9818 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2001 / Notices

which reimbursement will be sought;

and

• The importer’s role in the project

regarding handling and processing the

commodity sample;

(d) Information indicating all funding

sources and amounts to be contributed

by each entity that will contribute to

implementation of the proposed project.

This may include the organization that

submitted the proposal, private industry

entities, host governments, foreign third

parties, CCC, FAS, or other Federal

agencies. Contributed resources may

include cash, goods, and services.

Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated by the

applicable FAS commodity division.

The divisions will review each proposal

against the factors described below. 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, Commodity and

Marketing Programs.

FAS will use the following criteria in

evaluating proposals:

• The ability of the organization to

provide an experienced staff with the

requisite technical and trade experience

to execute the proposal;

• The extent to which the proposal is

targeted to a market in which the United

States is generally competitive;

• The potential for expanding

commercial sales in the proposed

market;

• The nature of the specific market

constraint or opportunity involved and

how well it is addressed by the

proposal;

• The extent to which the importer’s

contribution in terms of handling and

processing enhances the potential

outcome of the project;

• The amount of reimbursement

requested and the organization’s

willingness to contribute resources,

including cash and goods and services

of the U.S. industry and foreign third

parties; and

• How well the proposed technical

assistance component assures that

performance trials will effectively

demonstrate the intended end-use

benefit.

Highest priority for funding under

this announcement will be given to

meritorious proposals which target

countries which meet either of the

following criteria:

• Per capita income less than $9,360

(the ceiling on upper middle income

economies as determined by the World

Bank [World Development Indicators

2000]); and population greater than 1

million. Proposals may address suitable

regional groupings, for example, the

islands of the Caribbean Basin; or

• U.S. market share of imports of the

commodity identified in the proposal of

10 percent or less.

Agreements

Following approval of a proposal,

CCC will enter into an agreement with

the organization that submitted the

proposal. 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,

including, but not limited to,

procurement (or arranging for

procurement) of the commodity sample

at a fair market price, arranging for

shipment of the commodity sample

within the time limit specified in the

agreement (organizations should

endeavor to ship commodities within 6

months of effective date of agreement),

compliance with cargo preference

requirements (shipment on United

States flag vessels, as required), timely

and effective implementation of

technical assistance, and submission of

a written evaluation report within 90

days of expiration of the agreement.

Evaluation reports should address all

performance measures which were

presented in the proposal.

Closing Date for Proposals

All proposals must be submitted in

triplicate and received by 5 p.m. Eastern

Standard Time, March 12, 2001, at one

of the following addresses:

Hand Delivery (including FedEx,

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

Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural

Service, Marketing Operations Staff,

Room 4932–S, 14th and Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–

1042.

U.S. Postal Delivery: Marketing

Operations Staff, STOP 1042, 1400

Independence Ave., SW., Washington,

DC 20250–1042.

Dated: January 31, 2001.

Mattie R. Sharpless,

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural

Service, and Vice President, Commodity

Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 01–3572 Filed 2–9–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Section 108 Foreign Currency Program

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Foreign Agricultural

Service invites proposals from

interested parties to use certain foreign

currencies acquired by the United States

for activities to expand markets for U.S.

agricultural commodities and for

technical assistance activities. All

proposal submitted under the UES must

be received by 5 pm Eastern Standard

Time, March 12, 2001.

DATES: All proposals submitted under

the UES must be received by 5 pm

Eastern Standard Time, March 12, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Director, Marketing Operations Staff,

Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, STOP 1042,

1400 Independence Ave., SW.,

Washington, DC 20250–1042, (202) 720–

4327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

The Foreign Agricultural Service

(FAS) will use available currencies of

Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,

Jamaica, and Tunisia, to provide

assistance in the implementation of

market development and agricultural

technical assistance activities. This use

of foreign currencies is commonly

referred to as the ‘‘Section 108 foreign

currency program.’’ These foreign

currencies were acquired by USDA

pursuant to agreements made under

Title I of the Agricultural Trade

Development and Assistance Act of

1954, (Pub. L. 480).

Title I, Pub. L. 480 authorizes the U.S.

government to finance the sale and

exportation of agricultural commodities

to foreign governments on concessional

terms. Between 1986 and 1991, the U.S.

entered into various Title I, Pub. L. 480

agreements with foreign governments,

on terms which allowed repayment to

the United States in local currencies.

Pub. L. 480 authorizes the U.S.

government to use these foreign

currencies to implement market

development and agricultural technical

assistance activities.

This announcement supersedes all

previous announcements regarding this

program. On July 8, 1998, FAS

published a notice in the Federal

Register (63 FR 36872) inviting

proposals to use Tunisian or Moroccan

currencies for market development

projects and technical assistance

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2001 / Notices 9819

activities. On October 1, 1998, FAS

published a notice in the Federal

Register (63 FR 52677) inviting

proposals to use currencies of Costa

Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala,

Jamaica, or Sri Lanka for market

development projects and activities.

The currencies of Guatemala,

Morocco, and Sri Lanka, which were

available under the previous

announcements, are no longer available.

Consequently, FAS is now limiting new

proposals to those which involve the

use of currencies of Costa Rica,

Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or

Tunisia for market development projects

or technical assistance activities.

FAS must disburse local currencies to

program participants, through the

disbursing officer in the U.S. embassy in

the country of origin. That is, FAS may

not convert the local currency to any

other currency prior to disbursement.

Activities funded with Section 108

currencies are not limited to the country

where the currency originated. It is the

responsibility of the recipient to arrange

for receiving and using the foreign

currencies made available, or converting

the funds to other currencies. At the

time of this announcement,

approximately 750,000,000 Costa Rica

colones; 200,000,000 Dominican

Republic pesos; 500,000,000 Jamaica

dollars; and 12,000,000 Tunisia dinars

are available.

Proposal Process

This notice is complemented by

concurrent notices announcing four

other foreign market development

programs administered by FAS,

including the Market Access Program

(MAP), the Foreign Market Development

Cooperator (Cooperator) Program, the

Emerging Markets Program, and the

Quality Samples Program (QSP). The

MAP and Cooperator Program notices

detail a Unified Export Strategy (UES)

application process which provides a

means for interested applicants to

submit a consolidated and strategically

coordinated single proposal that

incorporates funding requests for any or

all of these programs. Some applicants

to the Section 108 foreign currency

program, particularly those who are

applying for funding under more than

one program, may wish to use the UES

application process. The Internet-based

UES application, including step-by-step

instructions for its use, is located at the

following URL address: http://

www.fas.usda.gov/cooperators.html.

Other applicants, particularly those who

are applying for funding only under the

Section 108 foreign currency program,

should follow the application

procedures contained in this notice.

Interested applicants that are unsure of

how to apply are urged to contact the

Marketing Operations Staff at the

address or phone number above.

FAS recommends that proposals to

participate in the Section 108 foreign

currency program contain, at a

minimum, the following:

(a) Organizational information,

including:

• Organization’s name, address, Chief

Executive Officer (or designee), and

Federal Tax Identification Number

(TIN);

• Type of organization, e.g.,

corporation, non-profit organization;

• Name, telephone number, fax

number, and e-mail address of the

primary contact person;

• If a trade organization, a description

of the organization and its membership;

• A description of the organization’s

prior export promotion experience; and

• A description of the organization’s

experience in implementing a trade or

technical assistance activity;

(b) Market information, including:

• An assessment of the targeted

market;

• A long-term strategy in the market;

and

• U.S. export value/volume and

market share data and goals for 1998–

2003;

(c) Project information, including:

• A brief project title;

• Request for funding in one of the

available foreign currencies;

• A brief description of the specific

market development trade constraint to

be addressed by the project,

performance measures for the years

2001–2003 which will be used to

measure the effectiveness of the project,

a benchmark performance measure for

2000, the viability of long term sales to

this market, the goals of the project, and

the expected benefits to the represented

industry;

• A method for evaluating and

reporting results;

• A description of the activities

planned to address the constraint; and

• An itemized list of all estimated

costs associated with each project

activity for which reimbursement will

be sought;

(d) Information indicating all funding

sources and amounts to be contributed

by each entity that will contribute to

implementation of the proposed project.

This may include the organization that

submitted the proposal, private industry

entities, host governments, foreign third

parties, Commodity Credit Corporation,

FAS, or other Federal agencies.

Contributed resources may include

cash, goods, and services;

(e) A completed Standard Form 424

(SF–424). This form is available on the

Internet via the Section 108 fact sheet at

the following URL address: http://

www.fas.usda.gov/mos/108/

108fact.htm, or by calling the contact

listed above.

Review Process and Allocation Criteria

FAS will provide financial assistance

under this program on a competitive

basis and applications will be reviewed

against the evaluation criteria contained

herein. FAS will consider the following

factors when evaluating proposals:

• The ability of the organization to

provide an experienced staff with the

requisite technical and trade expertise

to execute the proposal;

• The funding request and the

organization’s willingness to contribute

resources, including cash, goods and

services of the U.S. industry and foreign

third parties;

• The conditions or constraints

affecting the level of U.S. exports and

market share for the agricultural

commodities and products;

• The degree to which the proposed

project is likely to contribute to the

creation, expansion, or maintenance of

the targeted foreign market; and

• The degree to which the

organization’s proposal is coordinated

with other private or U.S. governmentfunded market development projects.

Proposals will be evaluated by the

applicable FAS commodity division.

The divisions will recommend funding

levels for each applicant based on a

review of the applications against the

factors described above. The purpose of

this review is to identify meritorious

proposals and to suggest an appropriate

funding level for each application based

upon these factors.

Meritorious proposals will then be

reviewed by representatives of each FAS

program area for the purpose of

allocating available funds among the

applicants. FAS will allocate funds

according to the following criteria.

First priority consideration will be

given to proposals which target the

growth markets listed below. These

developing markets account for a

significant share of world imports of

major farm commodities and much of

the projected long-term growth in global

import demand. As such, they are

expected to be among the most

supportive of USDA’s primary export

objective of increasing the U.S. share of

world agricultural trade.

First priority growth markets for

allocation of Section 108 funds: Brazil,

countries in Central America and the

Caribbean Basin, China, India,

Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Russia,

South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and

Turkey.

9820 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 29 / Monday, February 12, 2001 / Notices

Second priority consideration will be

given to proposals which target other

markets where growth prospects for the

relevant agricultural product are high.

These proposals would serve to open

new markets or bring about substantial

growth in existing markets.

In all cases, preference is given to

nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade

organizations that represent an entire

industry or are nationwide in

membership and scope.

Note: FAS generally reviews Section

108 proposals on a quarterly basis (in

January, April, July, and October.)

However, FAS may also consider

proposals on an accelerated basis if an

urgent marketing opportunity becomes

available. FAS will evaluate such

proposals according to the criteria

specified in this notice. Details

concerning the accelerated review can

be obtained from the Section 108 fact

sheet on the Internet at the following

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

mos/108/108fact.htm or by calling the

contact listed above.

Agreements

Following approval of a proposal,

FAS will enter into an agreement with

the organization that submitted the

proposal. Agreements will incorporate

the project details as approved by FAS

and specify any other terms and

conditions applicable to project

funding. Agreements include the

maximum amount of funds, in local

currencies rather than U.S. dollars,

which may be made available for a

participant’s approved activities. All

agreements with non-profit

organizations under this program are

administered under 7 CFR 3019—

Uniform Administrative Requirements

for Grants and Cooperative Agreements

with Institutions of Higher Education,

Hospitals, and other Non-profit

Organizations.

Submission of Proposals

Proposals may be submitted on a

continuous basis. However, all Internetbased Section 108 proposals (using the

UES application) must be properly

submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard

Time, March 12, 2001, because the UES

entry website closes at that time. Signed

certification statements must be

delivered to one of the addresses listed

below.

All proposals on diskette (with two

accompanying paper copies and a

signed certification statement) and any

other proposals must be delivered to

one of the following addresses:

Hand Delivery (including FedEx,

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

Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural

Service, Marketing Operations Staff,

Room 4932–S, 14th and Independence

Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–1042.

U.S. Postal Delivery: U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural

Service, Marketing Operations Staff,

STOP 1042, 1400 Independence Ave.,

SW., Washington, DC 20250–1042.

Dated: January 31, 2001.

Mattie R. Sharpless,

Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural

Service.

[FR Doc. 01–3571 Filed 2–9–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Request for Proposals (RFP):

Demonstration Program for

Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Seafood

Processor Worker Housing Grants

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service

(RHS) announces the availability of

funds, the timeframe to submit

proposals, and the guidelines for

proposals for agriculture, aquaculture,

and seafood processor worker housing

grants in the States of Mississippi and

Alaska. Public Law 106–387

(Department of Agriculture, Rural

Development, Food and Drug

Administration, and Related Agencies

Act, 2001) authorizes RHS to establish

a demonstration program to provide

financial assistance (grants) for

agriculture, aquaculture, and seafood

processing workers in the States of

Mississippi and Alaska. This RFP

requests proposals from qualified

private and public nonprofit agencies,

cooperatives, state and local

governments, and tribal organizations in

Mississippi and Alaska to construct

housing for agriculture, aquaculture,

and seafood processing workers. Any

one project may not receive grant funds

of more than $1.5 million from this

program. At least one project in Alaska

and one project in Mississippi will be

funded under this program. Housing

facilities constructed under this RFP are

expected to increase the supply of

housing for agriculture, aquaculture,

and seafood processing workers in

markets where adequate housing is not

available.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of all

applications in response to this RFP is

5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on May

14, 2001. The application closing

deadline is firm as to date and hour.

RHS will not consider any application

that is received after the closing

deadline. Applicants intending to mail

applications must provide sufficient

time to permit delivery on or before the

closing deadline. Acceptance by a post

office or private mailer does not

constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX),

COD, and postage due applications will

not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be

submitted to the USDA-Rural Housing

Service; Attention: David Layfield,

Senior Loan Specialist, USDA, Rural

Housing Service, Multi-Family Housing

Processing Division, STOP 0781, Room

1239, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,

Washington, DC 20250–0781. RHS will

date and time certify incoming

applications to evidence timely receipt

and, upon request, will provide the

applicant with a written

acknowledgement of receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further information and an application

package including all required forms,

contact David Layfield, Senior Loan

Specialist, USDA, Rural Housing

Service, Multi-Family Housing

Processing Division, Stop 0781, Room

1239, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20250–0781, telephone

(202) 720–1604. (This is not a toll-free

number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act,

44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., OMB must

approve all ‘‘collections of information’’

by the Rural Housing Service. The Act

defines ‘‘collection of information’’ as a

requirement for ‘‘answers to * * *

identical reporting or recordkeeping

requirements imposed on ten or more

persons * * *.’’ (44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A).)

Because this RFP will receive less than

10 respondents, the Paperwork

Reduction Act does not apply.

General Information

The agriculture, aquaculture, and

seafood processor worker housing grants

authorized by Public Laws 106–387 and

106–554 are for the purpose of

developing a housing demonstration

program for agriculture, aquaculture,

and seafood processor worker housing

in markets in Mississippi and Alaska

that have a demonstrated need for

housing for such workers. Under Public

Laws 106–387 and 106–554, RHS has

the authority to award $5,000,000 in

grant funds for a housing demonstration

program for agriculture, aquaculture,

and seafood processor workers in

Mississippi and Alaska.