[Federal Register: January 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2486-2487]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ja03-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Announcement of the 2003/2004 Market Access Program
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for the
2003/2004 Market Access Program.
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern standard
time, March 10, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4932-S, STOP
1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042, (202)
720-4327.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that applications
are being accepted for participation in the 2003/2004 Market Access
Program (MAP). The MAP is designed to create, expand and maintain
foreign markets for United States' agricultural commodities and
products through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under the
MAP will be made available on a competitive basis and applications will
be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained herein. The MAP
is administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Under the MAP, the CCC enters into agreements with eligible
participants to share the costs of certain overseas marketing and
promotion activities. MAP participants may receive assistance for
either generic or brand promotion activities. The program generally
operates on a reimbursement basis.
Authority
The MAP is authorized under section 203 of the Agricultural Trade
Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1485.
Eligible Applicants
To participate in the MAP, an applicant must be: a nonprofit U.S.
agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit state regional trade group
(i.e., an association of State Departments of Agriculture), a U.S.
agricultural cooperative, a State agency, or a small-sized U.S.
commercial entity (other than a cooperative or producer association).
Application Process
To be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS
information required by the MAP regulations set forth in 7 CFR part
1485. Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
The FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance
programs including the Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) Program, Cochran Fellowships, the Emerging Markets Program
(EMP), the Quality Samples Program (QSP), the Section 108 Foreign
Currency Program, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC)
program and several Export Credit Guarantee programs. Organizations
which are interested in applying for MAP funds are encouraged to submit
their requests using the Unified Export Strategy (UES) format. The UES
allows interested entities to submit a consolidated and strategically
coordinated single proposal that incorporates requests for funding and
recommendations for virtually all the FAS marketing programs, financial
assistance programs, and market access programs. The suggested UES
format encourages applicants to examine the constraints or barriers to
trade which they face, identify activities which would help overcome
such impediments, consider the entire pool of complementary marketing
tools and program resources, and establish realistic export goals.
Applicants are not required, however, to use the UES format.
Organizations can submit applications in the UES format by two
methods. The first allows an applicant to submit information directly
to the FAS through the UES application Internet Web site. The FAS
highly recommends applying via the Internet, as this format virtually
eliminates paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review cycle.
Applicants also have the option of submitting electronic versions
(along with two paper copies) of their applications to the FAS on
diskette.
Applicants planning to use the Internet-based system must contact
the
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FAS Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access
information. The Internet-based application, including step-by-step
instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL address:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain
an application format by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff at
(202) 720-4327.
All MAP applicants, whether applying via the Internet or diskette,
also must submit by March 10, 2003, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an
original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR
1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G).
Any organization that is not interested in applying for the MAP but
would like to request assistance through one of the other programs
mentioned should contact the Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-
4327.
Review Process and Allocation Criteria
The FAS allocates funds in a manner which effectively supports the
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the USDA's Food and Agricultural Policy
(FAP). In deciding whether a proposed project will contribute to the
effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets, the
FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade strategy
and a program effectiveness time line against which results can be
measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country
goals. The 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 and FAP.
Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing
applications and the criteria for allocating available MAP funds.
(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review
Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the
FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness
of the applications. These requirements appear at Sec. 1485.12 and
Sec. 1485.13 of the MAP regulations. Applications which meet the
requirements then will be further evaluated by the proper FAS Commodity
Division. The Divisions will review each application against the
criteria listed in Sec. 1485.14 of the MAP regulations. The purpose of
this review is to identify meritorious proposals and to recommend an
appropriate funding level for each application based upon these
criteria.
(2) Phase 2--Competitive Review
Meritorious applications then will be passed on to the Office of
the Deputy Administrator, Commodity and Marketing Programs, for the
purpose of allocating available funds among the applicants.
Applications will compete for funds on the basis of the following
allocation criteria (the number in parentheses represents a percentage
weight factor):
(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
[sbull] The applicant's 4-year average share (2000-2003) of all
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to
[sbull] The applicant's 4-year average share (2000-2003) of the
funding level for all MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
[sbull] The 3-year average share (2000-2002) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to
[sbull] The applicant's 2-year average share (2001-2002) of the
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share
(2002-2003) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets, and the 2-year
average share (2001-2002) of foreign overhead provided for co-location
within a U.S. agricultural office;
(c) Projected Export Goals (15)
[sbull] The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by the
applicant for 2003 compared to
[sbull] The applicant's requested funding level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
[sbull] Actual exports for 2001 as reported in the 2003 MAP
application compared to
[sbull] Past projections of exports for 2001 as specified in the
2001 MAP application.
The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding levels for each
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available
then multiplied by the total weight factor as described above to
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
Closing Date for Applications
All Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5
p.m. eastern standard time, March 10, 2003. Signed certification
statements also must be received by that time at one of the addresses
listed below.
All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies
and a signed certification statement) and any other applications must
be received by 5 p.m. eastern standard time, March 10, 2003, at one of
the following addresses:
Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff,
Room 4932-S, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
1042.
U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign
Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042.
Signed in Washington, DC on January 8, 2003.
Kenneth J. Roberts,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-1116 Filed 1-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P