Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program

 

To provide cost-share assistance to nonprofit commodity and agricultural trade associations to maintain and develop foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities and products.

Active 10.600 Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture A - Formula Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use Not applicable. 7 U.S.C. 5623(c) The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) enters into agreements with those nonprofit U.S. trade organizations that have the broadest possible producer representation of the commodity being promoted. To be approved, an applicant's proposal must indicate how it can effectively contribute to the creation, expansion, or maintenance of markets abroad. FAS considers a number of factors when reviewing proposed projects. These factors include: (1) The applicant's willingness to contribute resources including cash and goods and services of the U.S. industry and foreign third party; (2) the ability of the organization to provide an experienced U.S.-based staff and with technical and international trade expertise to ensure adequate development, supervision, and execution of the proposed project; (3) the degree to which the proposed project is likely to contribute to the development, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets; and (4) the degree to which the strategic plan is coordinated with other private or U.S. government-funded market development projects. Preference is given to nonprofit U.S. trade organizations which are nationwide in membership and scope. U.S. applicants must prove the ability to provide a competent experienced staff and other resources to assure adequate development, supervision, and execution of promotional activities. Applicants must submit a written export strategy that provides a brief discussion of the commodity for which an agreement is being requested and a description of proposed activities including the foreign countries in which they will be conducted. Applicants must also submit their Internal Revenue Service tax exempt identification number, a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a description of the membership of the applicant organization, a description of the organization's management and administrative capability, the degree to which membership represents national production, an estimate of the level of Government funds required, and the extent to which industry resources are available to match Government expenditures. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Please see the annual program Notice of Funding Opportunity for deadlines and application information. Applications are reviewed against the allocation criteria and factors set forth in 7 CFR Part 1484 and the program announcement. CCC notifies each applicant of the final disposition of its application and also issues a public announcement concerning the allocation of resources among the applicant organizations. Each approved applicant receives a program agreement and an approval letter that specifies any special terms and conditions applicable to a Cooperator's program. Final agreement occurs when both the participating organization and FAS sign the program agreement. Please see the annual program Notice of Funding Opportunity for deadlines and application information. Approximately 90 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. Allocations are made in a manner that effectively support the strategic decision-making initiatives of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In assessing whether the applicant will effectively create, expand, or maintain foreign markets, the following factors are considered: (1) effectiveness of program management; (2) past and present contribution levels; (3) soundness of the strategic plan; (4) past export performance; and (5) past demand expansion performance (6) future demand expansion goals; and (7) accuracy of past demand expansion projections. Cooperator funds are authorized through program agreements with nonprofit U.S. trade associations, called Cooperators, that provide for partial reimbursement of generic promotional activities in a Unified Export Strategy application approved by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the agency that administers the program for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). In general, Cooperator funds may be used only in direct support of activities conducted outside the United States. Types of activities that may be funded include trade servicing, market research, and technical assistance to actual or potential foreign purchasers of U.S. commodities. Performance Reports: Cooperators must provide an annual program evaluation that measures and reports progress against the defined performance measures. Cooperator accounts are reviewed periodically, but normally at least every two years, by representatives of the Compliance Review Staff, FAS. Audits and reviews are also conducted sporadically by representatives of the Office of Inspector General and Government Accounting Office. Accounts and records must be available for inspection or audit at any reasonable time. Not applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 50%.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Agreements generally include a twelve-month activity period and a provision for program evaluation by an independent third party. Funds awarded in any given fiscal year are typically available for two additional years. Each approved applicant receives a program agreement and an approval letter that specifies any special terms and conditions applicable to a Cooperator's program. Final agreement occurs when both the participating organization and FAS sign the program agreement. None/Not specified. Curt Alt
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
curt.alt@fas.usda.gov
Phone: 202-720-4327 http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/foreign-market-development-program-fmd 12-4336-0-3-999 (Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 18$34,500,000.00; FY 19 est $34,500,000.00; FY 20 est $34,500,000.00; FY 17$35,000,000.00; FY 15$32,016,000.00; FY 16 est $35,000,000.00; - Not applicable/available. 7 CFR Part 1484. Not applicable.