[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18588-18591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07940]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
Emerging Markets Program

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2016 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The 
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the 
private sector and from government agencies for fiscal year 2016 and to 
set out criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 
2015. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service (FAS).

DATES: To be considered for funding, applications must be received by 5 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 8, 2015. Any applications received 
after this time will be considered only if funds are still available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of 
Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service by courier address: Room 
6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: 
(202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by email: 
[email protected]. Information is also available on the Foreign 
Agricultural Service Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging-markets-program-emp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Funding Opportunity Description

    Announcement Type: New.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.

    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 activities that improve emerging markets' food and 
rural business systems, including reducing potential trade barriers in 
such markets. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market 
development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also 
be used to assist public organizations.
    All U.S. agricultural commodities, 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 that seek support for multiple 
commodities are also eligible. EMP funding may only be used to develop, 
maintain, or expand emerging markets for U.S. agricultural commodities 
and products through generic activities. EMP funding may not be used to 
support the export of another country's products to the United States, 
or to promote the development of a foreign economy as a primary 
objective.
    2. Appropriate Activities. All EMP projects must fall into at least 
one of the following four categories:
    (a) Assistance to teams consisting primarily of U.S. individuals 
expert in assessing the food and rural business systems of other 
countries. This type of EMP project must include all three of the 
following:
     Conduct an assessment of the food and rural business 
system needs of an emerging market;
     Make recommendations on measures necessary to enhance the 
effectiveness of these systems; and
     Identify opportunities and projects to enhance the 
effectiveness of the emerging market's food and rural business systems.
    To be eligible, such proposals must clearly demonstrate that 
experts are primarily agricultural consultants, farmers, other persons 
from the private sector, and government officials, and that they have 
expertise in assessing the food and rural business systems of other 
countries.
    (b) Assistance to enable individuals from emerging markets to 
travel to the United States so that these individuals can, for the 
purpose of enhancing the food and rural business systems in their 
countries, become familiar with U.S. technology and agribusiness and 
rural enterprise operations by consulting with food and rural business 
system experts in the United States.
    (c) Assistance to enable U.S. agricultural producers and other 
individuals knowledgeable in agricultural and agribusiness matters to 
travel to emerging markets to assist in transferring their knowledge 
and expertise to entities in emerging markets. Such travel must be to 
emerging markets. Travel to developed markets is not eligible under the 
program even if the traveler's targeted market is an emerging market.
    (d) Technical assistance to implement the recommendations, 
projects, and/or opportunities identified under 2(a) above. Technical 
assistance that does not implement the recommendations, projects, and/
or opportunities identified

[[Page 18589]]

by assistance under 2(a) above is not eligible under the EMP.
    Proposals that do not fall into one or more of the four categories 
above, regardless of previous guidance provided regarding the EMP, are 
not eligible for consideration under the program.
    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 (``cooperators'') will not be considered. Other ineligible 
expenditures include: Branded product promotions (e.g., 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, and posters (except in connection with specific technical 
assistance activities such as training seminars). For a more complete 
description of ineligible expenditures, 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 U.S. agricultural commodities or products of U.S. agricultural 
commodities.
    Because EMP funds are limited and the range of potential emerging 
market countries is worldwide, consideration will be given only to 
proposals that target countries or regional groups with per capita 
income of less than $12,745 (the current ceiling on upper middle income 
economies as determined by the World Bank [World Development 
Indicators; July 2014, 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.

B. Award Information

    In general, and subject to the availability of funding, all 
qualified proposals received before the application deadline will 
compete for EMP funding.
    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. Each proposal 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 generally limited to 
three years and 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 
interim progress reports and final performance reports. Changes in the 
original project timelines and adjustments within project budgets must 
be approved in advance by FAS.

    Note: EMP funds awarded to government agencies must be expended 
or otherwise obligated by close of business, September 30, 2016.

C. Eligibility and Qualification Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Any U.S. private or government entity 
(e.g., universities, non-profit trade associations, agricultural 
cooperatives, state regional trade groups (SRTGs), state departments of 
agriculture, federal agencies, profit-making entities, and consulting 
businesses) with a demonstrated role or interest in exports of U.S. 
agricultural commodities or products may apply to the program. 
Proposals from research and consulting organizations will be considered 
if they provide evidence of substantial participation by 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. export market development cooperators and SRTGs may seek 
funding to address priority, market specific issues and to undertake 
activities not suitable for funding under other CCC market development 
programs, e.g., the Foreign Market Development Cooperator (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 one 
factor 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 government 
agencies, but is mandatory for all other eligible entities, even when 
they may be party to a joint proposal with a government agency. 
Contributions from USDA or other government agencies or programs may 
not be counted toward the stated cost-share requirement of other 
applicants. 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)

[[Page 18590]]

would be unlikely to carry out the project without such assistance. 
Applicants may submit more than one proposal.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: EMP applicants have the 
opportunity to utilize the Unified Export Strategy (UES) application 
process, an online system that provides a means for 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 strongly encouraged to submit their applications to 
FAS through the UES application Internet Web site. The Internet-based 
format reduces paperwork and expedites FAS' processing and review 
cycle. Applicants planning to use the on-line UES system must contact 
the Program Operations Division to obtain site access information. The 
Internet-based application is located at the following URL address: 
https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
    Although FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based 
application, applicants also have the option of submitting an 
electronic version to FAS at [email protected].
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for 
the EMP, an applicant must submit to FAS information required by this 
Notice of Funds Availability and the EMP regulations at 7 CFR part 
1486. EMP regulations and additional information are available at the 
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging-markets-program-emp.
    In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that 
applies to the EMP and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR 
Sec.  25.110 must:
    (i) Provide a valid DUNS number in each application or plan it 
submits to CCC;
    (ii) Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior 
to submitting an application or plan; and
    (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or 
an application or plan under consideration by CCC.
    Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, each entity that 
applies to the EMP and does not qualify for an exception under 2 CFR 
Sec.  170.110(b) must ensure it has the necessary processes and systems 
in place to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of 2 CFR 
part 170 should it receive EMP funding.
    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) Specific description of activity/activities to be undertaken;
    (j) Clear demonstration that successful implementation will benefit 
an emerging market's food and rural business system and/or reduce 
potential trade barriers, and will benefit a particular industry as a 
whole, not just the applicant(s);
    (k) Current conditions in the target market(s) affecting the 
intended commodity or product;
    (l) Description of problem(s) (i.e., constraint(s)) to be addressed 
by the project, such as the need to assess and enhance food and rural 
business systems of the emerging market, lack of awareness by foreign 
officials of U.S. technology and business practices, impediments 
(infrastructure, financing, regulatory or other non-tariff barriers) to 
the effectiveness of the emerging market's food and rural business 
systems previously identified by an EMP project that are to be 
implemented by the applicant, etc.;
    (m) Project objectives;
    (n) Performance measures: Benchmarks for quantifying progress in 
meeting the objectives;
    (o) Rationale: Explanation of the underlying reasons for the 
project proposal and its approach, the anticipated benefits, and any 
additional pertinent analysis;
    (p) 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;
    (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 resources in the target country or 
countries (e.g., under MAP and/or Cooperator programs);
    (s) Detailed line item activity budget:
     Cost items should be allocated separately to each 
participating organization; and
     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; 
and
    (t) Qualifications of applicant(s) should be included as an 
attachment.
    3. 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 also 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.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: EMP proposals are reviewed on a 
rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as EMP funding is 
available as set forth below:
     Proposals received by, but not later than, 5 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time, June 8, 2015, will be considered for funding with other 
proposals received by that date;
     Proposals not approved for funding during the review 
period will be reconsidered for funding after the review period only if 
the applicant specifically requests such reconsideration in writing, 
and only if funding remains available;
     Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 
June 8, 2015, will be considered in the order received for funding only 
if funding remains available.
    5. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications 
must be properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, June 8, 
2015, in order to be considered for funding; late submissions received 
after the deadline will be considered only if funding remains 
available. All applications submitted by email must be received by 5 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June 8, 2015, at [email protected] in 
order to receive the same consideration.

[[Page 18591]]

E. Application Review Information

    Evaluation criteria. FAS will consider a number of factors when 
reviewing proposals, including:
     Appropriateness of the activity, including the ability of 
the applicant to provide an experienced U.S.-based staff with knowledge 
and expertise to ensure adequate development, supervision, and 
execution of the proposed project; the entity's willingness to 
contribute resources, including cash and goods and services of the U.S. 
industry, with greater weight given to cash contributions (for private 
sector proposals only); and the conditions or constraints affecting the 
level of U.S. exports and market share for the agricultural commodity/
product (30%);
     Market Impact, including the degree to which the proposed 
project is likely to contribute to the development, maintenance, or 
expansion of U.S. agricultural exports to emerging markets; and 
demonstration of how a proposed project will benefit a particular 
industry as a whole; and the quality of the project's proposed 
performance measures (50%); and the
     Completeness and viability of the proposal, along with 
past program results and evaluations, if applicable (20%).
    Please see 7 CFR part 1486 for additional evaluation criteria.
    2. Review and Selection Process: All applications undergo a multi-
phase review within FAS, by appropriate FAS field offices, and, as 
needed, by the private sector Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to 
determine the qualifications, quality, appropriateness of projects, and 
reasonableness of project budgets.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the 
final disposition of the submitted 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 levels 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.gov/programs/emerging-markets-program-emp.
    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 reports. Please see 7 CFR part 1486 for 
additional reporting requirements.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Program 
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 
DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by 
email: [email protected].

    Signed at Washington, DC on 1st day of April, 2015.
Asif Chaudhry,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2015-07940 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 3410-10-P