Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Alaskan Salmon Fishing Industry, Availability of Funds

Applicants should be aware that a false statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001. Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible. Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start. Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award costs. If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with an award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of EDA. Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for funding. No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: l. The delinquent account is paid in full; 2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one payment is received; or 3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This notice involves a collection of information requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA, Forms SF-424 and SF- 424A, OMB Control Number 0348-0043. All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided: Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 105) ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies; Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies; Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B. Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD- 512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award document. EDA also requires that compliance with environmental regulations, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), be completed before construction begins. Unless otherwise noted below, eligibility, program objectives and descriptions, application procedures, selection procedures, evaluation criteria and other requirements for all programs are set forth in EDA's regulations published in the FR (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate Part II. Eligibility, grant rates, criteria and other requirements will change when EDA's interim-final rule to implement Public Law 105-393 becomes effective on February 11, 1999.

EDA will continue coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Industries is listed under CFDA 11.313.

Funding Availability

Funds in the amount of $5.0 million are available under this announcement and shall remain available until expended. These funds are provided under Section 763 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998 (P. L. 105-277).

Grant Rates

Grant or cooperative agreement rates typically are shared on 50% Federal, 50% industry basis. However, EDA may vary these rates if an acceptable justification for a lower industry rate is provided by the applicant.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be associations, unions or other nonprofit fishing industry organizations with a thorough understanding of and expertise concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry.

Proposal Submission Procedures

Proposals for assistance under this announcement must include a narrative that addresses the project selection criteria and a completed Form SF-424 and SF-424A, OMB Control No. 0348-0043, and be submitted to the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance (see Listing under ``Other Information'').

Application Procedures

A determination of whether to invite applications under this announcement will be issued based upon the Agency's review of the proposals under the evaluation criteria herein and EDA's regulations published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate part II.

Funding Instrument

Any grant or cooperative agreement awarded under this announcement will be in accordance with the requirements of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Public Law 93-618; 19 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) and EDA's regulations published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate Part II.

Project Selection Criteria

Evaluation criteria will not be assigned weights. EDA will consider several criteria, any one or a combination of which may be the basis for selecting the applicant to be funded under this notice. These criteria are the extent to which the proposal: (1) Demonstrates an understanding of the economic damage resulting from the natural disaster and trade related impacts in the Alaskan salmon fishing industry; (2) documents that the applicant has a thorough understanding of and expertise concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry and its needs; (3) makes a strong case that it will yield some short-term actions that can be implemented by firms in the Alaskan salmon fishing industry rather than relying only on long-term solutions; and (4) includes the use of a committee, with representatives from the Alaskan salmon fishing industry, to assist in providing project oversight. Trade Adjustment Assistance for industrywide projects can only be awarded to industries in which firms or workers groups have been certified as trade-impacted under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. EDA has already made this finding for the Alaskan fishing industry. EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will invite any entity whose proposal is selected to submit a full application. (SF-424, OMB Control No. 0348-0043).

Other Information

Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements for the applicable assistance program are described in EDA's regulations, published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, February 3, 1999) as separate Part II. For further information contact the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance listed below: Anthony J. Meyer, Coordinator, Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room H7317, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, Telephone: (202) 482-2127, Internet Address: tmeyer2@doc.gov

Dated: February 4, 1999. Phillip A. Singerman, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development. [FR Doc. 99-3463 Filed 2-9-99; 10:55 am] BILLING CODE 3510-24-P