[Federal Register: July 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 137)]
[Notices]               
[Page 40841-40843]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy08-42]                         

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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 2009 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 
FY 2009 and award funds in October 2008. The TASC program is 
administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

DATES: See paragraph IV.4 below for a detailed description of relevant 
dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Grants Management Branch, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, phone: (202) 720-
0866, fax: (202) 690-0193, e-mail: emo@fas.usda.gov. Information is 
also available on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at http://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/tasc.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. 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 related 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.
    As a general matter, TASC program projects should be designed to 
address the following criteria:
     Projects should address a sanitary, phytosanitary, or 
related 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; and
     Projects must address barriers to exports of commercially-
available U.S. specialty crops for which barrier removal would 
predominantly benefit U.S. exports.
    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, database development, reasonable logistical and 
administrative support, and travel and per diem expenses.

II. Award Information

    In general, all qualified proposals received before the specified 
application deadlines will compete for funding. The limited funds and 
the range of barriers affecting the exports of U.S. specialty

[[Page 40842]]

crops worldwide preclude CCC from approving large budgets for 
individual projects.
    Applicants may submit multiple proposals, and applicants with 
previously approved TASC proposals may apply for additional funding. 
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.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Any United States 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 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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application through the Unified Export Strategy (UES): 
Organizations are encouraged to submit their applications to FAS 
through the UES application Internet Web site. Using the UES 
application process reduces paperwork and expedites FAS' processing and 
review cycle. Applicants planning to use the UES Internet-based system 
must contact FAS Program Policy Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site 
access information including a user ID and password. The UES Internet-
based application, including a help file containing step-by-step 
instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL address: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    2. Application through electronic and hard copies: Applicants also 
have the option of submitting electronic versions in the UES format 
(along with two paper copies) of their applications to FAS by e-mail or 
on compact disc. The application format is available on the Internet 
at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/proposals.html.
    3. 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 on 1-866-705-5711.
    Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise 
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: TASC funding is limited, and in 
order to assure sufficient resources are available to meet 
unanticipated needs during the fiscal year, TASC proposals will, 
generally, only be evaluated on a semi-annual basis. That is:
     Proposals received prior to, but not later than, 5 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time, August 15, 2008, 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, 
August 15, 2008, will be considered 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.
    FAS will track the time and date of receipt of all proposals.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Although funded projects may take place in 
the United States, 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. CCC will also not reimburse unreasonable 
expenditures or any expenditure made prior to approval of a proposal.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications 
must be properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on August 
15, 2008, to be considered.
    All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies) 
and any other applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time, on August 15, 2008, at the following address:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Grants Management Branch, 
Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation criteria set forth in Sec.  
1487.6 of the TASC regulations.
    2. Review and Selection Process: FAS will review proposals for 
eligibility and will evaluate each proposal against the factors 
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 
and the Administrator, FAS. FAS may, when appropriate, request the 
assistance of other U.S. government subject area experts in evaluating 
the merits of a proposal.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: FAS will notify each applicant in writing of the 
final disposition of its 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

[[Page 40843]]

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.
    3. Reporting: TASC participants are required to submit a written 
report(s), on no less than an annual basis, and a final report, each of 
which evaluates their TASC project using the performance measures 
presented in the approved proposal.

VII. Agency Contact

    For additional information or assistance, contact the Grants 
Management Branch, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, phone: (202) 720-0866, fax: (202) 690-0193, e-mail: 
emo@fas.usda.gov.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on the 2nd of July, 2008.
 Michael W. Yost,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. E8-16369 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]

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