[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80786-80787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32263]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2010 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-10-0074; TM-10-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the Federal-State Marketing 
Improvement Program (FSMIP)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces a 
solicitation of applications for competitive grant funds for fiscal 
year (FY) 2011, subject to final appropriation action by Congress, 
which would enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S. 
food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation 
aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing 
system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, 
State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State 
Agencies. Applicants are encouraged to involve industry groups, 
academia, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in 
developing proposals and conducting projects. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection 
requirements have been previously approved by OMB under 0581-0240, 
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).
    Historically, Congress has appropriated funding for this program. 
This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2011 
Appropriations Act, which may or may not provide an appropriation for 
this program, to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage 
financing, submit applications, and give AMS time to process 
applications within the current fiscal year.

DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 17, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP 
Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, 
NW., Room 3002-South Tower, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 694-
4002; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer; 
telephone (202) 694-4002; fax (202) 694-5950; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). FSMIP 
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to 
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural 
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving 
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible 
applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other 
organizations interested in participating in this program should 
contact their State Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division. 
State agencies specifically named under the authorizing legislation 
should assume the lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or 
contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions, 
and producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate. 
Multi-State projects are encouraged. In such projects, one State 
assumes the coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative 
arrangements with the other State agencies and entities involved in the 
project.
    Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 
and 424A. AMS will not approve the use of FSMIP funds for advertising 
or, with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment. Detailed 
program guidelines may be obtained from the contact listed above, and 
are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP.

Background

    FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address 
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, 
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically 
and internationally.
    Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock 
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture, 
viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured 
products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the growing 
diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has funded 
projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost and products 
made from agricultural residue.
    Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities 
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, 
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large 
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple 
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one 
business or individual will not be considered.
    Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, Multi-
State or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks 
unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or 
case studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest 
are proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States, 
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and 
stakeholders. FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
     Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for 
market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and 
marketing agricultural products.
     Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in 
their various forms and through various channels.
     Assist in the development of more efficient marketing 
methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and 
orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and 
the consumer.
     Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, 
quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.
     Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of 
agricultural products in commercial channels.
     Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/
expanded uses of agricultural products.

[[Page 80787]]

     Collect and disseminate marketing information to 
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and 
balance production and utilization.
    All proposals which fall within the FSMIP guidelines will be 
considered. FSMIP encourages States to submit proposals that address 
the following objectives:
     Creating wealth in rural communities through the 
development of local and regional food systems and value-added 
agriculture.
     Developing direct marketing opportunities for producers, 
or producer groups.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP 
information collection requirements were previously approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB control 
number 0581-0240.
    AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general 
to provide the public with the option of submitted information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.

How To Submit Proposals and Applications

    Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications 
electronically through the Federal grants Web site, instead of mailing 
hard copy documents. Applicants considering the electronic application 
option are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with the Federal 
grants Web site well before the application deadline and to begin the 
application process before the deadline. Additional details about the 
FSMIP application process for all applicants are available at the FSMIP 
Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP.
    FSMIP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance'' 
under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally 
assisted programs.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: December 16, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32263 Filed 12-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P