[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4836-4837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2255]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 20 / Monday, February 1, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4836]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Announcement of the Market Access Program for Fiscal Year 1999

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds for the Fiscal 
Year 1999 Market Access Program (MAP).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time, March 26, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1042, 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 1999 MAP. The 
MAP is designed to encourage the development, maintenance, and 
expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural 
commodities and products. Cost share assistance is provided to eligible 
applicants to implement approved market development programs. 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 personnel of the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS).
    Under the MAP, 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 MAP generally 
operates on a reimbursement basis.

Authority

    The MAP is authorized under section 203 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978, as amended, and MAP 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 
(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).

Available Funds

    $90 million of cost-share assistance may be obligated under this 
announcement to eligible applicants.

Application Process

    In order to be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to 
FAS information required by the MAP regulations set forth in 7 CFR part 
1485. The FAS administers various agricultural export assistance 
programs, including the MAP, the Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) Program, Cochran Fellowships, the Emerging Markets 
Program, Section 108, Pub. L. 480 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. This allows interested entities to submit a 
consolidated and strategically coordinated single proposal that 
incorporates requests for funding and recommendations for virtually all 
FAS marketing programs, financial assistance programs, and market 
access programs. The suggested UES format encourages applicants to 
examine the constraints or barriers to trade 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 FAS through data entry screens at a specially designed UES 
application Internet site. FAS highly recommends applying via the 
Internet, as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites 
the FAS processing and review cycle. Also, by using the Internet, 
applicants currently participating in the 1998 MAP will not need to 
enter certain historical information as it will appear automatically in 
the data entry screens. Applicants also have the option of submitting 
electronic versions (along with two paper copies) of their applications 
to FAS on diskette.
    The Internet-based application, including the step-by-step 
instructions for its use, is located at the following URL address: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html. Applicants planning to use 
the Internet-based system must contact the Marketing Operations Staff 
of FAS at (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access information.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can 
download the UES handbook, including the suggested application format 
and instruction, from the following URL address http://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/unified.html. A UES handbook may also be 
obtained by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-
4327.
    All MAP applicants, whether or not utilizing the UES format or 
applying via the Internet or diskette, must also submit by the March 
26, 1999, deadline, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an original signed 
certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). The 
UES handbook contains an acceptable certification format. Incomplete 
applications and applications that do not otherwise conform to this 
announcement will not be accepted for review.
    Any organization which 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 at (202) 720-
4327.

Review Process and Allocation Criteria

    FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding whether a proposed project will 
contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of 
foreign

[[Page 4837]]

markets, FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade 
strategy by market or product and a program effectiveness time line 
against which results can be measured at specific intervals using 
quantifiable product or country goals. These performance indicators are 
part of FAS' resource allocation strategy to fund applicants which can 
demonstrate performance based on a long-term strategic plan, consistent 
with the strategic objectives of the United States Department of 
Agriculture, and address the performance measurement objectives of the 
GPRA.
    Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing 
applications and the criteria for allocating available MAP funds.

(1) Phase 1--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 2--FAS Divisional Review

    Applications which meet the application procedures will then be 
further evaluated by the applicable 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.

(3) Phase 3--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 
parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
     The applicant's 4-year average share (1996-99) of all 
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in 
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities may be 
considered in the allocation process as part of the applicant's 
contribution and should be reported separately from the applicant's 
contributions) compared to
     The applicant's 4-year average share (1996-99) of the 
funding level for all MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
     The 3-year average share (1996-98) of the value of exports 
promoted by the applicant compared to
     The applicant's 2-year average share (1997-98) of the 
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups 
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share 
(1998-99) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets and the 2-year average 
share (1997-98) 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 1999 compared to
     The applicant's requested funding level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
     Actual exports for 1997 as reported in the 1999 MAP 
application compared to
     Past projections of exports for 1997 as specified in the 
1997 MAP application.
    The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding level for each 
applicant is converted to a percentage 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 Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5:00 
p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 26, 1999. 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 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 26, 1999, at one 
of the following addresses:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, 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: Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-1042.
Mary T. Chambliss,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Acting Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 99-2255 Filed 1-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M