[Federal Register: December 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 68553-68554]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05de07-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-07-0126; TM-07-13]
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the
availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds
for fiscal year 2008 to enable States to explore new market
opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage
research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and
performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include
State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment
stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are
encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, community-based
organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and
conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, the information collection requirements have been previously
approved by OMB under 0581-0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement
Program (FSMIP).
DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP
Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4009 South Building, Washington, DC
20250; telephone (202) 720-8043; e-mail janise.zygmont@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer;
telephone (202) 720-8043; fax (202) 690-4948; or e-mail
janise.zygmont@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible
applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other
organizations interested in participating in this program should
contact their State Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division.
State agencies specifically named under the authorizing legislation
should assume the lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or
contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions,
and producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate.
Multi-State projects are encouraged as long as one State assumes the
coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative arrangements with the
other States involved. Applicants other than State Departments of
Agriculture and State agricultural experiment stations may wish to
include with their applications an explanation of how they meet the
definition of ``other appropriate State agency.''
Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424
and 424A. AMS will not approve the use of FSMIP funds for advertising
or, with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment. Detailed
program guidelines may be obtained from the contact listed above, and
are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm
.
Background
FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation,
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically
and internationally.
Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish,
[[Page 68554]]
horticulture, viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or
manufactured products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the
growing diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has
funded projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, and
products made from agricultural residues.
Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct,
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one
business or individual will not be considered.
Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, regional
or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique
proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case
studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest are
proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States,
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and
stakeholders. FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for
market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and
marketing agricultural products.
Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in
their various forms and through various channels.
Assist in the development of more efficient marketing
methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and
orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and
the consumer.
Develop and improve standards of quality, condition,
quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and
consistency in commercial practices.
Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of
agricultural products in commercial channels.
Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/
expanded uses of agricultural products.
Collect and disseminate marketing information to
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and
balance production and utilization.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP
information collection requirements were previously approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB control
number 0581-0240.
AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general
to provide the public with the option of submitted information or
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.
How To Submit Proposals and Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications
electronically through the Federal grants Web site, http://www.grants.gov
instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants
considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site well before the
application deadline and to begin the application process before the
deadline. Additional details about the FSMIP application process for
all applicants are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm
.
FSMIP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance''
under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally
assisted programs.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: November 29, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23528 Filed 12-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P