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

    The statutory authority for MAP 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/map.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    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
cost-share 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.

    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 MAP, 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.

III. 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.

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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 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 MAP regulations, in section 1485.13(c), 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 MAP applications to the 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 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 that they face, 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 Web
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 MAP, an applicant must submit to the FAS information required by
the MAP regulations in section 1485.13. 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 MAP 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 MAP 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 MAP funding.

    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 Foreign Market Development Cooperator
(Cooperator) program, 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 MAP, 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 MAP applicants,
regardless of the method of submitting an application, must also submit
by the application deadline, an original signed certification statement
as specified in 7 CFR 1485.13(a)(2)(i)(G) 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 MAP regulations in section 1485.16.

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 MAP funds.
    (1) Phase 1--Sufficiency Review and FAS Divisional Review:
    Applications received by the closing date will be reviewed by the
FAS to determine the eligibility of the applicants and the completeness
of the applications. These requirements appear in sections 1485.12 and
1485.13 of the MAP regulations. 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
1485.14(b) and (c) of the MAP regulations as well as in this Notice.
The purpose of this review is to identify meritorious proposals and to
recommend an appropriate funding level for each application based upon
these criteria.
    (2) Phase 2--Competitive Review:
    Meritorious applications then will be passed on to the Office of
the Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, for the purpose of
allocating available funds among the 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) Applicant's Contribution Level (40)

     The applicant's 4-year average share (2010-2013) of all
contributions under the MAP (cash and goods and services provided by
U.S. entities in support of

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overseas marketing and promotion activities) compared to;
     The applicant's 4-year average share (2010-2013) of the
funding level for all MAP participants.
    (b) Past Performance (30)
     The 3-year average share (2009-2011) of the value of
exports promoted by the applicant compared to;
     The applicant's 2-year average share (2011-2012) of the
funding level for all MAP participants plus, for those groups
participating in the Cooperator program, the 2-year average share
(2011-2012) of all Cooperator program budgets.
    (c) Projected Export Goals (15)
     The total dollar value of projected exports promoted by
the applicant for 2013 compared to;
     The applicant's requested funding level;
    (d) Accuracy of Past Projections (15)

     Actual exports for 2011 as reported in the 2013 MAP
application compared to;

     Past projections of exports for 2011 as specified in the
2011 MAP application.

    The Commodity Branches' recommended funding levels for each
applicant are converted to percentages of the total MAP funds available
and then multiplied by each weight factor as described above to
determine the amount of funds allocated to each applicant.

    2. Anticipated Announcement Date: Announcements of funding
decisions for the MAP 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 program agreement to each approved applicant. The approval
letter and program agreement will specify the terms and conditions
applicable to the project, including the levels of MAP funding and
cost-share contribution requirements.

    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Interested
parties should review the MAP regulations, which are available at the
following URL address: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp.
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the Program Operations
Division.

    3. Reporting: The FAS requires various reports and evaluations from
MAP participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP
regulations in section 1485.20(b) and (c).

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 at: 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.

    Dated: 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. 2012-9639 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P