[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54428-54430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22157]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. 110729450-1450-01]


Call for Applications for the International Buyer Program 
Calendar Year 2013

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application 
review criteria associated with support for domestic trade shows by the 
International Buyer Program (IBP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce 
(DOC). This announcement covers selection for International Buyer 
Program participation for calendar year 2013 (January 1, 2013 through 
December 31, 2013). The purpose of the IBP program is to bring 
international buyers together with U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. 
trade shows in industries with high export potential.

DATES: Applications must be received by October 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The application may be downloaded from http://www.export.gov/IBP. Applications may be submitted by any of the 
following methods: (1) Mail/Hand Delivery Service: International Buyer 
Program, Trade Promotion Programs, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Ronald 
Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 800M--Mezzanine Level--
Atrium North, Washington DC 20004. Telephone (202) 482-4207; (2) 
Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; or (3) e-mail: [email protected]. Facsimile 
and e-mail applications will be accepted as interim applications, but 
must be followed by a signed original application that is received by 
the program no later than five (5) business

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days after the application deadline. To ensure that applications are 
timely received by the deadline, applicants are strongly urged to send 
applications by hand delivery service (e.g., U.S. Postal Service 
Express Delivery, Federal Express, UPS, etc.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blanche Ziv, Director, International 
Buyer Program, Trade Promotion Programs, U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Ronald Reagan Building, Suite 800M--
Mezzanine Level--Atrium North, Washington DC 20004; Telephone (202) 
482-4207; Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Buyer Program was 
established to bring international buyers together with U.S. firms by 
promoting leading U.S. trade shows in industries with high export 
potential. The International Buyer Program emphasizes cooperation 
between the DOC and trade show organizers to benefit U.S. firms 
exhibiting at selected events and provides practical, hands-on 
assistance such as export counseling and market analysis to U.S. 
companies interested in exporting. The assistance provided to show 
organizers includes worldwide overseas promotion of selected shows to 
potential international buyers, end-users, representatives and 
distributors. The worldwide promotion is executed through the offices 
of the DOC U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (hereinafter referred to 
as the Commercial Service) in more than 76 countries representing the 
United States' major trading partners, and also in U.S. Embassies in 
countries where the Commercial Service does not maintain offices.
    The Commercial Service is accepting applications for the 
International Buyer Program for trade events taking place between 
January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Selection of a trade show is 
valid for one event, i.e., a trade show organizer seeking selection for 
a recurring event must submit a new application for selection for each 
occurrence of the event. Even if the event occurs more than once in the 
12-month period covered by this announcement, the trade show organizer 
must submit a separate application for each event.
    The Commercial Service expects to select approximately 35 events 
from among applicants to the program for the January 1, 2013 through 
December 31, 2013 period. The Commercial Service will select those 
events that are determined to most clearly meet the Commercial 
Service's statutory mandate to promote U.S. exports, especially those 
of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and that best meet the 
selection criteria articulated below. Shows selected for the 
International Buyer Program will provide a venue for U.S. companies 
interested in expanding their sales into international markets. 
Successful show organizer applicants will be required to enter into a 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DOC. The MOA constitutes an 
agreement between the DOC and the show organizer specifying which 
responsibilities are to be undertaken by the DOC as part of the 
International Buyer Program and, in turn, which responsibilities are to 
be undertaken by the show organizer. Anyone requesting application 
information will be sent a sample copy of the MOA along with the 
application and a copy of this Federal Register Notice. Applicants are 
encouraged to review the MOA closely as IBP participants are required 
to comply with all terms and conditions in the MOA, including 
construction of an international business center at the trade show and 
producing an export interest directory. The responsibilities to be 
undertaken by the DOC will be carried out by the Commercial Service.
    There is no fee required to submit an application. If accepted into 
the program, a participation fee of $8,000 for shows of five days or 
less is required within 45 days of written notification of acceptance 
into the program. For trade shows more than five days in duration, or 
requiring more than one International Business Center, a participation 
fee of $14,000 is required. For trade shows ten days or more in 
duration, and/or requiring more than two International Business 
Centers, the participation fee will be negotiated, but shall not be 
less than $19,500.
    The DOC selects trade shows to be International Buyer Program 
partners that it determines to be leading international trade shows 
appropriate for participation by U.S. exporting firms and for promotion 
in overseas markets by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Selection as an 
International Buyer Program partner does not constitute a guarantee by 
the U.S. Government of the show's success. International Buyer Program 
partnership status is not an endorsement of the show organizer except 
as to its international buyer activities. Non-selection should not be 
viewed as a finding that the event will not be successful in the 
promotion of U.S. exports.
    Exclusions: Trade shows that are either first-time or horizontal 
(non-industry specific) events generally will not be considered.
    Eligibility: All 2013 U.S. trade events are eligible to apply.
    General Evaluation Criteria: The Commercial Service will evaluate 
shows to be International Buyer Program partners using the following 
criteria:
    (a) Level of Intellectual Property Rights Protection: The trade 
show organizer includes in the terms and conditions of its exhibitor 
contracts provisions for the protection of intellectual property rights 
(IPR); has procedures in place at the trade show to address IPR 
infringement, which, at a minimum, provides information to help U.S. 
exhibitors procure legal representation during the trade show; and 
agrees to assist the DOC to reach and educate U.S. exhibitors on the 
Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!), IPR protection measures 
available during the show, and the means to protect IPR in overseas 
markets, as well as in the United States.
    (b) Export Potential: The trade show promotes products and services 
from U.S. industries that have high export potential, as determined by 
DOC sources, e.g., Commercial Service best prospects lists and U.S. 
export statistics (certain industries are rated as priorities by our 
domestic and international commercial officers in their Country 
Commercial Guides, available through the Web site, http://www.export.gov).
    (c) Level of International Interest: The trade show meets the needs 
of a significant number of overseas markets and corresponds to 
marketing opportunities as identified by the posts in their Country 
Commercial Guides (e.g., best prospect lists). Previous international 
attendance at the show may be used as an indicator.
    (d) Scope of the Show: The event must offer a broad spectrum of 
U.S. made products and services for the subject industry. Trade shows 
with a majority of U.S. firms as exhibitors are given priority.
    (e) U.S. Content of Show Exhibitors: Trade shows with exhibitors 
featuring a high percentage of products produced in the United States 
or products with a high degree of U.S. content will be preferred.
    (f) Stature of the Show: The trade show is clearly recognized by 
the industry it covers as a leading event for the promotion of that 
industry's products and services both domestically and internationally, 
and as a showplace for the latest technology or services in that 
industry.
    (g) Level of Exhibitor Interest: There is demonstrated interest on 
the part of U.S. exhibitors in receiving international

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business visitors during the trade show. A significant number of U.S. 
exhibitors should be new-to-export (NTE) or seeking to expand their 
sales into additional export markets.
    (h) Level of Overseas Marketing: There has been a demonstrated 
effort to market prior shows overseas. In addition, the applicant 
should describe in detail the international marketing program to be 
conducted for the event, and explain how efforts should increase 
individual and group international attendance. (Planned cooperation 
with Visit USA Committees overseas is desirable. For more information 
on Visit USA Committees go to: http://www.visitusa.com)
    (i) Logistics: The trade show site, facilities, transportation 
services, and availability of accommodations at the site of the 
exhibition must be capable of accommodating large numbers of attendees 
whose native language will not be English.
    (j) Level of Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates a willingness 
to cooperate with the Commercial Service to fulfill the program's goals 
and adhere to the target dates set out in the MOA and in the event 
timetables, both of which are available from the program office (see 
the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section above). Past experience 
in the International Buyer Program will be taken into account in 
evaluating the applications received for the January 1, 2013 through 
December 31, 2013 period.
    (k) Delegation Incentives: Show organizers should offer a range of 
incentives to be offered to delegations and/or delegation leaders 
recruited by the Commercial Service overseas posts. Examples of 
incentives to international visitors and to organized delegations 
include, but are not limited to: Waived or reduced admission fees; 
special organized events, such as receptions, meetings with association 
executives, briefings, and site tours; and complimentary accommodations 
for delegation leaders. Waived or reduced admission fees are required 
for international attendees who are members of Commercial Service 
recruited delegations under this program. Delegation leaders also must 
be provided complimentary admission to the event.
    Application Requirements: Show organizers submitting applications 
for the 2013 International Buyer Program are requested to submit: (1) A 
narrative statement addressing each question in the application, Form 
ITA-4102P; (2) a signed statement that ``The above information provided 
is correct and the applicant will abide by the terms set forth in this 
Call for Applications for the 2013 International Buyer Program (January 
1, 2013 through December 31, 2013)''; and (3) two copies of the 
application, on company letterhead, and one electronic copy submitted 
on a CD-RW (preferably in Microsoft Word[supreg] format), on or before 
the deadline noted above. There is no fee required to apply. The DOC 
expects to issue the results of this process in April 2012.
    Legal Authority: The Commercial Service has the legal authority to 
enter into MOAs with show organizers (partners) under the provisions of 
the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (MECEA), as 
amended (22 U.S.C. sections 2455(f) and 2458(c)). MECEA allows the 
Commercial Service to accept contributions of funds and services from 
firms for the purposes of furthering its mission. The statutory program 
authority for the Commercial Service to conduct the International Buyer 
Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements of the application to this program 
(Form ITA-4102P) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (OMB Control No. 0625-0151).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond 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 Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

    Dated: August 24, 2011.
Blanche Ziv,
Director, International Buyer Program, U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2011-22157 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P