[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3313-3315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1452]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the 
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.604.

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the 
availability of $2 million in funding for the 2004 Technical Assistance 
for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program. The intended effect of this notice 
is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government 
agencies for participation in the FY 2004 TASC Program. The TASC 
Program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service (FAS).

DATES: See paragraph IV.3 below for a detailed description of relevant 
dates.

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-S, Stop 
1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042, phone: 
(202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail: [email protected],gov. 
Information is also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web 
site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/tasc.html

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The TASC Program is authorized by section 3205 of 
Pub. L. 107-171. TASC regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1487.

    Purpose: The TASC Program is designed to assist U.S. organizations 
by providing funding for projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, 
and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. 
specialty

[[Page 3314]]

crops. U.S. specialty crops, for the purpose of the TASC Program, are 
defined to include all cultivated plants, or the products thereof, 
produced in the U.S., except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, 
rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco.
    As a general matter, TASC Program projects should be designed to 
accomplish the following goals:
    [sbull] Projects should address a sanitary, phytosanitary, or 
related technical barrier that prohibits or threatens the export of 
U.S. specialty crops;
    [sbull] Projects should demonstrably benefit the represented 
industry and not a specific company or brand; and,
    [sbull] Projects must address barriers to U.S. specialty crops the 
are currently available on a commercial basis and for which barrier 
removal would predominately benefit U.S. exports.
    Examples of expenses that the CCC may agree to reimburse under the 
TASC Program include, but are not limited to: Initial pre-clearance 
programs, export protocol and work plan support, seminars and 
workshops, study tours, field surveys, development of pest lists, pest 
and disease research, database development, reasonable logistical and 
administrative support, and travel and per diem expenses.

II. Award Information

    In general, all qualified proposals received before the specified 
application deadlines will compete for funding. The limited funds and 
the range of barriers affecting the exports of U.S. specialty crops 
worldwide preclude CCC from approving large budgets for individual 
projects. In prior years, the amount of funding per proposal has ranged 
from $13,000 to $250,000, the maximum allowed.
    Applicants may submit multiple proposals, and applicants with 
previously approved TASC proposals may apply for additional funding. 
However, no TASC participant may have more than three approved projects 
underway at any given time.
    The FAS will consider providing either grant funds at direct 
assistance to U.S. organizations or providing technical assistance on 
behalf of U.S. organizations, provided that the organization submits 
timely and qualified proposals. The FAS will review all proposals 
against the evaluation criteria contained in the program regulations.
    Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific 
agreements. These agreements will incorporate the proposal as approved 
by FAS. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the 
project. The FAS or another Federal agency may have involvement in the 
implementation of approved projects.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Any United States organization, private or 
government, may apply to the program. Government organizations consist 
of federal, state, and local agencies. Private organizations include 
non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, 
state regional trade groups, and private companies.
    Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may 
participate as third parties in activities carried out by U.S. 
organizations, but are not eligible for funding assistance from the 
program.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Although a minimum level of cost share 
contribution is not required, it is very strongly encouraged in this 
highly competitive program. If provided, such support may be in the 
form of cash, good, or in-kind services which are dedicated to the 
project by the organization that submitted the proposal, private 
industry entities, host governments, or foreign third parties.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Organizations can submit 
applications to the FAS through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) 
application Internet website. Applicants also have the option of 
submitting electronic versions in the UES format (along with two paper 
copies) of their applications to the FAS on diskette.
    Applicants planning to use the UES Internet-based system must 
contact the FAS Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain 
site access information including a user ID and password. The UES 
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 are not 
required to use the UES, but are strongly encouraged to do so because 
it reduces paperwork and expedites the FAS processing and review cycle.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain 
an application format by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff, 
phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, e-mail: 
[email protected].gov.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: All TASC proposals 
must contain complete information about the proposed projects as 
described in section 1487.5(b) of the TASC Program regulations. In 
addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's 
issuance of a final policy (68 FR 38402) regarding the use of a 
universal identifier for all Federal grants and cooperative agreements, 
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 
on 1-866-705-5711. Incomplete applications and applications which do 
not otherwise conform to this announcement will not be accepted for 
review.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: TASC funding is limited, and in 
order to assure sufficient resources are available to meet 
unanticipated needs during the fiscal year, TASC proposals will, 
generally, only be evaluated on a quarterly basis. That is:
    [sbull] Proposals received prior to, but not later than 5 p.m. 
(local time Washington, DC) February 1, 2004, will only be considered 
for funding during the three month period beginning on that date;
    [sbull] Proposals received prior to, but not later than 5 p.m. 
(local time Washington, DC) May 1, 2004, will only be considered for 
funding during the three month period beginning on that date;
    [sbull] proposals received prior to, but not later than 5 p.m. 
(local time Washington, DC) August 1, 2004, will only be considered for 
funding during the three month period beginning on that date.
    [sbull] Proposals not approved for funding during the applicable 
review period will only be considered for funding during a subsequent 
period, or after August 1, 2004, when the applicant specifically 
requests such consideration in writing. Proposals received after 5 p.m. 
August 1, 2004, or rejected proposals for which the applicant requests 
consideration after that date, will be considered if funding remains 
available at that time.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, a proposal may be submitted for 
expedited consideration under the TASC Quick Response process if, in 
addition to meeting all requirements of the TASC program, a proposal 
clearly identifies a time-sensitive activity. In these cases, a 
proposal may be submitted at any time for an immediate evaluation.
    All proposals will be date stamped upon receipt.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Proposals which request more than $250,000 
of CCC funding in a given year will not be considered. Proposals to 
fund projects that exceed three years in duration will not be 
considered. No TASC participant

[[Page 3315]]

may have more than three approved projects underway at any given time. 
Although funded projects may take place in the United States, all 
eligible projects must specifically address sanitary, phytosanitary, or 
technical barriers to the export of U.S. specialty crops.
    Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the 
program. For example, program funds shall not be used to reimburse the 
costs of market research, advertising, or other promotional expenses. 
CCC will not reimburse expenditures made prior to approval of a 
proposal or unreasonable expenditures.
    5. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications 
must be properly submitted by 5 p.m. (local time in Washington, DC) on 
February 1, 2004; May 1, 2004; or August 1, 2004, in order to be 
considered during that quarter's review process.
    All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies) 
and any other applications must be received by 5 p.m. (local time in 
Washington, DC) on February 1, 2004; May 1, 2004; or August 1, 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: The FAS follows the evaluation criteria set forth in 
Sec.  1487.6 of the TASC regulations.
    2. Review and Selection Process: The FAS will review proposals for 
eligibility and will evaluate each proposal against the factors 
described above. The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious 
proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level for each proposal 
based upoon these factors, and submit the proposals and funding 
recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Commodity and Marketing 
Programs. The FAS may, when appropriate to the subject matter of the 
proposal, request the assistance of other U.S. government experts in 
evaluating the merits of a proposal.

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 agreement to each approved applicant. The approval letter 
and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable to the 
project, including levels of funding, timelines for implementation and 
written evaluation requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: The agreements 
will incorporate the details of each project as approved by FAS. Each 
agreement will identify terms and conditions pursuant to which CCC will 
reimburse certain costs of each project. Agreements will also outline 
the responsibilities of the participant. Interested parties should 
review the TASC Program regulations found at 7 CFR part 1478 in 
addition to this announcement.
    3. Reporting: TASC participants are subject to the reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements described in 7 CFR part 3019. In addition, 
participants are required to submit a written report(s), on no less 
than an annual basis, and a final report, each of which evaluates their 
TASC project using the performance measures presented in the approved 
proposal.

VII. Agency Contact

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

A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 04-1452 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M