[Federal Register: July 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 137)]
[Notices]               
[Page 40837-40839]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy08-40]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

 
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the 
Market Access Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601.

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 
inviting proposals for the 2009 Market Access Program (MAP). The 
intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
applicants and award funds in October 2008. The MAP is administered by 
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time, August 15, 2008. Applications received after this date will not 
be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding 
assistance should contact the Program Policy Staff, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 
720-9361, e-mail: ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available 
on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site at http://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The MAP is authorized under Section 203 of the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. MAP regulations appear at 7 
CFR part 1485.
    Purpose: The MAP is designed to create, expand, and maintain 
foreign markets for the United States agricultural commodities and 
products through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance under the 
MAP will be made available on a competitive basis and applications will 
be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained herein and the 
MAP regulations. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are 
eligible for consideration.
    The FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the 
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the USDA's Food and Agricultural Policy 
(FAP). In deciding whether a proposed project will contribute to the 
effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets, the 
FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade strategy, 
and a program effectiveness time line against which results can be 
measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country 
goals. The FAS also considers the extent to which a proposed project 
targets markets with the greatest growth potential. These factors are 
part of the FAS resource allocation strategy to fund applicants who can 
demonstrate performance and address the objectives of the GPRA and FAP.

II. Award Information

    Under the MAP, the CCC enters into agreements with eligible 
participants to share the costs of certain overseas marketing and 
promotion activities. MAP participants may receive assistance for 
generic or brand promotion activities. The program generally operates 
on a reimbursement basis.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To participate in the MAP, an applicant 
must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit 
state regional trade group (SRTGs), a U.S. agricultural cooperative, or 
a State agency. A small-sized U.S. commercial entity (other than a 
cooperative or producer association) may participate through a MAP 
participant.
    2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the MAP, an applicant must agree 
to contribute resources to its proposed promotional activities. The MAP 
is intended to supplement, not supplant, the efforts of the U.S. 
private sector. In the case of generic promotion, the contribution must 
be stated in dollars, and be at least 10 percent of the value of 
resources provided by CCC for such generic promotion. In the case of 
brand promotion, the contribution must be stated in dollars, and be at 
least 50 percent of the total cost of such brand promotion.
    The degree of commitment of an applicant to the promotional 
strategies contained in its application, as represented by the agreed 
cost share contributions specified therein, is considered by the FAS 
when determining which applications will be approved for funding. Cost-
share may be actual cash invested or in-kind contributions, such as 
professional staff time spent on design and execution of activities. 
The MAP regulations, in section 1485.13(c), provide detailed discussion 
of eligible and ineligible cost-share contributions.
    3. Other: Applications 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 
participating organization(s) are unlikely to carry out the project 
without such assistance.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Organizations are 
encouraged to submit their MAP applications to FAS through the Unified 
Export Strategy (UES) application Internet Web site. The UES allows 
interested entities to submit a consolidated and strategically 
coordinated single proposal that incorporates requests for funding and 
recommendations for virtually all the FAS marketing programs, financial 
assistance programs, and market access programs. The suggested UES 
format encourages applicants to examine the constraints or barriers to 
trade that they face, identify activities that would help overcome such 
impediments, consider the entire pool of complementary marketing tools 
and program resources, and establish realistic export goals. Applicants 
are not required, however, to use the UES format. Organizations can 
submit applications in the UES format by two methods. The first allows 
an applicant to submit information directly to the FAS through the UES 
application Internet Web site. The FAS highly recommends applying via 
the Internet, as this format virtually eliminates paperwork, and 
expedites the FAS processing and review cycle. Applicants also have the 
option of submitting electronic versions (along with two paper copies) 
of their applications to the FAS on compact disc.
    Applicants planning to use the Internet-based system must contact 
the FAS/Program Policy Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access 
information. The Internet-based application, including a help file 
containing step-by-

[[Page 40838]]

step instructions for its use, may be found at the following URL 
address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on a compact disk can 
obtain an application format by contacting the Program Policy Staff on 
(202) 720-4327.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for 
the MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by 
the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. In addition, 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 1-866-705-5711.
    Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise 
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
    The FAS administers various other agricultural export assistance 
programs including the Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
(Cooperator) program, Cochran Fellowships, the Emerging Markets 
Program, the Quality Samples Program, the Technical Assistance for 
Specialty Crops program, and several Export Credit Guarantee programs. 
Any organization that is not interested in applying for the MAP, but 
would like to request assistance through one of the other programs 
mentioned, should contact the Program Policy Staff on (202) 720-4327.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: All applications must be received by 
5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, August 15, 2008. All MAP applicants, 
regardless of the method of submitting an application, must also submit 
by the application deadline, an original signed certification statement 
as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). Applications or 
certifications received after this date will not be considered.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types of expenses are not eligible 
for reimbursement by the program, and there are limits on other 
categories of expenses. CCC also will not reimburse unreasonable 
expenditures or expenditures made prior to approval. Full details are 
available in the MAP regulations in section 1485.16.
    5. Other Submission Requirements and Considerations: All Internet-
based applications must be properly submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time, August 15, 2008. Signed certification statements also 
must be received by that time at the address listed below.
    All applications on compact disc (with two accompanying paper 
copies and a signed certification statement) and any other form of 
application must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, August 
15, 2008, at the following address:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, 
Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20024.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria and Review Process: Following is a description of the 
FAS process for reviewing applications and the criteria for allocating 
available MAP funds.
    (1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review:
    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the 
FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness 
of the applications. These requirements appear at sections 1485.12 and 
1485.13 of the MAP regulations. Applications that meet the requirements 
then will be further evaluated by the proper Commodity Branch in FAS' 
Market Development and Grants Management Division. The Commodity Branch 
will review each application against the criteria listed in section 
1485.14 of the MAP regulations. The purpose of this review is to 
identify meritorious proposals and to recommend an appropriate funding 
level for each application based upon these criteria.
    (2) Phase 2--Competitive Review:
    Meritorious applications then will be passed on to the Office of 
the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of 
allocating available funds among the applicants. Applications will 
compete for funds on the basis of the following allocation criteria 
(the number in parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
    (a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
     The applicant's 4-year average share (2005-2009) of all 
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in 
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to;
     The applicant's 4-year average share (2005-2009) of the 
funding level for all MAP participants.
    (b) Past Performance (30)
     The 3-year average share (2005-2007) of the value of 
exports promoted by the applicant compared to;
     The applicant's 2-year average share (2007-2008) of the 
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups 
participating in the Cooperator program and, the 2-year average share 
(2007-2008) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets.
    (c) Projected Export Goals (15)
     The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by 
the applicant for 2009 compared to;
     The applicant's requested funding level;
    (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
     Actual exports for 2007 as reported in the 2009 MAP 
application compared to;
     Past projections of exports for 2007 as specified in the 
2007 MAP application.
    The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each 
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available 
then multiplied by each weight factor as described above to determine 
the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
    2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding 
decisions for the MAP are anticipated during October 2008.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: The FAS will notify each applicant in writing of 
the final disposition of its application. The 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 MAP funding and cost-share 
contribution requirements.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested 
parties should review the MAP regulations which are available at the 
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp. 
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting Program Policy Staff at (202) 
720-4327.
    3. Reporting: The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from 
MAP participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP 
regulations in section 1485.20(b) and (c).

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional information and assistance, contact the Program 
Policy Staff, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20024, phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361, 
e-mail: ppsdmin@fas.usda.gov.


[[Page 40839]]


    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. E8-16370 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]

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