[Federal Register: December 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 76740-76742]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de05-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the
Market Access Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2006/2007 Market Access Program (MAP). The
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible
applicants and award funds in June 2006. The MAP is administered by
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time, March 13, 2006. Applications received after this date will not be
considered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding
assistance should contact the Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., STOP 1042, Washington, DC 20250-1042, phone: (202) 720-4327,
fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail: mosadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also
available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The MAP is authorized under section 203 of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear
at 7 CFR part 1485.
Purpose: The MAP is designed to create, expand and maintain foreign
markets for 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. All
agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for
consideration.
The FAS allocates funds in a manner that 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.
II. Award Information
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.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. To participate in the MAP, an applicant
must be: A nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit
state regional trade group (i.e., an association of State Departments
of Agriculture), a U.S. agricultural cooperative, or a State agency. A
small-sized U.S. commercial entity (other than a cooperative or
producer association) may participate through a MAP participant.
2. Cost Sharing. To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree
to contribute resources to its proposed promotional activities. The MAP
is intended to supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S.
private sector. In the case of generic promotion, the contribution must
be stated in dollars and be at least 10 percent of the value
[[Page 76741]]
of resources provided by CCC for such generic promotion. In the case of
brand promotion, the contribution must be stated in dollars and be at
least 50 percent of the total cost of such brand promotion.
The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional
strategies contained in its application, as represented by the agreed
cost share contributions specified therein, is considered by the FAS
when determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-
share may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as
professional staff time spent on design and execution of activities.
The MAP regulations, in section 1485.13(c), provide detailed discussion
of eligible and ineligible cost-share contributions.
3. Other. Applications should include a justification for funding
assistance from the program--an explanation as to what specifically
could not be accomplished without federal funding assistance and why
participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project
without such assistance.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. Organizations that are
interested in applying for MAP funds are encouraged to submit their
requests using the 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
Unified Export Strategy (UES) application Internet website. 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 FAS Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site
access information. The Internet-based application, including a Help
file containing 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 on
(202) 720-4327.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. To be considered for
the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by
the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. In addition, in accordance with
the Office of Management and Budget's issuance of a final policy (68 FR
38402) 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 1-866-705-5711. 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, the Quality Samples Program, the Technical Assistance for
Specialty Crops Program and several Export Credit Guarantee programs.
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.
3. Submission Dates and Times. All applications must be received by
5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 13, 2006. All MAP applicants,
regardless of the method of submitting an application, also must submit
by the application deadline, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an
original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR
1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). Applications or certifications received after this
date will not be considered.
4. Funding Restrictions. Certain types of expenses are not eligible
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other
categories of expenses. CCC will not reimburse unreasonable
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are
available in the MAP regulations in Sec. 1485.16.
5. Other Submission Requirements and Considerations. All Internet-
based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time, March 13, 2006. 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 form of application
must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 13, 2006, at
one of the following addresses:
Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff,
1250 Maryland Ave., SW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20024.
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.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria and Review Process. Following is a description of the
FAS process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating
available MAP funds.
(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review
Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the
FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness
of the applications. These requirements appear at sections 1485.12 and
1485.13 of the MAP regulations. Applications that 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 section 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):
[[Page 76742]]
(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
The applicant's 4-year average share (2003-2006) of all
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to
The applicant's 4-year average share (2003-2006) of the
funding level for all MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
The 3-year average share (2003-2005) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to
The applicant's 2-year average share (2004-2005) of the
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share
(2005-2006) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets, and the 2-year
average share (2004-2005) of foreign overhead provided for co-location
within a U.S. agricultural office;
(c) Projected Export Goals (15)
The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by
the applicant for 2006 compared to
The applicant's requested funding level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
Actual exports for 2004 as reported in the 2006 MAP
application compared to
Past projections of exports for 2004 as specified in the
2004 MAP application.
The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding levels for each
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available
then multiplied by each weight factor as described above to determine
the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
2. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding
decisions for the MAP are anticipated during June 2006.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices. The FAS will notify each applicant in writing of
the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval
letter and project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval
letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable
to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and cost-share
contribution requirements.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Interested
parties should review the MAP regulations which are available at the
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp.
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting MOS at (202) 720-4327.
3. Reporting. The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from
MAP participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP
regulations in section 1485.20(b) and (c).
VII. Agency Contact(s)
For additional information and assistance, contact the Marketing
Operations Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1042, Washington, DC
20250-1042, phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail:
mosadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Signed at Washington, DC, on December 9, 2005.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. E5-7950 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P