[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4172-4175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-238]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4172]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
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 funding for the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) for 
fiscal year (FY) 2008. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit 
applications from the private sector and from government agencies for 
FY 2008 and award funds in early 2008. 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 
February 25, 2008. Applications received after this time will not be 
considered.

    Note: Another notice regarding the availability of FY 2009 EMP 
funds will be published later this year.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
should contact the Grants Management Branch, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-5306, fax: (202) 690-0193, 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.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1) of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (The Act), as 
amended. The EMP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486.

    1. Purpose: The EMP assists U.S. entities in developing, 
maintaining, or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and 
products by funding technical assistance activities that promote U.S. 
products in emerging foreign markets. The Program is intended primarily 
to support export market development efforts of the private sector, but 
program resources may also be used to assist public organizations.
    All U.S. agricultural commodities and products, except tobacco, are 
eligible for consideration. Agricultural product(s) should be comprised 
of at least 50 percent U.S. origin content by weight, exclusive of 
added water, to be eligible for funding. Proposals which seek support 
for multiple commodities are also eligible. EMP funding may only be 
used to support exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products 
through generic activities.
    2. Appropriate Activities: Following are the types of project 
activities that may be considered for funding under the EMP:

--Projects designed specifically to improve market access in emerging 
foreign markets. Example: Activities intended to mitigate the impact of 
political or economic events in order to maintain U.S. market share;
--Marketing and distribution of value-added products. Examples: Market 
research on the potential for consumer-ready foods; new uses of a 
product;
--Studies of food distribution channels in emerging markets, including 
infrastructural impediments to U.S. exports. Examples: Grain storage 
handling and inventory systems; 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, and to determine potential use of general 
export credit guarantees. Example: Product needs assessments and market 
analysis;
--Projects that help foreign governments collect and use market 
information and develop free trade policies that benefit U.S. exporters 
as well as the target country or countries. Examples: Agricultural 
statistical analysis; development of market information systems; and
--Short-term training in broad aspects of agriculture and agribusiness 
trade that will benefit U.S. exporters. Examples: Retail training; 
transportation and distribution seminars.

    EMP funds may not be used to support normal operating costs of 
individual organizations, nor as a source to recover pre-award costs or 
prior expenses from previous or ongoing projects. Proposals that 
counter national strategies or duplicate activities planned or already 
underway by U.S. non-profit agricultural commodity or trade 
associations (``cooperator'') organizations will not be considered. 
Ineligible expenditures include branded product promotions (in-store, 
restaurant advertising, labeling, etc.); advertising; administrative 
and operational expenses for trade shows; Web site development; 
equipment purchases; and the preparation and printing of brochures, 
flyers, posters (except in connection with specific technical 
assistance activities such as training seminars). For a more complete 
description of ineligible activities, please refer to the EMP 
Regulations.
    3. Eligible Markets: The Act defines an emerging market as any 
country that the Secretary of Agriculture determines:
    (a) Is taking steps toward developing a market-oriented economy 
through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy 
of the country; and
    (b) Has the potential to provide a viable and significant market 
for United States agricultural commodities or products of United States 
agricultural commodities.
    Because EMP funds are limited and the range of potential emerging 
market countries is worldwide, consideration will be given to proposals 
that target countries or regional groups with per capita income of less 
than $11,115 (the current ceiling on upper middle income economies as 
determined by the World Bank [World Development Indicators;

[[Page 4173]]

July 2007, http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS]) and populations of greater than 1 million.
    Income limits and their calculation can change from year to year 
with the result that a given country may qualify under the legislative 
and administrative criteria one year but not the next. Therefore, CCC 
has not established a fixed list of ``emerging market'' countries.
    A few countries technically qualify as emerging markets but may 
require a separate determination before funding can be considered 
because of political sensitivities.

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. The applicants' willingness to contribute 
resources, including cash, goods and services will be a critical factor 
in determining which proposals are funded under the EMP. Proposals will 
also be judged on the potential benefits to the industry represented by 
the applicant and the degree to which the proposal demonstrates 
industry support.
    The limited funds and the range of eligible emerging markets 
worldwide generally preclude CCC from approving large budgets for 
individual projects. While there is no minimum or maximum amount set 
for EMP-funded projects, most projects are funded at a level of less 
than $500,000 and for a duration of approximately one year. Private 
entities may submit multi-year proposals requesting higher levels of 
funding that may be considered in the context of a detailed strategic 
implementation plan. Funding in such cases is normally provided one 
year at a time with commitments beyond the first year subject to 
interim evaluations and funding availability. Government entities are 
not eligible for multi-year funding.
    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 
regular progress reports and final performance reports. Changes in the 
original project timelines and adjustments within project budgets must 
be approved by FAS. EMP funds awarded to federal government agencies 
must be expended or otherwise obligated by COB September 30, 2008.

III. Eligibility and Qualification 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 entities consist of Federal, State, and local agencies. 
Private entities 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 and financial support from the U.S. industry. 
For-profit entities are also eligible but may not use program funds to 
conduct private business, promote private self-interests, supplement 
the costs of normal sales activities, or promote their own products or 
services beyond specific uses approved by CCC in a given project.
    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) 
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 applicant 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, is 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 for 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. federal, state 
or local 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 
the participating organization(s) would be 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 Package. EMP applicants may use the Unified 
Export Strategy (UES) application process, an online system which 
allows 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 online UES 
system must contact the Program Policy Staff at (202) 720-4327 to 
obtain site access information including a user 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 should also provide, 
promptly after the deadline for submitting the online 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, Grants Management Branch, 
Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024.
    U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Grants Management Branch, STOP 1042, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042.
    Applicants electing not to use the online system must submit both 
(1) a

[[Page 4174]]

printed copy of their application to the addresses above and (2) an 
electronic version to the e-mail address above.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. It is highly 
recommenced that any organization considering applying to the program 
first obtain a copy of the EMP Regulations. The regulations contain 
information on requirements that a proposal meet to be considered for 
funding under the program, along with other important information. EMP 
regulations and additional information are available at the following 
URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
    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 prior to submitting applications. 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 the participating 
organization(s) would be unlikely to carry out the project without such 
assistance;
    (p) Specific description of activity/activities to be undertaken;
    (q) Timeline(s) for implementation of activity, including start and 
end dates;
    (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); and
    (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 [insert date 30 days after day of 
publication], in the Grants Management Branch, either electronically, 
hand delivered, or by mail. Proposals received after this date and time 
will not be reviewed or 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 unreasonable 
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of a proposal. Full 
details of the funding restrictions are available in the EMP 
regulations.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria. Key criteria used in judging proposals include:
--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, deliverables, and proposed approach and 
activities;
--Justification for federal funding;
--Overall cost of the project and the amount of funding provided by the 
applicant and any partners; and
--Evidence that the organization has the knowledge, expertise, ability, 
and resources to successfully implement the project.

Additional evaluation criteria are discussed in the EMP regulations.
    2. Review and Selection Process. All applications undergo a multi-
phase review within FAS, including appropriate FAS overseas offices, 
and by the private sector Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to 
determine the qualifications, quality and appropriateness of projects, 
and reasonableness of project budgets.
    3. Anticipated Announcement Date. EMP funding decisions will be 
announced in the spring of 2008.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices. FAS will notify each applicant 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 level of EMP funding and cost-share contribution 
requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Interested 
parties should review the EMP regulations which are available at the 
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
    3. Reporting. Quarterly progress reports for all programs one year 
or longer in duration are required. Projects of less than one year 
generally require a mid-term progress report. Final performance reports 
are due 90 days after completion of each project. Content requirements 
for both types of reports are contained in the Project Agreement. Final 
financial reports are also due 90 days after completion of each project 
as attachments to the final performance report.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Grants 
Management Branch, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 
Agricultural, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, Stop 1042, 1250 
Maryland

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Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-5306, fax: (202) 
690-0193, e-mail: [email protected].

    Signed at Washington, DC, on January 17, 2008.
W. Kirk Miller,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 08-238 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M