§ 649b. — Grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for international marketing programs.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC649b]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 14A--AID TO SMALL BUSINESS
Sec. 649b. Grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for
international marketing programs
(a) Limitations and restrictions
The Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the
``Secretary'') is authorized to make grants (including contracts and
cooperative agreements) to a qualified applicant to encourage the
development and implementation of a small business international
marketing program (hereinafter referred to as ``the program''). Each
qualified applicant under sections 649a to 649d of this title may
receive a Federal grant not to exceed $150,000 annually for each of
three years: Provided, That not more than one-third of these Federal
funds may be used for the purpose of hiring personnel. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to enter into
contracts or incur obligations except to such extent and in such amounts
as are provided in appropriation Acts.
(b) Eligibility
(1) To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant
proposing to carry out a small business international marketing program
must submit to the Secretary an application demonstrating, at a minimum:
(A) the geographical area to be served;
(B) the number of firms to be assisted;
(C) the staff required to administer the program;
(D) the means to counsel small businesses interested in pursuing
export sales, including providing information concerning available
financing, credit insurance, tax treatment, potential markets and
marketing assistance, export pricing, shipping, documentation, and
foreign financing and business customs;
(E) the ability to provide market analysis of the export
potential of small business concerns; and
(F) the capability for developing contacts with potential
foreign customers and distributors for small business and their
products, including arrangements and sponsorship of foreign trade
missions for small business concerns to meet with identified
potential customers, distributors, sales representatives, and
organizations interested in licensing or joint ventures: Provided,
however, That no portion of any Federal funds may be used to
directly underwrite any small business participation in foreign
trade missions abroad.
(2) Program services shall be provided to small business concerns
through outreach services at the most local level practicable.
(3) Each small business international marketing program shall have a
full-time staff director to manage program activities, and access to
export specialists to counsel and to assist small business clients in
international marketing.
(c) Advisory board establishment
(1) Each small business international marketing program shall
establish an advisory board of nine members to be appointed by the staff
director of the program, not less than five members of whom shall be
small business persons or representatives of small business
associations.
(2) Each advisory board shall elect a chairman and shall advise,
counsel, and confer with the staff director of the program on all policy
matters pertaining to the operation of the program (including who may be
eligible to receive assistance, ways to promote the sale of United
States products and services in foreign markets or to encourage tourism
in the United States, and how to maximize local and regional private
consultant participation in the program).
(d) Grant requirements
The Secretary shall require, as a condition to any grant (or
amendment or modification thereof) made to an applicant under this
section, that a sum equal to the amount of such grant be provided from
sources other than the Federal Government: Provided, That the additional
amount shall not include any amount of indirect costs or in-kind
contributions paid for under any Federal program, nor shall indirect
costs or in-kind contributions exceed 50 per centum of the non-Federal
additional amount.
(e) Program evaluation; reports
The Secretary shall develop a plan to evaluate programs approved
under this section which shall only--
(1) determine the impact of small business international
marketing programs on those small businesses assisted;
(2) determine the amount of export sales generated by small
businesses assisted through such programs; and
(3) make recommendations concerning continuation and/or
expansion of the program and possible improvements in the program
structure. Such evaluation shall be submitted to the Congress by
October 1, 1982.
(f) Recipients' duty to furnish information
For the purpose of the evaluation under subsection (e) of this
section, the Secretary is authorized to require any small business
international marketing program, or party receiving assistance under
this section, to furnish such information as is deemed appropriate to
complete the required evaluation.
(g) ``Applicant'' defined
As used in this section, the term ``applicant'' means any State
government or agency or instrumentality thereof, any Small Business
Administration--designated small business development center, any for
profit small business, any nonprofit corporation, any regional
commission, or any combination of such entities, which will carry out a
small business international marketing program.
(h) Contract authority
The authority to enter into contracts shall be in effect for each
fiscal year only to the extent or in the amounts as are provided in
advance in appropriation Acts.
(Pub. L. 96-481, title III, Sec. 302, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2331.)
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Small Business Act which
comprises this chapter.
Termination of Advisory Boards
Advisory boards established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not
later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of
their establishment, unless, in the case of a board established by the
President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed
by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or
in the case of a board established by the Congress, its duration is
otherwise provided for by law. See sections 3(2) and 14 of Pub. L. 92-
463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, 776, set out in the Appendix to Title
5, Government Organization and Employees.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 649c, 649d of this title.
