[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7054-7055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3463]
[[Page 7053]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
Economic Development Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Alaskan Salmon Fishing Industry,
Availability of Funds; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 7054]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 990107006-9006-01]
RIN 0610-ZA09
Trade Adjustment Assistance for the Alaskan Salmon Fishing
Industry, Availability of Funds
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of
Commerce (DoC).
ACTION: Funding notice.
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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announces the
availability of $5.0 million in trade adjustment assistance to help the
Alaskan salmon fishing industry, which has been affected by the loss of
sales due to the Asian financial crisis, imports from other countries,
and the low runs of salmon in Bristol Bay and in the Yukon and
Kuskokwim River tributaries as noted in the September 10, 1998 Disaster
Declaration by the Secretary of Commerce under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This Disaster Declaration was
made as a result of the commercial failure of the Alaska salmon
fisheries in Bristol Bay and the Yukon and Kuskokwim River tributaries.
EDA's program will assist the Alaskan salmon fishing industry with
technical assistance grants or cooperative agreements to address the
economic problems caused by this trade injury and natural disaster. EDA
expects that the successful application will call for preparing a
strategic marketing plan for the Alaskan salmon fishing industry and
using the remaining resources available under this announcement to
implement that plan.
DATES: This announcement is effective February 11, 1999. Proposals must
be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time, by the last
day of the three calendar week period following publication of this
notice. Such proposals must be received (no faxes or e-mails) at the
address in the ``Other Information'' section at the end of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should contact the Coordinator, Trade
Adjustment Assistance and Technical Assistance (see listing in ``Other
Information'').
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See listing in ``Other Information'' section
of this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants should be aware that a false
statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application
or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before
EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start.
Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start
does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that
if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely
at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award
costs.
If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to
provide any additional future funding in connection with an award.
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of
performance is at the sole discretion of EDA.
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
l. The delinquent account is paid in full;
2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received; or
3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
control number. This notice involves a collection of information
requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA, Forms SF-424 and SF-
424A, OMB Control Number 0348-0043. All primary applicants must submit
a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby
provided:
Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section
105) ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605) are subject to
15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
(Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed
above applies;
Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section 105) are subject to
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification
form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants,
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family
maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and
Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any
funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as
required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying''
and disclosure form, SF-LLL ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be
transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or
subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with the
instructions contained in the award document.
EDA also requires that compliance with environmental regulations,
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), be
completed before construction begins.
Unless otherwise noted below, eligibility, program objectives and
descriptions, application procedures, selection procedures, evaluation
criteria and other requirements for all programs are set forth in EDA's
regulations published in the FR (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate
Part II. Eligibility, grant rates, criteria and other requirements will
change when EDA's interim-final rule to implement Public Law 105-393
becomes effective on February 11, 1999.
[[Page 7055]]
EDA will continue coordination with the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Industries is listed
under CFDA 11.313.
Funding Availability
Funds in the amount of $5.0 million are available under this
announcement and shall remain available until expended. These funds are
provided under Section 763 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998
(P. L. 105-277).
Grant Rates
Grant or cooperative agreement rates typically are shared on 50%
Federal, 50% industry basis. However, EDA may vary these rates if an
acceptable justification for a lower industry rate is provided by the
applicant.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be associations, unions or other nonprofit fishing
industry organizations with a thorough understanding of and expertise
concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry.
Proposal Submission Procedures
Proposals for assistance under this announcement must include a
narrative that addresses the project selection criteria and a completed
Form SF-424 and SF-424A, OMB Control No. 0348-0043, and be submitted to
the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance (see Listing
under ``Other Information'').
Application Procedures
A determination of whether to invite applications under this
announcement will be issued based upon the Agency's review of the
proposals under the evaluation criteria herein and EDA's regulations
published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as
separate part II.
Funding Instrument
Any grant or cooperative agreement awarded under this announcement
will be in accordance with the requirements of the Trade Act of 1974,
as amended (Public Law 93-618; 19 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) and EDA's
regulations published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3,
1999) as separate Part II.
Project Selection Criteria
Evaluation criteria will not be assigned weights. EDA will consider
several criteria, any one or a combination of which may be the basis
for selecting the applicant to be funded under this notice. These
criteria are the extent to which the proposal: (1) Demonstrates an
understanding of the economic damage resulting from the natural
disaster and trade related impacts in the Alaskan salmon fishing
industry; (2) documents that the applicant has a thorough understanding
of and expertise concerning the Alaskan salmon fishing industry and its
needs; (3) makes a strong case that it will yield some short-term
actions that can be implemented by firms in the Alaskan salmon fishing
industry rather than relying only on long-term solutions; and (4)
includes the use of a committee, with representatives from the Alaskan
salmon fishing industry, to assist in providing project oversight.
Trade Adjustment Assistance for industrywide projects can only be
awarded to industries in which firms or workers groups have been
certified as trade-impacted under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
EDA has already made this finding for the Alaskan fishing industry.
EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the
criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will
invite any entity whose proposal is selected to submit a full
application. (SF-424, OMB Control No. 0348-0043).
Other Information
Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive
selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements
for the applicable assistance program are described in EDA's
regulations, published in the Federal Register (64 FR 5347, February 3,
1999) as separate Part II.
For further information contact the Coordinator, Trade Adjustment
and Technical Assistance listed below: Anthony J. Meyer, Coordinator,
Trade Adjustment and Technical Assistance, Economic Development
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room H7317, 14th and
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, Telephone: (202)
482-2127, Internet Address: tmeyer2@doc.gov
Dated: February 4, 1999.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 99-3463 Filed 2-9-99; 10:55 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P
