Foreign Agricultural Service 2018 Emerging Markets Program Grant

behalf  of  CCC.  The  intended  effect  of this notice is to solicit proposals from  the private sector and from government agencies for fiscal year 2019 and to set out the criteria for the awarding of funds under the program. Future announcements of funding availability  for the EMP will be made through the Grants.gov website.

DATES: To be considered for funding, proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Friday, June   8, 2018. Any proposals received after  this time will be considered only if   funds remain available. FAS anticipates that  the  initial  funding  selections  will be made by the end of December 2018, with the initial award dates estimated to be by the end of February 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION  CONTACT:

Applicants needing assistance should contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service by courier: 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 Foreign Agricultural Service website at http:// www.fas.usda.gov/programs/emerging- markets-program-emp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. 
Funding Opportunity Description

Announcement Type: New. Award Instrument: Grant. Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.603.

Authority: The EMP is authorized by section 1542(d)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended. The EMP regulations appear at 7 CFR part 1486.

Purpose. The EMP assists U.S.  entities in  developing,  maintaining,  or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products by funding activities that enhance emerging markets’ food and rural business systems, including reducing trade barriers. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also be used to assist public  organizations.