[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 51880-51881] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-25521] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 194 / Friday, October 4, 1996 / Notices [[Page 51880]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Commodity Credit Corporation RIN 0551-AA24 Market Access Program FY 1997 Funds Availability AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds for the Fiscal Year 1997 Market Access Program (MAP). DATES: All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, December 16, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-4327. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that applications are being accepted for participation in the Fiscal Year 1997 MAP. The MAP is designed to encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities through cost-share assistance to eligible trade organizations that implement a foreign market development program. Financial assistance under this program will be made available on a competitive basis and applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained in this announcement. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). In an effort to improve and simplify the administration of the MAP, CCC published a notice Federal Register on July 1, 1996, requesting comments on the methodology and criteria used by CCC to evaluate and allocate funding among applicants. CCC received 18 letters from U.S. trade associations, cooperatives, regional trade associations and private firms in response to the notice suggesting various evaluation criteria. CCC was not able to evaluate many of these comments because the comments did not explain the basis for the suggestion or otherwise indicate how the criteria should be used to evaluate applications. However, there were two recurring suggestions which CCC has adopted and incorporated into the allocation process. First, the export performance criteria will not be based on a single year, but rather a 3-year average across all targeted markets. This will give a more accurate picture of exports by avoiding sole reliance on what may be a short- term market fluctuation. Second, for past participants, CCC will consider the 4-year average of a participant's past contributions to the program using the actual figures reported in the participant's end- of-year reports for 1994 and 1995 together with the minimum contribution specified in the participant's applications for 1996 and 1997. Authority This program is authorized under section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. Program regulations are set forth in 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; --A U.S. agricultural cooperative; --A State agency; or --A U.S. commercial entity that is a small-sized entity (other than a cooperative or producer association). Available Funds $90 million of cost-share assistance may be obligated under this program announcement to eligible applicants. Application Process In order to be considered, an application must contain the information required by the MAP regulations set forth in 7 CFR 1485. Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review. All applications must be submitted in triplicate form (an original and two copies). Handbooks are available to assist applicants in developing an application. To receive an application handbook, contact the Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-4327. Review Process Following is a description of CCC's process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating available funds. (1) Phase I--Sufficiency Committee Review Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by 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. (2) Phase II--FAS Divisional Review Applications which meet the application procedures will then be further evaluated by the applicable FAS Commodity Division. The Divisions will recommend funding levels for each applicant based on a review of the applications and strategic plans against the criteria listed in Sec. 1485.14 of the MAP regulations. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious proposals and to suggest an appropriate funding level for each application based upon these criteria. (3) Phase III--Competitive Review Meritorious applications will then 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 which pass the Divisional Review will compete for funds on the basis of the following evaluation criteria (the number in parenthesis represents a percentage weight factor): (a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)A 4-year average of an applicant's contributions for years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 (actual contributions will be used for 1994 and 1995 as reported in the applicant's end-of-year report and the minimum required contributions will be used for 1996 and 1997 as specified in the applications) compared to [[Page 51881]] A 4-year average of an applicant's funding level for years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 (actual expenditures will be used for 1994 and 1995, the program budget ceiling will be used for 1996, and the applicant's requested amount will be used for 1997); (b) Past Performance (30) A 3-year average of the value of exports across targeted markets for years 1994, 1995 and 1996 compared to A 2-year average of an applicant's MAP funding level using 1995 and 1996 budget ceilings plus, for those groups participating in the Cooperator program, a 2-year average of FMD funding levels using 1995 and 1996 base budgets; (c) Projected Export Goals (15) The total dollar value of projected exports for 1997 across all targeted markets compared to The applicant's requested funding level; (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15) Actual exports for 1995 as reported in the 1997 MAP application compared to Past projections of exports for 1995 as specified in the 1995 MAP application. The Commodity Divisions' recommended program levels for each participant are converted to a percent of the total MAP funds available and multiplied by the total weight factor as described above to determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant. Closing Date for Applications All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, December 16, 1996, at the following address: Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, Room 4932-S, 14th and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1042. Postal Delivery: Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1042. Dated: October 1, 1996. August Schumacher, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 96-25521 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-10-M