![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
[Federal Register: January 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2489-2491]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
Notices
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Announcement of the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Foreign Agricultural Service is
inviting proposals for the fiscal year 2004 Foreign Market Development
Cooperator Program.
DATES: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern standard time on
March 10, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4932-S, STOP 1042,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720- 4327.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announces
that applications are being accepted for participation in the fiscal year 2004
Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) Program. The program is
designed to create, expand, and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural
commodities and products through cost-share assistance. Financial assistance
under the Cooperator Program will be made available on a competitive basis and
applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained
herein.
Under the Cooperator Program, FAS enters into agreements with nonprofit U.S.
trade organizations which have the broadest possible producer representation of
the commodity being promoted and gives priority to those organizations which are
nationwide in membership and scope. Cooperators may receive assistance only for
the promotion of generic activities which do not involve promotions targeted
directly to consumers. The program generally operates on a reimbursement basis.
Authority
The Cooperator Program is authorized by title VII of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as amended. Cooperator Program regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484.
Eligible Applicants
To participate in the Cooperator Program an applicant must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization.
Application Process
To be considered for the Cooperator Program, an
applicant must submit to the FAS information required by the Cooperator Program
regulations set forth in 7 CFR part 1484. Incomplete applications and
applications which do not otherwise conform to this announcement will not be
accepted for review.
To be considered for the Cooperator Program, an applicant must submit to the FAS
information required by the Cooperator Program regulations set forth in 7 CFR
part 1484. Incomplete applications and applications which do not otherwise
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
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 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 diskette.
Applicants planning to use the Internet-based system must contact the Marketing
Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access information. The
Internet-based application, including step-by-step instructions for its use, is
located at the following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.
Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can obtain an
application format by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff on (202)
720-4327.
All Cooperator Program applicants, whether applying via the Internet or
diskette, also must submit by March 10, 2003, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an
original signed certification statement as specified in 7 CFR section
1484.20(a)(14).
Any organization which is not interested in applying for the Cooperator Program,
but would like to request assistance through one of the other programs
mentioned, should contact the Marketing Operations Staff on (202) 720-4327.
Review Process and Allocation Criteria
The FAS allocates funds in a manner which
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.
Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing applications and the
criteria for allocating available Cooperator Program 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 Sec. Sec. 1484.14 and `` 1484.20 of the Cooperator Program regulations. Applications which meet the application requirements then will be further evaluated by the proper FAS Commodity Division. The Divisions will review each application against the criteria listed in Sec. 1484.21 and Sec. 1484.22 of the Cooperator Program 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, Commodity and Marketing 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) Contribution Level (40)
[sbull] The applicant's 6-year average share
(1999-2004) of all contributions (contributions may include cash and goods and
services provided by U.S. entities in support of foreign market development
activities) compared to
[sbull] The applicant's 6-year average share (1999-2004) of all Cooperator
marketing plan expenditures.
(b) Past Export Performance (20)
The 6-year average share (1998-2003) of the value
of exports promoted by the applicant compared to [sbull]
The applicant's 6-year average share (1998-2003) of all Cooperator marketing
plan expenditures plus a 6-year average share (1997-2002) of MAP expenditures
and a 6-year average share (1997-2002) of foreign overhead provided for
co-location within a U.S. agricultural trade office.
(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20)
[sbull] The 6-year average share (1998-2003) of
the total value of world trade of the commodities promoted by the applicant
compared to
[sbull] The applicant's 6-year average share (1998-2003) of all Cooperator
marketing plan expenditures plus a 6-year average share (1997-2002) of MAP
expenditures and a 6-year average share (1997-2002) of foreign overhead provided
for co-location within a U.S. agricultural trade office.
(d) Future Demand Expansion Goals (10)
[sbull] The projected total dollar value of world
trade of the commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2009
compared to
[sbull] The applicant's requested funding level.
(e) Accuracy of Past Demand Expansion Projections (10)
[sbull] The actual dollar value share of world trade of the commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2002 compared to [sbull] The applicant's past projected share of world trade of the commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2002, as specified in the 1999 Cooperator Program application. The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding levels for each applicant are converted to percentages of the total Cooperator Program funds available then multiplied by the total weight factor to determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.
Closing Date for Applications
All Internet-based applications must be properly
submitted by 5 p.m. eastern standard time, March 10, 2003. Signed certification
statements also must be received by that time at one of the addresses listed
below.
All applications on diskette (with two accompanying paper copies and a signed
certification statement) and any other applications must be received by 5 p.m.
eastern standard time, March 10, 2003, at one of the following addresses:
Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, Room 4932-S, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1042.
U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural
Service, Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-1042.
Signed in Washington, DC on January 8,
2003.
Kenneth J. Roberts,
Acting Administrator,
Foreign Agricultural Service.
![]() |
|