81 FR 19115 - Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Market Access Program
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
Commodity Credit Corporation
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
| Page Range | 19115-19117 | |
| FR Document | 2016-07636 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 19115-19117] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-07636] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation 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 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: [email protected]. Information is also available on the FAS Web site at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-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 cost-share 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 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 [[Page 19116]] 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 planning to use the web-based system 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 [email protected]. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to FAS information required by section 1485.13 of the MAP 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 (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) 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 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. Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise conform to this announcement and the MAP regulations will not be accepted for review. FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance programs including the Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program, 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 MAP, 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 MAP applicants, regardless of the method of submitting an application, must also submit a signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(E) to the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. Applications or certifications received after this date will not be considered. 4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other categories of expenses. CCC also will not reimburse unreasonable expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are available in the MAP regulations in section 1485.17. 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 MAP 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 1485.12 and 1485.13 of the MAP regulations. 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 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 a percentage weight factor): (a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)The applicant's 4-year average share (2014-2017) of all contributions under the MAP (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to the applicant's 4-year average share (2014- 2017) of the funding level for all MAP Participants. (b) Past Performance (30) The 3-year average share (2013-2015) of the value of exports promoted by the applicant compared to the applicant's 2-year average share (2015-2016) of the funding level for all MAP Participants plus, for those groups participating in the Cooperator program, the 2- year average share (2015-2016) of all Cooperator program budgets. (c) Projected Export Goals (15) The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by the applicant for 2017 compared to the applicant's requested funding level. (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15) Actual exports for 2015 as reported in the 2017 MAP application compared to past projections of exports for 2015 as specified in the 2015 MAP application. The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available and then multiplied by each weight factor as described above to determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant. 2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding decisions for the MAP are anticipated during October 2016. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval letter and program agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter and program agreement will specify the [[Page 19117]] terms and conditions applicable to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and cost-share contribution requirements. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested parties should review the MAP regulations, which are available at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the Program Operations Division. 3. Reporting: FAS requires various reports and evaluations from MAP Participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in sections 1485.22 and 1485.23 of the MAP regulations. 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 email: [email protected]. 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. 2016-07636 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices 19115
agreement will specify the terms and received after this date will not be possible producer representation of the
conditions applicable to the project, considered. commodity being promoted and that are
including the levels of Cooperator FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
nationwide in membership and scope.
program funding and cost–share Entities wishing to apply for funding For branded activities, only nonprofit
contribution requirements. assistance should contact the Program U.S. agricultural trade organizations,
2. Administrative and National Policy Operations Division, Office of Trade nonprofit state regional trade groups
Requirements: Interested parties should Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives,
review the Cooperator program by courier: Room 6512, 1400 and state government agencies can
regulations, which are available at the Independence Ave. SW., Washington, participate directly in the brand
following URL address: http:// program. The MAP generally operates
DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,
www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreign- on a reimbursement basis.
or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:
market-development-program-fmd. uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is III. Eligibility Information
Hard copies may be obtained by also available on the FAS Web site at
contacting the Program Operations 1. Eligible Applicants: To participate
the following URL address: http:// in the MAP, an applicant must be a
Division. www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market- nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade
3. Reporting: FAS requires various access-program-map. organization, a nonprofit state regional
reports and evaluations from SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: trade group, a U.S. agricultural
Cooperators. Reporting requirements are
I. Funding Opportunity Description cooperative, or a state government
detailed in the Cooperator program
agency. A small-sized U.S. commercial
regulations in sections 1484.53, 1484.70, Authority: The MAP is authorized entity may participate through a MAP
and 1484.72. under Section 203 of the Agricultural Participant.
VII. Agency Contact(s) Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP 2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the
regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485. MAP, an applicant must agree to
For additional information and Purpose: The MAP is designed to contribute resources to its proposed
assistance, contact the Program create, expand, and maintain foreign promotional activities. The MAP is
Operations Division, Office of Trade markets for U.S. agricultural intended to supplement, not supplant,
Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, commodities and products through cost- the efforts of the U.S. private sector. In
U.S. Department of Agriculture by share assistance. Financial assistance the case of generic promotion, the
courier: Room 6512, 1400 Independence under the MAP will be made available contribution must be at least 10 percent
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by on a competitive basis, and applications of the value of resources provided by
phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) will be reviewed against the evaluation CCC for such generic promotion. In the
720–9361, or by e-mail: uesadmin@ criteria contained herein and in the case of brand promotion, the
fas.usda.gov. MAP regulations. All U.S. agricultural contribution must be at least 50 percent
Signed at Washington, DC on the 25th of commodities, except tobacco, are of the total cost of such brand
March, 2016. eligible for consideration. promotion.
Bryce Quick, FAS allocates funds in a manner that The degree of commitment of an
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural effectively supports the strategic applicant to the promotional strategies
Service, and Vice President, Commodity decision-making initiatives of the contained in its application, as
Credit Corporation. Government Performance and Results represented by the cost-share
[FR Doc. 2016–07637 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am] Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding contributions specified therein, is
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P whether a proposed project will considered by FAS when determining
contribute to the effective creation, which applications will be approved for
expansion, or maintenance of foreign funding. Cost-share may be actual cash
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE markets, FAS considers whether the invested or in-kind contributions, such
applicant provides a clear, long-term as professional staff time spent on
Commodity Credit Corporation agricultural trade strategy and a program design and execution of activities. The
effectiveness time line against which MAP regulations, in section 1485.16,
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting results can be measured at specific provide a detailed discussion of eligible
Applications for the Market Access intervals using quantifiable product or and ineligible cost-share contributions.
Program country goals. FAS also considers the 3. Other: Applications should include
Announcement Type: New. extent to which a proposed project a justification for funding assistance
Catalog of Federal Domestic targets markets with the greatest growth from the program—an explanation as to
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601. potential. These factors are part of the what specifically could not be
FAS resource allocation strategy to fund accomplished without federal funding
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit
applicants who can demonstrate assistance and why participating
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is performance and address the objectives organization(s) are unlikely to carry out
inviting proposals for the 2017 Market of the GPRA. the project without such assistance.
Access Program (MAP). The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit II. Award Information IV. Application and Submission
applications from eligible applicants for Under the MAP, the CCC enters into Information
fiscal year 2017 and to set out criteria
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
agreements with eligible Participants to 1. Address To Request Application
for the award of funds under the share the cost of certain overseas Package: Organizations are encouraged
program in October 2016. The MAP is marketing and promotion activities. to submit their MAP applications to
administered by personnel of the MAP Participants may receive FAS through the web-based Unified
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). assistance for generic or brand Export Strategy (UES) application. The
DATES: All applications must be promotion activities. For generic UES allows interested applicants to
received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight activities, funding priority is given to submit a single consolidated and
Time, June 3, 2016. Applications organizations that have the broadest strategically coordinated proposal that
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices 19117
terms and conditions applicable to the Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service emerging market’s food and rural
project, including the levels of MAP by courier: Room 6512, 1400 business systems.
funding and cost-share contribution Independence Ave. SW., Washington, To be eligible, such proposals must
requirements. DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, clearly demonstrate that experts are
2. Administrative and National Policy or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: primarily agricultural consultants,
Requirements: Interested parties should podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is farmers, and other persons from the
review the MAP regulations, which are also available on the Foreign private sector and government officials,
available at the following URL address: Agricultural Service Web site at http:// and that they have expertise in assessing
http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/ www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging- the food and rural business systems of
market-access-program-map. Hard markets-program-emp. other countries.
copies may be obtained by contacting SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (b) Assistance to enable individuals
the Program Operations Division. from emerging markets to travel to the
3. Reporting: FAS requires various A. Funding Opportunity Description
United States so that these individuals
reports and evaluations from MAP Announcement Type: New. can, for the purpose of enhancing the
Participants. Reporting requirements are Catalog of Federal Domestic food and rural business systems in their
detailed in sections 1485.22 and Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603. countries, become familiar with U.S.
1485.23 of the MAP regulations. Authority: The EMP is authorized by technology and agribusiness and rural
section 1542(d)(1) of the Food, enterprise operations by consulting with
VII. Agency Contact(s) Agriculture, Conservation and Trade food and rural business system experts
For additional information and Act of 1990 (The Act), as amended. The in the United States.
assistance, contact the Program EMP regulations appear at 7 CFR part (c) Assistance to enable U.S.
Operations Division, Office of Trade 1486. agricultural producers and other
Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 1. Purpose. The EMP assists U.S. individuals knowledgeable in
U.S. Department of Agriculture by entities in developing, maintaining, or agricultural and agribusiness matters to
courier: Room 6512, 1400 Independence expanding exports of U.S. agricultural travel to emerging markets to assist in
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by commodities and products by funding transferring their knowledge and
phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) activities that improve emerging expertise to entities in emerging
720–9361, or by email: uesadmin@ markets’ food and rural business markets. Such travel must be to
fas.usda.gov. systems, including reducing potential emerging markets. Travel to developed
Signed at Washington, DC, on the 25th of trade barriers in such markets. The EMP markets is not eligible under the
March, 2016. is intended primarily to support export program even if the traveler’s targeted
Bryce Quick, market development efforts of the market is an emerging market.
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural private sector, but EMP resources may
(d) Technical assistance to implement
Service, and Vice President, Commodity also be used to assist public
the recommendations, projects, and/or
Credit Corporation. organizations.
opportunities identified under 2(a)
[FR Doc. 2016–07636 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am] All U.S. agricultural commodities,
above. Technical assistance that does
except tobacco, are eligible for
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P not implement the recommendations,
consideration. Agricultural product(s)
projects, and/or opportunities identified
should be comprised of at least 50
by assistance under 2(a) above is not
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE percent U.S. origin content by weight,
eligible under the EMP.
exclusive of added water, to be eligible
for funding. Proposals that seek support Proposals that do not fall into one or
Commodity Credit Corporation
for multiple commodities are also more of the four categories above,
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting eligible. EMP funding may only be used regardless of previous guidance
Applications for the Emerging Markets to develop, maintain, or expand provided regarding the EMP, are not
Program emerging markets for U.S. agricultural eligible for consideration under the
commodities and products through program.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit EMP funds may not be used to
Corporation (CCC) announces that it is generic activities. EMP funding may not
be used to support the export of another support normal operating costs of
inviting proposals for the 2017 individual organizations, nor as a source
Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The country’s products to the United States,
or to promote the development of a to recover pre-award costs or prior
intended effect of this notice is to solicit expenses from previous or ongoing
applications from the private sector and foreign economy as a primary objective.
2. Appropriate Activities. All EMP projects. Proposals that counter national
from government agencies for fiscal year strategies or duplicate activities planned
2017 and to set out criteria for the award projects must fall into at least one of the
following four categories: or already underway by U.S. non-profit
of funds under the program in October agricultural commodity or trade
(a) Assistance to teams consisting
2016. The EMP is administered by associations (‘‘cooperators’’) will not be
primarily of U.S. individuals expert in
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural considered. Other ineligible
assessing the food and rural business
Service (FAS). expenditures include: branded product
systems of other countries. This type of
DATES: To be considered for funding, EMP project must include all three of promotions (e.g., in-store, restaurant
applications must be received by 5 p.m. the following: advertising, labeling, etc.); advertising;
Eastern Daylight Time, June 3, 2016. • Conduct an assessment of the food
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
administrative and operational expenses
Any applications received after this and rural business system needs of an for trade shows; Web site development;
time will be considered only if funds are emerging market; equipment purchases; and the
still available. • Make recommendations on preparation and printing of brochures,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: measures necessary to enhance the flyers, and posters (except in connection
Entities wishing to apply for funding effectiveness of these systems; and with specific technical assistance
assistance should contact the Program • Identify opportunities and projects activities such as training seminars). For
Operations Division, Office of Trade to enhance the effectiveness of the a more complete description of
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Document Created: 2016-04-02 03:53:11
Document Modified: 2016-04-02 03:53:11
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| 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. | |
| 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: [email protected] Information is also available on the FAS Web | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 19115 |
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