Amendment of Performance Incentives for Minority Business Enterprise Centers To Allow for a Third Bonus Year of Funding, 4117-4118 [E6-892]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 25, 2006 / Notices • Certification that the company meets Departmental guidelines for participation: A company’s products or services must be either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished product or service. Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process. Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar at https://www.ita.doc.gov/ doctm/ tmcal.html—and other Internet Web sites, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal mailing lists, faxes to internal database aerospace clients, email to aerospace distribution lists, posting in the Federal Register, and announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Aerospace and Defense Technologies Team members, U.S. Export Assistance Centers and the Office of Global Trade Programs will also promote the AES Program. Recruitment for the mission will begin in January 2006 and conclude in March, 2006. wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES Contact ITA Aerospace & Defense Technology Team: Mark Weaver, Director and Senior International Trade Specialist, Aerospace and Defense Team, U.S. Export Assistance Center—USCS, 808 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102–6315. Tel: (817) 392–2673. Fax: (817) 392–2668. E-mail: mark.weaver@mail.doc.gov. Matthew Hilgendorf, International Trade Specialist, Aerospace and Defense Team, U.S. Export Assistance Center—Santa Fe, C/O New Mexico Economic Development Department, 1100 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505. Tel: (505) 670–7809. Fax: (505) 827–0211. E-mail: matthew.hilgendorf@mail.doc.gov. Mara Yachnin, Acting Manager, Office of Aerospace, Global Trade Programs, U.S. Commercial Service, Washington, DC 20230. Tel: 202–482– 6238. E-mail: mara.yachnin@mail.doc.gov. U.S. Commercial Service in Santiago: Patricia Jaramillo, American Embassy, U.S. Commercial Service, Av. Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile 755–0006. Tel. 011–(56) 2–330– VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:26 Jan 24, 2006 Jkt 208001 3402. Fax 011–(56) 2–330–3172. Email: Patricia.Jaramillo@mail.doc.gov. Dated: January 19, 2006. John Klingelhut, Senior Advisor, Global Trade Programs. [FR Doc. E6–899 Filed 1–24–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Minority Business Development Agency [Docket No. 000724217–6008–11] Amendment of Performance Incentives for Minority Business Enterprise Centers To Allow for a Third Bonus Year of Funding Minority Business Development Agency. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) publishes this notice to announce that it will allow for a third year of bonus funding, on a non-competitive basis, to the Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) (formally known as the Houston Minority Business Development Center (MBDC)), as originally funded under the Federal Register notice of August 28, 2000 (65 FR 52069). In its August 28, 2000 notice, MBDA solicited competitive applications from organizations to operate MBECs. The MBEC Program provides funding for general business assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs) in various markets throughout the United States and stipulated that no award to operate a MBEC may be longer than five funding periods. MBDA changes this policy to allow for a third year of bonus funding for a total of six funding periods. This action is taken in light of the fact that the Houston MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) has had an ‘‘excellent’’ performance rating for five consecutive years. Furthermore, this action supports the Agency’s efforts in rebuilding minority firms impacted by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. The Houston MBEC noncompetitively received additional funding in the amount of $300,000, specifically to assist the minority firms impacted by Hurricane Katrina, as it was the closest proximity to the Gulf Coast and able to immediately respond to the need for additional services. This is in addition to the amount of $400,375 for the continuation of general business assistance to MBEs in program year 2006. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4117 The third bonus funding period, if approved by the Grants Officer, will commence January 1, 2006 and continue through December 31, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Efrain Gonzalez at (202) 482–1940. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Executive order 11625, the MBEC Program requires MBEC staff to provide general business assistance to minorityowned companies in various markets throughout the United States, and standardized business assistance services to ‘‘rapid growth potential’’ minority businesses (e.g., those generating $500,000 or more in annual revenues or capable of generating significant employment and long-term economic growth); to develop a network of strategic partnerships; to possibly charge client fees; and to provide strategic business consulting. These requirements are used to generate increased results with respect to financing and contracts awarded to minority-owned firms and thus, are a key component of this program. MBDA is announcing the amendment of a prior Federal Register notice (65 FR 52069, August 28, 2000) published by MBDA which established that no award to operate a Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) (formally known as Minority Business Development Centers (MBDC)) may be longer than five funding periods without competition, no matter what an MBEC’s performance happens to be. Under the prior notice, performance incentives allowed MBECs to earn two bonus funding periods, in addition to the normal three funding periods, without competition based on an ‘‘excellent’’ performance rating, for a total of five funding periods. MBDA hereby amends the prior notice to allow for a third year of bonus funding on a non-competitive basis to eligible MBECs originally funded under the Federal Register notice of August 28, 2000, for a total of six funding periods. This action is taken in light of the fact that the Houston MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) has maintained an ‘‘excellent’’ performance rating over the five year funding period. This MBEC is the only MBEC to have achieved an ‘‘excellent’’ performance rating in five consecutive program years and thus is the only recipient of the third bonus funding period. In addition, this award will allow the Houston MBEC to maintain continuity in level of services in light of the adverse economic impact and devastation caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Such additional funding will be at the total discretion of MBDA. The Houston DATES: E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1 4118 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 25, 2006 / Notices MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) will be eligible for a third bonus funding period (January 1, 2006–December 31, 2006) on a non-competitive basis. The Houston MBEC will continue to concentrate on serving firms located in the Houston, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. This includes delivering relevant services to minorityowned firms impacted by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and to displaced MBEs currently residing in the greater Houston, Texas area. The Houston MBEC program shall continue to leverage telecommunications technology, including the Internet, and a variety of online computer-based resources to dramatically increase the level of service that the MBEC can provide to minority-owned firms, including micro-enterprises. Entrepreneurs eligible for assistance under the MBEC Program are African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanishspeaking Americans, Aleuts, Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indians, Native Americans, Eskimos and Hasidic Jews. Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this notice. Executive Order 12866 This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act for rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and has not been prepared. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512 and Executive Order 11625. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:26 Jan 24, 2006 Jkt 208001 Dated: January 20, 2006. Ronald N. Langston, National Director, Minority Business Development Agency. [FR Doc. E6–892 Filed 1–24–06; 8:45 am] Linda L. Glatz, Office of Planning and Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504–7671. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BILLING CODE 3510–21–P A. The Standards Children’s sleepwear in sizes 0 through 6X manufactured for sale in or imported into the United States is subject to the Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 0 through 6X (16 CFR part 1615). Children’s sleepwear in sizes 7 through 14 is subject to the Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 7 through 14 (16 CFR part 1616). The children’s sleepwear flammability standards require that fabrics, seams, and trim used in children’s sleepwear in sizes 0 through 14 must self-extinguish when exposed to a small open-flame ignition source. The children’s sleepwear standards and implementing regulations also require manufacturers and importers of children’s sleepwear in sizes 0 through 14 to perform testing of products and to maintain records of the results of that testing. 16 CFR part 1615, subpart B; 16 CFR part 1616; subpart B. The Commission uses the information compiled and maintained by manufacturers and importers of children’s sleepwear to help protect the public from risks of death or burn injuries associated with children’s sleepwear. More specifically, the Commission reviews this information to determine whether the products produced and imported by the firms comply with the applicable standard. Additionally, the Commission uses this information to arrange corrective actions if items of children’s sleepwear fail to comply with the applicable standard in a manner that creates a substantial risk of injury to the public. OMB approved the collection of information in the children’s sleepwear standards and implementing regulations under control number 3041–0027. OMB’s most recent extension of approval will expire on January 31, 2006. The Commission proposes to request an extension of approval for the collection of information in the children’s sleepwear standards and implementing regulations. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Proposed Extension of Approval of Collection; Comment Request— Collection of Information for Children’s Sleepwear Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requests comments on a proposed extension of approval, for a period of three years from the date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), of a collection of information from manufacturers and importers of children’s sleepwear. This collection of information is in the Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 0 through 6X and the Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 7 through 14 and regulations implementing those standards. See 16 CFR Parts 1615 and 1616. The children’s sleepwear standards and implementing regulations establish requirements for testing and recordkeeping by manufacturers and importers of children’s sleepwear. The Commission will consider all comments received in response to this notice before requesting an extension of approval of this collection of information from OMB. DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive written comments not later than March 27, 2006. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be captioned ‘‘Children’s Sleepwear, Collection of Information’’ and sent by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Written comments may also be sent to the Office of the Secretary by facsimile at (301) 504–0127, or by mail to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposed extension of approval of the collection of information, or to obtain a copy of 16 CFR Parts 1615 and 1616, call or write PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 B. Estimated Burden The Commission staff estimates that about 53 firms manufacture or import products subject to the two children’s sleepwear flammability standards. These firms may perform an estimated 2000 tests each that take up to three hours per test. The Commission staff estimates that these standards and implementing regulations will impose E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4117-4118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-892]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency

[Docket No. 000724217-6008-11]


Amendment of Performance Incentives for Minority Business 
Enterprise Centers To Allow for a Third Bonus Year of Funding

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) publishes this 
notice to announce that it will allow for a third year of bonus 
funding, on a non-competitive basis, to the Houston Minority Business 
Enterprise Center (MBEC) (formally known as the Houston Minority 
Business Development Center (MBDC)), as originally funded under the 
Federal Register notice of August 28, 2000 (65 FR 52069). In its August 
28, 2000 notice, MBDA solicited competitive applications from 
organizations to operate MBECs. The MBEC Program provides funding for 
general business assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs) in 
various markets throughout the United States and stipulated that no 
award to operate a MBEC may be longer than five funding periods. MBDA 
changes this policy to allow for a third year of bonus funding for a 
total of six funding periods. This action is taken in light of the fact 
that the Houston MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) has had an ``excellent'' 
performance rating for five consecutive years. Furthermore, this action 
supports the Agency's efforts in rebuilding minority firms impacted by 
Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. The Houston MBEC non-competitively 
received additional funding in the amount of $300,000, specifically to 
assist the minority firms impacted by Hurricane Katrina, as it was the 
closest proximity to the Gulf Coast and able to immediately respond to 
the need for additional services. This is in addition to the amount of 
$400,375 for the continuation of general business assistance to MBEs in 
program year 2006.

DATES: The third bonus funding period, if approved by the Grants 
Officer, will commence January 1, 2006 and continue through December 
31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Efrain Gonzalez at (202) 482-1940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Executive order 11625, the MBEC 
Program requires MBEC staff to provide general business assistance to 
minority-owned companies in various markets throughout the United 
States, and standardized business assistance services to ``rapid growth 
potential'' minority businesses (e.g., those generating $500,000 or 
more in annual revenues or capable of generating significant employment 
and long-term economic growth); to develop a network of strategic 
partnerships; to possibly charge client fees; and to provide strategic 
business consulting. These requirements are used to generate increased 
results with respect to financing and contracts awarded to minority-
owned firms and thus, are a key component of this program.
    MBDA is announcing the amendment of a prior Federal Register notice 
(65 FR 52069, August 28, 2000) published by MBDA which established that 
no award to operate a Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) 
(formally known as Minority Business Development Centers (MBDC)) may be 
longer than five funding periods without competition, no matter what an 
MBEC's performance happens to be. Under the prior notice, performance 
incentives allowed MBECs to earn two bonus funding periods, in addition 
to the normal three funding periods, without competition based on an 
``excellent'' performance rating, for a total of five funding periods. 
MBDA hereby amends the prior notice to allow for a third year of bonus 
funding on a non-competitive basis to eligible MBECs originally funded 
under the Federal Register notice of August 28, 2000, for a total of 
six funding periods.
    This action is taken in light of the fact that the Houston MBEC 
(Grijalva and Allen) has maintained an ``excellent'' performance rating 
over the five year funding period. This MBEC is the only MBEC to have 
achieved an ``excellent'' performance rating in five consecutive 
program years and thus is the only recipient of the third bonus funding 
period. In addition, this award will allow the Houston MBEC to maintain 
continuity in level of services in light of the adverse economic impact 
and devastation caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
    Such additional funding will be at the total discretion of MBDA. 
The Houston

[[Page 4118]]

MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) will be eligible for a third bonus funding 
period (January 1, 2006-December 31, 2006) on a non-competitive basis.
    The Houston MBEC will continue to concentrate on serving firms 
located in the Houston, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. This 
includes delivering relevant services to minority-owned firms impacted 
by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and to displaced MBEs currently residing 
in the greater Houston, Texas area. The Houston MBEC program shall 
continue to leverage telecommunications technology, including the 
Internet, and a variety of online computer-based resources to 
dramatically increase the level of service that the MBEC can provide to 
minority-owned firms, including micro-enterprises.
    Entrepreneurs eligible for assistance under the MBEC Program are 
African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanish-speaking Americans, Aleuts, 
Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indians, Native Americans, Eskimos and 
Hasidic Jews.

Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this 
notice.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act for rules concerning public 
property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). 
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and has 
not been prepared.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512 and Executive Order 11625.

    Dated: January 20, 2006.
Ronald N. Langston,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E6-892 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P

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