MDCP Application

Preparation

1. Use the preliminary eligibility assessment tool to get a preliminary determination of your eligibility.    
    
2. Submit the assessment to the MDCP team and request a follow-up. 
    
3. If eligible, register on grants.gov.     
   All applicants for federal financial assistance are required to register on grants.gov. 

Part A: Project Narrative

Page limit: 10, including an executive summary page

In the Project Narrative, Part A, you describe your project and why it will generate U.S. exports. We have created an example narrative to assist you.

Part A Project Narrative example for BARE, a fictional MDCP applicant:

Part B, Section 1: Budget Narrative

Page limit: 10

This section is the most error-prone of the application.

• The example Excel file will help you create a budget for your proposed project.
• Replace the green data with information specific to your project.
• Add rows as needed.
• The data that you enter will auto-populate the last two worksheets in the Excel file.
• This will create mockups of Standard Forms 424 and 424A.
• You will transfer the information from these worksheets to the appropriate forms in grants.gov.
• All other worksheets will be uploaded to grants.gov in Part B, Section 1 of the application.

Part B, Section 1: Budget Narrative example for BARE, a fictional MDCP applicant:

The example budget shows how to structure the matching resources you are required to pledge. The federal share, the MDCP award, can account for no more than 50% of your total project budget. Your required match can be a mix of both cash and in-kind contribution.

Find more detailed information about:

• How to account for indirect costs
• Program income claimed as a cash match
• Per diem rates, bid threshold, in-kind match
• How to mark business identifying information (BII) and request non-disclosure

Part B, Section 2: Financial Statements

Page limit: 20

A PDF of your most recent audited financial statements (or equivalent) will need to be uploaded to grants.gov as a separate file. grants.gov will automatically refer to it as a budget attachment.

Part B, Section 2: Financial Statements example for BARE, a fictional MDCP applicant:

Part B, Section 3: Other Attachments

Page limit: 10

Everything that you do not submit in any other part of the application should go in Part B, Section 3. Documents you include here are not limited only to those that pertain directly to your budget.

Part B, Section 3: Other Attachments example for BARE, a fictional MDCP applicant:

Part C: Grants.com Forms and Submission

Page limit: 10

You can locate the required forms at grants.gov. In the search tab in the top right of the grants.gov homepage, type “MDCP”. Open the entry for Market Development Cooperator Program and find the forms.

Prepare Parts A and B before you attempt to complete the forms at grants.gov. You won’t have all the information you need for the forms until you prepare your project narrative (Part A) and budget (Part B).

Complete the forms and upload all items.

Trouble with grants.gov?

grants.gov has an excellent help option. You can find it in the top right corner. We at ITA cannot help you with grants.gov.

If you are experiencing problems at the deadline, and you are not able to upload and submit via grants.gov, you can email your application to us directly at mdcp@trade.gov.

If you cannot submit via grants.gov, navigate to grants.gov, download the forms, and save them on your own device. Don’t forget to have the same authorized representative sign all forms that require a signature: SF-424, SF-424B, and CD-511. If you have trouble with e-signing, you can scan a form that was signed manually and submit it.

We know the application process can be daunting. To help you keep things organized, we created this checklist for you to ensure you do not overlook anything required. Download and print this MDCP Application Checklist to help you confirm your application is complete.