[Federal Register: November 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 220)]
[Notices]
[Page 64196-64197]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no07-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency
[Docket No.: 071107681-7682-01]
Extension of the Award Period for Certain Native American
Business Enterprise Centers
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is publishing
this notice to allow for up to a 180-day funded extension, on a non-
competitive basis, of the award periods for those Native American
Business Enterprise Centers (NABECs) identified in this notice whose
current award period is scheduled to end on December 31, 2007. MBDA is
taking this action to allow for continued program delivery by the
identified NABEC operators while MBDA completes the competitive
solicitation and award processes for the next three (3) year NABEC
award period.
DATES: The award period and related funding, if approved by the
Department of Commerce Grants Officer, will commence January 1, 2008
and will continue for a period not to exceed 180 days.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Efrain Gonzalez, Chief, Office of
Business Development, Minority Business Development Agency, 1401
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5075, Washington, DC 20230. Mr. Gonzalez
may be reached by telephone at (202) 482-1940 and by e-mail at
egonzalez@mbda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Executive Order 11625, the NABEC
Program provides standardized business assistance and development
services directly to Native American- and other eligible minority-owned
businesses. The NABEC Program is a key component of MBDA's overall
business development assistance program and promotes the growth and
competitiveness of eligible businesses and further incorporates an
entrepreneurial approach to the delivery of client services. This
entrepreneurial strategy expands the reach and service delivery of the
NABEC Program by requiring project operators to develop and to build
upon strategic alliances with public and private sector partners as a
means of serving eligible businesses within each NABEC's applicable
geographical service area. MBDA currently funds a network of eight (8)
NABEC projects located throughout the United States.
This notice amends MBDA's prior Federal Register notice dated
August 29, 2003 (68 FR 51981), as amended on September 30, 2003 (68 FR
56267), February 11, 2004 (69 FR 6644), February 19, 2004 (69 FR 7726)
and October 25, 2006 (71 FR 62420) to allow for up to a 180-day funded
extension, on a non-competitive basis, of the award period for the
following five (5) NABECs whose award period is scheduled to end on
December 31, 2007: Minnesota/Iowa Statewide NABEC (Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe); North Dakota/South Dakota Statewide NABEC (United Tribes
Technical College); Arizona Statewide NABEC (The National Center for
American Indian Enterprise Development); California Statewide NABEC
(The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development); and
the Northwest NABEC (The National Center for American Indian Enterprise
Development). MBDA is taking this action to allow for continued program
delivery by the five identified NABEC operators while MBDA completes
the competitive solicitation and award processes for the next three (3)
year NABEC award period. The remaining three (3) NABEC projects: North
Carolina Statewide NABEC (The National Center for American Indian
Enterprise Development); New Mexico Statewide NABEC (American Indian
Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico); and the Oklahoma Statewide NABEC
(Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.) are not affected by this notice
as their respective awards period do not expire until the end of July
or August 2008 (as the case may be).
The allowable award extensions and additional funding set forth
herein will be made at the sole discretion of MBDA and the Department
of Commerce using the evaluation criteria and process used to determine
the continuation of funding during the original award period (Program
Years 1-4). In making such determinations, the following factors will
be considered: (1) The NABEC's program performance rating during the
prior program period; (2) the availability of appropriated funds; and
(3) MBDA and Department of Commerce priorities. MBDA will review the
project's performance rating as evaluated through the standardized
performance reports and assessments required under the NABEC Program.
Projects receiving below a ``Satisfactory'' performance rating in the
prior program period will be eligible for an award extension under this
notice.
[[Page 64197]]
Funding for the allowable award extensions listed in this notice is
contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations,
which have not yet been appropriated for the NABEC program. MBDA
therefore issues this notice subject to the appropriations made
available under the current continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 52,
``Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2008, and for
other purposes,'' Public Law 110-92. In no event will MBDA or the
Department of Commerce be responsible to cover any costs incurred
outside of the current award period by the incumbent operators of the
five (5) NABEC projects affected by this notice if the NABEC Program
fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of other MBDA or
Department priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige
MBDA or the Department to award any extensions or to obligate any
available funds for such purpose.
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 December 30, 2004
Federal Register notice (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: November 9, 2007.
Ronald N. Langston,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-22387 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P
