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. 

# Notices Federal Register 

### 24164

Vol. 77, No. 78

Monday, April 23, 2012

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request** 

April 17, 2012.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB),

OIRA

_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control

number.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: School Foodservice Indirect Cost Study.

OMB Control Number: 0584–NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–296), requires USDA to conduct a study to assess the extent to which school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program pay indirect costs. The objective of the School Foodservice Indirect Cost Study is to collect and analyze up-to-date data on school districts’ policies and procedures for reporting and recovering

indirect costs attributable to their foodservice operations. The ultimate goal of the study is to provide USDA and Congress the necessary information

to assess the extent to which school districts identify, treat, and charge

indirect costs attributable to their foodservice operations.

Need and Use of the Information: The study will help the Food and Nutrition

Service understand the extent to which current regulations are being followed

and if there is a need for additional regulations and/or legislation to ensure

that school districts treat indirect costs

in the same manner across all of their grant programs. Without the information FNS will not have the data necessary to address the questions posed by Congress.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, Local, or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 5,118. Frequency of Responses: Report: Other (one-time).

Total Burden Hours: 3,159.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2012–9632 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–30–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE** 

**Commodity Credit Corporation**

**Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Applications for the Technical**  **Assistance for Specialty Crops Program** 

**SUMMARY :**  The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2013 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 2013
and to set out criteria for the award of
funds in October 2012. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The statutory authority for TASC expires at the end of fiscal year 2012. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2013, provided that the program is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in
the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

**DATES :**  To be considered for funding, applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 21, 2012. 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, 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. 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

Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.604.

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


### 24165 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices

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, private entities may submit multi-year proposals that may be considered in the context of a detailed strategic implementation plan. The maximum duration of an activity is 5 years. Funding in such cases may, in FAS’ discretion, be provided one year at a time with commitments beyond the first year subject to interim evaluations and funding availability. In order to validate funding eligibility, proposals must specify previous years of TASC funding for each proposed activity/title/market/
constraint combination. Government entities are not eligible for multi-year funding.

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 § 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.

In addition, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, each entity that applies to the TASC program and does not qualify for an exemption under 2 CFR 25.110 must:

(i) Be registered in the CCR prior to submitting an application or plan;

(ii) Maintain an active CCR registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by CCC; and

(iii) Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan it submits to CCC.

Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, each entity that applies to the TASC 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 TASC funding.

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


### 24166 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices

TASC funding is available as set forth
below:

• Proposals received by, but not later than, 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 21, 2012, 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 21, 2012,
will be considered in the order received 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 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, and will be 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 21, 2012, 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 21,

2012, 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 § 1487.6 of the TASC regulations and in this Notice.

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.usda.gov/ mos/tasc/default.asp . 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, 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 13 of April 2012. Bryce Quick, Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 2012–9633 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–10–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Commodity Credit Corporation**

**Notice of Funds Availability; Inviting Applications for the Quality Samples**  **Program**

Announcement Type: New. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.605.

**SUMMARY :**  The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2013 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended
effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants
and to set out the criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2012. QSP 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 21, 2012. 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, 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. Information is
also available on the FAS Web site at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/ QSP.asp.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: QSP is authorized under Section 5(f) of the CCC Charter Act, 15 U.S.C. 714c(f).

Purpose: QSP is designed to encourage the development and expansion of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality of U.S. agricultural commodities.

QSP participants will be responsible for procuring (or arranging for the procurement of) commodity samples,