[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4471-4473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01869]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. 171213999-7999-01]


Call for Applications for the International Buyer Program Quarter 
1 Calendar Year 2019

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and call for applications.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) 
International Trade Administration (ITA) announces that it will accept 
applications for the International Buyer Program (IBP) for quarter 1 of 
calendar year 2019 (January 1, 2019, through March 31, 2019). The IBP 
is currently undergoing a program review that may result in new ITA 
products and services for trade shows. The program review may not be 
complete in time to provide products and services for shows that occur 
in the first quarter of calendar year 2019, so the IBP is moving 
forward with accepting applications for only that time period. The IBP 
may announce subsequent calls for applications for other quarters of 
calendar year 2019, depending on how soon ITA finalizes the program 
review. Should the program review result in new ITA products and 
services for trade shows, they will be announced separately in the 
Federal Register.
    This announcement also sets out the objectives, procedures and 
application review criteria for the IBP. The purpose of the IBP is to 
bring international buyers together with U.S. firms in industries with 
high export potential at leading U.S. trade shows. Specifically, 
through the IBP, the ITA selects domestic trade shows which will 
receive ITA services in the form of global promotion in foreign 
markets, recruitment of foreign buyers, and provision of export 
counseling to exhibitors at the trade show. This notice covers 
selection for IBP participation during quarter 1 of calendar year 2019.

DATES: Applications for the IBP for quarter 1 of calendar year 2019 
must be received by March 19, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The application form can be found at www.export.gov/ibp. 
Applications may be submitted by any of the following methods: (1) 
Mail/Hand (including express) Delivery Service: International Buyer 
Program, Trade Promotion Programs, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW, Suite 800M--Mezzanine Level--Atrium North, Washington, DC 
20004; (2) Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; or (3) email: [email protected]. 
Facsimile and email 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 days 
after the application deadline. To ensure that applications are 
received by the deadline, applicants are strongly urged to send 
applications by express delivery service (e.g., U.S. Postal Service 
Express Delivery, Federal Express, UPS, etc.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vidya Desai, Senior Advisor for Trade 
Events, Trade Promotion Programs, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ronald Reagan 
Building, Suite 800M--Mezzanine Level--Atrium North, Washington, DC 
20004; Telephone (202) 482-2311; Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IBP was established in the Omnibus Trade 
and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418, title II, Sec.  2304, 
codified at 15 U.S.C. 4724) to bring international buyers together with 
U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. trade shows in industries with 
high export potential. The IBP emphasizes cooperation between the DOC 
and trade show organizers to benefit U.S. firms exhibiting at selected 
shows and provides practical, hands-on assistance such as export 
counseling and market analysis to U.S. companies interested in 
exporting. Shows selected for the IBP will provide a venue for U.S. 
companies interested in expanding their sales into international 
markets.
    Through the IBP, ITA selects U.S. trade shows, with participation 
by U.S. firms interested in exporting, that ITA determines to be 
leading international trade shows, for promotion in overseas markets by 
U.S. Embassies and Consulates. The DOC is authorized to provide 
successful applicants with services in the form of overseas promotion 
of the show; outreach to show participants about exporting; recruitment 
of potential buyers to attend the events; and staff assistance in 
setting up international trade centers at the shows. Worldwide 
promotion is executed through ITA offices at U.S. Embassies and 
Consulates in more than 70 countries representing the United States' 
major trading partners, and also in Embassies in countries where ITA 
does not maintain offices.
    ITA is accepting applications from trade show organizers for the 
IBP for trade shows taking place between January 1, 2019, and March 31, 
2019. Selection of a trade show is valid for one show, i.e., a trade 
show organizer seeking selection for a recurring show must submit a new 
application for selection for each occurrence of the show. For shows 
that occur more than once in a calendar year, the trade show organizer 
must submit a separate application for each show.
    For the IBP in quarter 1 of calendar year 2019, the ITA expects to 
select approximately 8 shows from among the applicants. The ITA will 
select those shows that are determined to most clearly meet the 
statutory mandate in 15 U.S.C. 4721 to promote U.S. exports, especially 
those of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the selection 
criteria articulated below.
    There is no fee required to submit an application. If accepted into 
the program for quarter 1 of calendar year 2019, a participation fee of 
$9,800 is required for shows of five days or fewer. For trade shows 
more than five days in duration, or requiring more than one 
International Trade Center, a participation fee of $15,000 is required. 
For trade shows ten days or more in duration, and/or requiring more 
than two International Trade Centers, the participation fee will be 
determined by DOC and stated in the written notification of acceptance 
calculated on a full cost recovery basis. Successful applicants will be 
required to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ITA within 
10 days of written notification of acceptance into the program. The 
participation fee (by check or credit card) is due within 30 days of 
written notification of acceptance into the program.
    The MOA constitutes an agreement between ITA and the show organizer 
specifying which responsibilities for international promotion and 
export assistance services at the trade shows are to be undertaken by 
ITA as part of the IBP 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, conditions, and obligations in the MOA. Trade 
show organizer obligations include, but are not limited to, providing 
waived or reduced admission fees for international attendees who are 
participating in the IBP, the construction of an International Trade 
Center at the trade show, production of an export interest

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directory, and provision of complimentary hotel accommodations for DOC 
staff as explained in the MOA. Some of the most important commitments 
for the trade show organizer are to: Include in the terms and 
conditions of its exhibitor contracts provisions for the protection of 
intellectual property rights (IPR); to have procedures in place at the 
trade show to address IPR infringement which, at a minimum, provide 
information to help U.S. exhibitors procure legal representation during 
the trade show; and to agree 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. ITA 
responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the worldwide 
promotion of the trade show and, where feasible, recruitment of 
international buyers to that show, provision of on-site export 
assistance to U.S. exhibitors at the show, and the reporting of results 
to the show organizer.
    Selection as an IBP partner does not constitute a guarantee by DOC 
of the show's success. IBP selection is not an endorsement of the show 
except as to its international buyer activities. Non-selection of an 
applicant for the IBP should not be viewed as a determination that the 
show will not be successful in promoting U.S. exports.
    Eligibility: All 2019 U.S. trade shows taking place between January 
1, 2019, and March 31, 2019, are eligible to apply for IBP 
participation through the show organizer.
    Exclusions: Trade shows that are either first-time or horizontal 
(non-industry specific) shows generally will not be considered. Trade 
shows that take place April 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, will 
not be considered at this time.
    If the program review described in the SUMMARY section above does 
not result in new ITA programs and services for trade shows that take 
place April 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, a separate Federal 
Register Notice will be issued to call for applications for the 
International Buyer Program for other quarters of calendar year 2019.
    General Evaluation Criteria: The ITA will evaluate shows for the 
International Buyer Program using the following criteria:
    (a) Export Potential: The trade show promotes products and services 
from U.S. industries that have high export potential, as determined by 
DOC sources, including industry analysts' assessment of export 
potential, ITA best prospects lists and U.S. export statistics.
    (b) 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 ITA. Previous international 
attendance at the show may be used as an indicator of such interest.
    (c) Scope of the Show: The show offers 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 will be given priority.
    (d) 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.
    (e) Stature of the Show: The trade show is clearly recognized by 
the industry it covers as a leading show 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.
    (f) Level of Exhibitor Interest: U.S. exhibitors have expressed 
interest in receiving international business visitors during the trade 
show. A significant number of U.S. exhibitors should be seeking to 
begin exporting or to expand their sales into additional export 
markets.
    (g) Level of Overseas Marketing: There has been a demonstrated 
effort by the applicant to market this show and prior related shows. 
For this criterion, the applicant should describe in detail, among 
other information, the international marketing program to be conducted 
for the show, and explain how efforts should increase individual and 
group international attendance.
    (h) Logistics: The trade show site, facilities, transportation 
services, and availability of accommodations at the site of the 
exhibition (i.e. International Trade Center, interpreters) are capable 
of accommodating large numbers of attendees whose native language will 
not be English.
    (i) Level of Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates a willingness 
to cooperate with the ITA to fulfill the program's goals and adhere to 
the target dates set out in the MOA and in the show timetables, both of 
which are available from the program office (see the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section above). Past experience in the IBP will be 
taken into account in evaluating the applications received.
    (j) Delegation Incentives: The IBP Office will be evaluating the 
level and/or range of incentives offered to delegations and/or 
delegation leaders recruited by U.S. overseas Embassies and Consulates. 
Examples of incentives to international visitors and to organized 
delegations include: special organized events, such as receptions, 
meetings with association executives, briefings, and site tours; and 
complimentary accommodations for delegation leaders (beyond those 
required in the MOA).
    Review Process: ITA will evaluate all applications received based 
on the criteria set out in this notice. Vetting will focus primarily on 
the export potential, level of international interest, and stature of 
the show. In reviewing applications, ITA will also consider scheduling 
and sector balance in terms of the need to allocate resources to 
support selected shows.
    Application Requirements: Show organizers submitting applications 
for quarter 1 of calendar year 2019 IBP are requested to submit: (1) A 
narrative statement addressing each question in the application, Form 
OMB 0625-0143 (found at www.export.gov/ibp); (2) a signed statement 
that ``The information submitted in this application is correct and the 
applicant will abide by the terms set forth in the Call for 
Applications for the 2019 International Buyer Program (January 1, 2019, 
through March 31, 2019);'' and (3) two copies of the application: one 
copy of the application printed on company letterhead, and one 
electronic copy of the application 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. Applications for the IBP must be 
received by Wednesday, January 31, 2018. ITA expects to issue the 
results of its review process in April 2018.
    Legal Authority: The statutory program authority for the ITA to 
conduct the International Buyer Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724. The DOC has 
the legal authority to enter into MOAs with show organizers under the 
provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 
(MECEA), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2455(f) and 2458(c)). MECEA allows ITA 
to accept contributions of funds and services from firms for the 
purposes of furthering its mission.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements of the application to this program 
(Form OMB 0625-0143) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (OMB Control No. 0625-0143). 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required

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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.
    For further information please contact: Vidya Desai, Senior Advisor 
for Trade Events, Trade Promotion Programs ([email protected]).

Frank Spector,
Trade Promotion Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-01869 Filed 1-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P