[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10210-10213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. 100301119-0119-01; I.D. GF001]


Market Development Cooperator Program 2010

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Coordination and Management (OPCM), 
Manufacturing and Services (MAS), International Trade Administration 
(ITA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: ITA requests that eligible organizations submit proposals 
(applications) for the fiscal year (FY) 2010 competition for Market 
Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards. ITA creates economic 
opportunity for U.S. workers and firms by promoting international trade 
and investment, strengthening industry competitiveness, and ensuring 
fair trade.

DATES: Applications: The Department must receive completed applications 
by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, April 19, 2010. Late applications will 
not be accepted. Applicants whose applications have been accepted will 
be notified via e-mail or fax within ten days of the submission 
deadline.
    Public Meeting: The Department will hold a public meeting to 
discuss MDCP proposal preparation, procedures, and selection process on 
Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The ninety-minute meeting will begin at 2 p.m. 
in Room 6029, at the Herbert Clark Hoover Building, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The Department will not 
discuss specific proposals at this meeting. Attendance is not required. 
Interested parties may participate via telephone conference. Dial-in 
instructions will be posted on the Internet at trade.gov/mdcp. 
Interested parties can also obtain dial-in instructions from Ms. 
Catherine Land at 202-482-3858.

ADDRESSES: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their 
applications via http://www.grants.gov. Application packages are 
available from http://www.grants.gov or may obtained at trade.gov/mdcp 
or by contacting Mr. Brad Hess, U.S. Department of Commerce, HCHB 3215, 
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. This is 
also the address where applicants may submit an application if they 
cannot submit online or choose not to submit online.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad Hess, Manager, Market 
Development Cooperator Program, Manufacturing and Services, ITA, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 
3215, Washington, DC 20230. E-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through Market Development Cooperator 
Program (MDCP) cooperative agreements, the Department provides 
technical and financial assistance to trade associations, state 
departments of trade, and other non-profit industry organizations to 
help to underwrite the start-up costs of new ventures that 
organizations are often reluctant to undertake without federal 
government support. These organizations are particularly effective in 
reaching small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). The mission goals 
of the MDCP strengthens the competitiveness of U.S. industry by 
fostering projects that result in increased exports and/or market share 
for non-agricultural goods and services produced in the United States. 
As an active partner, ITA will, as appropriate, guide and assist 
organizations in achieving project objectives.
    ITA publishes this notice to solicit applications for MDCP funds. 
ITA encourages organizations to propose projects that: (1) Best 
strengthen their industry through market development; and (2) leverage 
the partnership between the organization and ITA.

1. Definitions

    Several definitions are provided in section VIII. Other Information 
of the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement (see Electronic 
Access).

2. Examples of Project Activity

    Applicants should propose market development activities tailored to 
strengthen the competitiveness of a U.S. industry. Examples from prior 
years are set forth below and, in greater detail, at trade.gov/mdcp. 
These are provided only for illustration: Promotion of standards that 
ensure market access for U.S. products; helping business leaders to 
leverage free trade agreements to the advantage of U.S. industry; 
demonstration of U.S. products abroad; development of a shared 
Internet-based distribution system in a target market; establishment of 
technical servicing of U.S. products abroad; joint promotion of U.S. 
products with foreign partners; establishment of a trade association 
office in a target market; education of foreign users of U.S. 
technology concerning intellectual property rights; training foreign 
staff for after-sale service of U.S. products in target markets; 
increasing trust in U.S. products in foreign markets by safeguarding 
non-U.S. elements of the supply chain with an ingredient testing 
system; publication of product brochures and company directories; and 
development of product quality standards and designations along with 
target-market promotion of same.
    Electronic Access: The full text of the Federal funding opportunity 
(FFO) announcement for this program can be accessed via the Grants.gov 
Web site at http://www.grants.gov. The FFO announcement will also be 
available by contacting the program officials identified under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Applicants must comply with all 
requirements contained in the FFO announcement.
    Statutory Authority: MDCP is provided for in 15 U.S.C. 4723. The 
program strengthens U.S. industry's competitiveness by developing, 
maintaining, and expanding foreign

[[Page 10211]]

markets for non-agricultural goods and services produced in the United 
States.
    CFDA: 11.112, Market Development Cooperator Program
    Funding Availability: Approximately $1,500,000 is expected to be 
available through this announcement for fiscal year 2010. The total 
number of awards made will depend on the amounts requested by top-
scoring applicants and the availability of funds. No award will exceed 
$500,000. The Department anticipates concluding three to thirty 
cooperative agreements.

Program Priorities

    ITA seeks to promote trade and strengthen the global 
competitiveness of U.S. industry. MDCP projects should be designed to 
meet this objective. The primary measurements of effectiveness of MDCP 
projects in meeting this objective are exports and U.S. jobs created or 
sustained by these exports. Listed below are more specific priorities 
that help ITA to achieve this objective. Applicants should demonstrate 
how their proposed projects are compatible with or complementary to 
these ITA priorities. An applicant does not need to focus on a specific 
number of these priorities to qualify for an award. Strong 
compatibility or complementarity on one priority can be sufficient for 
an application to score high enough to be funded. The Department is 
interested in receiving proposals that include but are not limited to 
projects that:
    1. Create or sustain U.S. jobs by increasing or maintaining 
exports;
    2. Address impediments to innovation and reduce the cost of doing 
business in foreign countries;
    3. Address standards, intellectual property rights, and other non-
tariff barriers, especially in large markets like China, India, and 
Brazil;
    4. Help U.S. industry to capitalize on effective global supply 
chain management strategies;
    5. Increase U.S. market share in China's clean energy sector and 
improve the business environment for U.S. companies in China;
    6. Facilitate ease of travel to the United States and promote U.S. 
higher education and training opportunities to non-U.S. entities;
    7. Increase overall export awareness and awareness of ITA programs 
and services among U.S. companies, by making SMEs export-ready or by 
facilitating deal-making; and
    8. Expand exports of U.S. emerging technologies.
    Eligibility: Trade associations, state departments of trade and 
their regional associations, and non-profit industry organizations, 
including organizations such as World Trade Centers, centers for 
international trade development and small business development centers 
are eligible to apply for an MDCP award. Private industry firms or 
groups of firms may be eligible to apply for an MDCP award in cases 
where an entity listed above does not exist to represent the industry. 
Such private industry firms or groups of firms must provide in their 
applications, documentation demonstrating that a trade association, 
non-profit industry organization, or state department of trade or their 
regional association does not exist to represent the industry.
    Definitions of each eligible entity are provided below:
    1. Trade Association: A fee-based organization consisting of member 
firms in the same industry, or in related industries, or which share 
common commercial concerns. The purpose of the trade association is to 
further the commercial interests of its members through the exchange of 
information, legislative activities, and other forms of representation.

2. Non-Profit Industry Organization

    a. A non-profit small business development center operating under 
agreement with the Small Business Administration; or
    b. A non-profit World Trade Center chartered or recognized by the 
non-profit World Trade Centers Association; or
    c. An organization granted status as a non-profit organization 
under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), (4), (5), or (6), which operates as one of 
the following: (1) Chamber of commerce; (2) Board of trade; (3) 
Business, export or trade council/interest group; (4) Visitors bureau 
or tourism promotion group; (5) Economic development group; (6) Small 
business development center; or (7) Port authority. Organizations with 
501(c)(4) status that engage in lobbying are not eligible.

3. State Departments of Trade and Their Regional Associations

    a. Department of a state government tasked with promoting trade, 
tourism, or other types of economic development; or
    b. Associations of the departments of trade (as defined above) of 
two or more states; or
    c. Entities within a state or within a region that are associated 
with a state department of trade, tourism, or other types of economic 
development including non-profit, non-private, non-commercial entities 
which are at least partially funded by, directed by, or tasked by a 
state government to promote trade, tourism, or other types of economic 
development.

Clarification Regarding Eligibility of Educational Institutions

    Educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and 
universities, are generally not eligible. However, organizations that 
are part of or affiliated with an educational institution for 
administrative, accounting, financial, legal, or logistical reasons may 
be eligible. Such organizations that are not independent legal 
entities--for example, an unincorporated organization--that otherwise 
may be classified as a trade association; non-profit industry 
association; or. state department of trade or their regional 
association are eligible. In such a case, the eligible entity will 
include in its application a signed letter from the educational 
institution stating that MDCP funds will be used only by the eligible 
entity for the purposes outlined in its application, and that no such 
funds will be used by or retained by the educational institution, even 
though the funds may need to go through the educational institution 
because of the eligible entity's lack of a separate accounting system 
or lack of status as a separate legal entity.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: A cooperator must contribute at least 
two dollars for each Federal dollar received. The first dollar's-worth 
of contribution must be cash, the second can be either cash or in-kind 
contribution worth one dollar. See section VIII.B. Supplemental 
Explanation of Cost Share and Match of the FFO announcement for more 
information.
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: The general evaluation 
criteria and selection factors that apply to full applications to this 
funding opportunity are summarized below. Further information about the 
evaluation criteria and selection factors can be found in the FFO 
announcement.
    Evaluation Criteria for Projects: The Department is interested in 
projects that demonstrate the possibility of both significant progress 
during the award period and lasting benefits extending beyond the award 
period. To that end, the selection panel reviews each application for 
financial assistance under MDCP based upon the evaluation criteria 
listed below.
    1. Potential to Strengthen Competitiveness (20 points):
    A project's potential to strengthen competitiveness is evaluated 
primarily on the likelihood that it will result in export initiatives 
by U.S. firms, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. Such 
initiatives are

[[Page 10212]]

normally characterized by a significant expenditure of resources by the 
chief executive officer of a company in the active pursuit of export 
sales. As noted in the Examples of Project Activity, many different 
kinds of activity can strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry; 
however, an applicant can earn the maximum number of points under this 
criterion only by demonstrating how its proposed project is expected to 
result in increased export initiatives by individual U.S. firms and 
exports by those firms.
    2. Performance Measurement (20 points):
    Applicants must provide quantifiable estimates of projected export 
and market share increases and explain how they are derived. No 
application that lacks an estimate of exports can receive a performance 
measurement score that exceeds ten (10). Applicants must detail the 
methods they will use to gather and report performance information. The 
Department will evaluate each applicant's proposed performance measures 
and proposed performance goals to determine how reasonable they are and 
to determine the likelihood that the applicant will gather and report 
useful data.
    3. Partnership and Priorities (20 points):
    This criterion evaluates the degree to which the project initiates 
or enhances partnership with ITA and the degree to which the proposal 
furthers or is compatible with ITA's priorities stated under Program 
Priorities above.
    4. Creativity and Capacity (20 points):
    This criterion evaluates the creativity, innovation, and realism 
displayed by the work plan as well as the institutional capacity of the 
applicant to carry out the work plan.
    a. Demonstrating Creativity: Applicants might propose ideas not 
previously tried to promote a particular industry in a market. 
Creativity can be demonstrated by the manner in which techniques are 
customized to meet the specific needs of certain client groups.
    b. Table Comparing Proposal to Current or Past MDCP Projects: 
Applicants that have received an MDCP award in the past must submit a 
table comparing their current or past MDCP project(s) and their 
proposed project. The need for this table and the requested format are 
described below. MDCP awards are designed to help underwrite the start-
up costs of new projects. Accordingly, current or past cooperators can 
be in a position to earn the maximum number of points under this 
criterion only if they propose projects that are entirely new. In order 
to determine whether a project is entirely new, the current or past 
cooperator must provide, as a separate appendix, a comparison between 
the elements of the proposed project and the elements of its current or 
past MDCP-funded projects. Current or past cooperators that propose 
projects that are not entirely new will receive fewer points under this 
criterion than they would receive otherwise. In determining the number 
of points under this criterion, the selection panel will consider the 
level to which a particular applicant has incorporated elements of its 
previously funded MDCP projects. To do this, current or past 
cooperators should submit a table wherein they approximate the amount 
of resources devoted to each project element. See VIII.C. Example Table 
Comparing Proposal to Current or Past MDCP Projects of the FFO 
announcement for more information.
    c. Institutional Capacity: The Department measures institutional 
capacity by what each applicant submits. A current or past cooperator 
should not assume that success with a prior MDCP project will 
automatically be taken into account by the Department when reviewing 
its application. Each applicant must document its institutional 
capacity in its application.
    5. Budget and Sustainability (20 points):
    This criterion encompasses the reasonableness of the itemized 
budget for project activities, the amount of the cash match that is 
readily available at the beginning of the project, and the probability 
that the project can be continued on a self-sustained basis after the 
completion of the award. Current or past cooperators must show how the 
proposed project will achieve self-sustainability independent of any 
current or past MDCP projects. ITA does not assume that prior MDCP 
projects are self-sustaining. As noted in the section entitled 
Institutional Capacity, ITA assesses each application based on what 
each applicant chooses to include in its application. If an applicant 
wants ITA to consider the self-sustainability of a prior project when 
evaluating a new project proposal, it should include relevant 
information in its application.
    Each of the above criteria is worth a maximum of 20 points. The 
five criteria together constitute the application score. At 20 points 
per criterion, the total possible score is 100.
    Review and Selection Process: The applicant is responsible for 
submitting a complete application in a timely manner. Prior to 
selection, each complete application receives an evaluation as set 
forth below.

Eligibility Determination

    The MDCP staff of the Office of Planning, Coordination and 
Management (OPCM) in ITA's Manufacturing and Services (MAS), in 
consultation with the Department's Office of General Counsel, reviews 
all applications to determine the eligibility of each applicant.

Program Area Review

    All eligible applicants are forwarded to the relevant program 
areas, including ITA's MAS, Market Access and Compliance (MAC), and 
Commercial Service, for review. This allows experts in the industry 
sector or geographical region to assess applicant claims. These 
reviewers provide insights into both the potential benefits and the 
potential difficulties associated with the applications.

OPCM Review

    Representatives of OPCM will also review and comment on 
applications using the evaluation criteria identified above.

Selection Panel

    The MDCP Manager prepares for the selection panel a review packet 
including the applications and OPCM reviewer and program area reviewer 
comments. The OPCM reviewer and program area review comments afford the 
selection panel the insights and breadth of experience of Department 
professionals. Although their comments are made available to the 
selection panel, it is only the selection panel's scores that determine 
the top ranked applications that are forwarded to the Assistant 
Secretary for Manufacturing and Services with the recommendation for 
selection as award recipients. The MDCP Manager forwards all of the 
eligible applications, along with all related materials, to the 
selection panel, which is comprised of at least three senior ITA 
managers, for review and selection recommendation. This panel is 
chaired by the OPCM Director and typically includes three other 
members, one each from MAS, MAC, and the Commercial Service. Panel 
members are office directors or higher.
    Each selection panel member reviews each eligible application using 
the evaluation criteria and assigns a score for each of the five 
criteria stated above. Panel members have the discretion to take into 
consideration the OPCM staff and program area comments when assigning a 
score for each application. The scores of each selection panel member 
for each application reviewed are maintained in the files for three 
years. The individual criteria scores are

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averaged to determine the total score for each application. The 
evaluation criteria scores assigned by the panel determine which 
applications are recommended for funding.
    Based on the scores assigned by selection panel members and 
deliberations by the selection panel, the selection panel ranks all 
applications based on scores and forwards the applications with the ten 
highest total scores (``top-ranked applications'') to the Assistant 
Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, and recommends which of the 
top applications should receive funding. If the amount of funds 
requested by the top ten applicants is less than the funding available, 
the selection panel recommends additional applications for funding in 
rank order. The selection panel's recommendation will not deviate from 
the rank order. For example, the selection panel cannot recommend 
funding for the application ranked seventh without recommending funding 
for applicants ranked first through sixth. The selection panel 
recommendation includes the panel's written assessment of the strengths 
and weaknesses of the top-ranked applications.
    Selection Factors for Projects: From the top-ranked applications 
forwarded by the selection panel, the Assistant Secretary for 
Manufacturing and Services selects those applications that will receive 
funding. In addition to the evaluation criteria, the Assistant 
Secretary for Manufacturing and Services may consider the selection 
factors listed below:
    1. The selection panel's written assessments;
    2. Degree to which applications satisfy the ITA priorities 
established under Program Priorities;
    3. Geographic distribution of the proposed awards;
    4. Diversity of industry sectors and overseas markets covered by 
the proposed awards;
    5. Diversity of project activities represented by the proposed 
awards;
    6. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of 
other federal agencies; and
    7. Availability of funds.
    Intergovernmental Review: There are no intergovernmental review 
requirements beyond those already noted.
    Limitation of Liability: In no event will NOAA 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 this announcement does not oblige 
NOAA 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 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements 
for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are 
inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been 
prepared.

    Dated: March 2, 2010.
Robert W. Pearson,
Director, Office of Planning, Coordination and Management, 
Manufacturing and Services, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2010-4715 Filed 3-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P