83_FR_21350 83 FR 21260 - Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program

83 FR 21260 - Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Foreign Agricultural Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 90 (May 9, 2018)

Page Range21260-21263
FR Document2018-09868

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2019 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. The TASC program 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 the U.S. private sector and government agencies for fiscal year 2019 and to set out the criteria for the awarding of funds under the program. Future announcements of funding availability for the TASC program will be made through the Grants.gov website.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21260-21263]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09868]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2019 Technical Assistance for Specialty 
Crops (TASC) program. The TASC program 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 the U.S. private 
sector and government agencies for fiscal year 2019 and to set out the 
criteria for the awarding of funds under the program. Future 
announcements of funding availability for the TASC program will be made 
through the Grants.gov website.

DATES: To be considered for funding, proposals must be received by 5 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. Any proposals 
received after this time will be considered only if funds remain 
available. FAS anticipates that the initial funding selections will be 
made by the end of December 2018, with the initial award dates 
estimated to be by the end of February 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: podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also 
available on the FAS website at http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/technical-assistance-specialty-crops-tasc.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Funding Opportunity Description

    Announcement Type: New.
    Award Instrument: Grant.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.604.
    Authority: The TASC program is authorized by section 3205 of Public 
Law 107-171. The TASC regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1487.
    Purpose: The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations 
by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or 
mitigate sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit 
or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. U.S. specialty crops, 
for the purpose of the TASC program, are defined to include all 
cultivated plants, or the products thereof, produced in the United 
States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, 
sugar, and tobacco.
    This NOFA is being released prior to Congress appropriating funding 
for the TASC program for FY 2019. USDA makes no commitment to fund any 
particular application or to make a specific number of awards 
regardless of whether or at what level program funding for FY 2019 is 
provided.

B. Eligibility and Qualification Information

    1. Eligible Organizations: Any U.S. organization, private or 
government, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. 
agricultural specialty crops may apply to the program. Government 
organizations consist of Federal, State, and local agencies. Private 
organizations may include non-profit trade associations, universities, 
agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private 
companies.
    Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may 
participate as third parties in activities carried out by eligible 
organizations, but are not

[[Page 21261]]

eligible for direct funding assistance through the program.
    2. Qualification Information: To be found eligible for 
consideration, TASC proposals must address the following criteria:
     Projects should identify and address a clear sanitary, 
phytosanitary, or technical barrier that prohibits or threatens the 
export of U.S. specialty crops;
     Projects should demonstrably benefit the represented 
industry rather than a specific company or brand;
     Projects must address barriers to exports of commercially-
available U.S. specialty crops;
     Projects should include an explanation as to what 
specifically could not be accomplished without Federal funding 
assistance and why the eligible organization(s) would be unlikely to 
carry out the project without such assistance; and
     Projects should include performance measures for 
quantifying progress and demonstrating results. In the development of 
performance measures, FAS believes the measures should meet the 
following criteria:
    [cir] Aligned: The indicator should, as closely as possible, 
measure exactly the relevant result.
    [cir] Clear: The indicator should be precise and unambiguous about 
what is being measured and how. There should be no doubt on how to 
measure or interpret the indicator.
    [cir] Quantifiable: The indicator(s) should sufficiently capture 
all of the elements of a result.
    [cir] Include an identified methodology: The data can be obtained 
to inform the indicator in a timely and efficient manner and the data 
are of high-quality.
    The full set of indicators selected to monitor project performance 
should be sufficient to inform project management and oversight.
    3. Funding Limits: Proposals that request more than $500,000 in 
funding in a given year will not be considered.
    4. Limits on Proposals: Eligible organizations may submit multi-
year proposals, although funding for continuing TASC projects is capped 
at five years. The five years do not have to be consecutive or 
conducted by the same entity, if the project is the same. Multi-year 
funding may, at FAS' discretion, be provided one year at a time with 
commitments beyond the first year subject to interim evaluations and 
funding availability. In order to validate funding eligibility, 
proposals must specify previous years of TASC funding for each proposed 
activity/title/market/constraint combination. Government entities are 
not eligible for multi-year funding.
    Applicants may submit more than one proposal, and applicants with 
previously approved TASC proposals may apply for additional funding. 
However, the maximum number of approved projects that a TASC 
participant can have underway at any given time is five.
    5. Cost-Sharing: Although highly encouraged, there is no cost share 
requirement for TASC proposals. FAS will, however, consider the 
applicant's willingness to contribute resources towards the project, 
including cash, goods, and services of the U.S. industry and foreign 
third parties, when determining which proposals are approved for 
funding.
    6. Funding Restrictions: Funded projects may take place in the 
United States or abroad. Examples of project expenses that FAS may 
agree to reimburse under the TASC program include, but are not limited 
to: Initial pre-clearance programs, export protocol and work plan 
support, seminars and workshops, study tours, field surveys, 
development of pest lists, pest, disease, and fumigant research, 
reasonable logistical and administrative support, and travel and per 
diem expenses. Certain types of expenses are not eligible for 
reimbursement by the program, such as the costs of market research, 
advertising, or other promotional expenses, and will be set forth in 
the written program agreement between FAS and the participant. FAS will 
also not reimburse unreasonable expenditures or any expenditure made 
prior to the approval of a proposal.
    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 http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf). To ensure 
currency, the names and addresses of the SPOCs are maintained at the 
Office of Management and Budget's home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.

C. Award Information

    It is anticipated that FAS will award approximately 30 awards under 
the 2019 TASC, 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. These agreements will incorporate the proposal as approved 
by FAS. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the 
agreement. FAS or another Federal agency may be involved in the 
implementation of approved agreements.
    Once an award reaches its completion date, 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. Closeout letters must 
be countersigned and returned to FAS as soon as the final claim is 
submitted and paid, but within 60 days of receipt. Once the closeout 
procedures have been completed, any remaining funding on the agreement 
will be deobligated.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) System: 
Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to 
FAS through the web-based UES application. Using the UES application 
process reduces paperwork and expedites FAS' processing and review 
time. Applicants planning to use the UES system must first contact FAS' 
Program Operations Division to obtain site access information, 
including a user ID and password. The UES internet-based application 
may be found at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
    Although FAS highly recommends applying via the web-based UES, 
applicants have the option of submitting an application to FAS via 
email at podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
    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: 
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: All TASC proposals 
must contain complete information about the proposed projects as 
described in Sec.  1487.5(b) of the TASC program regulations. 
Incomplete proposals or proposals that do not otherwise conform to this 
announcement will not be accepted for review.
    3. Other Required Information: In accordance with the Office of 
Management and Budget's policy

[[Page 21262]]

directive (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003)) regarding the need to identify 
entities that are receiving government awards, all applicants must 
submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost by calling 
the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711.
    In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that 
applies to the TASC and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR 
25.110 must:
    (i) Be registered in the System for Award Management (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 eligible 
organization that applies to the TASC 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 TASC funding.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: TASC proposals are reviewed on a 
rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as TASC funding is 
available as set forth below. FAS will track the time and date of 
receipt of all proposals:
     All proposals received via the UES or email by 5 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018, will be considered for 
funding with other proposals received by that date;
     Proposals not approved for funding during the initial 
review period will be reconsidered for funding after the review period 
only if the applicant specifically requests such reconsideration in 
writing and only if funding remains available;
     Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on 
Friday, June 8, 2018, will be considered for funding in the order 
received only if funding remains available.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation criteria set forth in Sec.  
1487.6 of the TASC regulations. Reviewers will evaluate according to 
the following criteria:
    (1) The nature of the specific export barrier and the extent to 
which the proposal is likely to successfully remove, resolve, or 
mitigate that barrier (12.5%);
    (2) The potential trade impact of the proposed project on market 
retention, market access, and market expansion, including the potential 
for expanding commercial sales in the targeted market (12.5%);
    (3) The completeness and viability of the proposal. Among other 
things, this can include the cost of the project and the amount of 
other resources dedicated to the project, including cash, goods, and 
services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties (15%);
    (4) The ability of the organization to provide an experienced staff 
with the requisite technical and trade experience to execute the 
proposal (15%);
    (5) The extent to which the proposal is targeted to a market in 
which the United States is generally competitive (17.5%);
    (6) The degree to which time is essential to addressing specific 
export barriers (5%);
    (7) The nature of the applicant organization, with a greater weight 
given to those organizations with the broadest base of producer 
representation (12.5%); and
    (8) The effectiveness of the performance measures and potential of 
the performance measures to measure project results (10%).
    2. Review and Selection Process: FAS will evaluate proposals for 
eligibility and will review each proposal deemed eligible against the 
criteria referenced above. The purpose of this review is to identify 
meritorious proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level for each 
proposal based upon these factors, and submit the proposals and funding 
recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs. 
FAS may, when appropriate, request the assistance of other U.S. 
government subject area experts in evaluating the merits of a proposal.
    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. Federal Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing 
of the final disposition of the submitted application. FAS will send an 
approval letter and agreement to each approved applicant. The approval 
letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable 
to the project, including the details of each project, responsibilities 
of the participant, levels of funding, timelines for implementation, 
and reporting 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 for the last year specified at that URL, unless the 
application is to continue an award first awarded in an earlier year. 
In that event, the terms and conditions that apply 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: TASC participants must provide interim and final 
performance reports for each approved project, each of which evaluate 
the TASC project using the performance measures

[[Page 21263]]

presented in the approved proposal, as set forth in the written program 
agreement. An interim report must be submitted after each program year, 
and a separate final report no later than 90 days after the activity is 
completed. All performance reports must be submitted through the UES. 
In addition, a final financial report must be submitted no later than 
90 days after completion of the project. This report must provide a 
final accounting of all project expenditures by cost category and 
include the accounting of actual contributions made to the project by 
the applicant and all other participating entities.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    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, United States, Department of 
Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378-1054.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on the 26th of April, 2018.
James Higgiston,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Acting Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2018-09868 Filed 5-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-10-P



                                             21260                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices

                                             months of the effective date of the                     report must be submitted no later than                funds remain available. FAS anticipates
                                             agreement), compliance with cargo                       90 days after completion of the project.              that the initial funding selections will
                                             preference requirements (shipment on                    This report must provide a final                      be made by the end of December 2018,
                                             United States flag vessels, as required),               accounting of all project expenditures                with the initial award dates estimated to
                                             compliance with the Fly America Act                     by cost category and include the                      be by the end of February 2019.
                                             requirements (shipment on United                        accounting of actual contributions made               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             States air carriers, as required), timely               to the project by the applicant and all               Applicants needing assistance should
                                             and effective implementation of                         other participating entities.                         contact the Program Operations
                                             technical assistance, and submission of                                                                       Division, Office of Trade Programs,
                                             a written evaluation report within 90                   G. Agency Contact(s)
                                                                                                                                                           Foreign Agricultural Service by courier:
                                             days of expiration or termination of the                  1. Application Submission Contact(s)                Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave.
                                             agreement.                                              and Program Support: For additional                   SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by
                                                All successful applicants for all grant              information and assistance, contact the               phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)
                                             and cooperative agreements are required                 Program Operations Division, Office of                720–9361, or by email: podadmin@
                                             to comply with the Standard                             Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural                  fas.usda.gov. Information is also
                                             Administrative Terms and Conditions,                    Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture               available on the FAS website at http://
                                             which are available online at: https://                 by courier: Room 6512, 1400                           www.fas.usda.gov/programs/technical-
                                             www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_                        Independence Ave. SW, Washington,                     assistance-specialty-crops-tasc.
                                             terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The                   DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,
                                             applicable Standard Administrative                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                     or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:
                                             Terms and Conditions will be for the                    podadmin@fas.usda.gov.                                A. Funding Opportunity Description
                                             last year specified at that URL, unless                   2. Grants Management Contact(s):
                                             the application is to continue an award                 Eric Bozoian, Grants Management                         Announcement Type: New.
                                             first awarded in an earlier year. In that               Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,               Award Instrument: Grant.
                                             event, the terms and conditions that                    United States, Department of                            Catalog of Federal Domestic
                                             apply will be those in effect for the year              Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@                     Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.604.
                                             in which the award was originally made                  fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.                   Authority: The TASC program is
                                             unless explicitly stated otherwise in                                                                         authorized by section 3205 of Public
                                                                                                       Signed at Washington, DC, on the 6 of               Law 107–171. The TASC regulations
                                             subsequent mutually-agreed                              April, 2018.
                                             amendments to the award.                                                                                      appear at 7 CFR part 1487.
                                                                                                     Bobby Richey, Jr.,                                      Purpose: The TASC program is
                                                Before accepting the award the
                                                                                                     Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural            designed to assist U.S. organizations by
                                             potential awardee should carefully read
                                                                                                     Service, and Acting Vice President,                   providing funding for projects that seek
                                             the approval letter and program                         Commodity Credit Corporation.
                                             agreement for instructions on                                                                                 to remove, resolve, or mitigate sanitary,
                                                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–09869 Filed 5–8–18; 8:45 am]            phytosanitary, or technical barriers that
                                             administering the grant award and the
                                             terms and conditions associated with                    BILLING CODE 3410–10–P                                prohibit or threaten the export of U.S.
                                             responsibilities under Federal Awards.                                                                        specialty crops. U.S. specialty crops, for
                                             Recipients must accept all conditions in                                                                      the purpose of the TASC program, are
                                                                                                     DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                             defined to include all cultivated plants,
                                             this NOFA as well as any special terms
                                             and conditions in the approval letter                                                                         or the products thereof, produced in the
                                                                                                     Commodity Credit Corporation
                                             and program agreement to receive an                                                                           United States except wheat, feed grains,
                                             award under this program.                                                                                     oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar,
                                                                                                     Foreign Agricultural Service
                                                QSP projects are subject to review and                                                                     and tobacco.
                                             verification by FAS’ Compliance,                        Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting                This NOFA is being released prior to
                                             Security, and Emergency Planning                        Applications for the Technical                        Congress appropriating funding for the
                                             Division. Upon request, a QSP                           Assistance for Specialty Crops                        TASC program for FY 2019. USDA
                                             participant shall provide to FAS the                    Program                                               makes no commitment to fund any
                                             original documents that support the                                                                           particular application or to make a
                                             participant’s reimbursement claims.                     SUMMARY:   The Commodity Credit                       specific number of awards regardless of
                                             FAS may deny a claim for                                Corporation (CCC) announces that it is                whether or at what level program
                                             reimbursement if the claim is not                       inviting proposals for the 2019                       funding for FY 2019 is provided.
                                             supported by adequate documentation.                    Technical Assistance for Specialty
                                                2. Reporting: A written evaluation                   Crops (TASC) program. The TASC                        B. Eligibility and Qualification
                                             report must be submitted via the UES                    program is administered by personnel of               Information
                                             within 90 days of the expiration or                     the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)                   1. Eligible Organizations: Any U.S.
                                             termination of each participant’s QSP                   on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of              organization, private or government,
                                             agreement. Evaluation reports should                    this notice is to solicit proposals from              with a demonstrated role or interest in
                                             address all performance measures that                   the U.S. private sector and government                exporting U.S. agricultural specialty
                                             were presented in the proposal and                      agencies for fiscal year 2019 and to set              crops may apply to the program.
                                             must include the following standard                     out the criteria for the awarding of funds            Government organizations consist of
                                             performance measures: (1) The number                    under the program. Future                             Federal, State, and local agencies.
                                             of people/organizations/companies                       announcements of funding availability                 Private organizations may include non–
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             trained, (2) the percent of trainees that               for the TASC program will be made                     profit trade associations, universities,
                                             have a better understanding of the                      through the Grants.gov website.                       agricultural cooperatives, state regional
                                             commodity qualities and uses, and (3)                   DATES: To be considered for funding,                  trade groups, and private companies.
                                             the number of people requesting                         proposals must be received by 5 p.m.                     Foreign organizations, whether
                                             additional information about the                        Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June                government or private, may participate
                                             commodity by the date of the final                      8, 2018. Any proposals received after                 as third parties in activities carried out
                                             report. In addition, a final financial                  this time will be considered only if                  by eligible organizations, but are not


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices                                            21261

                                             eligible for direct funding assistance                  entities are not eligible for multi–year              agreements. These agreements will
                                             through the program.                                    funding.                                              incorporate the proposal as approved by
                                                2. Qualification Information: To be                     Applicants may submit more than one                FAS. FAS must approve in advance any
                                             found eligible for consideration, TASC                  proposal, and applicants with                         subsequent changes to the agreement.
                                             proposals must address the following                    previously approved TASC proposals                    FAS or another Federal agency may be
                                             criteria:                                               may apply for additional funding.                     involved in the implementation of
                                                • Projects should identify and                       However, the maximum number of                        approved agreements.
                                             address a clear sanitary, phytosanitary,                approved projects that a TASC                           Once an award reaches its completion
                                             or technical barrier that prohibits or                  participant can have underway at any                  date, FAS will confirm that the
                                             threatens the export of U.S. specialty                  given time is five.                                   participant has provided all of the
                                             crops;                                                     5. Cost–Sharing: Although highly                   required reports and will review the
                                                • Projects should demonstrably                       encouraged, there is no cost share                    reports for completeness and content.
                                             benefit the represented industry rather                 requirement for TASC proposals. FAS                   Once the required reports are approved,
                                             than a specific company or brand;                       will, however, consider the applicant’s               FAS will prepare a closeout letter that
                                                • Projects must address barriers to                  willingness to contribute resources                   advises the participant of the award
                                             exports of commercially–available U.S.                  towards the project, including cash,                  closeout procedures. Closeout letters
                                             specialty crops;                                        goods, and services of the U.S. industry              must be countersigned and returned to
                                                • Projects should include an                         and foreign third parties, when                       FAS as soon as the final claim is
                                             explanation as to what specifically                     determining which proposals are                       submitted and paid, but within 60 days
                                             could not be accomplished without                       approved for funding.                                 of receipt. Once the closeout procedures
                                                                                                        6. Funding Restrictions: Funded                    have been completed, any remaining
                                             Federal funding assistance and why the
                                                                                                     projects may take place in the United                 funding on the agreement will be
                                             eligible organization(s) would be
                                                                                                     States or abroad. Examples of project                 deobligated.
                                             unlikely to carry out the project without
                                                                                                     expenses that FAS may agree to
                                             such assistance; and                                                                                          D. Application and Submission
                                                                                                     reimburse under the TASC program
                                                • Projects should include                            include, but are not limited to: Initial              Information
                                             performance measures for quantifying                    pre-clearance programs, export protocol                  1. Application through the Unified
                                             progress and demonstrating results. In                  and work plan support, seminars and                   Export Strategy (UES) System:
                                             the development of performance                          workshops, study tours, field surveys,                Organizations are strongly encouraged
                                             measures, FAS believes the measures                     development of pest lists, pest, disease,             to submit their applications to FAS
                                             should meet the following criteria:                     and fumigant research, reasonable                     through the web-based UES application.
                                                Æ Aligned: The indicator should, as                  logistical and administrative support,                Using the UES application process
                                             closely as possible, measure exactly the                and travel and per diem expenses.                     reduces paperwork and expedites FAS’
                                             relevant result.                                        Certain types of expenses are not                     processing and review time. Applicants
                                                Æ Clear: The indicator should be                     eligible for reimbursement by the                     planning to use the UES system must
                                             precise and unambiguous about what is                   program, such as the costs of market                  first contact FAS’ Program Operations
                                             being measured and how. There should                    research, advertising, or other                       Division to obtain site access
                                             be no doubt on how to measure or                        promotional expenses, and will be set                 information, including a user ID and
                                             interpret the indicator.                                forth in the written program agreement                password. The UES internet-based
                                                Æ Quantifiable: The indicator(s)                     between FAS and the participant. FAS                  application may be found at the
                                             should sufficiently capture all of the                  will also not reimburse unreasonable                  following URL address: https://
                                             elements of a result.                                   expenditures or any expenditure made                  www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
                                                Æ Include an identified methodology:                 prior to the approval of a proposal.                     Although FAS highly recommends
                                             The data can be obtained to inform the                     7. Intergovernmental Review: An                    applying via the web-based UES,
                                             indicator in a timely and efficient                     intergovernmental review may be                       applicants have the option of submitting
                                             manner and the data are of high–quality.                required. Applicants must contact their               an application to FAS via email at
                                                The full set of indicators selected to               state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to             podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
                                             monitor project performance should be                   comply with their state’s process under                  Applicants experiencing difficulty or
                                             sufficient to inform project management                 Executive Order 12372 (see http://                    otherwise needing assistance applying
                                             and oversight.                                          www.fws.gov/policy/library/                           to the program should contact the
                                                3. Funding Limits: Proposals that                    rgeo12372.pdf). To ensure currency, the               Program Operations Division, Office of
                                             request more than $500,000 in funding                   names and addresses of the SPOCs are                  Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
                                             in a given year will not be considered.                 maintained at the Office of Management                Service by courier: Room 6512, 1400
                                                4. Limits on Proposals: Eligible                     and Budget’s home page at http://                     Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
                                             organizations may submit multi–year                     www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.                   DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,
                                             proposals, although funding for                                                                               or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:
                                             continuing TASC projects is capped at                   C. Award Information                                  podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
                                             five years. The five years do not have to                  It is anticipated that FAS will award                 2. Content and Form of Application
                                             be consecutive or conducted by the                      approximately 30 awards under the                     Submission: All TASC proposals must
                                             same entity, if the project is the same.                2019 TASC, subject to programmatic                    contain complete information about the
                                             Multi–year funding may, at FAS’                         approval and available funding. In                    proposed projects as described in
                                             discretion, be provided one year at a                   general, all qualified proposals received             § 1487.5(b) of the TASC program
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                                             time with commitments beyond the first                  before the submission deadline will                   regulations. Incomplete proposals or
                                             year subject to interim evaluations and                 compete for funding. FAS will review                  proposals that do not otherwise conform
                                             funding availability. In order to validate              all proposals against the evaluation                  to this announcement will not be
                                             funding eligibility, proposals must                     criteria contained in the program                     accepted for review.
                                             specify previous years of TASC funding                  regulations.                                             3. Other Required Information: In
                                             for each proposed activity/title/market/                   Funding for successful proposals will              accordance with the Office of
                                             constraint combination. Government                      be provided through specific                          Management and Budget’s policy


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                                             21262                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices

                                             directive (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003))                 E. Application Review Information                     information in the designated integrity
                                             regarding the need to identify entities                    1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation            and performance systems accessible
                                             that are receiving government awards,                   criteria set forth in § 1487.6 of the TASC            through SAM and comment on any
                                             all applicants must submit a Dun and                    regulations. Reviewers will evaluate                  information about itself that a Federal
                                             Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering                     according to the following criteria:                  awarding agency previously entered and
                                             System (DUNS) number. An applicant                         (1) The nature of the specific export              is currently in the designated integrity
                                             may request a DUNS number at no cost                    barrier and the extent to which the                   and performance system accessible
                                             by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS                 proposal is likely to successfully                    through SAM. FAS will consider any
                                             number request line at (866) 705–5711.                  remove, resolve, or mitigate that barrier             comments by the applicant, in addition
                                                In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR                                                                      to the other information in the
                                                                                                     (12.5%);
                                             part 25, each entity that applies to the                   (2) The potential trade impact of the              designated integrity and performance
                                             TASC and does not qualify for an                                                                              system, in making a judgment about the
                                                                                                     proposed project on market retention,
                                             exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must:                                                                            applicant’s integrity, business ethics,
                                                                                                     market access, and market expansion,
                                                                                                                                                           and record of performance under
                                                (i) Be registered in the System for                  including the potential for expanding
                                                                                                                                                           Federal awards when completing the
                                             Award Management (SAM) prior to                         commercial sales in the targeted market
                                                                                                                                                           review of risk posed by applicants as
                                             submitting an application or plan; and                  (12.5%);
                                                                                                                                                           described in 2 CFR 200.205 ‘‘Federal
                                                (ii) Maintain an active SAM                             (3) The completeness and viability of
                                                                                                                                                           awarding agency review of risk posed by
                                             registration with current information at                the proposal. Among other things, this
                                                                                                                                                           applicants.’’
                                             all times during which it has an active                 can include the cost of the project and
                                             Federal award or an application or plan                 the amount of other resources dedicated               F. Award Administration Information
                                             under consideration by FAS; and                         to the project, including cash, goods,                   1. Federal Award Notices: FAS will
                                                                                                     and services of the U.S. industry and                 notify each applicant in writing of the
                                                (iii) Provide its DUNS number in each                foreign third parties (15%);
                                             application or plan it submits to FAS.                                                                        final disposition of the submitted
                                                                                                        (4) The ability of the organization to             application. FAS will send an approval
                                                FAS may not make an award to an                      provide an experienced staff with the                 letter and agreement to each approved
                                             applicant until the applicant has                       requisite technical and trade experience              applicant. The approval letter and
                                             complied with all applicable unique                     to execute the proposal (15%);                        agreement will specify the terms and
                                             entity identifier and SAM requirements,                    (5) The extent to which the proposal               conditions applicable to the project,
                                             and, if an applicant has not fully                      is targeted to a market in which the                  including the details of each project,
                                             complied with the requirements by the                   United States is generally competitive                responsibilities of the participant, levels
                                             time FAS is ready to make the award,                    (17.5%);                                              of funding, timelines for
                                             FAS may determine that the applicant is                    (6) The degree to which time is                    implementation, and reporting
                                             not qualified to receive an award and                   essential to addressing specific export               requirements. All successful applicants
                                             use that determination as a basis for                   barriers (5%);                                        for all grant and cooperative agreements
                                             making an award to another applicant.                      (7) The nature of the applicant                    are required to comply with the
                                                Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR                  organization, with a greater weight                   Standard Administrative Terms and
                                             part 170, each eligible organization that               given to those organizations with the                 Conditions, which are available online
                                             applies to the TASC program and does                    broadest base of producer representation              at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/
                                             not qualify for an exception under 2                    (12.5%); and                                          general_terms_and_conditions/
                                             CFR 170.110(b) must ensure it has the                      (8) The effectiveness of the                       default.asp. The applicable Standard
                                             necessary processes and systems in                      performance measures and potential of                 Administrative Terms and Conditions
                                             place to comply with the applicable                     the performance measures to measure                   will be for the last year specified at that
                                             reporting requirements of 2 CFR part                    project results (10%).                                URL, unless the application is to
                                             170 should it receive TASC funding.                        2. Review and Selection Process: FAS               continue an award first awarded in an
                                                4. Submission Dates and Times:                       will evaluate proposals for eligibility               earlier year. In that event, the terms and
                                             TASC proposals are reviewed on a                        and will review each proposal deemed                  conditions that apply will be those in
                                             rolling basis during the fiscal year as                 eligible against the criteria referenced              effect for the year in which the award
                                             long as TASC funding is available as set                above. The purpose of this review is to               was originally made unless explicitly
                                             forth below. FAS will track the time and                identify meritorious proposals,                       stated otherwise in subsequent
                                             date of receipt of all proposals:                       recommend an appropriate funding                      mutually–agreed amendments to the
                                                                                                     level for each proposal based upon these              award.
                                                • All proposals received via the UES                 factors, and submit the proposals and                    Before accepting the award the
                                             or email by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight                     funding recommendations to the Deputy                 potential awardee should carefully read
                                             Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018, will be                  Administrator, Office of Trade                        the approval letter and program
                                             considered for funding with other                       Programs. FAS may, when appropriate,                  agreement for instructions on
                                             proposals received by that date;                        request the assistance of other U.S.                  administering the grant award and the
                                                • Proposals not approved for funding                 government subject area experts in                    terms and conditions associated with
                                             during the initial review period will be                evaluating the merits of a proposal.                  responsibilities under Federal Awards.
                                             reconsidered for funding after the                         In addition, FAS, prior to making a                Recipients must accept all conditions in
                                             review period only if the applicant                     Federal award with a total amount of                  this NOFA as well as any special terms
                                             specifically requests such                              Federal share greater than the simplified             and conditions in the approval letter
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                                             reconsideration in writing and only if                  acquisition threshold, is required to                 and program agreement to receive an
                                             funding remains available;                              review and consider any information                   award under this program.
                                                • Proposals received after 5 p.m.                    about the applicant that is in the                       2. Reporting: TASC participants must
                                             Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June                  designated integrity and performance                  provide interim and final performance
                                             8, 2018, will be considered for funding                 system accessible through SAM                         reports for each approved project, each
                                             in the order received only if funding                   (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).              of which evaluate the TASC project
                                             remains available.                                      An applicant, at its option, may review               using the performance measures


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices                                              21263

                                             presented in the approved proposal, as                  Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018.                        factors are part of the FAS resource
                                             set forth in the written program                        Applications received after this date                 allocation strategy to fund applicants
                                             agreement. An interim report must be                    will not be considered. FAS anticipates               who can best demonstrate performance
                                             submitted after each program year, and                  that the initial funding selections will              and address the objectives of the GPRA.
                                             a separate final report no later than 90                be made by the end of October 2018,                      Funding Available: The Agricultural
                                             days after the activity is completed. All               with the initial award dates estimated to             Trade Act of 1978, as amended,
                                             performance reports must be submitted                   be by the end of December 2018.                       provided up to $200 million annually
                                             through the UES. In addition, a final                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      for MAP through FY 2018. Congress has
                                             financial report must be submitted no                   Applicants needing assistance should                  not yet determined funding levels for
                                             later than 90 days after completion of                  contact the Program Operations                        FY 2019. This NOFA is being released
                                             the project. This report must provide a                 Division, Office of Trade Programs,                   prior to Congress appropriating funding
                                             final accounting of all project                         Foreign Agricultural Service by courier:              for the MAP program for FY 2019.
                                             expenditures by cost category and                       Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave.                     USDA makes no commitment to fund
                                             include the accounting of actual                        SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by                       any particular application or to make a
                                             contributions made to the project by the                phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)               specific number of awards regardless of
                                             applicant and all other participating                   720–9361, or by email: uesadmin@                      whether or at what level program
                                             entities.                                               fas.usda.gov. Information, including a                funding for FY 2019 is provided.
                                             G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts                     copy of the program regulations, is also              B. Eligibility Information
                                                                                                     available on the FAS website at the                      1. Eligible Organizations: To
                                               1. Application Submission Contact(s)                  following URL address: http://
                                             and Program Support: For additional                                                                           participate in the MAP, an applicant
                                                                                                     www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market-                     must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural
                                             information and assistance, contact the                 access-program-map.
                                             Program Operations Division, Office of                                                                        trade organization, a nonprofit state
                                                                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            regional trade group, a U.S. agricultural
                                             Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
                                             Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture                 A. Funding Opportunity Description                    cooperative, or a state government
                                             by courier: Room 6512, 1400                                                                                   agency. Small-sized private U.S.
                                                                                                       Announcement Type: New.                             commercial entities may participate in a
                                             Independence Ave. SW, Washington,                         Award Instrument: Grant.
                                             DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,                                                                        branded program through a MAP
                                                                                                       Catalog of Federal Domestic
                                             or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:                                                                       Participant.
                                                                                                     Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
                                             podadmin@fas.usda.gov.                                                                                           2. Eligible Activities: MAP
                                                                                                       Authority: The MAP is authorized under              Participants may receive assistance for
                                               2. Grants Management Contact(s):                      Section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of
                                             Eric Bozoian, Grants Management                                                                               generic or brand promotion activities.
                                                                                                     1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623), as amended. MAP                 For generic activities, funding priority is
                                             Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,               regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485.
                                             United States, Department of                                                                                  given to organizations that have the
                                                                                                        Purpose: The MAP is designed to                    broadest possible producer
                                             Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@
                                                                                                     encourage the development,                            representation of the commodity being
                                             fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.
                                                                                                     maintenance, and expansion of                         promoted and that are nationwide in
                                               Signed at Washington, DC, on the 26th of              commercial export markets for United                  membership and scope. For branded
                                             April, 2018.                                            States agricultural commodities and                   activities, only nonprofit U.S.
                                             James Higgiston,                                        products through cost-share assistance.               agricultural trade organizations,
                                             Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural              Under the MAP, FAS enters into                        nonprofit state regional trade groups
                                             Service, and Acting Vice President,                     agreements with eligible Participants to              (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives,
                                             Commodity Credit Corporation.                           share the cost of certain overseas                    and state government agencies can
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–09868 Filed 5–8–18; 8:45 am]              marketing and promotion activities.                   participate directly in the brand
                                             BILLING CODE 3410–10–P                                  Financial assistance under the MAP is                 program.
                                                                                                     made available on a competitive basis,                   3. Limits on Activities: MAP activities
                                                                                                     and applications are reviewed against                 are approved for a single program year,
                                             DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               the evaluation criteria contained herein              with the approval dates specified in the
                                                                                                     and in the MAP regulations. All U.S.                  allocation approval letter that is
                                             Commodity Credit Corporation
                                                                                                     agricultural commodities, except                      provided as part of the award approval
                                                                                                     tobacco, are eligible for consideration.              package. Only those MAP activities that
                                             Foreign Agricultural Service                               FAS allocates funds in a manner that               are approved in each applicant’s
                                             Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting                effectively supports the strategic                    allocation approval letter may be
                                             Applications for the Market Access                      decision-making initiatives of the                    implemented, and those activities must
                                             Program                                                 Government Performance and Results                    be implemented during the 12-month
                                                                                                     Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding                       program year specified in the allocation
                                             SUMMARY:   The Commodity Credit                         whether a proposed project will                       approval letter. Requests for activity
                                             Corporation (CCC) announces that it is                  contribute to the effective creation,                 changes during the program year must
                                             inviting applications for the 2019                      expansion, or maintenance of foreign                  be approved in advance by FAS. MAP
                                             Market Access Program (MAP). The                        markets, FAS considers whether the                    Participants must re-apply for the
                                             MAP is administered by personnel of                     applicant provides a clear, long-term                 program every year.
                                             the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)                  agricultural trade strategy and an                       4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types
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                                             on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of                effective program time line against                   of expenses are not eligible for
                                             this notice is to solicit proposals from                which results can be measured at                      reimbursement by the program, and
                                             eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019                specific intervals using quantifiable                 there are limits on other categories of
                                             and to set out the criteria for the                     product or country goals. FAS also                    expenses. FAS also will not reimburse
                                             awarding of funds under the program.                    considers the extent to which a                       unreasonable expenditures or
                                             DATES: All applications must be                         proposed project targets markets with                 expenditures made prior to approval.
                                             received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight                     the greatest growth potential. These                  Full details and a complete list of


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Document Created: 2018-05-09 03:17:30
Document Modified: 2018-05-09 03:17:30
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesTo be considered for funding, proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. Any proposals received after this time will be considered only if funds remain available. FAS anticipates that the initial funding selections will be made by the end of December 2018, with the initial award dates estimated to be by the end of February 2019.
ContactApplicants 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 is also available on the FAS website at http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/ technical-assistance-specialty-crops-tasc.
FR Citation83 FR 21260 

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