SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is
inviting proposals for the 2013 Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit
applications from eligible applicants for 2013 and to set out criteria
for the award of funds under the program in October 2012. The
Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS).

    The statutory authority for FMD 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: All applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time, May 21, 2012. 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, 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/fmdprogram.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    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.

    The 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, the 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. The 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.

II. Award Information

    Under the Cooperator program, the 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.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To participate in the Cooperator program,
an applicant

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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 the 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.

IV. 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/.

    The 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 podadmin@fas.usda.gov.

    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To be considered for
the Cooperator program, an applicant must submit to the FAS information
required by the Cooperator program regulations in section 1484.20. In
addition, in accordance 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 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 Cooperator 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 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 will not be accepted for review.

    The 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, May 21, 2012. 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.

V. 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 (2008-2013) of all
contributions under the Cooperator program (contributions

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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 (2008-2013) of the
funding level for all Cooperator program participants.
    (b) Past Export Performance (20)

     The 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to;

     The applicant's 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the
funding level for all Cooperator participants plus a 6-year average
share (2007-2012) of all MAP budgets, if any.
    (c) Past Demand Expansion Performance (20)

     The 6-year average share (2007-2012) of the total value of
world trade of the commodities promoted by the applicant compared to;

     The applicant's 6-year average share (2007-2012) of all
Cooperator program expenditures plus a 6-year average share (2007-2012)
of all MAP expenditures, if any.
    (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 2018 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 2011 compared
to;

     The applicant's past projected share of world trade of the
commodities being promoted by the applicant for the year 2011, as
specified in the 2008 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
2012.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: The FAS will notify each applicant in writing of
the final disposition of its application. The FAS will send an approval
letter and project agreement to each approved applicant. 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/mos/programs/fmdprogram.asp. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the
Program Operations Division.

    3. Reporting: The 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.

VII. 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 13th of April 2012.
Bryce Quick,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President,
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2012-9638 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P