested UES format encourages applicants to
examine the constraints or barriers to trade that they face, identify
activities that would help overcome such impediments, consider the
entire pool of complementary marketing tools and program resources, and
establish realistic export goals. Applicants planning to use the UES
system must first 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/.
Applicants experiencing difficulty or otherwise needing assistance
applying to the program 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:
[email protected].
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
MAP, an applicant must submit to FAS an application package consisting
of Standard Forms 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance'' (SF-424),
and 424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' (SF-424A),
which are standard forms required for use as cover sheets for
submission of applications and related information under discretionary
programs, and the information required by Section 1485.13 of the MAP
regulations. Incomplete applications or applications that do not
otherwise conform to this announcement and the MAP regulations will not
be accepted for review.
In addition, any applicant that has not provided the following
required certifications through the System for Award Management (SAM)
must
[[Page 24469]]
complete and provide them to FAS before the application can be approved
for funding:
1. SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs''
2. AD-3030 and AD-3031, ``Representations Regarding Felony
Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status For Corporate Applicants''
3. AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters''
4. AD-1049 or AD-1052 (as appropriate), ``Certification Regarding
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements''
5. Certification Regarding Lobbying. If paragraph 2 of the
certification applies, then the form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities'' must also be completed and submitted.
3. Other Required Information: 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 (866)
705-5711.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that
applies to the MAP and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR
25.110 must:
(i) Be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application or
plan; and
(ii) 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 FAS; and
(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it
submits to FAS.
FAS may not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has
complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM
requirements, and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time FAS is ready to make the award, FAS may
determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and
use that determination as a basis for making an award to another
applicant.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, each entity that
applies to MAP 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 MAP funding.
4. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, June 28, 2019. Applications
received after the deadline will not be considered.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria and Review Process: A description of the FAS process
for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating available
MAP funds is as follows:
(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 1485.12 and 1485.13
of the MAP regulations. Applications that meet the requirements will
then be further evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch office of
FAS' Cooperator Programs Division. The Commodity Branches will review
each application against the criteria listed in section 1485.14(b) and
(c) of the MAP regulations as well as in this Notice. The purpose of
this review is to identify meritorious proposals and to recommend an
appropriate funding level for each application based upon these
criteria.
(2) Phase 2--Competitive Review: Meritorious applications then will
be passed on to the Office of the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade
Programs, for the purpose of allocating available funds among the
applicants. Applicants will compete for funds on the basis of the
following allocation criteria as applicable (the number in parentheses
represents the percentage weight factor):
(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40): The applicant's 4-year
average share (2017-2020) of all contributions under the MAP compared
to the applicant's 4-year average share (2017-2020) of the funding
level for all MAP Participants.
(b) Past U.S. Export Performance (30): The 3-year average share
(2016-2018) of the value of U.S. exports promoted by the applicant
compared to the applicant's 2-year average share (2018-2019) of the
funding level for all MAP Participants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share
(2018-2019) of all Cooperator program budgets.
(c) Projected U.S. Export Goals (15): The total dollar value of
projected U.S. exports of the commodities being promoted by the
applicant for the year 2020 compared to the applicant's requested
funding level.
(d) Accuracy of Past U.S. Export Projections (15): The actual
dollar value share of U.S. exports of the commodities being promoted by
the applicant for the year 2018 as reported in the 2020 MAP application
compared to the projection of U.S. exports for 2018 as specified in the
2018 MAP application.
The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each
applicant are adjusted by each weight factor as described above to
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
In addition, FAS, prior to making a Federal award with a total
amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition
threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the
applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system
accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). An
applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated
integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on
any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously
entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM. FAS will consider any comments by the
applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated
integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants
as described in 2 CFR 200.205 ``Federal awarding agency review of risk
posed by applicants.''
F. 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 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. All successful applicants for all grant and
cooperative agreements are required to comply with the Standard
Administrative Terms and Conditions, which are available online at:
https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The applicable Standard Administrative Terms and
Conditions will be those in effect for the year in which the award was
originally made unless explicitly stated otherwise in subsequent
mutually-agreed amendments to the award.
Before accepting the award, the potential awardee should carefully
read the approval letter and program agreement for instructions on
administering the grant award and the
[[Page 24470]]
terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under Federal
Awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this NOFO as well as
any special terms and conditions in the approval letter and program
agreement to receive an award under this program.
2. Reporting: FAS requires various reports and evaluations from MAP
Participants. Required reports include an annual contributions report
that identifies, by cost category and in U.S. dollar equivalents,
contributions made by the Participant, the U.S. industry, and the
States during that program year. All MAP Participants must also report
annual results against their target market and/or regional constraint/
opportunity performance measures and must provide program success
stories on an annual basis, or more often when appropriate or required
by FAS. There are additional reporting requirements for trip reports,
evaluation reports, and research reports. Full reporting requirements
are detailed in sections 1485.22 and 1485.23 of the MAP regulations.
3. Federal Financial Reporting Requirements: The Federal Financial
Reporting Form (FFR) is available online at: https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/149786.
4. Monitoring: FAS through its authorized representatives, has the
right, at all reasonable times, to make site visits to review project
accomplishments and management control systems and to provide such
technical assistance as may be required. During site visits, FAS will
review grant recipients' files related to the grant-funded program.
As part of any monitoring and program evaluation activities, grant
recipients must permit FAS, upon reasonable notice, to review grant-
related records and to interview the organization's staff and clients
regarding the program, and to respond in a timely and accurate manner
to FAS requests for information relating to their grant program.
G. Agency Contact(s)
1. Application Submission Contact(s) and Program Support: 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: [email protected].
2. Grants Management Contact(s): Eric Bozoian, Grants Management
Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service, United States, Department of
Agriculture, Email: [email protected], Office: (202) 378-1054.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Clay Hamilton,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
Dated: May 21, 2019.
Bill Northey,
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2019-11022 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
