[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19120-19122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07633]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.604.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2017 Technical Assistance for Specialty
Crops (TASC) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from the private sector and from government agencies for
fiscal year 2017 and to set out criteria for the award of funds in
October 2016. The TASC program 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 3, 2016. 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: 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 FAS Web
site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/technical-assistance-specialty-crops-tasc.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The TASC program is authorized by section 3205 of Pub.
L. 107-171. TASC regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1487.
Purpose: The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations
by providing funding for projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary,
or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S.
specialty crops. U.S. specialty crops, for the purpose of the TASC
program, are defined to include all cultivated plants, or the products
thereof, produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains,
oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco.
Prior to the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Act) on
February 7, 2014, the TASC program was not available to address
technical barriers to trade except for those that were related to
sanitary or phytosanitary issues. The Act amended the statute
authorizing the TASC program to allow the program to be used to address
technical barriers to trade regardless of whether the barriers are
related to a sanitary or phytosanitary barrier. The TASC regulations
have been amended to reflect the recent statutory change.
As a general matter, TASC program projects should be designed to
address the following criteria:
Projects should identify and address a sanitary,
phytosanitary, or technical barrier that prohibits or threatens the
export of U.S. specialty crops;
Projects should demonstrably benefit the represented
industry rather than a specific company or brand;
Projects must address barriers to exports of commercially-
available U.S. specialty crops for which barrier removal would
predominantly benefit U.S. exports; and
Projects should include an 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.
Examples of expenses that CCC may agree to reimburse under the TASC
program include, but are not limited to: Initial pre-clearance
programs, export protocol and work plan support, seminars and
workshops, study tours, field surveys, development of pest lists, pest
and disease research, reasonable logistical and administrative support,
and travel and per diem expenses.
B. Award Information
In general, all qualified proposals received before the specified
application deadline will compete for funding. The limited funds and
the range of barriers affecting the exports of U.S. specialty crops
worldwide preclude CCC from approving large budgets for individual
projects. Proposals requesting more than $500,000 in any given year
will not be considered. Additionally, private entities may submit
multi-year proposals that may be considered in the context of a
detailed strategic implementation plan. The maximum duration of an
activity is five years. Funding in such cases may, at FAS' discretion,
be provided one year at a time with commitments beyond the first year
subject to interim evaluations and funding availability. In order to
validate funding eligibility, proposals must specify previous years of
TASC funding for each proposed activity/title/market/constraint
combination. Government
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entities are not eligible for multi-year funding.
Applicants may submit multiple proposals, and applicants with
previously approved TASC proposals may apply for additional funding.
The number of approved projects that a TASC participant can have
underway at any given time is five. Please see 7 CFR part 1487 for
additional restrictions.
FAS will consider providing either grant funds as direct assistance
to U.S. organizations or technical assistance on behalf of U.S.
organizations, provided that the organization submits timely and
qualified proposals. FAS will review all proposals against the
evaluation criteria contained in the program regulations.
Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific
agreements. These agreements will incorporate the proposal as approved
by FAS. FAS must approve in advance any subsequent changes to the
project. FAS or another Federal agency may be involved in the
implementation of approved projects.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Any U.S. organization, private or
government, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S.
agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government
organizations consist of Federal, State, and local agencies. Private
organizations include non-profit trade associations, universities,
agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private
companies.
Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may
participate as third parties in activities carried out by U.S.
organizations, but are not eligible for direct funding assistance from
the program.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: FAS considers the applicant's
willingness to contribute resources, including cash, goods, and
services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties, when
determining which proposals are approved for funding.
3. Funding Justification: 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) would be unlikely
to carry out the project without such assistance.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Application through the Unified Export Strategy (UES):
Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to
FAS through the web-based UES application. Using the UES application
process reduces paperwork and expedites FAS's processing and review
cycle. Applicants planning to use the UES system must contact FAS'
Program Operations Division to obtain site access information,
including a user ID and password. The UES Internet-based application
may be found at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
Although FAS highly recommends applying via the web-based UES
application, applicants have the option of submitting an electronic
version to FAS at [email protected].
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: All TASC proposals
must contain complete information about the proposed projects as
described in Sec. 1487.5(b) of the TASC program regulations. In
addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's
policy directive (68 FR 38402 (June 27, 2003)) regarding the need to
identify entities that are receiving government awards, all applicants
must submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number. An applicant may request a DUNS number at no cost by calling
the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711.
In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that
applies to the TASC and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR
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 TASC program and does not qualify for an exception under
2 CFR 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 TASC funding.
Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
3. Submission Dates and Times: TASC proposals are reviewed on a
rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as TASC funding is
available as set forth below:
Proposals received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, June
3, 2016, 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 3, 2016, will be considered in the order received for funding only
if funding remains available.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a proposal may be submitted for
expedited consideration under the TASC Quick Response process if, in
addition to meeting all requirements of the TASC program, a proposal
clearly identifies a time-sensitive activity. In these cases, a
proposal may be submitted at any time for an expedited evaluation. Such
a proposal must include a specific request for expedited evaluation.
FAS will track the time and date of receipt of all proposals.
4. Funding Restrictions: Although funded projects may take place in
the United States or abroad, all eligible projects must specifically
address sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers to the export of
U.S. specialty crops.
Certain types of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement by the
program, such as the costs of market research, advertising, or other
promotional expenses, and will be set forth in the written program
agreement between CCC and the participant. CCC will also not reimburse
unreasonable expenditures or any expenditure made prior to approval of
a proposal.
5. Other Submission Requirements: All applications must be properly
submitted through the UES by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, June 3,
2016, 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 3, 2016, at [email protected] in
order to receive the same consideration.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation criteria set forth in Sec.
1487.6 of the TASC regulations. Reviewers will evaluate according to
the following criteria:
(1) The nature of the specific export barrier and the extent to
which the proposal is likely to successfully remove, resolve, or
mitigate that barrier (12.5%);
[[Page 19122]]
(2) The potential trade impact of the proposed project on market
retention, market access, and market expansion, including the potential
for expanding commercial sales in the targeted market (12.5%);
(3) The completeness and viability of the proposal. Among other
things, this can include the cost of the project and the amount of
other resources dedicated to the project, including cash, goods, and
services of the U.S. industry and foreign third parties (15%);
(4) The ability of the organization to provide an experienced staff
with the requisite technical and trade experience to execute the
proposal (15%);
(5) The extent to which the proposal is targeted to a market in
which the United States is generally competitive (17.5%);
(6) The degree to which time is essential to addressing specific
export barriers (5%);
(7) The ability of the applicant to provide a broad base of
producer representation (12.5%);
(8) The effectiveness and potential of the performance measures
(10%);
2. Review and Selection Process: FAS will review proposals for
eligibility and will evaluate each proposal against the criteria
referred to above. The purpose of this review is to identify
meritorious proposals, recommend an appropriate funding level for each
proposal based upon these factors, and submit the proposals and funding
recommendations to the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs.
FAS may, when appropriate, request the assistance of other U.S.
government subject area experts in evaluating the merits of a proposal.
F. Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing
of the final disposition of the submitted application. FAS will send an
approval letter and agreement to each approved applicant. The approval
letter and agreement will specify the terms and conditions applicable
to the project, including levels of funding, timelines for
implementation, and written evaluation requirements.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: The agreements
will incorporate the details of each project as approved by FAS. Each
agreement will identify terms and conditions pursuant to which CCC will
reimburse certain costs of each project. Agreements will also outline
the responsibilities of the participant. Interested parties should
review the TASC program regulations found at 7 CFR part 1487 in
addition to this announcement. TASC program regulations are available
at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/technical-assistance-specialty-crops-tasc. Hard copies may be obtained
by contacting the Program Operations Division at (202) 720-4327.
3. Reporting: TASC participants will be required to submit regular
interim reports and a final performance report, each of which evaluate
the TASC project using the performance measures presented in the
approved proposal, as set forth in the written program agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact
For additional information and assistance, contact the Program
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture by courier: Room 6512, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720-
4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail: [email protected].
Signed at Washington, DC on the 25th of March, 2016.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2016-07633 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
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