19494 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 81 / Wednesday, April 29, 2009 / Notices 

Operations Division, Office of Trade 

Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mailing 

Address: AgBox 1020, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1020. Courier 

Address: Portals Office Building, Suite 

400, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 

720–4327, fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

Signed at Washington, DC, on the 17th of 

April 2009. 

Patricia R. Sheikh, 

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural 

Service, and Vice President, Commodity 

Credit Corporation. 

[FR Doc. E9–9729 Filed 4–28–09; 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 2010 

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 2010 

and award funds in October 2009. The 

TASC program is administered by 

personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 

Service (FAS). 

DATES: See paragraph IV.4 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, phone: (202) 720–4327, 

fax: (202) 720–9361, e-mail: 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is 

also available on the Foreign 

Agricultural Service 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. 

Applicants may submit multiple 

proposals, and applicants with 

previously approved TASC proposals 

may apply for additional funding. 

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 

encouraged to submit their applications 

to FAS through the UES application 

Internet Web site. 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 on (202) 720–4327 to obtain 

site access information including a user 

ID and password. The UES Internetbased application, including a help file 

containing step-by-step instructions for 

its use, may be found at the following 

URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/ 

cooperators.html. 

2. Application through electronic and 

hard copies: The FAS highly 

recommends applying via the Internetbased UES application. However, 

applicants also have the option of 

submitting an electronic version of their 

application to FAS (along with two 

paper copies) on compact disc. 

Applicants may request the application 

format from the Program Operations 

Division at (202) 720–4327 or obtain the 

application format on the Internet at: 

http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/ 

proposals.html. 

3. 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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 81 / Wednesday, April 29, 2009 / Notices 19495 

with the Office of Management and 

Budget’s policy (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 tollfree DUNS number request line on 

1–866–705–5711. 

Incomplete applications and 

applications which do not otherwise 

conform to this announcement will not 

be accepted for review. 

4. 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, 

May 29, 2009, 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 29, 2009, 

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. 

5. Funding Restrictions: Although 

funded projects may take place in the 

United States, 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. CCC will also not 

reimburse unreasonable expenditures or 

any expenditure made prior to approval 

of a proposal. 

6. Other Submission Requirements: 

All Internet-based applications must be 

properly submitted by 5 p.m., Eastern 

Daylight Time, on May 29, 2009, to be 

considered. 

All applications on compact disk 

(with two accompanying paper copies) 

and any other applications must be 

received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 

Time, on May 29, 2009, at the following 

address: 

Hand Delivery (including FedEx, 

DHL, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural 

Service, Office of Trade Programs, 

Program Operations Division, Portals 

Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 

Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 

20024. 

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 

factors 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 

Divison at (202) 720–4327. 

3. Reporting: TASC participants are 

required to submit 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. 

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, by hand 

delivery or courier: Portals Office 

Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024, 

by phone: (202) 720–4327, by fax: (202) 

720–9361, e-mail: 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. 

Signed at Washington, DC, on the 17th of 

April 2009. 

Patricia R. Sheikh, 

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural 

Service, and Vice President, Commodity 

Credit Corporation. 

[FR Doc. E9–9734 Filed 4–28–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting 

Applications for the Emerging Markets 

Program 

Announcement Type: New. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603. 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) announces that it is 

inviting proposals for the 2010 

Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The 

intended effect of this notice is to solicit 

additional applications from the private 

sector and from government agencies for 

FY 2010. The EMP is administered by 

personnel of the Foreign Agricultural 

Service (FAS). 

DATES: All proposals must be received 

by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, May 

29, 2009. 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, 

Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 

Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, 

DC 20024, phone: (202) 720–4327, fax: 

(202) 720–9361, e-mail: 

podadmin@fas.usda.gov. Information is 

also available on the Foreign 

Agricultural Service Web site at http:// 

www.fas.usda.gov/mos/em-markets/emmarkets.asp. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


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