Section 4002(c)(6)(A) of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429, 118 Stat.
2603) (the ?Act?) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants to persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who were, during calendar years 1999,
credit:
2000, and 2001, manufacturers of two categories of worsted wool fabrics.
The first category are manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics, containing 85 percent or more by weight of wool, with average fiber diameters greater than 1 8. 5 micron (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 990 2. 5 1. 11); the total amount of available funds is $2,666,000, to be allocated among such manufacturers on the basis of the percentage of each manufacturers? production of worsted wool fabric included in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 1 1. The second category are manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics, containing 85 percent or more by weight of wool, with average fiber diameters of 1 8. 5 micron or less (HTS heading 990 2. 5 1. 15, previously HTS heading 990 2. 5 1. 12); the total amount of available funds is $2,666,000, to be allocated among such manufacturers on the basis of the percentage of each manufacturers? production of worsted wool fabric included in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 1 5.
Funding for the worsted wool fabrics grant program will be provided by the Department of the Treasury from amounts in the Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund (the ?Trust Fund?).
The total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 shall be $2,666,000 in each of calendar years 2008 and 200 9. The total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 shall also be $2,666,000 in each of calendar years 2008 and 200 9.
Authority:
Section 4002(c)(6) of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429, 118 Stat.
2603) (the ?Act?).
The Act was amended pursuant to Section 1633 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-280), which extended the availability of grant funds through 2009 and modified the eligibility criteria.
b.
Award Information:
The funding instrument used in this program is section 4002(c)(6)(A) of the Act, which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants to U. S. manufacturers of certain worsted wool fabrics.
Funding for the worsted wool fabrics grant program will be allotted by the Department of the Treasury from amounts in the Trust Fund.
The total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 shall be $2,666,000 in calendar year 200 8. The total amount of grants to manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 shall also be $2,666,000 in calendar year 200 8.
Following the closing date of the receipt of applications, the Department shall calculate the appropriate allocation of the allotted funds among eligible applicants in accordance with the statutory procedures.
c.
Eligibility Information:
The worsted wool fabrics grant program is open to persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who were, during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001, manufacturers of worsted wool fabrics in the United States of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 1 5. Only manufacturers who weave worsted wool fabric in the United States as of the date of application shall be eligible for grant funds.
Any manufacturer who becomes a successor-of-interest to a manufacturer of the worsted wool fabrics described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 during 1999, 2000 or 2001 because of a reorganization or otherwise, shall be eligible to apply for such grants.
Cost Sharing or Matching:
There is no cost sharing or matching requirements for the worsted wool fabric grant program.
d.
Application and Submission Information:
1. Submissions:
This announcement identifies the information that is required for an application for the worsted wool fabrics grant program.
The closing date for receipt of applications is May 27, 200 8. Completed applications must be received by ITA no later than 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Standard Time at the address below.
Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered.
If Mailed/Overnight Delivered:
If the application is mailed/shipped overnight by the applicant or his/her representative, one (1) signed original plus two (2) copies of the application must be submitted.
Complete application packages must be mailed to:
Eastern Hemisphere
Office of Textiles and Apparel - Room H3001
International Trade Administration
U. S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230
If Hand-Delivered:
If the application is hand-delivered by the applicant or his/her representative, one (1) signed original plus two (2) copies of the application must be delivered to:
U. S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Office of Textiles and Apparel
Room H1874
Entrance #10
15th Street, N.W.
(Between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue)
Washington, DC
The full funding opportunity announcement and the application kit for this request are available at www.grants.gov.
Interested parties who are unable to access information via the Internet may contact James Bennett, by phone at (202) 482-4058, or via internet at James_Bennett@ita.doc.gov
2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
Applicants must have produced in the United States, during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001, worsted wool fabrics of a kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 1 5.
Applicants must also provide:
(1) company name, address, contact and phone number;
(2) Federal tax identification number;
(3) the name and address of each plant or location in the United States where worsted wool fabrics of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 was woven by the applicant in 1999, 2000 and 2001;
(4) the name and address of each plant or location in the United States where the applicant is weaving worsted wool fabrics of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5115 as of the date of application;
(5) the quantity, in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 15, as appropriate, woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001; and
(6) the value of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 15, as appropriate, woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 200 1.
This data must indicate actual production (not estimates) of worsted wool fabric of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 1 5.
At the conclusion of the application, the applicant must attest that ?all information contained in the application is complete and correct and no false claims, statements, or representations have been made.? Applicants should be aware that, generally, pursuant to 31 U.S.C.
3729, persons providing a false or fraudulent claims, and, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1001, persons making materially false statements or representations, are subject to civil or criminal penalties, respectively.
Information that is marked ?business confidential? will be protected from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law.
Complete applications must also include the following forms and documents:
? CD-346, Applicant for Funding Assistance
? CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying
? SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
? SF-424B, Assurances - Non-Construction Programs
The CD forms are available via web site:
http://www.osec.doc.gov/forms/direct.htm.
The SF forms are available via web site:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html.
3. Intergovernmental Review:
Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ?Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs?.
4. Funding Restrictions:
Not applicable.
5. Other Submission Requirements:
None.
e.
Application Review Information
1. Criteria:
For the worsted wool fabrics grant program, the technical reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications:
1. Whether the applicant (including persons, firms, corporations, or other legal entities) produced in the United States worsted wool fabrics of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or 990 2. 5 1. 15 during calendar years 1999, 2000 and 200 1.
2. Whether the applicant (including persons, firms, corporations, or other legal entities)
is weaving in the United States worsted wool fabric of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 as of the date of application.
3. Whether the applicant (including persons, firms, corporations, or other legal entities) was a successor-of-interest to a manufacturer who produced in the United States worsted wool fabric of the kind described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 during calendar years 1999, 2000 or 2001 because of a reorganization or otherwise.
Such applicants shall be eligible to apply for such grants.
4. For each applicant, the quantity, in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001; or the quantity, in linear yards, of worsted wool fabric production described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15 woven in the United States in each of calendar years 1999, 2000 and 200 1. The grants are to be allocated among eligible applicants on the basis of the percentage of each manufacturers? production of the fabric described in HTS 990 2. 5 1. 11 or HTS 990 2. 5 1. 15, as appropriate, for calendar years 1999, 2000, and 2001, compared to the production of such fabric by all manufacturers who qualify for such grants.
Cost Sharing or Matching:
There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for the worsted wool fabrics grant program.
2. Review and Selection Process:
All applications received in response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether they are complete and responsive to the content and form of application submission requirements as published in this notice.
Responsive applications will be reviewed by an independent, objective panel composed of at least three individuals who are knowledgeable about worsted wool fabric production.
The panel will conduct a technical review of applications based on the evaluation criteria listed above.
The worsted wool fabrics grant program administrator in the Office of Textiles and Apparel will make the award selection.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the Department of Commerce Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published in this notice and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
The award decision of the Grants Officer is final and not subject to appeal or protest.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates:
Awards are anticipated to be made by December 31, 200 8.
f.
Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices:
Grant recipients will receive a grant award document from the Grant Officer.
The document will be mailed via surface mail in triplicate.
The recipient should have an authorized official sign and return two copies to the address listed in the award document.
The award document will also include the standard terms and conditions, general terms and conditions (if any), and special award conditions (if any) that are applicable.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notifications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, which are contained in the Federal Register Notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this solicitation.
3. Reporting:
Not applicable.
g.
Agency Contact(s)
Technical questions can be directed to Jim Bennett, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U. S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-4058; james_bennett@ita.doc.gov.
All grants related administration questions concerning this program should be addressed to:
Beverly Manley, Department of Commerce Grants Officer, (202) 482-1370; beverly.manley@noaa.gov For assistance with using Grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov