[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3304-3307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1453]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 15 / Friday, January 23, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 3304]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for Emerging 
Markets Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the 
availability of approximately $7 million in funding for the Emerging 
Markets Program (EMP) for fiscal year (FY) 2004. The intended effect of 
this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from 
government agencies for FY 2004 and awards funds in early July 2004. 
The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service (FAS).

DATES: All proposals 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/em-markets/em-markets/html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1)(D) of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, as amended.

    Purpose: The EMP provides funding for technical assistance to 
assist U.S. organizations, public and private, to improve market access 
through genetic, rather than branded, activities that can develop and 
promote U.S. agricultural products and/or processes in low- to middle-
income countries that offer promise of emerging market opportunities. 
Activities funded are those that primarily benefit U.S. industry as a 
whole.
    All agricultural products, except tobacco, are eligible for 
consideration. Proposals which include multiple commodities are also 
eligible.
    Only technical assistance activities are eligible for 
reimbursement. Following are examples of the types of activities that 
may be funded:

--Projects designed specifically to improve market access in emerging 
foreign markets. Examples: activities intended to mitigate the impact 
of sudden political events or economic and currency crises in order to 
maintain U.S. market share; responses to time-sensitive market 
opportunities;
--Marketing and distribution of value-added products, including new 
products or uses. Examples: food service development; market research 
on potential for consumer ready foods or new uses of a product;
--Studies of food distribution channels in emerging markets, including 
infrastructural impediments to U.S. exports; such studies should be 
specific in their focus and may include cross-commodity activities 
which address specific problems. Examples: grain storage handling and 
inventory systems development; distribution infrastructure development;
--Projects that specifically address various constraints to U.S. 
exports, including sanitary and phytosanitary issues and other non-
tariff barriers. Examples: seminars on U.S. food safety standards and 
regulations; assessing and addressing pest and disease problems that 
inhibit U.S. exports;
--Assessments and follow up activities designed to improve country-wide 
food and business systems, to reduce trade barriers, to increase 
prospects for U.S. trade and investment in emerging markets, and to 
determine the potential use for general export credit guarantees for 
commodities and services. Examples: product needs assessments and 
market analysis; assessments to address infrastructural impediments;
--Projects that help foreign governments collect and use market 
information and develop free trade policies that benefit American 
exporters as well as the target country or countries. Examples: 
agricultural statistical analysis; development of market information 
systems; policy analysis; and,
--Short-term training in broad aspects of agriculture and agribusiness 
trade that will benefit U.S. exporters, including seminars and training 
at trade shows designed to expand the potential for U.S. agricultural 
exports by focusing on the trading system. Examples: retail training; 
marketing seminars; transportation seminars; training on opening new or 
expanding existing markets.

    The program funds technical assistance activities on a project-by-
project basis. EMP funds may not be used to support normal operating 
costs of individual organizations, nor as a source by which to recover 
pre-award costs or prior expenses from previous or ongoing projects. 
Ineligible activities include restaurant promotions; branded product 
promotions (including labeling and supplementing normal company sales 
activities intended to increase awareness and stimulate sales of 
branded products); advertising; administrative and operational expenses 
for trade shows; and the preparation and printing of brochures, flyers, 
posters, etc., except in connection with specific technical assistance 
activities such as training seminars. Other items excluded from funding 
are contained in the 2004 Program Guidelines.
    The Act defines an emerging market as any country that the 
Secretary of Agriculture determines:
    (1) Is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the 
food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy of the 
country; and
    (2) Has the potential to provide a viable and significant market 
for United States agricultural commodities or products of United States 
agricultural commodities.
    Because funds are limited and the range of potential emerging 
market countries is worldwide, proposals for technical assistance 
activities will be considered which target those countries with: (1) 
Per capita income less than

[[Page 3305]]

$9,206 (the current ceiling on upper middle income economies as 
determined by the World Bank [World Development Indicators]); and (2) 
population greater than 1 million. Proposals may address suitable 
regional groupings, e.g., the islands of the Caribbean Basin.

II. Award Information

    In general, all qualified proposals received before the application 
deadline will compete for EMP funding. Priority consideration will be 
given to proposals that identify and seek to address specific problems 
or constraints to agricultural exports in emerging markets through 
technical assistance activities that are intended to expand or maintain 
U.S. agricultural exports. Priority will also be given to those 
proposals that include the willingness of the applicant to commit its 
own funds, or those of the U.S. industry, to seek export opportunities 
in an emerging market. The percentage of private funding proposed for a 
project will, therefore,be a critical factor in determining which 
proposals are funded under the EMP. Proposals will also be judged on 
their ability to provide benefits to the organization receiving EMP 
funds and to the broader industry which that organization represents.
    The limited funds and the range of emerging markets worldwide in 
which the funds may be used preclude CCC from approving large budgets 
for individual projects. While there is no minimum or maximum amount 
set for EMP-funded projects, most are funded at a level of less than 
$500,000 and for a duration of one year or less. Multi-year proposals 
may be considered in the context of a strategic detailed plan of 
implementation. Funding in such cases is normally provided one year at 
a time, with commitments beyond the first year subject to interim 
evaluations.
    Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific 
agreements. The CCC, through FAS, will be kept informed of the 
implementation of approved projects through the requirement to provide 
quarterly progress reports and final performance reports. Changes in 
the original project time lines and adjustments within project budgets 
beyond a certain amount must be approved by FAS. Details are available 
in the 2004 Program Guidelines.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Any United States private or Government 
entity with a demonstrated role or interest in exports of U.S. 
agricultural commodities or products 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 profit-making entities and consulting businesses.
    Proposals from research and consulting organizations will be 
considered if they provide evidence of substantial participation by the 
U.S. industry. Individuals/consultants may not use program funds to 
conduct private business or to promote private self-interests.
    U.S. market development cooperators and state regional trade groups 
(SRTGs) may seek funding to address priority, market specific issues 
and to undertake activities not suitable for funding under other 
marketing programs, e.g., the Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) Program and the Market Access Program (MAP). 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. No private sector proposal will be considered 
without the element of cost-share from the participant and/or U.S. 
partners. The EMP is intended to complement, not supplant, the efforts 
of the U.S. private sector. There is no minimum or maximum amount of 
cost share, though the range in recent successful proposals has been 
between 35 and 75 percent. The degree of commitment to a proposed 
project represented by the amount and type of private funding are both 
used in determining which proposals will be approved for funding. Cost-
share may be actual cash invested or professional time of staff 
assigned to the project. Proposals in which private industry is willing 
to commit cash, rather than in-kind contributions such as staff 
resources, will be given priority consideration.
    Cost-sharing is not required for proposals from U.S. Government 
agencies, but is mandatory for all other eligible entities, even when 
they may be party to a joint proposal with a U.S. Government agency.
    Contributions from USDA or other U.S. Government agencies or 
programs may not be counted toward the stated cost share requirement. 
Similarly, contributions from foreign (non-U.S.) organizations may not 
be counted toward the cost share requirement, but may be counted in the 
total cost of the project.
    3. Other. Proposals 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.
    Applicants may submit more than one proposal.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. For 2004, EMP applicants 
have the opportunity to utilize the Unified Export Strategy (UES) 
application process, an online system which provides a means for 
interested applicants to submit a consolidated and strategically 
coordinated single proposal that incorporates funding requests for any 
or all of the market development programs administered by FAS. 
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 planning to use the on-line system must contact the 
Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access 
information including a user of id and password. 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. A Help file is available to assist applicants with 
the process. Applicants using the online system must also provide, 
promptly after the deadline for submitting the on-line application, a 
printed or e-mailed version of each proposal (using Word or compatible 
format) to 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-South, 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.
    E-mail address: [email protected].
    Applicants electing not to use the online system must submit a 
printed copy of their application to one of the above addresses.
    Applicants must obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (D-U-N-S) number for 
Federal contracting purposes prior to submitting applications. 
Information and numbers may be obtained by calling the toll number 1-
866-705-5711.

[[Page 3306]]

    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. It is highly 
recommended that any organization considering applying to the program 
first obtain a copy of the 2004 Program Guidelines. These guidelines 
contain information on requirements that a proposal must include in 
order to be considered for funding under the program, along with other 
important information. Requests for the 2004 Program Guidelines and 
additional information may be obtained from the Marketing Operations 
Staff at the address above. The guidelines are also available at the 
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.httml.
    In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's policy directive regarding the use of a universal identifier 
for all Federal grants or 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.
    Applications should be no longer than ten (10) pages and include 
the following information:
    (a) Date of proposal;
    (b) Name of organization submitting proposal;
    (c) Organization address, telephone and fax numbers,
    (d) Tax ID number
    (e) DUNS number;
    (f) Primary contact person;
    (g) Full title of proposal;
    (h) Target market(s);
    (i) Current conditions in the target market(s) affecting the 
intended commodity or product;
    (j) Description of problem(s), i.e., constraint(s), to be addressed 
by the project, such as: Inadequate knowledge of the market, 
insufficient trade contacts, lack of awareness by foreign officials of 
U.S. products and business practices, impediments: Infrastructure, 
financing, regulatory or other non-tariff barriers, etc.;
    (k) Project objectives;
    (l) Performance measures: benchmarks for quantifying progress in 
meeting the objectives;
    (m) Rationale: Explanation of the underlying reasons for the 
project proposal and its approach, the anticipated benefits, and any 
additional pertinent analysis;
    (n) Clear demonstration that successful implementation will benefit 
a particular industry as a whole, not just the applicant(s);
    (o) 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;
    (p) Specific description of activity/activities to be undertaken;
    (q) Time line(s) for implementation of activity, including start 
and end dates (start date should be no earlier than 15 July 2004);
    (r) Information on whether similar activities are or have 
previously been funded with USDA sources in target country/countries 
(e.g., under MAP and/or FMD programs);
    (s) Detailed line item activity budget. Cost items should be 
allocated separately to each participating organization. Expense items 
constituting a proposed activity's overall budget (e.g., salaries, 
travel expenses, consultant fees, administrative costs, etc.), with a 
line item cost for each, should be listed, clearly indicating:
    (1) Which items are to be covered by EMP funding;
    (2) Which by the participating U.S. organization(s); and
    (3) Which by foreign third parties (if applicable).
    Cost items for individual consultant fees should show calculation 
of daily rate and number of days. Cost items for travel expenses should 
show number of trips, destinations, cost, and objective for each trip.
    Qualifications of applicant(s) should be included as an attachment.
    3. Submission Dates and Times. All proposals must be received by 5 
p.m. eastern standard time on March 15, 2004 in the MOS office, either 
electronically or by mail. Proposals received after this date and time 
will not be reviewed nor considered for program funding.
    4. Funding Restrictions. Certain types of expenses are not eligible 
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other 
categories of expenses such as indirect overhead charges, travel 
expenses and consulting fees. CCC will not reimburse expenditures made 
prior to approval of a proposal or unreasonable expenditures. Full 
details are available in the 2004 Program Guidelines.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria. Key criteria used in judging proposals include:

--The appropriateness of the activities for the targeted market(s), and 
the extent to which the project identifies market barriers, e.g., a 
fundamental deficiency in the market, and/or a recent change in market 
conditions;
--Potential of the project to expand U.S. market share, increase U.S. 
exports or sales, and/or improve awareness of U.S. agricultural 
commodities and products;
--Quality of the project's performance measures, and the degree to 
which they relate to the objectives, proposed approach and activities, 
and deliverables;
--Justification for federal funding;
--Budget: overall cost and the amount of funding provided by 
applications, the U.S. private sector and partners, if any;
--Evidence that the organization has the knowledge, expertise, ability, 
and resources to successfully implement the project;

    2. Review and Selection Process. All applications undergo a multi-
phase review within FAS, by appropriate FAS field offices, and by the 
private sector Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to determine 
qualifications, quality and appropriateness of projects, and 
reasonableness of project budgets prior to making recommendations to 
the deciding official.
    3. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding 
decisions for the EMP are anticipated on or about July 1, 2004.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices. FAS will notify all applicants in writing of the 
final disposition of its application. 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 EMP funding and cost-share 
contribution requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Interested 
parties should review the 2004 Program Guidelines which are available 
at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.html. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting MOS at (202) 
720-4327.
    3. Reporting. Quarterly progress reports for all programs longer 
than six months in duration are required. Final performance reports are 
due 90 days after completion of each project. Content for both types of 
reports is contained in the 2004 Program Guidelines. Final financial 
reports are also due 90 days after completion of each project, as 
attachments to the final reports.

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

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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 16, 2004.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 04-1453 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M