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[Federal Register: May 11, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 90)]
[Notices]               
[Page 26193-26194]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11my10-42]                         

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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 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 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 on 1-866-705-5711. 
Incomplete applications and applications that do not otherwise conform 
to this announcement will not be accepted for review.

[[Page 26194]]

    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 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 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
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