Federal Register Notices
[Federal Register: March 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 61)]
[Notices]
[Page 15586-15589]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr07-151]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting
Applications for the Emerging Markets Program
Announcement Type: New.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.
SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
announces the availability of approximately $8
million in funding for the Emerging Markets
Program (EMP) for fiscal year (FY) 2007. The
intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from the private sector and from
government agencies for FY 2007 and award funds
in August 2007. The EMP is administered by
personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: All proposals must be received by 5 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007.
Applications received after this time 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/em-markets/em-markets.asp
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1)(D) of
the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (The Act), as
amended. EMF regulations appear at 7 CFR part
1486.
1. Purpose: The EMP provides funding for technical assistance
to assist U.S. organizations, public and
private, to improve market access through
generic, rather than branded, activities that
can develop and promote U.S. agricultural
products and/or processes in low- to
middle-income countries that offer promise of
emerging market opportunities.
Activities funded are those that primarily benefit U.S.
industry as a whole. All agricultural products,
except tobacco, are eligible for consideration.
Proposals which include multiple commodities are
also eligible. Only technical assistance
activities are eligible for reimbursement.
2. Appropriate Activities: Following are types of project
activities that may be funded:
--Projects designed specifically to improve
market access in emerging foreign markets.
Examples: Activities intended to mitigate the
impact of sudden political events or economic
and currency crises in order to maintain U.S.
market share; responses to time-sensitive market
opportunities;
--Marketing and distribution of value-added
products, including new products or uses.
Examples: Food service development; market
research on potential for consumer ready foods
or new uses of a product;
--Studies of food distribution channels in
emerging markets, including infrastructural
impediments to U.S. exports; such studies should
be specific in their focus and may include
cross-commodity activities which address
specific problems. Examples: Grain storage
handling and inventory systems development;
distribution infrastructure development;
--Projects that specifically address various
constraints to U.S. exports, including sanitary
and phytosanitary issues and other non-tariff
barriers. Examples: Seminars on U.S. food safety
standards and regulations; assessing and
addressing pest and disease problems that
inhibit U.S. exports;
--Assessments and follow up activities designed
to improve country-wide food and business
systems, to reduce trade barriers, to increase
prospects for U.S. trade and investment in
emerging markets, and to determine the potential
use for general export credit guarantees for
commodities and services. Examples: Product
needs assessments and market analysis;
assessments to address infrastructural
impediments;
--Projects that help foreign governments collect
and use market information and develop free
trade policies that benefit U.S. exporters as
well as the target country or countries.
Examples: Agricultural statistical analysis;
development of market information systems;
policy analysis; and,
--Short-term training in broad aspects of
agriculture and agribusiness
trade that will benefit U.S. exporters,
including seminars and training at trade shows
designed to expand the potential for U.S.
agricultural exports by focusing on the trading
system. Examples: Retail training; marketing
seminars; transportation seminars; training on
opening new or expanding existing markets. The
program funds technical assistance activities on
a project-by-project basis.
EMP funds may not be used to support normal operating costs
of individual organizations, nor as a source by
which to recover pre-award costs or prior
expenses from previous or ongoing projects.
Proposals that counter national strategies or duplicate
activities already planned or underway by
national non-profit commodity or trade
associations (``cooperator'') organizations will
not be considered.
Ineligible activities include restaurant promotions; branded
product promotions (including labeling and
supplementing normal company sales activities
intended to increase awareness and stimulate
sales of branded products); advertising;
administrative and operational expenses
for trade shows; and the preparation and
printing of brochures, flyers, posters, etc.,
except in connection with specific technical
assistance activities such as training seminars.
Other items excluded from funding are contained
in the EMP Regulations.
3. Eligible Markets: The Act defines an emerging market as
any country that the Secretary of
Agriculture determines:
(a) Is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through
the food, agriculture, or rural
business sectors of the economy of the country;
and
(b) Has the potential to provide a viable and significant
market for United States agricultural
commodities or products of United States
agricultural commodities.
Because funds are limited and the range of potential emerging
market countries is worldwide, proposals for
technical assistance activities will be
considered which target those countries or
regional groups with per capita income less than
$10,725 (the current ceiling on upper middle
income economies as determined by the World Bank
[WorId Development Indicators; July 2006]) and
populations of greater than 1 million.
Income limits and their calculation 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,
CCC has not established a fixed list of
``emerging market'' countries. For FY 2007,
however, the following guidance is provided
regarding country eligibility for the EMP:
--Eligible. All of the countries of Central and
South America; most in the Caribbean; all of
sub-Saharan Africa; some countries in the Middle
East; and the developing economies of Asia.
--Generally Ineligible. Canada; Japan; Taiwan;
Hong Kong; South Korea; Australia; New Zealand;
all countries of Western Europe; Slovenia;
Israel; Aruba, and Antigua and Barbuda in the
Caribbean; and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, and Qatar in the Middle East.
Some markets can be more difficult to develop and sustain
over a period of time; proposed activities in
such markets should be considered in terms of
whether they provide ``viable and significant
markets'' for U.S. agricultural exports.
In the case of some oil-rich countries in the Middle East,
however, e.g., Saudi Arabia, targeted activities
may be considered on a case-by-case basis, for
example, addressing technical barriers to
exporting U.S. commodities.
A few countries technically qualify as emerging markets, but
because of political sensitivities may require a
separate determination before funding can be
considered.
II. Award Information
In general, all qualified proposals received before the
application deadline will compete for EMP
funding. Priority consideration will be given to
proposals that identify and seek to address
specific problems or constraints to agricultural
exports in emerging markets through technical
assistance activities that are intended to
expand or maintain U.S. agricultural exports.
Priority will also be given to those proposals
that include the willingness of the applicant to
commit its own funds, or those of the U.S.
industry, to seek export opportunities in an
emerging market. The percentage of private
funding proposed for a project will, therefore,
be a critical factor in determining which
proposals are funded under the EMP. Proposals
will also be judged on their ability to provide
benefits to the organization receiving EMP funds
and to the broader industry which that
organization represents.
The limited funds and the range of emerging markets worldwide
in which the funds may be used preclude CCC from
approving large budgets for individual projects.
While there is no minimum or maximum amount set
for EMP-funded projects, most are funded at a
level of less than $250,000 and for a duration
of approximately one year. Multi-year proposals,
and those requesting higher levels of funding,
may be considered in the context of a strategic
detailed plan of implementation. Funding in such
cases is normally provided one year at a time,
with commitments beyond the first year subject
to interim evaluations.
Funding for successful proposals will be provided through
specific agreements. The CCC, through FAS, will
be kept informed of the implementation of
approved projects through the requirement to
provide quarterly progress reports and final
performance reports. Changes in
the original project time lines and adjustments
within project budgets must be approved by FAS.
III. Eligibility and Qualification Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Any United States private or
Government entity with a demonstrated role or
interest in exports of U.S. agricultural
commodities or products 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 profit-making
entities and consulting businesses. Proposals
from research and consulting organizations will
be considered if they provide evidence of
substantial participation in and financial
support by the U.S. industry. For-profit
entities are also eligible, but 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 CCC in a given project.
U.S. market development cooperators and state regional trade
groups (SRTGs) may seek funding to address
priority, market specific issues and to
undertake activities not suitable for funding
under other marketing programs, e.g., the
Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) Program and the Market Access
Program (MAP). 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. No private sector proposal will be
considered without the element of cost-share
from the participant and/or U.S. partners. The
EMP is intended to complement, not supplant, the
efforts of the U.S. private sector. There is no
minimum or maximum amount of cost share, though
the range in recent successful proposals has
been between 35 and 75 percent. The degree of
commitment to a proposed project, represented by
the amount and type of private funding, is used
in determining which proposals will be approved
for funding. Cost-share may be actual cash
invested or professional time of staff assigned
to the project. Proposals for which private
industry is willing to commit cash, rather than
in-kind contributions such as staff resources,
will be given priority consideration.
Cost-sharing is not required for proposals from U.S.
Government agencies, but is mandatory for all
other eligible entities, even when they may be
party to a joint proposal with a U.S. Government
agency. Contributions from USDA or other U.S.
Government agencies or programs
may not be counted toward the stated cost share
requirement. 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.
3. Other. 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. Applicants may submit more than
one proposal.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. EMP applicants
have the opportunity to utilize the Unified
Export Strategy (UES) application process, an
online system which provides a means for
interested applicants to submit a consolidated
and strategically coordinated single proposal
that incorporates funding requests for any or
all of the market development programs
administered by FAS.
Applicants are not required to use the UES, but are strongly
encouraged to do so because it reduces paperwork
and expedites the FAS processing and review
cycle. Applicants planning to use the on-line
system must contact the Program Policy Staff at
(202) 720-4327 to obtain site access information
including a user id and password. 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.
A Help file is available to assist applicants with the
process. Applicants using the online system
should also provide, promptly after the deadline
for submitting the on-line application, a
printed or e-mailed version of each proposal
(using Word or compatible format) to one of the
following addresses:
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 Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy
Staff, STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-1042.
Applicants electing not to use the on-line system must submit
both (1) a printed copy of their application to
the addresses above and (2) an electronic
version to the e-mail address above.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. It is highly
recommended that any organization considering
applying to the program first obtain a copy of
the EMP Regulations. The regulations contain
information on requirements that a proposal must
include in order to be considered for funding
under the program, along with other important
information. EMP regulations and additional
information may be obtained from the Program
Policy Staff at the address above. The
regulations are also available at the following
URL address:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp
.
In addition, in accordance with the Office of Management and
Budget's policy directive regarding the use of a
universal identifier for all Federal grants or
cooperative agreements, all applicants must
submit a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS)
number prior to submitting applications. 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.
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 numbers;
(d) Tax ID number;
(e) DUNS number;
(f) Primary contact person;
(g) Full title of proposal;
(h) Target market(s);
(i) Current conditions in the target market(s) affecting the
intended commodity or product;
(j) Description of problem(s), i.e., constraint(s), to be
addressed by the project, such as inadequate
knowledge of the market, insufficient trade
contacts, lack of awareness by foreign officials
of U.S. products and business practices,
impediments (inftastructure, financing,
regulatory or other non-tariff barriers), etc.;
(k) Project objectives;
(1) Performance measures: benchmarks for quantifying progress
in meeting the objectives;
(m) Rationale: Explanation of the underlying reasons for the
project proposal and its approach, the
anticipated benefits, and any additional
pertinent analysis;
(n) Clear demonstration that successful implementation will
benefit a particular industry as a whole, not
just the applicant(s);
(o) 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;
(p) Specific description of activity/activities to be
undertaken;
(q) Time line(s) for implementation of activity, including
start and end dates (start date should be no
earlier than September 2007);
(r) Information on whether similar activities are or have
previously been funded with USDA sources in
target country/countries (e.g., under MAP and/or
FMD programs); and
(s) Detailed line item activity budget. Cost items should be
allocated separately to each participating
organization. Expense items constituting a
proposed activity's overall budget (e.g.,
salaries, travel expenses, consultant fees,
administrative costs, etc.), with a line item
cost for each, should be listed, clearly
indicating:
(1) Which items are to be covered by EMP funding;
(2) Which by the participating U.S. organization(s); and
(3) Which by foreign third parties (if applicable). Cost
items for individual consultant fees should show
calculation of daily rate and number of days.
Cost items for travel expenses should show
number of trips, destinations, cost, and
objective for each trip. Qualifications of
applicant(s) should be included as an
attachment.
3. Submission Dates and Times. All proposals must be received
by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 14, 2007,
in the PPS office, either electronically, hand
delivered, or by mail. Proposals received after
this date and time will not be reviewed or
considered for program
funding.
4. Funding Restrictions. 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. CCC will not
reimburse expenditures made prior to approval of
a proposal or unreasonable expenditures. Full
details are available in the EMP regulations.
Application Review Information
1. Criteria. Key criteria used in judging proposals include:
--Appropriateness of the activities for the
targeted market(s), and the extent to which the
project identifies market barriers, e.g., a
fundamental deficiency in the market, and/or a
recent change in market conditions;
--Potential of the project to expand U.S. market
share, increase U.S. exports or sales, and/or
improve awareness of U.S. agricultural
commodities and products;
--Quality of the project's performance measures,
and the degree to which they relate to the
objectives, proposed approach and activities,
and deliverables;
--Justification for federal funding;
--Budget: overall cost and the amount of funding
provided by applicants, the U.S. private sector
and partners, if any; and--Evidence that the
organization has the knowledge, expertise,
ability,
and resources to successfully implement the
project.
2. Review and Selection Process. All applications undergo a
multi-phase review within FAS, by appropriate
FAS field offices, and by the private sector
Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets to
determine qualifications, quality and
appropriateness of projects, and reasonableness
of project budgets.
3. Anticipated Announcement Date. Announcements of funding
decisions for the EMP are anticipated in August
2007.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices. FAS will notify applicants in writing of
the final disposition of each application. 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.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
Interested parties should review the EMP
regulations which are available at the following
URL address:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/em-markets.asp.
Printed copies may be obtained by contacting PPS
at (202)
720-4327.
3. Reporting. Quarterly progress reports for all programs one
year or longer in duration are required.
Projects of less than one year generally require
a mid-term progress report. Final performance
reports are due 90 days after completion of each
project. Content for both types of reports is
contained in the Project Agreement. Final
financial reports are also due 90 days after
completion of each project, as attachments to
the final reports.
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, Stop 1042,
1250
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024,
phone: (202) 720-4327, fax: (202) 720-9361,
e-mail:
ppsadmin@fas.usda.gov.
W. Kirk Miller,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service and
Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation