Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 2010 / Notices 26193 

Signed at Washington, DC, on May 4, 2010. 

John D. Brewer, 

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

and Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2010–11151 Filed 5–10–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P 

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 2011 

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 2011 

and award funds in October 2010. The 

TASC program is administered by 

personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 

Service (FAS). 

DATES: See paragraph IV.3 below for a 

detailed description of relevant dates. 

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 

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 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; and 

• Projects must address barriers to 

exports of commercially-available U.S. 

specialty crops for which barrier 

removal would predominantly benefit 

U.S. exports. 

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 

deadlines 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 five years. 

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. 

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 website. Using the 

UES application process reduces 

paperwork and expedites FAS’ 

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 

§ 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 on 1–866–705–5711. 

Incomplete applications and 

applications that do not otherwise 

conform to this announcement will not 

be accepted for review. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
26194 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 2010 / Notices 

3. Submission Dates and Times: 

TASC funding is limited, and in order 

to assure sufficient resources are 

available to meet unanticipated needs 

during the fiscal year, TASC proposals 

will, generally, only be evaluated on a 

semi-annual basis. That is: 

• Proposals received prior to, but not 

later than, 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 

June 11, 2010, 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, June 11, 2010, 

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. 

FAS will track the time and date of 

receipt of all proposals. 

4. Funding Restrictions: Although 

funded projects may take place in the 

United States or abroad all eligible 

projects must specifically address 

sanitary, phytosanitary, or 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, June 11, 2010, to be 

considered. All applications submitted 

by email must be received by 5 p.m. 

Eastern Daylight Time, June 11, 2010, at 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

V. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria: FAS follows the evaluation 

criteria set forth in § 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 its 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%201487%201–1– 

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 a written report(s), 

on not less than an annual basis, 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 May 4, 2010. 

John D. Brewer, 

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

and Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2010–11150 Filed 5–10–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P 

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 2011 Market 

Access Program (MAP). The intended 

effect of this notice is to solicit 

applications from eligible applicants 

and award funds in October 2010. 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, June 11, 2010. Applications 

received after this date will not be 

considered. 

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/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 U.S. agricultural 

commodities and products through costshare 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 in 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 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES