Market Development Cooperator Program

 

Through the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP), the International Trade Administration (ITA) aims to develop, maintain and expand foreign markets for nonagricultural goods and services produced in the United States.

Active 11.112 International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 On average from fiscal 1997 through fiscal 2016, for every $1 that ITA invested in MDCP awards, the funded projects generated $339 in exports.
Fiscal Year 2017 Even though no new awards were made in fiscal 2017, there were 23 active MDCP projects. Recipients of MDCP awards continued to draw down award funds, which may be available for up to six years from the year of the award if a recipient receives an extension to its project period. During fiscal 2017, projects generated $363 million in exports.
Fiscal Year 2018 MDCP is not called out in ITA's appropriation, so ITA funds MDCP competitions from its base. Although ITA lacked such base funding for new MDCP awards in fiscal 2019, during fiscal 2019 ITA continued to cooperate on 15 active MDCP projects under awards made in fiscal years prior to 2017. During the first two quarters of fiscal 2019, projects had generated $27 million in exports.
Fiscal Year 2019 TMA BlueTech, a marine technology trade association, received MDCP financial and technical support from 2016 through 2020. The assistance from the International Trade Administration (ITA) enabled TMA BlueTech to help its member companies get connected to potential international buyers through trade missions abroad and export counseling. One example is Hydronalix, an Arizona-based start-up that manufactures robot water rescue devices and marine survey equipment. The ITA/MDCP help has enabled Hydronalix to acquire a distributor in the Netherlands and log over $3 million in export sales to that market.
Fiscal Year 2020 ASABE and its partner, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) have led the U.S. feed machinery’s participation in ISO international standardization efforts initiated by China. With regard to terminology for the standardization work, U.S. experts recruited by ASABE and AFIA reined in China’s initial proposal for 961 terms to be included. These terms are not all essential to feed machinery safety and design and would have been challenging for producers to follow. They were intended, by their volume, to overwhelm the scrutiny of delegates from other countries participating in the standardization process, thereby shaping the process to China’s advantage. If accepted into the international standard, they would have created unfair and unnecessary requirements for U.S. exporters. Through ITA’s MDCP support of ASABE and AFIA, U.S. experts were able to come to consensus with China and reduce this number to approximately 39 terms.
Fiscal Year 2021 New Plumbing Code and Lab Leads to Tripling of Exports IAPMO, a U.S.-based standards developing organization, leveraged an MDCP award from ITA to establish lab in Indonesia to certify that plumbing products comply with Indonesia’s plumbing code. With Indonesia’s newly adopted national plumbing standard, SNI 8153:2015, the lab certification of plumbing products allows architects, planners, builders, and building owners the certainty they need to choose the right products for the right applications, including products made in the United States. Between 2016 and 2017, the year that both the new code and the lab were in placed, U.S. exports to Indonesia tripled.
Fiscal Year 2022 On average, MDCP projects generate $286 in exports for every $1 of ITA funding. Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, Public Law 100-418, Title II, Section 2303, 102 Stat. 1342, 15 U.S.C.4723., 15 U.S.C. 4723 Applicants are found to be eligible in one of three categories. 1. Nonprofit industry organizations (includes small business development centers, World Trade Centers, and 501(c)nonprofits such as chambers of commerce, international trade centers, port authorities, economic development organizations, and other business interest groups). 2. Trade associations. 3. State departments of trade and their regional associations. The Statute stipulates that private industry firms or groups of firms may be found eligible in cases where no entity described above represents that industry. However, since the program began operating in 1993, no private firm has been able to demonstrate that an organization in one of the first three categories did not represent its interests. U.S. firms that sell non-agricultural goods or services. (While private firms benefit from MDCP project activity, as noted above, they are generally not eligible to apply for MDCP funds.) See trade.gov/mdcp for more information. In order to determine eligibility, applicants should consult trade.gov/mdcp and request an eligibility determination in writing from the MDCP Director (see "Information Contacts"). The written request should be accompanied by the most current version of all the following documents that apply: articles of incorporation; charter; bylaws; information on types of members and membership fees; Internal Revenue Service acknowledgment of non-profit status; annual report; audited financial statements; and documentation of ties to state trade departments or their regional associations. See trade.gov/mdcp for more information. 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. Before applying an applicant should get a determination from ITA of its eligibility to be considered to be selected to receive an MDCP award. MDCP awards are cooperative agreements, not grants. ITA will be substantially involved in helping an MDCP award winner to achieve project objectives. Accordingly, applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the contact identified in this sam.gov listing as well as other relevant ITA staff. Directories of ITA staff can be accessed via trade.gov/mdcp. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. After NOFO publication, application packages will be available at grants.gov and at trade.gov/mdcp, which includes an example of a complete MDCP application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications via grants.gov. All forms can be downloaded from grants.gov. Completed forms and all other elements of the application are to be uploaded onto grants.gov. The application will be organized into four parts: forms, project, budget, and other. 1. Forms: a. SF-424; b. SF-424A; c. SF-424B; and d. CD-511. 2. Project narrative file (page limit: 12): a. One-page executive summary including target markets, projected exports to result, size of the market, and brief project description. b. Background including market research that makes clear why the project is needed and has a good chance to succeed. c. Description of the project. d. Description of estimate of exports to be generated and other performance measures. e. Description of partnership with ITA envisioned by applicant. f. Credentials of staff to work on the project. g. Evidence of support for the project from U.S. firms interested in participating. h. Description of how applicant proposes to use the ITA emblem to further project goals. i. Draft success agreement outlining benefits to participating firms and their duty to report exports. 3. Budget narrative attachment file (page limit: 12): a. Spreadsheet that breaks down the budget into the categories used on the SF-424A and apportions it over the award period. b. Supporting worksheets and explanations. c. Discussion of financial systems and projections that identify how, when, and from what sources the matching funds will be or have been raised. d. List of financial assistance awards of $40,000 or more received over the last five years. e. Financial statements. f. Evidence of commitment of cash or in-kind support. g. Any additional evidence of financial responsibility. 4. Other attachment file (page limit: 10): This must not include any documents that should be classified as forms, project narrative, or budget narrative. Most MDCP applications do not include this "other attachment" because the other three parts of the application encompass all necessary elements. Every page of the application must be easily legible. Textual documents generated by an applicant should have a one-inch margin on either side and top and bottom, and the typeface should be no smaller than 11-point. Headers and footers can lie outside the margins. Pages that are not easily legible may be ignored by reviewers. A merit review panel of four senior ITA officials evaluates each MDCP application based on the following five criteria: potential to strengthen competitiveness; export estimate, methodology, significance, and reporting likelihood; partnership potential with ITA; compatibility with ITA priorities; creativity; institutional capacity; budget suitability; and post-project sustainability. Each application can receive from 5 to 20 points for each of the eleven categories for a total possible score of 100. Once applications are received, applicants may not revise them. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified within 10 days after award decisions have been announced. Since the program began in 1993, ITA has made, on average, 7 awards per year. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 120 to 180 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. Each MDCP application is evaluated based on eleven criteria: potential to strengthen competitiveness; export estimate, methodology, significance, and likelihood; partnership potential with ITA; compatibility with ITA priorities; creativity; institutional capacity; budget suitability; and post-project sustainability. Each application can receive 5 to 20 points in each of the eleven categories for a total possible score of 100. Additional details on the selection criteria are published in the NOFO, the annual solicitation for applications. The most recent solicitation is available at trade.gov/mdcp. A notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) describing the program is available at grants.gov or from the contact listed in "Information Contacts" below. The most prominent uses and restrictions are summarized below. 1. Applicants should propose foreign market development activities that result in U.S. firms increasing exports that create or maintain U.S. jobs. 2. The primary beneficiaries of project activity should be small-and medium-sized enterprises. 3. No more than $300,000 in federal funds is available for each project. 4. The federal funds are to last for the life of the three to five-year project. 5. Applicant match is two to one: for each federal dollar received, applicant must match at least one dollar with cash and another dollar with cash or in-kind contribution. Performance Reports: Quarterly "program" reports described above allow ITA to monitor performance. ITA also monitors performance while working alongside recipient on project activity. Not applicable. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of recipients or sub recipients must be maintained in accordance with the terms of the award. Generally, the recipient must retain records for 3 years from the date on which the final expenditure report is submitted. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 50%. Applicants match the federal share one-to-one. Half of the first dollar of match must be cash. The second half-dollar of match may be cash or in-kind. The federal share will never be greater than one half.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds may be expended over a project period of at least three years but not to exceed five years from the start of the project period. Funds are available as soon as the approved project period begins. Award recipients draw down funds as they incur project costs and request advances or reimbursements. MDCP is managed from the headquarters office, which should be the applicant's initial point of contact for MDCP information. In addition, applicants are encouraged to contact relevant ITA industry specialists in Washington, DC and their nearest U.S. Commercial Service domestic field office. Contact information is available at trade.gov/mdcp. Brad Hess
14th Street & Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 2872
Washington, DC 20230 US
brad.hess@trade.gov
Phone: 2024822969
Fax: 2024824462 http://www.trade.gov/mdcp 13-1250-0-1-376 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$1,600,000.00; FY 23 est $1,500,000.00; FY 24 est $1,500,000.00; FY 21$2,900,000.00; FY 20$2,800,000.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$0.00; FY 16$1,328,246.00; - Individual awards may not exceed $300,000. Average award size is $250,000 with actual awards ranging from $80,000 to $300,000. Applicants can link to Internet sources for each of the authorities cited on sam.gov at trade.gov/mdcp. This site also contains a mock application, directories of ITA officials to consult, and tips on preparing applications. Fiscal Year 2016 Five projects were funded in fiscal 2016, including an award of $260,112 to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. During its five-year project, ASABE will organize U.S. industry technical experts to participate in the International Organization for Standards (ISO) technical committee 293 process to ensure future standards are not barriers to trade. See profile here: https://www.trade.gov/mdcp/profile/profile-asabe-2016.asp
Fiscal Year 2017 No awards were made in fiscal 2017.
Fiscal Year 2019 No awards were made in fiscal 2019.
Fiscal Year 2022 Western Arts Alliance (WAA) received $300,000 for its Performing Arts Discovery Export (PADX) program. WAA selects U.S.-based performing artists ready to tour internationally. Prior to being featured on the PADX Showcase, WAA provides equipment, technical support, and post-production assistance so artists can be properly featured. Entities abroad looking for talent can find the Showcase at https://www.westarts.org/pad. Bookings from all international patrons are welcome. WAA’s strategy is to focus first on touring opportunities in Australia, Colombia, and Germany.