83_FR_21359 83 FR 21269 - Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program

83 FR 21269 - Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Foreign Agricultural Service

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

Page Range21269-21272
FR Document2018-09867

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2019 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program. The Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019 and to set out criteria for the awarding of funds under the program.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21269-21272]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09867]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2019 Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) program. The Cooperator program is administered by 
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of CCC. 
The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from 
eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019 and to set out criteria for 
the awarding of funds under the program.

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. Applications received after this date 
will not be considered. FAS anticipates that the initial funding 
selections will be made by the end of October 2018, with the initial 
award dates estimated to be by the end of December 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants needing assistance should 
contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, 
Foreign Agricultural Service by courier: Room 6512, 1400 Independence 
Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: 
(202) 720-9361, or by email: [email protected]. Information, 
including a copy of the program regulations, is also available on the 
FAS website at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreign-market-development-program-fmd.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Funding Opportunity Description

    Announcement Type: New.
    Award Instrument: Grant.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.600.
    Authority: The Cooperator program is authorized by Title VII of the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5722), as amended. Cooperator 
program regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.
    Purpose: The Cooperator program is designed to maintain and develop 
foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities and products 
through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under the 
Cooperator program will be made available on a competitive basis and 
applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained 
herein and in the Cooperator program regulations. All

[[Page 21270]]

U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for 
consideration.
    FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding whether a proposed project will 
contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of 
foreign markets, FAS considers whether the applicant provides a clear, 
long-term agricultural trade strategy and an effective program time 
line against which results can be measured at specific intervals using 
quantifiable product or country goals. FAS also considers the extent to 
which a proposed project targets markets with the greatest growth 
potential. These factors are part of the FAS resource allocation 
strategy to fund applicants who can demonstrate performance and address 
the objectives of the GPRA.
    Funding Available: The Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended, 
provided up to $34.5 million annually for the Cooperator program 
through FY 2018. Congress has not yet determined funding levels for FY 
2019. This NOFA is being released prior to Congress appropriating 
funding for the Cooperator 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 Information

    1. Eligible Organizations: To participate in the Cooperator 
program, an applicant must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade 
organization. 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.
    2. Eligible Activities: Under the Cooperator program, FAS enters 
into agreements with eligible nonprofit U.S. trade organizations to 
share the cost of certain overseas marketing and promotion activities. 
Cooperators may receive assistance only for generic activities that do 
not involve promotions targeted directly to consumers purchasing in 
their individual capacity. The Cooperator program generally operates on 
a reimbursement basis.
    3. Limits on Activities: Cooperator program activities are approved 
for a single program year, with the approval dates specified in the 
allocation approval letter that is provided as part of the award 
approval package. Only those Cooperator program activities that are 
approved in each applicant's allocation approval letter may be 
implemented, and those activities must be implemented during the 12-
month program year specified in the allocation approval letter. 
Requests for activity changes during the program year must be approved 
in advance by FAS. Cooperator program participants must re-apply for 
the program every year.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible 
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other 
categories of expenses. FAS also will not reimburse unreasonable 
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are 
available in sections 1484.54 and 1484.55 of the Cooperator program 
regulations.
    5. Cost-Sharing: To participate in the Cooperator program, an 
applicant must agree to contribute resources to its proposed 
promotional activities. The Cooperator program is intended to 
supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. private sector. The 
contribution must be at least 50 percent of the value of resources 
provided by FAS for activities conducted under the project agreement.
    The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional 
strategies contained in its application, as represented by the cost-
share contributions specified therein, is considered by FAS when 
determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-share 
may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as 
professional staff time spent on the design and implementation of 
activities. The Cooperator program regulations, including sections 
1484.50 and 1484.51, provide detailed discussion of eligible and 
ineligible cost-share contributions.
    6. Other: Applications should include a justification for funding 
assistance from the program--an explanation as to what specifically 
could not be accomplished without federal funding assistance and why 
participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project 
without such assistance.
    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 25 awards under 
the 2019 Cooperator program, subject to programmatic approval and 
available funding. In general, all qualified proposals received before 
the submission deadline will compete for funding. FAS will review all 
proposals against the evaluation criteria contained in the program 
regulations.
    Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific 
agreements. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the 
agreement. 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. Once the closeout 
procedures have been completed, any remaining funding on the agreement 
will be deobligated.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Submit Application Package: Organizations should 
submit their Cooperator program applications to FAS through the web-
based Unified Export Strategy (UES) system. The UES allows applicants 
to submit a single consolidated and strategically coordinated proposal 
that incorporates requests for funding under all of the FAS market 
development programs. The suggested UES format encourages applicants to 
examine the constraints or barriers to trade that they face, identify 
activities that would help overcome such impediments, consider the 
entire pool of complementary marketing tools and program resources, and 
establish realistic export goals. Applicants planning to use the UES 
must first contact FAS' Program Operations Division to obtain site 
access information. The web-based application may be found at the 
following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
    Applicants experiencing difficulty or otherwise needing assistance 
applying to the program should contact the Program Operations Division, 
Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service by courier: Room 
6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: 
(202) 720-4327,

[[Page 21271]]

or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail: [email protected].
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for 
the Cooperator program, an applicant must submit to FAS the information 
required by section 1484.20 of the Cooperator program regulations. 
Incomplete applications or applications that do not otherwise conform 
to this announcement or the Cooperator program regulations will not be 
accepted for review.
    3. Other Required Information: In accordance with the Office of 
Management and Budget's policy (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003)) regarding 
the need to identify entities that are receiving government awards, all 
applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost 
by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at (866) 
705-5711.
    In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that 
applies to the Cooperator program 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 entity that 
applies to the Cooperator program and does not qualify for an exception 
under 2 CFR 170.110(b) must ensure it has the necessary processes and 
systems in place to comply with the applicable reporting requirements 
of 2 CFR part 170 should it receive funding under the Cooperator 
program.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. By the 
application deadline, all Cooperator program applicants must also 
submit to FAS a signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 
1484.20(a)(14). The completed certification statements can be sent via 
courier/delivery service 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. Applicants can also send a scanned copy of the signed 
certification statement via e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Applications or certifications received after the deadline will not be 
considered.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria and Review and Selection Process: A description of the 
FAS process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating 
available Cooperator program funds is as follows:

(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review

    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by FAS 
to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness of 
the applications. These requirements appear in sections 1484.14 and 
1484.20 of the Cooperator program regulations as well as in this 
Notice. Applications that meet the requirements will be further 
evaluated by the appropriate Commodity Branch office of FAS' Cooperator 
Programs Division. The Commodity Branch will review each application 
against the criteria listed in section 1484.21 of the Cooperator 
program regulations as well as in this Notice. The purpose of this 
review is to identify meritorious proposals. The Commodity Branch then 
recommends an appropriate funding level for each application for 
consideration by the Office of the Deputy Administrator, Office of 
Trade Programs.

(2) Phase 2--Competitive Review

    Meritorious applications are passed on to the Office of the Deputy 
Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of allocating 
available funds among those applicants. Applicants will compete for 
funds on the basis of the following allocation criteria as appropriate 
(the number in parentheses represents the percentage weight factor):
    (a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40): The applicant's 6-year 
average share (2014-2019) of all contributions under the Cooperator 
program compared to the applicant's 6-year average share (2014-2019) of 
the funding level for all Cooperator program participants.
    (b) Past U.S. Export Performance (20): The 6-year average share 
(2013-2018) of the value of U.S. exports promoted by the applicant 
compared to the applicant's 6-year average share (2013-2018) of the 
funding level for all Cooperator participants plus, for those groups 
participating in the MAP program, the 6-year average share (2013-2018) 
of all MAP budgets.
    (c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20): The 6-year average 
share (2013-2018) of the total value of world trade of the commodities 
promoted by the applicant compared to the applicant's 6-year average 
share (2013-2018) of all Cooperator program expenditures plus, for 
those groups participating in the MAP program, a 6-year average share 
(2013-2018) of all MAP expenditures.
    (d) Future Demand Expansion Goals (10): The total dollar value of 
projected world trade of the commodities being promoted by the 
applicant for the year 2024 compared to the applicant's requested 
funding level.
    (e) Accuracy of Past Demand Expansion Projections (10): The actual 
dollar value share of world trade of the commodities being promoted by 
the applicant for the year 2017 as reported in the 2019 Cooperator 
program application compared to the projection of world trade of the 
commodities being promoted by the applicant for 2017 as specified in 
the applicant's 2014 Cooperator program application.
    The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each 
applicant are adjusted by each weight factor as described above to 
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
    In addition, FAS, prior to making a Federal award with a total 
amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition 
threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the 
applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system 
accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). An 
applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated 
integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on 
any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously 
entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance 
system accessible through SAM. FAS will consider any comments by the 
applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated 
integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the 
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under 
Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants 
as described in 2 CFR 200.205 ``Federal awarding agency review of risk 
posed by applicants.''

[[Page 21272]]

F. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the 
final disposition of its application. FAS will send an approval letter 
and project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter 
and project agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable 
to the project, including the levels of Cooperator program funding and 
cost-share contribution requirements. All successful applicants for all 
grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with the 
Standard Administrative Terms and Conditions, which are available 
online at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The applicable Standard 
Administrative Terms and Conditions will be 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: FAS requires various reports and evaluations from 
Cooperators. Required reports include an annual contributions report 
that identifies contributions made by the Cooperator and the U.S. 
industry during that marketing plan year. All Cooperators must also 
complete at least one program evaluation each year and must provide 
program success stories on an annual basis, or more often when 
appropriate or required by FAS. There are additional reporting 
requirements for trip reports, evaluation reports, and research 
reports. Reporting requirements are detailed in the Cooperator program 
regulations in sections 1484.53, 1484.70, and 1484.72.

G. Agency Contact(s)

    1. Application Submission Contact(s) and Program Support: For 
additional information and assistance, contact the Program Operations 
Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture by courier: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 
720-9361, or by e-mail: [email protected].
    2. Grants Management Contact(s): Eric Bozoian, Grants Management 
Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service, United States, Department of 
Agriculture, Email: [email protected], Office: (202) 378-1054.

    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. 2018-09867 Filed 5-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices                                              21269

                                             market share for the agricultural                       event, the terms and conditions that                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                             commodity/product; and the                              apply will be those in effect for the year
                                             demonstration of how a proposed                         in which the award was originally made                Commodity Credit Corporation
                                             project will benefit the industry as a                  unless explicitly stated otherwise in
                                             whole; and                                              subsequent mutually-agreed                            Foreign Agricultural Service
                                                • Completeness and Viability of the                  amendments to the award.
                                             proposal (20%), including evidence that                                                                       Notice of Funding Availability: Inviting
                                             the organization has the knowledge,                        Before accepting the award the                     Applications for the Foreign Market
                                             expertise, ability, and resources to                    potential awardee should carefully read               Development Cooperator Program
                                             successfully implement the project, the                 the award package for instructions on
                                                                                                     administering the grant award and the                 SUMMARY:   The Commodity Credit
                                             entity’s willingness to contribute                                                                            Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
                                             resources to the project, and the                       terms and conditions associated with
                                                                                                                                                           inviting proposals for the 2019 Foreign
                                             applicant’s reported past EMP results                   responsibilities under Federal Awards.
                                                                                                                                                           Market Development Cooperator
                                             and evaluations, if applicable.                         Recipients must accept all conditions in
                                                                                                                                                           (Cooperator) program. The Cooperator
                                                3. Other Review Information: FAS,                    this NOFA as well as any special terms                program is administered by personnel of
                                             prior to making a Federal award with a                  and conditions in the approval letter                 the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
                                             total amount of Federal share greater                   and program agreement to receive an                   on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of
                                             than the simplified acquisition                         award under this program.                             this notice is to solicit applications from
                                             threshold, is required to review and
                                             consider any information about the                         2. Reporting. EMP participants must                eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019
                                             applicant that is in the designated                     provide interim and final performance                 and to set out criteria for the awarding
                                             integrity and performance system                        reports for each approved project. An                 of funds under the program.
                                             accessible through SAM (currently                       interim report must be submitted after                DATES: All applications must be
                                             FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). An                        each program year, and a separate final               received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
                                             applicant, at its option, may review                    report no later than 90 days after the                Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018.
                                             information in the designated integrity                 activity is completed. All performance                Applications received after this date
                                             and performance systems accessible                      reports must be submitted through the                 will not be considered. FAS anticipates
                                             through SAM and comment on any                          UES. In addition, a final financial report            that the initial funding selections will
                                             information about itself that a Federal                 must be submitted no later than 90 days               be made by the end of October 2018,
                                             awarding agency previously entered and                  after completion of the project. This                 with the initial award dates estimated to
                                             is currently in the designated integrity                report must provide a final accounting                be by the end of December 2018.
                                             and performance system accessible                       of all project expenditures by cost                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             through SAM. FAS will consider any                      category and include the accounting of                Applicants needing assistance should
                                             comments by the applicant, in addition                  actual contributions made to the project              contact the Program Operations
                                             to the other information in the                         by the applicant and all other                        Division, Office of Trade Programs,
                                             designated integrity and performance                    participating entities.                               Foreign Agricultural Service by courier:
                                             system, in making a judgment about the                                                                        Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave
                                             applicant’s integrity, business ethics,                 G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)                 SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by
                                             and record of performance under                                                                               phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202)
                                             Federal awards when completing the                        1. Application Submission Contact(s)                720–9361, or by email: uesadmin@
                                             review of risk posed by applicants as                   and Program Support: For additional                   fas.usda.gov. Information, including a
                                             described in 2 CFR 200.205 ‘‘Federal                    information and assistance, contact the               copy of the program regulations, is also
                                             awarding agency review of risk posed by                 Program Operations Division, Office of                available on the FAS website at the
                                             applicants.’’                                           Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural                  following URL address: http://
                                                                                                     Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture               www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreign-
                                             F. Federal Award Administration
                                                                                                     by courier: Room 6512, 1400                           market-development-program-fmd.
                                             Information
                                                                                                     Independence Ave. SW, Washington,                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                1. Award Notices: FAS will notify                    DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,
                                             each applicant in writing of the final                  or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email:               A. Funding Opportunity Description
                                             disposition of the submitted proposal.                  podadmin@fas.usda.gov.                                  Announcement Type: New.
                                             FAS will send an approval letter and                                                                            Award Instrument: Grant.
                                             project agreement to each approved                        2. Grants Management Contact(s):                      Catalog of Federal Domestic
                                             applicant. The approval letter and                      Eric Bozoian, Grants Management                       Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.600.
                                             agreement will specify the terms and                    Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,               Authority: The Cooperator program is
                                             conditions applicable to the project,                   United States, Department of                          authorized by Title VII of the
                                             including the levels of EMP funding and                 Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@                     Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
                                             cost-share contribution requirements.                   fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.                 5722), as amended. Cooperator program
                                             All successful applicants for all grant                   Signed at Washington, DC on 26th day of             regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.
                                             and cooperative agreements are required                 April, 2018.                                            Purpose: The Cooperator program is
                                             to comply with the Standard                             James Higgiston,
                                                                                                                                                           designed to maintain and develop
                                             Administrative Terms and Conditions,                                                                          foreign markets for United States
                                             which are available online at: https://                 Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural            agricultural commodities and products
                                                                                                     Service and Acting Vice President,
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_                                                                              through cost-share assistance. Financial
                                                                                                     Commodity Credit Corporation.
                                             terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The                                                                         assistance under the Cooperator
                                                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–09866 Filed 5–8–18; 8:45 am]
                                             applicable Standard Administrative                                                                            program will be made available on a
                                             Terms and Conditions will be for the                    BILLING CODE 3410–10–P                                competitive basis and applications will
                                             last year specified at that URL, unless                                                                       be reviewed against the evaluation
                                             the application is to continue an award                                                                       criteria contained herein and in the
                                             first awarded in an earlier year. In that                                                                     Cooperator program regulations. All


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:39 May 08, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00013   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM   09MYN1


                                             21270                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices

                                             U.S. agricultural commodities, except                   are approved in each applicant’s                      C. Award Information
                                             tobacco, are eligible for consideration.                allocation approval letter may be
                                                FAS allocates funds in a manner that                                                                         It is anticipated that FAS will award
                                                                                                     implemented, and those activities must
                                             effectively supports the strategic                                                                            approximately 25 awards under the
                                                                                                     be implemented during the 12-month
                                             decision-making initiatives of the                                                                            2019 Cooperator program, subject to
                                                                                                     program year specified in the allocation
                                             Government Performance and Results                                                                            programmatic approval and available
                                                                                                     approval letter. Requests for activity
                                             Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding                                                                               funding. In general, all qualified
                                                                                                     changes during the program year must
                                             whether a proposed project will                                                                               proposals received before the
                                                                                                     be approved in advance by FAS.
                                             contribute to the effective creation,                                                                         submission deadline will compete for
                                                                                                     Cooperator program participants must
                                             expansion, or maintenance of foreign                                                                          funding. FAS will review all proposals
                                                                                                     re-apply for the program every year.
                                             markets, FAS considers whether the                                                                            against the evaluation criteria contained
                                             applicant provides a clear, long-term                      4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types             in the program regulations.
                                             agricultural trade strategy and an                      of expenses are not eligible for                        Funding for successful proposals will
                                             effective program time line against                     reimbursement by the program, and                     be provided through specific
                                             which results can be measured at                        there are limits on other categories of               agreements. FAS must approve in
                                             specific intervals using quantifiable                   expenses. FAS also will not reimburse                 advance any subsequent changes to the
                                             product or country goals. FAS also                      unreasonable expenditures or                          agreement. FAS or another Federal
                                             considers the extent to which a                         expenditures made prior to approval.                  agency may be involved in the
                                             proposed project targets markets with                   Full details are available in sections                implementation of approved
                                             the greatest growth potential. These                    1484.54 and 1484.55 of the Cooperator                 agreements.
                                             factors are part of the FAS resource                    program regulations.                                    Once an award reaches its completion
                                             allocation strategy to fund applicants                     5. Cost-Sharing: To participate in the             date, FAS will confirm that the
                                             who can demonstrate performance and                     Cooperator program, an applicant must                 participant has provided all of the
                                             address the objectives of the GPRA.                     agree to contribute resources to its                  required reports and will review the
                                                Funding Available: The Agricultural                  proposed promotional activities. The                  reports for completeness and content.
                                             Trade Act of 1978, as amended,                          Cooperator program is intended to                     Once the required reports are approved,
                                             provided up to $34.5 million annually                   supplement, not supplant, the efforts of              FAS will prepare a closeout letter that
                                             for the Cooperator program through FY                   the U.S. private sector. The contribution             advises the participant of the award
                                             2018. Congress has not yet determined                   must be at least 50 percent of the value              closeout procedures. Once the closeout
                                             funding levels for FY 2019. This NOFA                   of resources provided by FAS for                      procedures have been completed, any
                                             is being released prior to Congress                     activities conducted under the project                remaining funding on the agreement
                                             appropriating funding for the                           agreement.                                            will be deobligated.
                                             Cooperator program for FY 2019. USDA
                                             makes no commitment to fund any                            The degree of commitment of an                     D. Application and Submission
                                             particular application or to make a                     applicant to the promotional strategies               Information
                                             specific number of awards regardless of                 contained in its application, as
                                                                                                     represented by the cost-share                            1. Address to Submit Application
                                             whether or at what level program                                                                              Package: Organizations should submit
                                             funding for FY 2019 is provided.                        contributions specified therein, is
                                                                                                     considered by FAS when determining                    their Cooperator program applications
                                             B. Eligibility Information                              which applications will be approved for               to FAS through the web–based Unified
                                                1. Eligible Organizations: To                        funding. Cost-share may be actual cash                Export Strategy (UES) system. The UES
                                             participate in the Cooperator program,                  invested or in-kind contributions, such               allows applicants to submit a single
                                             an applicant must be a nonprofit U.S.                   as professional staff time spent on the               consolidated and strategically
                                             agricultural trade organization. Funding                design and implementation of activities.              coordinated proposal that incorporates
                                             priority is given to organizations that                 The Cooperator program regulations,                   requests for funding under all of the
                                             have the broadest possible producer                     including sections 1484.50 and 1484.51,               FAS market development programs. The
                                             representation of the commodity being                   provide detailed discussion of eligible               suggested UES format encourages
                                             promoted and that are nationwide in                     and ineligible cost-share contributions.              applicants to examine the constraints or
                                             membership and scope.                                                                                         barriers to trade that they face, identify
                                                                                                        6. Other: Applications should include              activities that would help overcome
                                                2. Eligible Activities: Under the                    a justification for funding assistance
                                             Cooperator program, FAS enters into                                                                           such impediments, consider the entire
                                                                                                     from the program—an explanation as to                 pool of complementary marketing tools
                                             agreements with eligible nonprofit U.S.                 what specifically could not be
                                             trade organizations to share the cost of                                                                      and program resources, and establish
                                                                                                     accomplished without federal funding                  realistic export goals. Applicants
                                             certain overseas marketing and
                                                                                                     assistance and why participating                      planning to use the UES must first
                                             promotion activities. Cooperators may
                                                                                                     organization(s) are unlikely to carry out             contact FAS’ Program Operations
                                             receive assistance only for generic
                                                                                                     the project without such assistance.                  Division to obtain site access
                                             activities that do not involve
                                             promotions targeted directly to                            7. Intergovernmental Review: An                    information. The web–based application
                                             consumers purchasing in their                           intergovernmental review may be                       may be found at the following URL
                                             individual capacity. The Cooperator                     required. Applicants must contact their               address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/
                                             program generally operates on a                         state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to             webapp/.
                                             reimbursement basis.                                    comply with their state’s process under                  Applicants experiencing difficulty or
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                                                3. Limits on Activities: Cooperator                  Executive Order 12372 (see http://                    otherwise needing assistance applying
                                             program activities are approved for a                   www.fws.gov/policy/library/                           to the program should contact the
                                             single program year, with the approval                  rgeo12372.pdf). To ensure currency, the               Program Operations Division, Office of
                                             dates specified in the allocation                       names and addresses of the SPOCs are                  Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
                                             approval letter that is provided as part                maintained at the Office of Management                Service by courier: Room 6512, 1400
                                             of the award approval package. Only                     and Budget’s home page at http://                     Independence Ave. SW, Washington,
                                             those Cooperator program activities that                www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.                   DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices                                            21271

                                             or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by e–mail:                certification statements can be sent via              applicant’s 6-year average share (2013–
                                             uesadmin@fas.usda.gov.                                  courier/delivery service to the Program               2018) of the funding level for all
                                                2. Content and Form of Application                   Operations Division, Office of Trade                  Cooperator participants plus, for those
                                             Submission: To be considered for the                    Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service,               groups participating in the MAP
                                             Cooperator program, an applicant must                   U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room                  program, the 6-year average share
                                             submit to FAS the information required                  6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW,                      (2013–2018) of all MAP budgets.
                                             by section 1484.20 of the Cooperator                    Washington, DC 20250. Applicants can                     (c) Past Demand Expansion
                                             program regulations. Incomplete                         also send a scanned copy of the signed                Performance (20): The 6-year average
                                             applications or applications that do not                certification statement via e–mail to:                share (2013–2018) of the total value of
                                             otherwise conform to this                               uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Applications                   world trade of the commodities
                                             announcement or the Cooperator                          or certifications received after the                  promoted by the applicant compared to
                                             program regulations will not be                         deadline will not be considered.                      the applicant’s 6-year average share
                                             accepted for review.                                                                                          (2013–2018) of all Cooperator program
                                                3. Other Required Information: In                    E. Application Review Information                     expenditures plus, for those groups
                                             accordance with the Office of                             1. Criteria and Review and Selection                participating in the MAP program, a 6-
                                             Management and Budget’s policy (68 FR                   Process: A description of the FAS                     year average share (2013–2018) of all
                                             38402 (June 27, 2003)) regarding the                    process for reviewing applications and                MAP expenditures.
                                             need to identify entities that are                      the criteria for allocating available                    (d) Future Demand Expansion Goals
                                             receiving government awards, all                        Cooperator program funds is as follows:               (10): The total dollar value of projected
                                             applicants must submit a Dun and                                                                              world trade of the commodities being
                                                                                                     (1) Phase 1––Sufficiency Review and                   promoted by the applicant for the year
                                             Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
                                                                                                     FAS Divisional Review                                 2024 compared to the applicant’s
                                             System (DUNS) number. An applicant
                                             may request a DUNS number at no cost                      Applications received by the closing                requested funding level.
                                             by calling the dedicated toll–free DUNS                 date will be reviewed by FAS to                          (e) Accuracy of Past Demand
                                             number request line at (866) 705–5711.                  determine the eligibility of the                      Expansion Projections (10): The actual
                                                In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR                applicants and the completeness of the                dollar value share of world trade of the
                                             part 25, each entity that applies to the                applications. These requirements appear               commodities being promoted by the
                                             Cooperator program and does not                         in sections 1484.14 and 1484.20 of the                applicant for the year 2017 as reported
                                             qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR                    Cooperator program regulations as well                in the 2019 Cooperator program
                                             25.110 must:                                            as in this Notice. Applications that meet             application compared to the projection
                                                (i) Be registered in the System for                  the requirements will be further                      of world trade of the commodities being
                                             Award Management (SAM) prior to                         evaluated by the appropriate                          promoted by the applicant for 2017 as
                                             submitting an application or plan; and                  Commodity Branch office of FAS’                       specified in the applicant’s 2014
                                                (ii) Maintain an active SAM                          Cooperator Programs Division. The                     Cooperator program application.
                                             registration with current information at                Commodity Branch will review each                        The Commodity Branches’
                                             all times during which it has an active                 application against the criteria listed in            recommended funding levels for each
                                             Federal award or an application or plan                 section 1484.21 of the Cooperator                     applicant are adjusted by each weight
                                             under consideration by FAS; and                         program regulations as well as in this                factor as described above to determine
                                                (iii) Provide its DUNS number in each                Notice. The purpose of this review is to              the amount of funds allocated to each
                                             application or plan it submits to FAS.                  identify meritorious proposals. The                   applicant.
                                                FAS may not make an award to an                      Commodity Branch then recommends                         In addition, FAS, prior to making a
                                             applicant until the applicant has                       an appropriate funding level for each                 Federal award with a total amount of
                                             complied with all applicable unique                     application for consideration by the                  Federal share greater than the simplified
                                             entity identifier and SAM requirements,                 Office of the Deputy Administrator,                   acquisition threshold, is required to
                                             and, if an applicant has not fully                      Office of Trade Programs.                             review and consider any information
                                             complied with the requirements by the                                                                         about the applicant that is in the
                                             time FAS is ready to make the award,                    (2) Phase 2––Competitive Review                       designated integrity and performance
                                             FAS may determine that the applicant is                   Meritorious applications are passed                 system accessible through SAM
                                             not qualified to receive an award and                   on to the Office of the Deputy                        (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).
                                             use that determination as a basis for                   Administrator, Office of Trade                        An applicant, at its option, may review
                                             making an award to another applicant.                   Programs, for the purpose of allocating               information in the designated integrity
                                                Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR                  available funds among those applicants.               and performance systems accessible
                                             part 170, each entity that applies to the               Applicants will compete for funds on                  through SAM and comment on any
                                             Cooperator program and does not                         the basis of the following allocation                 information about itself that a Federal
                                             qualify for an exception under 2 CFR                    criteria as appropriate (the number in                awarding agency previously entered and
                                             170.110(b) must ensure it has the                       parentheses represents the percentage                 is currently in the designated integrity
                                             necessary processes and systems in                      weight factor):                                       and performance system accessible
                                             place to comply with the applicable                       (a) Applicant’s Contribution Level                  through SAM. FAS will consider any
                                             reporting requirements of 2 CFR part                    (40): The applicant’s 6-year average                  comments by the applicant, in addition
                                             170 should it receive funding under the                 share (2014–2019) of all contributions                to the other information in the
                                             Cooperator program.                                     under the Cooperator program                          designated integrity and performance
                                                4. Submission Dates and Times: All                   compared to the applicant’s 6-year                    system, in making a judgment about the
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                                             applications must be received by 5 p.m.                 average share (2014–2019) of the                      applicant’s integrity, business ethics,
                                             Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June                  funding level for all Cooperator program              and record of performance under
                                             8, 2018. By the application deadline, all               participants.                                         Federal awards when completing the
                                             Cooperator program applicants must                        (b) Past U.S. Export Performance (20):              review of risk posed by applicants as
                                             also submit to FAS a signed certification               The 6-year average share (2013–2018) of               described in 2 CFR 200.205 ‘‘Federal
                                             statement as specified in 7 CFR                         the value of U.S. exports promoted by                 awarding agency review of risk posed by
                                             1484.20(a)(14). The completed                           the applicant compared to the                         applicants.’’


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                                             21272                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 9, 2018 / Notices

                                             F. Award Administration Information                     by courier: Room 6512, 1400                           of interest are accepted in accordance
                                                1. Award Notices: FAS will notify                    Independence Ave. SW, Washington,                     with the process set forth in the
                                             each applicant in writing of the final                  DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327,                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
                                             disposition of its application. FAS will                or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by e–mail:              this notice will be asked to sign a
                                             send an approval letter and project                     podadmin@fas.usda.gov.                                consortium Cooperative Research and
                                             agreement to each approved applicant.                     2. Grants Management Contact(s):                    Development Agreement (CRADA) with
                                             The approval letter and project                         Eric Bozoian, Grants Management                       NIST. An NCCoE consortium CRADA
                                             agreement will specify the terms and                    Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service,             template can be found at: http://
                                             conditions applicable to the project,                   United States, Department of                          nccoe.nist.gov/node/138.
                                             including the levels of Cooperator                      Agriculture, Email: Eric.Bozoian@                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             program funding and cost–share                          fas.usda.gov, Office: (202) 378–1054.                 Andrea Arbelaez via email to HIT_
                                             contribution requirements. All                            Signed at Washington, DC on the 26th of             NCCOE@nist.gov; by telephone 301–
                                             successful applicants for all grant and                 April, 2018.                                          975–0214; or by mail to National
                                             cooperative agreements are required to                  James Higgiston                                       Institute of Standards and Technology,
                                             comply with the Standard                                Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural            NCCoE, 9700 Great Seneca Highway,
                                             Administrative Terms and Conditions,                    Service, and Acting Vice President,                   Rockville, MD 20850. Additional details
                                             which are available online at: https://                 Commodity Credit Corporation.                         about the healthcare sector program are
                                             www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_                        [FR Doc. 2018–09867 Filed 5–8–18; 8:45 am]            available at https://nccoe.nist.gov/
                                             terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The                   BILLING CODE 3410–10–P                                projects/use-cases/health-it/pacs.
                                             applicable Standard Administrative                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested
                                             Terms and Conditions will be for the                                                                          parties must contact NIST to request a
                                             last year specified at that URL, unless                 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                letter of interest template to be
                                             the application is to continue an award                                                                       completed and submitted to NIST.
                                             first awarded in an earlier year. In that               National Institute of Standards and                   Letters of interest will be accepted on a
                                             event, the terms and conditions that                    Technology                                            first come, first served basis. When the
                                             apply will be those in effect for the year              [Docket No. 180319295–8295–01]                        use case has been completed, NIST will
                                             in which the award was originally made                                                                        post a notice on the NCCoE healthcare
                                             unless explicitly stated otherwise in                   National Cybersecurity Center of                      sector program website at https://
                                             subsequent mutually–agreed                              Excellence (NCCoE) Securing Picture                   nccoe.nist.gov/projects/use-cases/
                                             amendments to the award.                                Archiving and Communication System                    health-it/pacs announcing the
                                                Before accepting the award the                       (PACS) Cybersecurity for the                          completion of the use case and
                                             potential awardee should carefully read                 Healthcare Sector                                     informing the public that it will no
                                             the approval letter and program                                                                               longer accept letters of interest for this
                                             agreement for instructions on                           AGENCY: National Institute of Standards               use case.
                                             administering the grant award and the                   and Technology, Department of                            Background: The NCCoE, part of
                                             terms and conditions associated with                    Commerce.                                             NIST, is a public-private collaboration
                                             responsibilities under Federal Awards.                  ACTION: Notice.                                       for accelerating the widespread
                                             Recipients must accept all conditions in                                                                      adoption of integrated cybersecurity
                                                                                                     SUMMARY:    The National Institute of                 tools and technologies. The NCCoE
                                             this NOFA as well as any special terms
                                                                                                     Standards and Technology (NIST)                       brings together experts from industry,
                                             and conditions in the approval letter
                                                                                                     invites organizations to provide                      government, and academia under one
                                             and program agreement to receive an
                                                                                                     products and technical expertise to                   roof to develop practical, interoperable
                                             award under this program.
                                                2. Reporting: FAS requires various                   support and demonstrate security                      cybersecurity approaches that address
                                             reports and evaluations from                            platforms for the Securing Picture                    the real-world needs of complex
                                             Cooperators. Required reports include                   Archiving and Communication System                    Information Technology (IT) systems.
                                             an annual contributions report that                     (PACS) Cybersecurity for the healthcare               By accelerating dissemination and use
                                             identifies contributions made by the                    sector. This notice is the initial step for           of these integrated tools and
                                             Cooperator and the U.S. industry during                 the National Cybersecurity Center of                  technologies for protecting IT assets, the
                                             that marketing plan year. All                           Excellence (NCCoE) in collaborating                   NCCoE will enhance trust in U.S. IT
                                             Cooperators must also complete at least                 with technology companies to address                  communications, data, and storage
                                             one program evaluation each year and                    cybersecurity challenges identified                   systems; reduce risk for companies and
                                             must provide program success stories on                 under the healthcare sector program.                  individuals using IT systems; and
                                             an annual basis, or more often when                     Participation in the use case is open to              encourage development of innovative,
                                             appropriate or required by FAS. There                   all interested organizations.                         job-creating cybersecurity products and
                                             are additional reporting requirements                   DATES: Collaborative activities will                  services.
                                             for trip reports, evaluation reports, and               commence as soon as enough completed                     Process: NIST is soliciting responses
                                             research reports. Reporting                             and signed letters of interest have been              from all sources of relevant security
                                             requirements are detailed in the                        returned to address all the necessary                 capabilities (see below) to enter into a
                                             Cooperator program regulations in                       components and capabilities, but no                   Cooperative Research and Development
                                             sections 1484.53, 1484.70, and 1484.72.                 earlier than June 8, 2018.                            Agreement (CRADA) to provide
                                                                                                     ADDRESSES: The NCCoE is located at                    products and technical expertise to
                                             G. Agency Contact(s)
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                                                                                                     9700 Great Seneca Highway, Rockville,                 support and demonstrate security
                                               1. Application Submission Contact(s)                  MD 20850. Letters of interest must be                 platforms for the Securing Picture
                                             and Program Support: For additional                     submitted to HIT_NCCOE@nist.gov or                    Archiving and Communication System
                                             information and assistance, contact the                 via hardcopy to National Institute of                 (PACS) Cybersecurity for the healthcare
                                             Program Operations Division, Office of                  Standards and Technology, NCCoE,                      sector. The full use case can be viewed
                                             Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural                    9700 Great Seneca Highway, Rockville,                 at: https://nccoe.nist.gov/projects/use-
                                             Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture                 MD 20850. Organizations whose letters                 cases/health-it/pacs.


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Document Created: 2018-05-09 03:17:41
Document Modified: 2018-05-09 03:17:41
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
DatesAll applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. Applications received after this date will not be considered. FAS anticipates that the initial funding selections will be made by the end of October 2018, with the initial award dates estimated to be by the end of December 2018.
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, including a copy of the program regulations, is also available on the
FR Citation83 FR 21269 

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