[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 856-857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-433]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Announcement of the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program 
for Fiscal Year 2003

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Commodity Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for the 
Fiscal Year 2003 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program.

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time, March 11, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4932-S, 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 2003 Cooperator 
(Cooperator) program. The program is designed to create, expand, and 
maintain foreign markets for United States' agricultural commodities 
and products through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under 
the Cooperator program will be made available on a competitive basis 
and applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria 
contained herein. The Cooperator program is administered by the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS).
    Under the Cooperator program, CCC enters into agreements with 
nonprofit U.S. trade organizations which have the broadest possible 
producer representation of the commodity being promoted and gives 
priority to those organizations which are nationwide in membership and 
scope. Cooperators may receive assistance only for the promotion of 
generic activities which do not involve promotions targeted directly to 
consumers. The program generally operates on a reimbursement basis.

Authority

    The Cooperator program is authorized by section 5(f) of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, 15 U.S.C. 714c(f). Cooperator 
program regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.

Eligible Applicants

    To participate in the Cooperator program an applicant must be a 
nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization.

Application Process

    To be considered for the Cooperator program an applicant must 
submit to the FAS information required by the Cooperator program 
regulations set forth in 7 CFR part 1484. Incomplete applications and 
applications which do not otherwise conform to this announcement will 
not be accepted for review.
    The FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance 
programs, including the Market Access Program (MAP), Cochran 
Fellowships, the Emerging Markets Program, the Quality Samples Program, 
Section 108 foreign currency program, and several Export Credit 
Guarantee programs. Organizations which are interested in applying for 
Cooperator program funds are encouraged to submit their requests using 
the Unified Export Strategy (UES) format. The UES allows interested 
entities to submit a consolidated and strategically coordinated single 
proposal that incorporates requests for funding and recommendations for 
virtually all the FAS marketing programs, financial assistance 
programs, and market access programs. The suggested UES format 
encourages applicants to examine the constraints or barriers to trade 
which 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 the FAS through the UES application Internet site. The FAS highly 
recommends applying via the Internet, as this format virtually 
eliminates paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review cycle. 
Applicants also have the option of submitting electronic versions 
(along with two paper copies) of their applications to the FAS on 
diskette.
    Applicants planning to use the Internet-based system must contact 
the FAS Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site 
access information. The Internet-based application, including step-by-
step instructions for its use, is located at the following URL address: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can 
download the UES handbook, including the suggested application format 
and

[[Page 857]]

instructions, from the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/unified.html. A UES handbook also may be obtained by contacting 
the Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327.
    All cooperator program applicants, whether applying via the 
Internet on diskette, also must submit by March 11, 2002, via hand 
delivery or U.S. mail, an original signed certification statement as 
specified in 7 CFR section 1484.20(a)(14). The UES handbook contains an 
acceptable certification format.
    Any organization which is not interested in applying for the 
Cooperator program but would like to request assistance through one of 
the other programs mentioned should contact the Marketing Operations 
Staff on (202) 720-4327.

Review Process and Allocation Criteria

    The FAS allocates funds in a manner which effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the USDA's Food and Agricultural Policy 
(FAP). In deciding whether a proposed project will contribute to the 
effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets, the 
FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade strategy 
and a program effectiveness time line against which results can be 
measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country 
goals. The FAS also considers the extent to which a proposed project 
targets markets with the greatest growth potential. These factors are 
part of the FAS resource allocation strategy to fund applicants who can 
demonstrate performance and address the objectives of the GPRA and FAP.
    Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing 
applications and the criteria for allocating available Cooperator 
program funds.

(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review

    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the 
FAS to determine eligibility of the applicants and the completeness of 
the applications. These requirements appear at Sec. 1484.14 and 
Sec. 1484.20 of the Cooperator program regulations. Applications which 
meet the application requirements then will be further evaluated by the 
proper FAS Commodity Division. The Divisions will review each 
application against the criteria listed in Sec. 1484.21 and 
Sec. 1484.22 of the Cooperator program regulations. The purpose of this 
review is to identify meritorious proposals and the recommend an 
appropriate funding level for each application based upon these 
criteria.

(2) Phase 2--Competitive Review

    Meritorious applications then will 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 allocation criteria (the number in 
parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
(a) Contribution Level (40)
     The applicant's 6-year average share (1998-2003) of all 
contributions (contributions may include cash and goods and services 
provided by U.S. entities in support of foreign market development 
activities) compared to
     The applicant's 6-year average share (1998-2003) of all 
Cooperator marketing plan budgets.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
     The 6-year average share (1997-2002) of the value of 
exports promoted by the applicant compared to
     The applicant's 6-year average share (1997-2002) of all 
Cooperator marketing plan budgets plus a 6-year average share (1996-
2001) of foreign overhead provided for co-location within a U.S. 
agricultural trade office.
(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20)
     The 6-year average share (1997-2002) of the total value of 
world trade of the commodities promoted by the applicant compared to
     The applicant's 6-year average share (1997-2002) of all 
Cooperator marketing plan budgets plus a 6-year average share (1996-
2001) of MAP program ceiling levels and a 6-year average share (1996-
2001) of foreign overhead provided for co-location within a U.S. 
agricultural trade office.
(d) Future Demand Expansion Goals (10)
     The project total dollar value of world trade of the 
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2008 compared 
to
     The applicant's requested funding level.
(e) Accuracy of Past Demand Expansion Projects (10)
     The actual dollar value share of world trade of the 
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2001 compared 
to
     The applicant's past projected share of world trade of the 
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2001, as 
specified in the 1998 Cooperator program application.
    The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding level for each 
applicant is converted to a percentage of the total Cooperator program 
funds available then multiplied by the total weight factor to determine 
the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.

Closing Date for Applications

    All Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5 
p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 11, 2002. 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 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 11, 2002, at one of 
the following addresses:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, 
Room 4932-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1042.
    U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-1042.

    Signed at Washington, DC on December 31, 2001.
Mary T. Chambliss,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-433 Filed 1-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M