[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32530-32532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16060]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. I.D. GF001]


Grants to Manufacturers of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

ACTION: Notice Announcing the Availability of Grant Funds

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants 
that the Department of Commerce is providing financial assistance in 
calendar year 2009 for U.S. manufacturers of certain worsted wool 
fabrics. Section 4002(c)(6)(A) of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical 
Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429, 118 Stat. 2603) (the 
``Act'') authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants to 
persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who 
were, during calendar years 1999, 2000, and 2001, manufacturers of two 
categories of worsted wool fabrics. The first category are 
manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics, containing 85 percent or more by 
weight of wool, with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 micron 
(Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 
9902.51.11); the total amount of available funds is $2,666,000, to be 
allocated among such manufacturers on the basis of the percentage of 
each manufacturers' production of worsted wool fabric included in HTS 
9902.51.11. The second category are manufacturers of worsted wool 
fabrics, containing 85 percent or more by weight of wool, with average 
fiber diameters of 18.5 micron or less (HTS heading 9902.51.15, 
previously HTS heading 9902.51.12); the total amount of available funds 
is $2,666,000, to be allocated among such manufacturers on the basis of 
the percentage of each manufacturers' production of worsted wool fabric 
included in HTS 9902.51.15. Funding for the worsted wool fabrics grant 
program will be provided by the Department of the Treasury from amounts 
in the Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund (the ``Trust Fund''). The 
total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics 
described in HTS 9902.51.11 shall be $2,666,000 in calendar year 2009. 
The total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics 
described in HTS 9902.51.15 shall also be $2,666,000 in calendar year 
2009.

DATES: Applications by eligible U.S. producers of certain worsted wool 
fabrics must be received and validated by Grants.gov, postmarked, or 
provided to a delivery service on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Standard Time on July 27, 2009. Validation or rejection of your 
application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business days after 
submission. Applications received after the closing date and time will 
be rejected/returned to the sender without further consideration. Use 
of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a 
receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

ADDRESSES: The standard application package is available at http://www.grants.gov. For applicants without internet access, an application 
package may be received by contacting Mr. Jim Bennett, Office of 
Textiles and Apparel, Rm 3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington 
DC 20230, (202) 482-4058; email: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical questions can be directed to 
Jim Bennett, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4058; [email protected]. Grants-related 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to 
Beverly Manley, Department of Commerce Grants Officer, (202) 482-1370; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using grants.gov, contact 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The items listed below are required before an award can be made. 
Failure to submit items below by the application date will result in 
the application not being reviewed. Applicants must have produced in 
the United States, during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001, worsted 
wool fabrics of a kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or 9902.51.15. 
Applicants must provide: (1) Company name, address, contact and phone 
number; (2) Federal tax identification number; (3) the name and address 
of

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each plant or location in the United States where worsted wool fabrics 
of the kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or HTS 9902.51.15 was woven by 
the applicant in 1999, 2000 and 2001; (4) the name and address of each 
plant or location in the United States where the applicant is weaving 
worsted wool fabrics of the kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or HTS 
9902.5115 as of the date of application; (5) the quantity, in linear 
yards, of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 9902.51.11 or 
9902.51.15, as appropriate, woven in the United States in each of 
calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001; and (6) the value of worsted wool 
fabric production described in HTS 9902.51.11 or 9902.51.15, as 
appropriate, woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 
2000 and 2001.
    This data must indicate actual production (not estimates) of 
worsted wool fabric of the kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or 
9902.51.15. At the conclusion of the application, the applicant must 
attest that ``all information contained in the application is complete 
and correct and no false claims, statements, or representations have 
been made.'' Applicants should be aware that, generally, pursuant to 31 
U.S.C. 3729, persons providing a false or fraudulent claims, and, 
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001, persons making materially false statements 
or representations, are subject to civil or criminal penalties, 
respectively. Information that is marked ``business confidential'' will 
be protected from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law.
    Other Application Requirements: Complete applications must also 
include the following forms and documents: CD-346, Applicant for 
Funding Assistance; CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying; SF-424, 
Application for Federal Assistance; and SF-424B, Assurances - Non-
Construction Programs.
    Electronic Access: The federal funding opportunity announcement for 
this program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site at http://www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available by contacting 
the program officials identified under the section above labeled ``FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT''. Applicants must comply with all 
requirements contained in the federal funding opportunity announcement.
    Statutory Authority: Section 4002(c)(6) of the Miscellaneous Trade 
and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429, 118 Stat. 
2603) (the ``Act''), and amended by Section 1633 of the Pension 
Protection Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-280). Division C, Title III, 
Section 325 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, 
(Public Law 110-343) extended the availability of grant funds through 
2014.
    Funding Availability: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
section 4002(c)(6)(A) of the Act to provide grants to manufacturers of 
certain worsted wool fabrics. Funding for the worsted wool fabrics 
grant program will be provided by the Department of the Treasury from 
amounts in the Trust Fund. The total amount of grants to manufacturers 
of worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 9902.51.11 shall be $2,666,000 
in calendar year 2009. The total amount ofgrants to manufacturers of 
worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 9902.51.15 shall also be 
$2,666,000 in calendar year 2009.
    Eligibility Criteria: The worsted wool fabrics grant program is 
open to persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal 
entities) who were, during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001, 
manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics in the United States of the kind 
described in HTS 9902.51.11 or 9902.51.15. Only manufacturers who weave 
worsted wool fabric in the United States as of the date of application 
shall be eligible for grant funds. Any manufacturer who becomes a 
successor-of-interest to a manufacturer of the worsted wool fabrics 
described in HTS 9902.51.11 or HTS 9902.51.15 during 1999, 2000 or 2001 
because of a reorganization or otherwise, shall be eligible to apply 
for such grants.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing or matching requirements 
is required for the worsted wool fabric program.
    Evaluation And Selection Procedures: The general evaluation 
criteria and selection factors that apply to applications to this 
funding opportunity are summarized below. Further information about the 
evaluation criteria and selection factors can be found in the federal 
funding opportunity announcement.
    Evaluation Criteria For Projects: For the worsted wool fabrics 
grant program, the technical reviewers will use the following criteria 
to evaluate the applications: (1) Whether the applicant (including 
persons, firms, corporations, or other legal entities) produced in the 
United States worsted wool fabrics of the kind described in HTS 
9902.51.11 or 9902.51.15 during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001; (2) 
Whether the applicant (including persons, firms, corporations, or other 
legal entities) is weaving in the United States worsted wool fabric of 
the kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or HTS 9902.51.15 as of the date 
of application; (3) Whether the applicant (including persons, firms, 
corporations, or other legal entities) was a successor-of-interest to a 
manufacturer who produced in the United States worsted wool fabric of 
the kind described in HTS 9902.51.11 or HTS 9902.51.15 during calendar 
years 1999, 2000 or 2001, because of a reorganization or otherwise; and 
(4) the quantity, in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric production 
described in HTS 9902.51.11 woven in the United States in each of 
calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001; or the quantity, in linear yards, 
of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 9902.51.15 woven in 
the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001.
    Review And Selection Process: All applications received in response 
to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether they are 
complete and responsive to the content and form of application 
submission requirements as published in this notice. Responsive 
applications will be reviewed by an independent, objective panel 
composed of at least three individuals who are knowledgeable about 
worsted wool fabric production. The panel will conduct a technical 
review of applications based on the evaluation criteria listed above. 
The worsted wool fabrics grant program Selecting Official in the Office 
of Textiles and Apparel will make the award selection.
    Selection Factors For Projects: For each applicant, the quantity, 
in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 
9902.51.11 woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 
2000 and 2001; or the quantity, in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric 
production described in HTS 9902.51.15 woven in the United States in 
each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001. The grants are to be 
allocated among eligible applicants on the basis of the percentage of 
each manufacturers' production of the fabric described in HTS 
9902.51.11 or HTS 9902.51.15, as appropriate, for calendar years 1999, 
2000, and 2001, compared to the production of such fabric by all 
manufacturers who qualify for such grants.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
    Limitation Of Liability: In no event will International Trade 
Administration or the Department of Commerce be responsible for 
proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive funding or 
are cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of

[[Page 32532]]

this announcement does not oblige International Trade Administration to 
award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
    The Department Of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements For 
Grants And Cooperative Agreements: The Department of Commerce Pre-Award 
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
contained in the Federal Register notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 
7696), are applicable to this solicitation.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: This document contains collection-of-
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL and CD-346 has 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, 
and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is 
required to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    Executive Order 12866: This notice has been determined to be not 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that 
this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as 
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the 
Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning 
public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 USC 
553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required 
pursuant to 5 USC 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements for 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 USC 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.

Dated: July 2, 2009.
Janet E. Heinzen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel.
[FR Doc. E9-16060 Filed 7-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS