[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2486-2487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1116]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Announcement of the 2003/2004 Market Access Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for the 
2003/2004 Market Access Program.

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern standard 
time, March 10, 2003.

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 20250-1042, (202) 
720-4327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that applications 
are being accepted for participation in the 2003/2004 Market Access 
Program (MAP). The MAP is designed to create, expand and maintain 
foreign markets for United States' agricultural commodities and 
products through cost-share assistance. 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 the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
    Under the MAP, the 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 program generally 
operates on a reimbursement basis.

Authority

    The MAP is authorized under section 203 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear at 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 
(i.e., 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).

Application Process

    To be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS 
information required by the MAP regulations set forth in 7 CFR part 
1485. 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 Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) Program, Cochran Fellowships, the Emerging Markets Program 
(EMP), the Quality Samples Program (QSP), the Section 108 Foreign 
Currency Program, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) 
program 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. 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 Web 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

[[Page 2487]]

FAS Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access 
information. The Internet-based application, including step-by-step 
instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL address: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain 
an application format by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff at 
(202) 720-4327.
    All MAP applicants, whether applying via the Internet or diskette, 
also must submit by March 10, 2003, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an 
original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 
1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G).
    Any organization that 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 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 MAP funds.

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

    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the 
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. Applications which meet the 
requirements then will be further evaluated by the proper 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.

(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 will compete for funds on the basis of the following 
allocation criteria (the number in parentheses represents a percentage 
weight factor):

(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)

    [sbull] The applicant's 4-year average share (2000-2003) of all 
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in 
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to
    [sbull] The applicant's 4-year average share (2000-2003) of the 
funding level for all MAP participants.

(b) Past Performance (30)

    [sbull] The 3-year average share (2000-2002) of the value of 
exports promoted by the applicant compared to
    [sbull] The applicant's 2-year average share (2001-2002) of the 
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups 
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share 
(2002-2003) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets, and the 2-year 
average share (2001-2002) of foreign overhead provided for co-location 
within a U.S. agricultural office;

(c) Projected Export Goals (15)

    [sbull] The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by the 
applicant for 2003 compared to
    [sbull] The applicant's requested funding level;

(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)

    [sbull] Actual exports for 2001 as reported in the 2003 MAP 
application compared to
    [sbull] Past projections of exports for 2001 as specified in the 
2001 MAP application.
    The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding levels for each 
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available 
then 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 
p.m. eastern standard time, March 10, 2003. 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 10, 2003, 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, 14th and 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 in Washington, DC on January 8, 2003.
Kenneth J. Roberts,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-1116 Filed 1-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P