[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21265-21269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09866]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Foreign Agricultural Service


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

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2019 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The EMP 
is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) 
on

[[Page 21266]]

behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit 
proposals from the private sector and from government agencies for 
fiscal year 2019 and to set out the criteria for the awarding of funds 
under the program. Future announcements of funding availability for the 
EMP will be made through the Grants.gov website.

DATES: To be considered for funding, proposals must be received by 5 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018. Any proposals 
received after this time will be considered only if funds remain 
available. FAS anticipates that the initial funding selections will be 
made by the end of December 2018, with the initial award dates 
estimated to be by the end of February 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants needing 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 Foreign Agricultural Service website at http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging-markets-program-emp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Funding Opportunity Description

    Announcement Type: New.
    Award Instrument: Grant.
    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, as amended. The EMP 
regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486.
    Purpose. The EMP assists U.S. entities in developing, maintaining, 
or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products by 
funding activities that enhance emerging markets' food and rural 
business systems, including reducing trade barriers. 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.

B. Eligibility and Qualification Information

    1. Eligible Organizations: Any U.S. private or government entity 
(e.g., universities, trade associations, agricultural cooperatives, 
state regional trade groups, state departments of agriculture, federal 
agencies, for-profit entities, and consulting businesses) with a 
demonstrated role or interest in the export 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. 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 
through the program.
    2. Eligible Commodities: 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 U.S. commodities are also eligible.
    3. Eligible Markets. Only proposals that target countries or 
regional groups made up of countries classified below the World Bank's 
threshold for upper middle-income economies will be considered for 
funding. Countries classified as high income are not eligible markets 
under EMP. World Bank income limits and country classifications 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, applicants should consult the current World 
Bank country classification list for guidance. In addition, due to 
political sensitivities a few countries technically qualify as emerging 
markets but may require a separate determination before funding can be 
considered.
    4. Eligible 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 to enable such teams to make assessments of the food and 
rural business systems needs of the target market. 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 those systems; and
     Identify opportunities and projects to enhance the 
effectiveness of the emerging market's food and rural business systems 
in order to grow U.S. exports.
    To be eligible, such proposals must clearly demonstrate that 
experts are primarily agricultural consultants, farmers, other persons 
from the private sector, or 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, consult 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 the emerging market to enhance the 
market's food and rural business systems in support of U.S. exports. 
Such travel must be to emerging markets. Travel to developed markets is 
not eligible under the program even if the targeted market is an 
emerging market.
    (d) Technical assistance to implement the recommendations or to 
carry out projects and/or opportunities identified under 4(a) above. 
Technical assistance that does not implement the recommendations, 
projects, and/or opportunities identified under 4(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.
    5. Ineligible Activities: EMP funding may only be used for generic 
activities. For-profit entities 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 FAS in a given project. 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. 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. FAS will also not reimburse 
unreasonable expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval of a 
proposal. For a complete description of ineligible expenditures, please 
refer to the EMP regulations at 7 CFR 1486.
    6. Funding Limits: This NOFA is being released prior to the EMP 
program being reauthorized by Congress for FY

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2019. USDA makes no commitment to fund any particular application or to 
make a specific number of awards regardless of whether or at what level 
EMP program funding for FY 2019 is provided. The EMP is a relatively 
small program intended for focused projects with specific activities, 
rather than expansive concept papers that contain only broad ideas. 
While there is no minimum or maximum amount set for EMP-funded 
projects, most projects are funded at $500,000 or less and are 
typically approved for a duration of one year. Private entities may 
submit multi-year proposals requesting higher levels of funding, 
although funding in such cases is generally provided one year at a time 
with commitments beyond the first year subject to interim evaluations 
and funding availability. Proposals from government entities are not 
eligible for multi-year funding. Funding for continuing and 
substantially similar projects is capped at five years. After that 
time, the project is assumed to have proven its viability and, if 
necessary, should be continued by the recipient with its own or with 
alternative sources of funding.
    7. Cost Sharing: As the EMP is intended to complement, not 
supplant, the efforts of the U.S. private sector, all private sector 
proposals must include a cost-share element from the applicant and/or 
U.S. partners. Cost-share may be actual cash invested or in-kind 
contributions to the project. While there is no minimum or maximum 
amount of cost-share, 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. 
Proposals for which private industry is willing to commit cash, rather 
than in-kind contributions such as staff resources, will be given 
priority consideration. Contributions from USDA or other government 
agencies or programs may not be counted as cost-share by 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.
    8. Other Eligibility Information: 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. 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. Proposals that counter national 
strategies or duplicate activities planned or already underway by U.S. 
non--profit agricultural commodity or trade associations will not be 
considered. Applicants may submit more than one proposal.
    9. Intergovernmental Review: An intergovernmental review may be 
required. Applicants must contact their state's Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) to comply with their state's process under Executive Order 12372 
(see http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/rgeo12372.pdf). To ensure 
currency, the names and addresses of the SPOCs are maintained at the 
Office of Management and Budget's home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.

C. Award Information

    It is anticipated that FAS will award approximately 40 awards under 
the 2019 EMP, subject to programmatic approval and available funding. 
In general, all qualified proposals received before the application 
deadline will compete for EMP funding. The applicant's willingness to 
contribute resources towards the project, including cash, goods, and 
services, is an important 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.
    Funding for successful proposals will be provided through specific 
agreements. Applicants approved for funding must provide annual 
progress reports and a final performance report to FAS. Changes in the 
original project timelines and adjustments within project budgets must 
be approved in advance by FAS. All reports will be submitted through 
the Unified Export Strategy system.
    Once an award reaches its completion date, FAS will confirm that 
the participant has provided all of the required reports and will 
review the reports for completeness and content. Once the required 
reports are approved, FAS will prepare a closeout letter that advises 
the participant of the award closeout procedures. Closeout letters must 
be countersigned and returned to FAS as soon as the final claim is 
submitted and paid, but within 60 days of receipt. Once the closeout 
procedures have been completed, any remaining funding on the agreement 
will be deobligated.

    Note: EMP funds awarded to government agencies must be expended 
or otherwise obligated by close of business September 30, 2019.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Submit Application Package: EMP applicants have the 
opportunity to utilize the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system for the 
application process. The UES is an online system that provides a means 
for interested applicants to submit a consolidated and strategically 
coordinated single proposal that incorporates funding requests for all 
of the market development programs administered by FAS.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to 
FAS through the web-based UES application. The internet-based format 
reduces paperwork and expedites FAS' processing and review cycle. 
Applicants planning to use the on-line UES system must first 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 UES, applicants 
also have the option of submitting an electronic application to FAS via 
email to [email protected].
    Applicants experiencing difficulty or otherwise needing assistance 
applying to the program 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].
    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 Funding Availability and the EMP regulations at 7 CFR part 
1486. The EMP regulations and additional information are available at 
the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging-markets-program-emp.
    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;
    (d) Tax ID number;
    (e) DUNS number;
    (f) Primary contact person;
    (g) Full title of proposal;
    (h) Target market(s);

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    (i) Specific description of activity/activities to be undertaken;
    (j) Clear demonstration that successful implementation will enhance 
the emerging market's food and rural business system, including, if 
applicable, potential reductions in trade barriers, and will benefit 
the industry as a whole and not just the applicant(s);
    (k) Current conditions and market analysis (production, supply, 
demand, import competition, U.S. trade) in the target market(s) 
affecting the commodity or product;
    (l) Description of the need to assess the food and rural business 
systems of the emerging market, or of the recommendations, projects, 
and/or opportunities previously identified by an approved EMP 
assessment that are to be addressed by the project;
    (m) Project objectives that are focused and clearly explained and 
for which there is a clear and logical connection between the 
constraints, project objectives, activity descriptions, and expected 
results;
    (n) Projects should include performance measures for quantifying 
progress and demonstrating results. In the development of performance 
measures, FAS believes the measures should meet the following criteria:
     Aligned: The indicator should, as closely as possible, 
measure exactly the relevant result.
     Clear: The indicator should be precise and unambiguous 
about what is being measured and how. There should be no doubt on how 
to measure or interpret the indicator.
     Quantifiable: The indicator(s) should sufficiently capture 
all of the elements of a result.
     Include an identified methodology: The data can be 
obtained to inform the indicator in a timely and efficient manner and 
the data are of high-quality.
    (o) 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 or U.S. Government resources in the 
target country or countries (e.g., under the MAP, Cooperator program, 
or other government programs like food aid or USAID development 
programs and studies);
    (s) Detailed line item activity budgets:
     Individual expense items (e.g., salaries, travel expenses, 
consultant fees, administrative costs, etc.) should be listed on 
separate line items, each clearly indicating:
    (1) Which items are to be covered by EMP funding;
    (2) Which are to be covered by the participating U.S. 
organization(s); and
    (3) Which are to be covered by foreign third parties (if 
applicable);
     Cost line items for consultant fees should show the 
calculation of the daily rate and the number of days;
     Cost line items for travel expenses should show the number 
of trips and the destination, the number of travelers, cost, and 
objective for each trip; and
    (t) Qualifications of applicant(s) should be included as an 
attachment.
    3. Other Required Information: In accordance with the Office of 
Management and Budget's issuance of a final policy (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 EMP and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR 
25.110 must:
    (i) Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to 
submitting an application or plan; and
    (ii) 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 FAS; and
    (iii) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it 
submits to FAS.
    FAS may not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has 
complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM 
requirements, and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the 
requirements by the time FAS is ready to make the award, FAS may 
determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and 
use that determination as a basis for making an award to another 
applicant.
    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 
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.
    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:
     All proposals received via the UES or email by 5 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June 8, 2018, will be considered for 
funding with other proposals received by that date;
     Proposals not approved for funding during the initial 
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, on 
Friday, June 8, 2018, will be considered for funding in the order 
received only if funding remains available.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Review and Selection Process: All proposals deemed eligible for 
the program will undergo a multi-phase review within FAS by appropriate 
FAS experts and field offices to rate the qualifications, quality, and 
appropriateness of projects, determine the reasonableness of project 
budgets, and make recommendations on meritorious proposals for funding.
    2. Evaluation criteria and weight: FAS will consider a number of 
factors when reviewing proposals, including:
     Appropriateness of the Activity (30%), which will vary 
based on the type of proposal but will include:
     For assessment proposals: Does the proposal present a 
methodology that is likely to result in the needed recommendations and 
identification of specific opportunities and projects? Is the 
assessment team comprised of credible U.S. experts with experience in 
assessing food and rural business systems?
     For travel proposals: Is the exchange of knowledge and 
expertise clearly described in terms of enhancements to the emerging 
market's food and rural business systems? Do we understand how 
travelers are selected?
     For technical assistance proposals: Are the proposed 
activities identified in the supporting assessment? Is the potential 
for the proposed activities to enhance the effectiveness of the 
emerging market's food and rural business systems sufficiently 
justified?;
     Market Impact (50%), 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; the conditions or constraints affecting the level of U.S. 
exports and

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market share for the agricultural commodity/product; and the 
demonstration of how a proposed project will benefit the industry as a 
whole; and
     Completeness and Viability of the proposal (20%), 
including evidence that the organization has the knowledge, expertise, 
ability, and resources to successfully implement the project, the 
entity's willingness to contribute resources to the project, and the 
applicant's reported past EMP results and evaluations, if applicable.
    3. Other Review Information: FAS, prior to making a Federal award 
with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified 
acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any 
information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 
performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 
U.S.C. 2313). An applicant, at its option, may review information in 
the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM 
and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding 
agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity 
and performance system accessible through SAM. FAS will consider any 
comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the 
designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about 
the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance 
under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by 
applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205 ``Federal awarding agency 
review of risk posed by applicants.''

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the 
final disposition of the submitted proposal. 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. All successful applicants for all grant and 
cooperative agreements are required to comply with the Standard 
Administrative Terms and Conditions, which are available online at: 
https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The applicable Standard Administrative Terms and 
Conditions will be for the last year specified at that URL, unless the 
application is to continue an award first awarded in an earlier year. 
In that event, the terms and conditions that apply will be those in 
effect for the year in which the award was originally made unless 
explicitly stated otherwise in subsequent mutually-agreed amendments to 
the award.
    Before accepting the award the potential awardee should carefully 
read the award package for instructions on administering the grant 
award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities 
under Federal Awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this 
NOFA as well as any special terms and conditions in the approval letter 
and program agreement to receive an award under this program.
    2. Reporting. EMP participants must provide interim and final 
performance reports for each approved project. An interim report must 
be submitted after each program year, and a separate final report no 
later than 90 days after the activity is completed. All performance 
reports must be submitted through the UES. In addition, a final 
financial report must be submitted no later than 90 days after 
completion of the project. This report must provide a final accounting 
of all project expenditures by cost category and include the accounting 
of actual contributions made to the project by the applicant and all 
other participating entities.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    1. Application Submission Contact(s) and Program Support: 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 email: [email protected].
    2. Grants Management Contact(s): Eric Bozoian, Grants Management 
Specialist, Foreign Agricultural Service, United States, Department of 
Agriculture, Email: [email protected], Office: (202) 378-1054.

    Signed at Washington, DC on 26th day of April, 2018.
James Higgiston,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and Acting Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2018-09866 Filed 5-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-10-P