[Federal Register: April 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 21323-21325]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap11-26]
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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 2012 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 2012 and to award funds in October 2011. The TASC program is
administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
DATES: To be considered for funding, applications must be received by 5
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 16, 2011. Any applications received
after this time will be considered only if funds are still available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Entities wishing to apply for funding
assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of
Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, Portals Office Building,
Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by
phone: (202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is also available on the FAS 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 Public
Law 107-171. TASC regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1487.
Purpose: The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations
by
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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 identify and 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;
Projects must address barriers to exports of commercially-
available U.S. specialty crops for which barrier removal would
predominantly benefit U.S. exports; and
Projects should include 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.
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 deadline will compete for funding. The limited funds and
the range of barriers affecting the exports of U.S. specialty crops
worldwide preclude CCC from approving large budgets for individual
projects. Proposals requesting more than $500,000 in any given year
will not be considered. Additionally, the maximum duration of an
activity is 5 years. In order to validate funding eligibility,
proposals must specify previous years of TASC funding for each proposed
activity/title/market/constraint combination.
Applicants may submit multiple proposals, and applicants with
previously approved TASC proposals may apply for additional funding.
The number of approved projects that a TASC participant can have
underway at any given time is five. 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 U.S. 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.
3. 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.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application through the Unified Export Strategy (UES):
Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to
FAS through the UES application Internet Web site. Using the UES
application process reduces paperwork and expedites FAS's processing
and review cycle. Applicants planning to use the UES Internet-based
system must contact FAS/Program Operations Division to obtain site
access information, including a user ID and password. The UES Internet-
based application may be found at the following URL address: https://
www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/.
Although FAS highly recommends applying via the Internet-based UES
application, as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and
expedites the FAS processing and review cycle, applicants also have the
option of submitting an electronic version to FAS at
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
2. 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 at 1-866-705-5711.
Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise conform
to this announcement will not be accepted for review.
3. Submission Dates and Times: TASC funding is reviewed on a
rolling basis during the fiscal year as long as remaining TASC funding
is available. That is:
Proposals received by, but not later than, 5 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time, May 16, 2011, 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, May
16, 2011, 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. Such
a proposal must include a specific request for expedited evaluation.
FAS will track the time and date of receipt of all proposals.
4. Funding Restrictions: Although funded projects may take place in
the
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United States or abroad, all eligible projects must specifically
address sanitary, phytosanitary, or related 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, as set forth in the written program agreement
between CCC and the participant. CCC will also not reimburse
unreasonable expenditures or any expenditure made prior to approval of
a proposal.
5. Other Submission Requirements: All Internet-based applications
must be properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, May 16,
2011, in order to be considered for funding; late submissions received
after the deadline will be considered only if funding remains
available. All applications submitted by email must be received by 5
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 16, 2011, at podadmin@fas.usda.gov in
order to receive the same consideration.
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 criteria
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.
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 the submitted 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 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. TASC program regulations are available
at the following URL address: http:www.fas.usa.gov/mos/programs/TASC_
1487_regulations_1-1-06.pdf. Hard copies may be obtained by
contacting the Program Operations Division at (202) 720-4327.
3. Reporting: TASC participants will be required to submit separate
interim reports at 3, 6, and 9 months for each program year, and a
final report, each of which evaluates their TASC project using the
performance measures presented in the approved proposal, as set forth
in the written program agreement.
VII. Agency Contact
For additional information and assistance, contact the Program
Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Portals Office Building, Suite
400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, or by phone:
(202) 720-4327, or by fax: (202) 720-9361, or by e-mail:
podadmin@fas.usda.gov.
Signed at Washington, DC, on the 25th of March, 2011.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2011-9219 Filed 4-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
