The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is accepting applications for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. TASC is designed to help open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. TASC funding helps U.S. exporters address phytosanitary or other technical barriers that prohibit or threaten exports of U.S. specialty crops. Eligible items include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar and tobacco.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service administers the program. TASC proposals are evaluated on a semi-annual basis with two deadlines for proposals – Feb. 1, 2005 and July 1, 2005, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applicants may submit an application using the on-line Unified Export Strategy (UES) process. The Web-based application is located on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/ues/unified.html. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to apply through the Internet. To do so, contact the FAS Marketing Operations Staff by calling (202) 720-4327 for a log-on ID and a password.

All applicants must obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (D-U-N-S) number for federal assistance before submitting applications. Information and numbers may be obtained by calling the toll-free number 1-866-705-5711.

Applications not submitted via the Internet can be
- hand-delivered to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, Room 4932-S, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-1042;
- mailed to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Marketing Operations Staff, Stop 1042, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-1042;
- or sent electronically to: mosadmin@fas.usda.gov.