18594 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices 

original documents that support the 

participant’s reimbursement claims. 

CCC may deny a claim for 

reimbursement if the claim is not 

supported by adequate documentation. 

3. Reporting: A written evaluation 

report must be submitted within 90 days 

of the expiration or termination of each 

participant’s QSP agreement. Evaluation 

reports should address all performance 

measures that were presented in the 

proposal. 

G. Federal Agency Contact(s) 

For additional information and 

assistance, contact the Program 

Operations Division, Office of Trade 

Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, 

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

Signed at Washington, DC on the 1 st of 

April, 2015. 

Asif Chaudhry, 

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural 

Service, and Vice President, Commodity 

Credit Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2015–07935 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE CODE 3410–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting 

Applications for the Foreign Market 

Development Cooperator Program 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 

inviting proposals for the 2016 Foreign 

Market Development Cooperator 

(Cooperator) program. The intended 

effect of this notice is to solicit 

applications from eligible applicants for 

fiscal year 2016 and to set out criteria 

for the award of funds under the 

program in October 2015. The 

Cooperator program is administered by 

personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 

Service (FAS). 

DATES: All applications must be 

received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 

Time, June 8, 2015. 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 

by courier address: Room 6512, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, 

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: 

uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is 

also available on the FAS Web site at 

http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/

foreign-market-development-programfmd. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Funding Opportunity Description 

Announcement Type: New. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.600. 

Authority: The Cooperator program is 

authorized by title VII of the 

Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as 

amended. Cooperator program 

regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1484. 

Purpose: The Cooperator program is 

designed to create, expand, and 

maintain foreign markets for U.S. 

agricultural commodities and products 

through cost-share assistance. Financial 

assistance under the Cooperator 

program will be made available on a 

competitive basis and applications will 

be reviewed against the evaluation 

criteria contained herein and in the 

Cooperator program regulations. All 

U.S. agricultural commodities, except 

tobacco, are eligible for consideration. 

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 

markets, FAS considers whether the 

applicant provides a clear, long-term 

agricultural trade strategy and a program 

effectiveness time line against which 

results can be measured at specific 

intervals using quantifiable product or 

country goals. FAS also considers the 

extent to which a proposed project 

targets markets with the greatest growth 

potential. These factors are part of the 

FAS resource allocation strategy to fund 

applicants who can demonstrate 

performance and address the objectives 

of the GPRA. 

B. Award Information 

Under the Cooperator program, and 

subject to the availability of funding, 

FAS enters into agreements with eligible 

nonprofit U.S. trade organizations to 

share the cost of certain overseas 

marketing and promotion activities. 

Funding priority is given to 

organizations that have the broadest 

possible producer representation of the 

commodity being promoted and that are 

nationwide in membership and scope. 

Cooperators may receive assistance only 

for generic activities that do not involve 

promotions targeted directly to 

consumers. The program generally 

operates on a reimbursement basis. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: To participate 

in the Cooperator program, an applicant 

must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural 

trade organization. 

2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the 

Cooperator program, an applicant must 

agree to contribute resources to its 

proposed promotional activities. The 

Cooperator program is intended to 

supplement, not supplant, the efforts of 

the U.S. private sector. The contribution 

must be at least 50 percent of the value 

of resources provided by CCC for 

activities conducted under the project 

agreement. 

The degree of commitment of an 

applicant to the promotional strategies 

contained in its application, as 

represented by the agreed cost-share 

contributions specified therein, is 

considered by FAS when determining 

which applications will be approved for 

funding. Cost-share may be actual cash 

invested or in-kind contributions, such 

as professional staff time spent on 

design and execution of activities. The 

Cooperator program regulations, 

including sections 1484.50 and 1484.51, 

provide detailed discussion of eligible 

and ineligible cost-share contributions. 

3. Other: Applications 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 participating 

organization(s) are unlikely to carry out 

the project without such assistance. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package: Organizations are encouraged 

to submit their FMD applications to the 

FAS through the Unified Export 

Strategy (UES) application Internet Web 

site. The UES allows applicants to 

submit a single consolidated and 

strategically coordinated proposal that 

incorporates requests for funding and 

recommendations for virtually all of the 

FAS marketing programs, financial 

assistance programs, and market access 

programs. The suggested UES format 

encourages applicants to examine the 

constraints or barriers to trade faced, 

identify activities that would help 

overcome such impediments, consider 

the entire pool of complementary 

marketing tools and program resources, 

and establish realistic export goals. 

Applicants planning to use the 

Internet-based system must contact the 

FAS/Program Operations Division to 

obtain site access information. The 

Internet-based application may be found 

at the following URL address: https://

www.fas.usda.gov/ues/webapp/. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices 18595 

FAS highly recommends applying via 

the Internet-based application as this 

format virtually eliminates paperwork 

and expedites the FAS processing and 

review cycle. However, applicants also 

have the option of submitting an 

electronic version of their application to 

FAS at uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission: To be considered for the 

Cooperator program, an applicant must 

submit to FAS information required by 

the Cooperator program regulations in 

section 1484.20. 

In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 25, each entity that applies to the 

Cooperator program and does not 

qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR 

25.110 must: 

(i) Provide a valid DUNS number in 

each application or plan it submits to 

CCC; 

(ii) Be registered in the System for 

Award Management (SAM) prior to 

submitting an application or plan; and 

(iii) Continue to maintain an active 

SAM registration with current 

information at all times during which it 

has an active Federal award or an 

application or plan under consideration 

by CCC. 

Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170, each entity that applies to the 

Cooperator program and does not 

qualify for an exception under 2 CFR 

170.110(b) must ensure it has the 

necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the applicable 

reporting requirements of 2 CFR part 

170 should it receive funding under the 

Cooperator program. Incomplete 

applications and applications that do 

not otherwise conform to this 

announcement or the Cooperator 

program regulations will not be 

accepted for review. 

FAS administers various other 

agricultural export assistance programs, 

including the Market Access Program 

(MAP), the Emerging Markets Program, 

the Quality Samples Program, and the 

Technical Assistance for Specialty 

Crops program. Any organization that is 

not interested in applying for the 

Cooperator program but would like to 

request assistance through one of the 

other programs mentioned should 

contact the Program Operations 

Division. 

3. Submission Dates and Times: All 

applications must be received by 5 p.m. 

Eastern Daylight Time, June 8, 2015. All 

Cooperator program applicants, 

regardless of the method of submitting 

an application, also must submit by the 

application deadline, an original signed 

certification statement as specified in 7 

CFR 1484.20(a)(14) to the Program 

Operations Division, Office of Trade 

Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 

6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 

Washington, DC 20250. Applications or 

certifications received after this date 

will not be considered. 

4. Funding Restrictions: Certain types 

of expenses are not eligible for 

reimbursement by the program, and 

there are limits on other categories of 

expenses. CCC also will not reimburse 

unreasonable expenditures or 

expenditures made prior to approval. 

Full details are available in the 

Cooperator program regulations, 

including sections 1484.54 and 1484.55. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria and Review Process: 

Following is a description of the FAS 

process for reviewing applications and 

the criteria for allocating available 

Cooperator program funds. 

(1) Phase 1—Sufficiency Review and 

FAS Divisional 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 

in sections 1484.14 and 1484.20 of the 

Cooperator program regulations as well 

as in this Notice. Applications that meet 

the requirements then will be further 

evaluated by the appropriate 

Commodity Branch office of the FAS/

Cooperator Programs Division. The 

Commodity Branch will review each 

application against the criteria listed in 

section 1484.21 of the Cooperator 

program regulations. The purpose of 

this review is to identify meritorious 

proposals. The Commodity Branch then 

recommends an appropriate funding 

level for each approved application for 

consideration by the Office of the 

Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade 

Programs. 

(2) Phase 2—Competitive Review 

Meritorious applications are passed 

on to the Office of the Deputy 

Administrator, Office of Trade 

Programs, for the purpose of allocating 

available funds among those applicants. 

Applicants will compete for funds on 

the basis of the following allocation 

criteria as appropriate (the number in 

parentheses represents a percentage 

weight factor): 

(a) Contribution Level (40) 

• The applicant’s 6-year average share 

(2011–2016) of all contributions under 

the Cooperator program (contributions 

may include cash and goods and 

services provided by U.S. entities in 

support of foreign market development 

activities) compared to; 

• The applicant’s 6-year average share 

(2011–2016) of the funding level for all 

Cooperator program participants. 

(b) Past Export Performance (20) 

• The 6-year average share (2010– 

2015) of the value of exports promoted 

by the applicant compared to; 

• The applicant’s 6-year average share 

(2010–2015) of the funding level for all 

Cooperator participants plus, for those 

groups participating in the MAP 

program, a 6-year average share (2010– 

2015) of all MAP budgets. 

(c) Past Demand Expansion Performance 

(20) 

• The 6-year average share (2010– 

2015) of the total value of world trade 

of the commodities promoted by the 

applicant compared to; 

• The applicant’s 6-year average share 

(2010–2015) of all Cooperator program 

expenditures plus, for those groups 

participating in the MAP program, a 

6-year average share (2010–2015) of all 

MAP expenditures. 

(d) Future Demand Expansion Goals 

(10) 

• The projected total dollar value of 

world trade of the commodities being 

promoted by the applicant for the year 

2021 compared to; 

• The applicant’s requested funding 

level. 

(e) Accuracy of Past Demand Expansion 

Projections (10) 

• The actual dollar value share of 

world trade of the commodities being 

promoted by the applicant for the year 

2014 compared to; 

• The applicant’s past projected share 

of world trade of the commodities being 

promoted by the applicant for the year 

2014, as specified in the 2011 

Cooperator program application. 

The Commodity Branches’ 

recommended funding levels for each 

applicant are converted to percentages 

of the total Cooperator program funds 

available and then multiplied by each 

weight factor to determine the amount 

of funds allocated to each applicant. 

2. Anticipated Announcement Date: 

Announcements of funding decisions 

for the Cooperator program are 

anticipated during October 2015. 

F. Federal 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 project 

agreement to each approved applicant. 

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18596 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices 

The approval letter and project 

agreement will specify the terms and 

conditions applicable to the project, 

including the levels of Cooperator 

program funding, and cost-share 

contribution requirements. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements: Interested parties should 

review the Cooperator program 

regulations, which are available at the 

following URL address: http://

www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreignmarket-development-program-fmd. 

Hard copies may be obtained by 

contacting the Program Operations 

Division. 

3. Reporting: FAS requires various 

reports and evaluations from 

Cooperators. Reporting requirements are 

detailed in the Cooperator program 

regulations in sections 1484.53, 1484.70, 

and 1484.72. 

G. Federal Agency Contact(s) 

For additional information and 

assistance, contact the Program 

Operations Division, Office of Trade 

Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, 

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: 

uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

Signed at Washington, DC, on the 1st of 

April 2015. 

Asif Chaudhry, 

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

and Vice President, Commodity Credit 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2015–07943 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE CODE 3410–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting 

Applications for the Market Access 

Program 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 

inviting proposals for the 2016 Market 

Access Program (MAP). The intended 

effect of this notice is to solicit 

applications from eligible applicants for 

fiscal year 2016 and to set out criteria 

for the award of funds under the 

program in October 2015. 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 8, 2015. 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 

by courier address: Room 6512, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, 

or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: 

uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is 

also available on the FAS Web site at 

http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/

market-access-program-map. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Funding Opportunity Description 

Announcement Type: New. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.601. 

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. 

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 

markets, FAS considers whether the 

applicant provides a clear, long-term 

agricultural trade strategy and a program 

effectiveness time line against which 

results can be measured at specific 

intervals using quantifiable product or 

country goals. FAS also considers the 

extent to which a proposed project 

targets markets with the greatest growth 

potential. These factors are part of the 

FAS resource allocation strategy to fund 

applicants who can demonstrate 

performance and address the objectives 

of the GPRA. 

B. Award Information 

Under the MAP, and subject to the 

availability of funding, the CCC enters 

into agreements with eligible 

Participants to share the cost of certain 

overseas marketing and promotion 

activities. MAP Participants may receive 

assistance for generic or brand 

promotion activities. For generic 

activities, funding priority is given to 

organizations that have the broadest 

possible producer representation of the 

commodity being promoted and that are 

nationwide in membership and scope. 

Only non-profit U.S. agricultural trade 

organizations, nonprofit state regional 

trade groups (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural 

cooperatives, and State government 

agencies can participate directly in the 

brand program. The MAP generally 

operates on a reimbursement basis. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: To participate 

in the MAP, an applicant must be a 

nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade 

organization, a nonprofit SRTG, a U.S. 

agricultural cooperative, or a State 

government agency. A small-sized U.S. 

commercial entity may participate 

through a MAP Participant. 

2. Cost Sharing: To participate in the 

MAP, an applicant must agree to 

contribute resources to its proposed 

promotional activities. The MAP is 

intended to supplement, not supplant, 

the efforts of the U.S. private sector. In 

the case of generic promotion, the 

contribution must be at least 10 percent 

of the value of resources provided by 

CCC for such generic promotion. In the 

case of brand promotion, the 

contribution must be at least 50 percent 

of the total cost of such brand 

promotion. 

The degree of commitment of an 

applicant to the promotional strategies 

contained in its application, as 

represented by the agreed cost-share 

contributions specified therein, is 

considered by FAS when determining 

which applications will be approved for 

funding. Cost-share may be actual cash 

invested or in-kind contributions, such 

as professional staff time spent on 

design and execution of activities. The 

MAP regulations, in section 1485.16, 

provide detailed discussion of eligible 

and ineligible cost-share contributions. 

3. Other: Applications 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 participating 

organization(s) are unlikely to carry out 

the project without such assistance. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package: Organizations are encouraged 

to submit their MAP applications to 

FAS through the Unified Export 

Strategy (UES) application Internet Web 

site. The UES allows interested 

applicants to submit a single 

consolidated and strategically 

coordinated proposal that incorporates 

requests for funding and 

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