Office of Science and Technology Policy 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: September 20, 2005, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 of the National Academies Keck Center located at 500 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at approximately 9 a.m. The PCAST is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on research and commercialization activities in the areas of pharmacogenomics (or personalized medicine) and alternative energy. These are both areas in which PCAST may undertake studies regarding the Federal role in research and development and the barriers and possible implications surrounding widespread adoption. A review and update of other PCAST topics (e.g., nanotechnology) is also tentatively scheduled to occur. This session will end at approximately 5 p.m. Additional information on the agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https:// www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Celia Merzbacher, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456- 7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: March 22, 2005, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in the East Room (Lobby Level) of the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20036. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday March 22, 2005, at approximately 12:30 p.m. The PCAST is tentatively scheduled to: (1) Pursuant to its designation as the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel under the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, discuss a draft report assessing Federal nanotechnology programs and, pending the discussion, approve the report; and (2) discuss new topics areas to examine in the coming year. This session will end at approximately 5 p.m. Additional information on the agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Stan Sokul, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456-7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

The Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP), a streamlining initiative of ten Federal awarding offices and 92 academic and nonprofit research institutions, developed a core set of FDP terms and conditions that it has been using for several years for the implementation of OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations,'' (2 CFR part 215). The OSTP and OFFM request comment on making the FDP terms and conditions a government-wide standard, and broadening their use to all academic and nonprofit grantees, under Federal research and research- related programs. The proposed policy directive also instructs Federal agencies to minimize the degree to which they supplement the core set with agency- specific, program-specific, or award-specific terms and conditions. The directive should therefore result in the near term in the use of more uniform terms and conditions for Federal research and research-related grants. In parallel with the establishment of this standard for research and research-related grants, an interagency group helping to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-107) will continue working toward the longer- term objective of standard award format and content for all Federal grants and cooperative agreements, including government-wide standard terms and conditions.