[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7054-7055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3463]


      

[[Page 7053]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part VI





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



Economic Development Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Alaskan Salmon Fishing Industry, 
Availability of Funds; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 7054]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 990107006-9006-01]
RIN 0610-ZA09


Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Alaskan Salmon Fishing 
Industry, Availability of Funds

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce (DoC).

ACTION: Funding notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announces the 
availability of $5.0 million in trade adjustment assistance to help the 
Alaskan salmon fishing industry, which has been affected by the loss of 
sales due to the Asian financial crisis, imports from other countries, 
and the low runs of salmon in Bristol Bay and in the Yukon and 
Kuskokwim River tributaries as noted in the September 10, 1998 Disaster 
Declaration by the Secretary of Commerce under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This Disaster Declaration was 
made as a result of the commercial failure of the Alaska salmon 
fisheries in Bristol Bay and the Yukon and Kuskokwim River tributaries.
    EDA's program will assist the Alaskan salmon fishing industry with 
technical assistance grants or cooperative agreements to address the 
economic problems caused by this trade injury and natural disaster. EDA 
expects that the successful application will call for preparing a 
strategic marketing plan for the Alaskan salmon fishing industry and 
using the remaining resources available under this announcement to 
implement that plan.

DATES: This announcement is effective February 11, 1999. Proposals must 
be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time, by the last 
day of the three calendar week period following publication of this 
notice. Such proposals must be received (no faxes or e-mails) at the 
address in the ``Other Information'' section at the end of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should contact the Coordinator, Trade 
Adjustment Assistance and Technical Assistance (see listing in ``Other 
Information'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See listing in ``Other Information'' section 
of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants should be aware that a false 
statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application 
or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products 
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program 
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
    Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before 
EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start. 
Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start 
does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that 
if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely 
at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award 
costs.
    If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding in connection with an award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of 
performance is at the sole discretion of EDA.
    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.
    No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    l. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received; or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. This notice involves a collection of information 
requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA, Forms SF-424 and SF-
424A, OMB Control Number 0348-0043. All primary applicants must submit 
a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby 
provided:
    Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 
105) ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed 
above applies;
    Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section 105) are subject to 
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of 
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and 
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification 
form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, 
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans 
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family 
maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and
    Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any 
funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as 
required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at 
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility 
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' 
and disclosure form, SF-LLL ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form 
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be 
transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or 
subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.
    EDA also requires that compliance with environmental regulations, 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), be 
completed before construction begins.
    Unless otherwise noted below, eligibility, program objectives and 
descriptions, application procedures, selection procedures, evaluation 
criteria and other requirements for all programs are set forth in EDA's 
regulations published in the FR (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate 
Part II. Eligibility, grant rates, criteria and other requirements will 
change when EDA's interim-final rule to implement Public Law 105-393 
becomes effective on February 11, 1999.

[[Page 7055]]

    EDA will continue coordination with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Industries is listed 
under CFDA 11.313.

Funding Availability

    Funds in the amount of $5.0 million are available under this 
announcement and shall remain available until expended. These funds are 
provided under Section 763 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998 
(P. L. 105-277).

Grant Rates

    Grant or cooperative agreement rates typically are shared on 50% 
Federal, 50% industry basis. However, EDA may vary these rates if an 
acceptable justification for a lower industry rate is provided by the 
applicant.

Eligible Applicants

    Applicants must be associations, unions or other nonprofit fishing 
industry organizations with a thorough understanding of and expertise 
concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry.

Proposal Submission Procedures

    Proposals for assistance under this announcement must include a 
narrative that addresses the project selection criteria and a completed 
Form SF-424 and SF-424A, OMB Control No. 0348-0043, and be submitted to 
the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance (see Listing 
under ``Other Information'').

Application Procedures

    A determination of whether to invite applications under this 
announcement will be issued based upon the Agency's review of the 
proposals under the evaluation criteria herein and EDA's regulations 
published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as 
separate part II.

Funding Instrument

    Any grant or cooperative agreement awarded under this announcement 
will be in accordance with the requirements of the Trade Act of 1974, 
as amended (Public Law 93-618; 19 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) and EDA's 
regulations published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 
1999) as separate Part II.

Project Selection Criteria

    Evaluation criteria will not be assigned weights. EDA will consider 
several criteria, any one or a combination of which may be the basis 
for selecting the applicant to be funded under this notice. These 
criteria are the extent to which the proposal: (1) Demonstrates an 
understanding of the economic damage resulting from the natural 
disaster and trade related impacts in the Alaskan salmon fishing 
industry; (2) documents that the applicant has a thorough understanding 
of and expertise concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry and its 
needs; (3) makes a strong case that it will yield some short-term 
actions that can be implemented by firms in the Alaskan salmon fishing 
industry rather than relying only on long-term solutions; and (4) 
includes the use of a committee, with representatives from the Alaskan 
salmon fishing industry, to assist in providing project oversight.
    Trade Adjustment Assistance for industrywide projects can only be 
awarded to industries in which firms or workers groups have been 
certified as trade-impacted under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. 
EDA has already made this finding for the Alaskan fishing industry.
    EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the 
criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will 
invite any entity whose proposal is selected to submit a full 
application. (SF-424, OMB Control No. 0348-0043).

Other Information

    Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive 
selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements 
for the applicable assistance program are described in EDA's 
regulations, published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, February 3, 
1999) as separate Part II.
    For further information contact the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment 
and Technical Assistance listed below: Anthony J. Meyer, Coordinator, 
Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance, Economic Development 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room H7317, 14th and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, Telephone: (202) 
482-2127, Internet Address: [email protected]

    Dated: February 4, 1999.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 99-3463 Filed 2-9-99; 10:55 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P