[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26188-26191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11146]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the
Emerging Markets Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2011 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the
private sector and from government agencies for FY 2011. The EMP is
administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: All proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time,
June 11, 2010. Applications received after this time will be considered
only if funds are still available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding
assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of
Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building,
Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by
phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail:
[email protected]. Information is also available on the Foreign
Agricultural Service Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1) of the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (The Act), as
amended. The EMP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486.
1. Purpose. The EMP assists U.S. entities in developing,
maintaining, or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and
products by funding activities that improve emerging markets' food and
rural business systems, including reducing potential trade barriers in
such markets. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market
development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also
be used to assist public organizations.
All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for
consideration. Agricultural product(s) should be comprised of at least
50 percent U.S. origin content by weight, exclusive of added water, to
be eligible for funding. Proposals that seek support for multiple
commodities are also eligible. EMP funding may only be used to develop,
maintain, or expand emerging markets for U.S. agricultural commodities
and products through generic activities. EMP funding may not be used to
support the export of another country's products to the United States,
or to promote the development of a foreign economy as a primary
objective. Funding provided for government participation may only be
used to support the activities of government officials expert in
assessing the food and rural business systems of other countries.
2. Appropriate Activities. All EMP projects must fall into at least
one of the following four categories:
(a) Assistance to U.S. individuals expert in assessing the food and
rural business systems of other countries. This type of EMP project
must include all three of the following:
Conduct an assessment of the food and rural business
system needs of an emerging market;
Make recommendations on measures necessary to enhance the
effectiveness of these systems; and
Identify opportunities and projects to enhance the
effectiveness of the emerging market's food and rural business systems.
(b) To be eligible, such proposals must clearly demonstrate that
experts are primarily agricultural consultants, farmers, government
officials, and other persons from the private sector, and that they
have expertise in assessing the food and rural business systems of
other countries.
(c) Assistance to enable individuals from emerging markets to
travel to the United States so that these individuals can, for the
purpose of enhancing the food and rural business systems in their
countries, become familiar with U.S. technology and agribusiness and
rural enterprise operations by consulting with food and rural business
system experts in the United States.
(d) Assistance to enable U.S. agricultural producers and other
individuals knowledgeable in agricultural and agribusiness matters to
travel to emerging markets to assist in transferring their knowledge
and expertise to entities in emerging markets. Such travel must be to
emerging markets. Travel to developed markets is not eligible under the
program even if the traveler's targeted market is an emerging market.
(e) Technical assistance to implement the recommendations,
projects, and/or opportunities identified by assistance under (1)
above. Technical assistance that does not implement the
recommendations, projects, and/or opportunities identified by
assistance under (1) above is not eligible under the EMP.
Proposals that do not fall into one or more of the four categories
above, regardless of previous guidance provided regarding the EMP, are
not eligible for consideration under the program.
EMP funds may not be used to support normal operating costs of
individual organizations, nor as a source to recover pre-award costs or
prior expenses from previous or ongoing projects. Proposals that
counter national strategies or duplicate activities planned or already
underway by U.S. non-profit agricultural commodity or trade
associations (``cooperators'') will not be considered. Other ineligible
expenditures include: branded product promotions (in-store, restaurant
advertising, labeling, etc.); advertising, administrative, and
operational expenses for trade shows; Web site development; equipment
purchases; and the preparation and printing of brochures, flyers, and
posters (except in connection with specific technical assistance
activities such as training seminars.). For a more complete description
of ineligible expenditures, please refer to the EMP regulations.
3. Eligible Markets. The Act defines an emerging market as any
country that the Secretary of Agriculture determines:
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(a) Is taking steps toward developing a market-oriented economy
through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy
of the country; and
(b) Has the potential to provide a viable and significant market
for U.S. agricultural commodities or products of U.S. agricultural
commodities.
Because EMP funds are limited and the range of potential emerging
market countries is worldwide, consideration will be given only to
proposals that target countries or regional groups with per capita
income of less than $11,905 (the current ceiling on upper middle income
economies as determined by the World Bank [World Development
Indicators; July 2009, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS] and populations of greater than 1
million.
Income limits and their calculation can change from year to year
with the result that a given country may qualify under the legislative
and administrative criteria 1 year but not the next. Therefore, CCC has
not established a fixed list of emerging market countries.
A few countries technically qualify as emerging markets but may
require a separate determination before funding can be considered
because of political sensitivities.
II. Award Information
In general, all qualified proposals received before the application
deadline will compete for EMP funding. Priority consideration will be
given to proposals that directly support or address at least one of the
goals and objectives in the USDA and FAS Strategic Plans. The
applicants' willingness to contribute resources, including cash, goods
and services will be a critical factor in determining which proposals
are funded under the EMP. Proposals will also be judged on the
potential benefits to the industry represented by the applicant and the
degree to which the proposal demonstrates industry support.
The limited funds and the range of eligible emerging markets
worldwide generally preclude CCC from approving large budgets for
individual projects. While there is no minimum or maximum amount set
for EMP-funded projects, most projects are funded at a level of less
than $500,000 and for a duration of approximately 1 year. Private
entities may submit multi-year proposals requesting higher levels of
funding that may be considered in the context of a detailed strategic
implementation plan. Funding in such cases is generally limited to 3
years and provided 1 year at a time with commitments beyond the first
year subject to interim evaluations and funding availability.
Government entities are not eligible for multi-year funding.
Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific
agreements. The CCC, through FAS, will be kept informed of the
implementation of approved projects through the requirement to provide
interim progress reports and final performance reports. Changes in the
original project timelines and adjustments within project budgets must
be approved in advance by FAS.
Note: EMP funds awarded to government agencies must be expended or
otherwise obligated by close of business, September 30, 2011.
III. Eligibility and Qualification Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Any United States private or government
entity, e.g., universities, non-profit trade associations, agricultural
cooperatives, state regional trade groups (SRTG), profit-making
entities, and consulting businesses, with a demonstrated role or
interest in exports of U.S. agricultural commodities or products may
apply to the program. Proposals from research and consulting
organizations will be considered if they provide evidence of
substantial participation by and financial support from the U.S.
industry. For-profit entities are also eligible but may not use program
funds to conduct private business, promote private self-interests,
supplement the costs of normal sales activities or promote their own
products or services beyond specific uses approved by CCC in a given
project.
U.S. market development cooperators and SRTGs may seek funding to
address priority, market specific issues and to undertake activities
not suitable for funding under other CCC marketing programs, e.g., the
Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) Program and the
Market Access Program (MAP). Foreign organizations, whether government
or private, may participate as third parties in activities carried out
by U.S. organizations, but are not eligible for funding assistance from
the program.
2. Cost Sharing: No private sector proposal will be considered
without the element of cost-share from the applicant and/or U.S.
partners. The EMP is intended to complement, not supplant, the efforts
of the U.S. private sector. There is no minimum or maximum amount of
cost-share, though the range in recent successful proposals has been
between 35 and 75 percent. The degree of commitment to a proposed
project, represented by the amount and type of private funding, is one
factor used in determining which proposals will be approved for
funding. Cost-share may be actual cash invested or professional time of
staff assigned to the project. Proposals for which private industry is
willing to commit cash, rather than in-kind contributions such as staff
resources, will be given priority consideration.
Cost-sharing is not required for proposals from government
agencies, but is mandatory for all other eligible entities, even when
they may be party to a joint proposal with a government agency.
Contributions from USDA or other government agencies or programs may
not be counted toward the stated cost-share requirement of other
applicants. Similarly, contributions from foreign (non-U.S.)
organizations may not be counted toward the cost-share requirement, but
may be counted in the total cost of the project.
3. Other: Proposals 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
the participating organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the
project without such assistance. Applicants may submit more than one
proposal.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: EMP applicants have the
opportunity to utilize the Unified Export Strategy (UES) application
process, an online system that provides a means for interested
applicants to submit a consolidated and strategically coordinated
single proposal that incorporates funding requests for any or all of
the market development programs administered by FAS.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application to
FAS through the UES application Internet Web site. The Internet-based
format reduces paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review
cycle. Applicants planning to use the on-line UES system must contact
the Program Operations Division to obtain site access information. The
Internet-based application is located at the following URL address:
https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
Although FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based
application as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites
the FAS processing and review cycle, applicants also have the option of
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submitting an electronic version to FAS at [email protected].
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
the EMP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by
the EMP regulations at 7 CFR part 1486. EMP regulations and additional
information are available at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
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 on 1-866-705-5711.
Applications should be no longer than ten (10) pages and include
the following information:
(a) Date of proposal;
(b) Name of organization submitting proposal;
(c) Organization address, telephone and fax numbers;
(d) Tax ID number;
(e) DUNS number;
(f) Primary contact person;
(g) Full title of proposal;
(h) Target market(s);
(i) Current conditions in the target market(s) affecting the
intended commodity or product;
(j) Description of problem(s), i.e., constraint(s), to be addressed
by the project, such as the need to assess and enhance food and rural
business systems of the emerging market, lack of awareness by foreign
officials of U.S. technology and business practices, impediments
(infrastructure, financing, regulatory or other non-tariff barriers) to
the effectiveness of emerging market's food and rural business systems
previously identified by an EMP project that are to be addressed by the
applicant, etc.;
(k) Project objectives;
(l) Performance measures: Benchmarks for quantifying progress in
meeting the objectives;
(m) Rationale: Explanation of the underlying reasons for the
project proposal and its approach, the anticipated benefits, and any
additional pertinent analysis;
(n) Clear demonstration that successful implementation will benefit
an emerging market's food and rural business system and/or reduce
potential trade barriers, and will benefit a particular industry as a
whole, not just the applicant(s);
(o) Explanation as to what specifically could not be accomplished
without Federal funding assistance and why the participating
organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the project without such
assistance;
(p) Specific description of activity/activities to be undertaken;
(q) Timeline(s) for implementation of activity, including start and
end dates;
(r) Information on whether similar activities are or have
previously been funded with USDA resources in target country or
countries (e.g., under MAP and/or Cooperator programs); and
(s) Detailed line item activity budget:
--Cost items should be allocated separately to each participating
organization; and
--Expense items constituting a proposed activity's overall budget
(e.g., salaries, travel expenses, consultant fees, administrative
costs, etc.), with a line item cost for each, should be listed, clearly
indicating:
(1) Which items are to be covered by EMP funding;
(2) Which by the participating U.S. organization(s); and
(3) Which by foreign third parties (if applicable).
Cost items for individual consultant fees should show calculation
of daily rate and number of days. Cost items for travel expenses should
show number of trips, destinations, cost, and objective for each trip.
Qualifications of applicant(s) should be included as an attachment.
3. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other
categories of expenses such as indirect overhead charges, travel
expenses, and consulting fees. CCC will also not reimburse unreasonable
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of a proposal. Full
details of the funding restrictions are available in the EMP
regulations.
4. Submission Dates and Times: All Internet-based applications must
be properly submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010.
All applications submitted by e-mail must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010, at [email protected].
Applications received after this time will be considered only if
funds are still available.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria: Key criteria used in judging proposals include, among
others:
--The objective of the activities is to develop, maintain, or expand
markets for United States agricultural exports by improving the
effectiveness of the food and rural business systems in emerging
markets.
Appropriateness of the activities for the targeted market(s) and
the extent to which the project identifies market barriers, e.g., a
fundamental deficiency in the market's food and rural business systems,
and/or a recent change in those systems;
--Potential of the project to expand U.S. market share and increase
U.S. exports or sales;
--Quality of the project's performance measures, and the degree to
which they relate to the objectives, deliverables, and proposed
approach and activities;
--Justification for Federal funding;
--Overall cost of the project and the amount of funding provided by the
applicant and any partners; and
--Evidence that the organization has the knowledge, expertise, ability,
and resources to successfully implement the project, including
timeliness and quality of reporting on past EMP activities.
Please see 7 CFR part 1486 for additional evaluation criteria.
2. Review and Selection Process: All applications undergo a multi-
phase review within FAS, by appropriate FAS field offices, and, as
needed, by the private sector Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to
determine the qualifications, quality, appropriateness of projects, and
reasonableness of project budgets.
VI. 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 agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the
project, including the levels of EMP funding and cost-share
contribution requirements.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested
parties should review the EMP regulations, which are available at the
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
3. Reporting. Quarterly progress reports for all programs 1 year or
longer in duration are required. Projects of less than 1 year generally
require a mid-term progress report. Final performance reports are due
90 days after completion of each project. Content requirements for both
types of reports are contained in the Project Agreement. Final
financial reports are also due 90 days after
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completion of each project as attachments to the final reports. Please
see 7 CFR part 1486 for additional reporting requirements.
VII. Agency Contact(s)
For additional information and assistance, contact the Program
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite
400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by phone:
(202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail:
[email protected].
Signed at Washington, DC, on May 4, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010-11146 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P