[Federal Register: February 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 4836-4837]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01fe99-29]

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Announcement of the Market Access Program for Fiscal Year 1999

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds for the Fiscal
Year 1999 Market Access Program (MAP).

DATES: All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time, March 26, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marketing Operations Staff, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 1042, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-4327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that applications
are being accepted for participation in the Fiscal Year 1999 MAP. The
MAP is designed to encourage the development, maintenance, and
expansion of commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural
commodities and products. Cost share assistance is provided to eligible
applicants to implement approved market development programs. Financial
assistance under the MAP will be made available on a competitive basis
and applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria
contained herein. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS).
    Under the MAP, CCC enters into agreements with eligible
participants to share the costs of certain overseas marketing and
promotion activities. MAP participants may receive assistance for
either generic or brand promotion activities. The MAP generally
operates on a reimbursement basis.

Authority

    The MAP is authorized under section 203 of the Agricultural Trade
Act of 1978, as amended, and MAP regulations are set forth in 7 CFR
part 1485.

Eligible Applicants

    To participate in the MAP, an applicant must be: A nonprofit U.S.
agricultural trade organization, a nonprofit state regional trade group
(an association of State Departments of Agriculture), a U.S.
agricultural cooperative, a State agency, or a small-sized U.S.
commercial entity (other than a cooperative or producer association).

Available Funds

    $90 million of cost-share assistance may be obligated under this
announcement to eligible applicants.

Application Process

    In order to be considered for the MAP, an applicant must submit to
FAS information required by the MAP regulations set forth in 7 CFR part
1485. The FAS administers various agricultural export assistance
programs, including the MAP, the Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) Program, Cochran Fellowships, the Emerging Markets
Program, Section 108, Pub. L. 480 and several Export Credit Guarantee
programs. Organizations which are interested in applying for MAP funds
are encouraged to submit their requests using the Unified Export
Strategy (UES) format. This allows interested entities to submit a
consolidated and strategically coordinated single proposal that
incorporates requests for funding and recommendations for virtually all
FAS marketing programs, financial assistance programs, and market
access programs. The suggested UES format encourages applicants to
examine the constraints or barriers to trade they face, identify
activities which 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 FAS through data entry screens at a specially designed UES
application Internet site. FAS highly recommends applying via the
Internet, as this format virtually eliminates paperwork and expedites
the FAS processing and review cycle. Also, by using the Internet,
applicants currently participating in the 1998 MAP will not need to
enter certain historical information as it will appear automatically in
the data entry screens. Applicants also have the option of submitting
electronic versions (along with two paper copies) of their applications
to FAS on diskette.
    The Internet-based application, including the step-by-step
instructions for its use, is located at the following URL address:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html. Applicants planning to use
the Internet-based system must contact the Marketing Operations Staff
of FAS at (202) 720-4327 to obtain site access information.
    Applicants who choose to submit applications on diskette can
download the UES handbook, including the suggested application format
and instruction, from the following URL address http://
www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/unified.html. A UES handbook may also be
obtained by contacting the Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-
4327.
    All MAP applicants, whether or not utilizing the UES format or
applying via the Internet or diskette, must also submit by the March
26, 1999, deadline, via hand delivery or U.S. mail, an original signed
certification statement as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G). The
UES handbook contains an acceptable certification format. Incomplete
applications and applications that do not otherwise conform to this
announcement will not be accepted for review.
    Any organization which is not interested in applying for the MAP
but would like to request assistance through one of the other programs
mentioned, should contact the Marketing Operations Staff at (202) 720-
4327.

Review Process and Allocation Criteria

    FAS allocates funds in a manner that effectively supports the
strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In deciding whether a proposed project will
contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of
foreign

[[Page 4837]]

markets, FAS seeks to identify a clear, long-term agricultural trade
strategy by market or product and a program effectiveness time line
against which results can be measured at specific intervals using
quantifiable product or country goals. These performance indicators are
part of FAS' resource allocation strategy to fund applicants which can
demonstrate performance based on a long-term strategic plan, consistent
with the strategic objectives of the United States Department of
Agriculture, and address the performance measurement objectives of the
GPRA.
    Following is a description of the FAS process for reviewing
applications and the criteria for allocating available MAP funds.

(1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Committee Review

    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by FAS
to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness of
the applications. These requirements appear at Sec. 1485.12 and
Sec. 1485.13 of the MAP regulations.

(2) Phase 2--FAS Divisional Review

    Applications which meet the application procedures will then be
further evaluated by the applicable FAS Commodity Division. The
Divisions will review each application against the criteria listed in
Sec. 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.

(3) Phase 3--Competitive Review

    Meritorious applications will then 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 which pass the Divisional Review will compete for funds on
the basis of the following evaluation criteria (the number in
parentheses represents a percentage weight factor):
(a) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)
    <bullet> The applicant's 4-year average share (1996-99) of all
contributions (cash and goods and services provided by U.S. entities in
support of overseas marketing and promotion activities may be
considered in the allocation process as part of the applicant's
contribution and should be reported separately from the applicant's
contributions) compared to
    <bullet> The applicant's 4-year average share (1996-99) of the
funding level for all MAP participants.
(b) Past Performance (30)
    <bullet> The 3-year average share (1996-98) of the value of exports
promoted by the applicant compared to
    <bullet> The applicant's 2-year average share (1997-98) of the
funding level for all MAP applicants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share
(1998-99) of Cooperator marketing plan budgets and the 2-year average
share (1997-98) of foreign overhead provided for co-location within a
U.S. agricultural office;
(c) Projected Export Goals (15)
    <bullet> The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by
the applicant for 1999 compared to
    <bullet> The applicant's requested funding level;
(d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)
    <bullet> Actual exports for 1997 as reported in the 1999 MAP
application compared to
    <bullet> Past projections of exports for 1997 as specified in the
1997 MAP application.
    The Commodity Divisions' recommended funding level for each
applicant is converted to a percentage of the total MAP funds available
and multiplied by the total weight factor as described above to
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.

Closing Date for Applications

    All Internet-based applications must be properly submitted by 5:00
p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 26, 1999. 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 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, March 26, 1999, at one
of the following addresses:
    Hand Delivery (including FedEx, DHL, etc.): U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff,
Room 4932-S, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
1042.
    U.S. Postal Delivery: Marketing Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-1042.
Mary T. Chambliss,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Acting Vice
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 99-2255 Filed 1-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M