[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3309-3311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1451]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the 
Market Access Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2004 Market Access Program (MAP). The 
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
applicants and award funds in June 2004. The MAP is administered by 
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time, March 15, 2004. Applications received after this date will not be 
considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4932-South, 
STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042, 
phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Information is also available on the Foreign 
Agricultural Service Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/mapprog.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    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.

    Purpose: 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. All 
agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for 
consideration.
    The FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Result 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.

II. Award Information

    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.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. 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).
    2. Cost Sharing. To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree 
to contribute resources to its proposed promotional activities. The MAP 
is intended to supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. 
private sector. In the case of generic promotion, the contribution must 
be stated in dollars and be at least 10 percent of the value of 
resources provided by CCC for such generic promotion. In the case of 
brand promotion, the contribution must be stated in dollars and be at 
least 50 percent of the total cost of such brand promotion.
    The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional 
strategies contained in its application, as represented by the agreed 
cost share contributions specified therein, is considered by the FAS 
when determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-
share may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as 
professional staff time spent on design and execution of activities. 
The MAP regulations, in section 1485.13(c), provide detailed discussion 
of eligible and ineligible cost-share contributions.
    3. Other. Applications should include a justification for funding 
assistance from the program--an explanation as to what specifically 
could not be accomplished without federal funding assistance and why 
participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project 
without such assistance.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. Organizations that are 
interested in applying for MAP funds are encouraged to submit their 
requests using the 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

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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 Unified Export Strategy (UES) 
application Internet website. 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 a Help 
file containing 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 on 
(202) 720-4327.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. To be considered for 
the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by 
the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. In addition, in accordance with 
the Office of Management and Budget's issuance of a final policy (68 FR 
38402) regarding the need to identify entities that are receiving 
government awards, all applicants must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. An applicant may request a 
DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number 
request line at 1-866-705-5711. 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, the Quality Samples Program, the Technical Assistance for 
Specialty Crops Program and several Export Credit Guarantee programs. 
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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times. All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 15, 2004. All MAP applicants, 
regardless of the method of submitting an application, also must submit 
by the application deadline, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an 
original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 
1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). Applications or certifications received after this 
date will not be considered.
    4. Funding Restrictions. Certain types of expenses are not eligible 
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other 
categories of expenses. CCC will not reimburse unreasonable 
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are 
available in the MAP regulations in section 1485.16.
    5. Other Submission Requirements and Considerations. All Internet-
based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time, March 15, 2004. 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 form of application 
must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 15, 2004, 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.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria and Review Process. 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 sections 1485.12 and 1485.13 of the 
MAP regulations. Applications that 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 section 
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 (2001-2004) 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 (2001-2004) of the 
funding level for all MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
    [sbull] The 3-year average share (2001-2003) of the value of 
exports promoted by the applicant compared to
    [sbull] The applicant's 2-year average share (2002-2003) of the 
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups 
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share 
(2003-2004) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets, and the 2-year 
average share (2002-2003) 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 2004 compared to
    [sbull] The applicant's requested funding level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
    [sbull] Actual exports for 2002 as reported in the 2004 MAP 
application compared to
    [sbull] Past projections of exports for 2002 as specified in the 
2002 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.
    2. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding 
decisions

[[Page 3311]]

for the MAP are anticipated during June 2004.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices. The FAS will notify all applicants in writing of 
the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval 
letter and project agreement to each approved applicant. The approval 
letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable 
to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and cost-share 
contribution requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Interested 
parties should review the MAP regulations which are available at the 
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/mapprog.html. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting MOS at (202) 
720-4327.
    3. Reporting. The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from 
MAP participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP 
regulations in section 1485.20(b) and (c).

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Marketing 
Operations Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 4932 South, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1042, phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, 
e-mail: [email protected].

    Signed at Washington, DC on January 19, 2004.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 04-1451 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M