66920 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 

pursue a discrimination complaint by 

filing a grievance through your agency’s 

administrative or negotiated grievance 

procedures, if such procedures apply 

and are available. 

Contact the Defense Information Systems 

Agency (DISA), Equal Employment 

Opportunity and Cultural Diversity Office 

(EEOCD) to make contact with an EEO 

Counselor; or the Manpower, Personnel and 

Security Directorate (MPS1) for additional 

information concerning administrative or 

negotiated grievances. (See contact 

information below). 

Whistleblower Protection Laws 

A Federal employee with authority to 

take, direct others to take, recommend 

or approve any personnel action must 

not use that authority to take or fail to 

take, or threaten to take or fail to take, 

a personnel action against an employee 

or applicant because of disclosure of 

information by that individual that is 

reasonably believed to evidence 

violations of law, rule or regulation; 

gross mismanagement; gross waste of 

funds; an abuse of authority; or a 

substantial and specific danger to public 

health or safety, unless disclosure of 

such information is specifically 

prohibited by law and such information 

is specifically required by Executive 

order to be kept secret in the interest of 

national defense or the conduct of 

foreign affairs. 

Retaliation against an employee or 

applicant for making a protected 

disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 

2302(b)(8). If you believe that you have 

been the victim of whistleblower 

retaliation, you may file a written 

complaint (Form OSC–11) with the U.S. 

Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M 

Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 

20036–4505 or online through the OSC 

Web site—http://www.osc.gov. 

Contact the DISA, Office of Inspector 

General (IG) for additional information 

concerning or to report fraud, waste and 

abuse. (See contact information below). 

Retaliation for Engaging in Protected 

Activity 

A Federal agency cannot retaliate 

against an employee or applicant 

because that individual exercises his or 

her rights under any of the Federal 

antidiscrimination or whistleblower 

protection laws listed above. If you 

believe that you are the victim of 

retaliation for engaging in protected 

activity, you must follow, as 

appropriate, the procedures described in 

the Antidiscrimination Laws and 

Whistleblower Protection Laws sections 

or, if applicable, the administrative or 

negotiated grievance procedures in 

order to pursue any legal remedy. 

For additional information, contact the 

OSC (see contact information above); or the 

appropriate DISA office (see contact 

information below). 

Disciplinary Actions 

Under the existing laws, each agency 

retains the right, where appropriate, to 

discipline a Federal employee for 

conduct that is inconsistent with 

Federal Antidiscrimination and 

Whistleblower Protection Laws up to 

and including removal. If OSC has 

initiated an investigation under 5 U.S.C. 

1214, however, according to 5 U.S.C. 

1214(f), agencies must seek approval 

from the Special Counsel to discipline 

employees for, among other activities, 

engaging in prohibited retaliation. 

Nothing in the No FEAR Act alters 

existing laws or permits an agency to 

take unfounded disciplinary action 

against a Federal employee or to violate 

the procedural rights of a Federal 

employee who has been accused of 

discrimination. 

Contact MPS1 for additional information 

concerning disciplinary actions. (See contact 

information below). 

Additional Information 

For further information regarding the 

No FEAR Act regulations, refer to 5 CFR 

part 724, as well as the appropriate 

offices within your agency (e.g., EEO/ 

civil rights office, human resources 

office or legal office). Additional 

information regarding Federal 

antidiscrimination, whistleblower 

protection and retaliation laws can be 

found at the EEOC Web site—http:// 

www.eeoc.gov and the OSC Web site—

http://www.osc.gov. 

DISA office Phone No. (DSN 327) Web site E-mail address 

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Cultural Diversity 

(EEOCD).

(703) 607–6458 ............................ http://www.disa.mil/main/eeo.html 

Office of General Counsel (GC) .... (703) 607–6091 ............................ http://www.disa.mil/main/gc.html .. Generalcounseldisa@disa.mil 

Office of Inspector General (IG) .... 24 Hr Hotline: (703) 607–6317 ..... http://www.disa.mil/mail/ig.html ..... IG-Hotline@ncr.disa.mil 

Main: (703) 607–6300 .................. ..................................................

Manpower, Personnel and Security 

(MPS1).

(703) 607–4740 or 4403 ............... http://www.disa.mil/main/mps.html 

Existing Rights Unchanged 

Pursuant to section 205 of the No 

FEAR Act, neither the Act nor this 

notice creates, expands or reduces any 

rights otherwise available to any 

employee, former employee or applicant 

under the laws of the United States, 

including the provisions of law 

specified in 5 U.S.C. 2302(d). 

November 13, 2006. 

L. M. Bynum, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, DoD. 

[FR Doc. E6–19438 Filed 11–16–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

Revised Non-Foreign Overseas Per 

Diem Rates 

AGENCY: DoD, Per Diem, Travel and 

Transportation Allowance Committee, 

DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of revised non-foreign 

overseas per diem rates. 

SUMMARY: The Per Diem, Travel and 

Transportation Allowance Committee is 

publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem 

Bulletin Number 250. This bulletin lists 

revisions in the per diem rates 

prescribed for U.S. Government 

employees for official travel in Alaska, 

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern 

Mariana Islands and Possessions of the 

United States. AEA changes announced 

in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. 

Bulletin Number 250 is being published 

in the Federal Register to assure that 

travelers are paid per diem at the most 

current rates. 

DATES: Effective Date: December 1, 2006. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

document gives notice of revisions in 

per diem rates prescribed by the Per 

Diem Travel and Transportation 

Allowance Committee for non-foreign 

areas outside the continental United 

States. It supersedes Civilian Personnel 

Per Diem Bulletin Number 249. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 66921 

Distribution of Civilian Personnel Per 

Diem Bulletins by mail was 

discontinued. Per Diem Bulletins 

published periodically in the Federal 

Register now constitute the only 

notification of revisions in per diem 

rates to agencies and establishments 

outside the Department of Defense. For 

more information or questions about per 

diem rates, please contact your local 

travel office. The text of the Bulletin 

follows: 

Dated: November 13, 2006. 

L.M. Bynum, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, DoD. 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–M 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
66922 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICESEN17NO06.000</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 66923 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICESEN17NO06.001</GPH>
66924 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICESEN17NO06.002</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 66925 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICESEN17NO06.003</GPH>
66926 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 222 / Friday, November 17, 2006 / Notices 

[FR Doc. 06–9240 Filed 11–16–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–C 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services; Overview 

Information; National Institute on 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

(NIDRR)—Small Business Innovative 

Research Program (SBIR)—Phase I; 

Notice Inviting Applications for New 

Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 84.133S–1. 

Dates: Applications Available: 

November 17, 2006. Deadline for 

Transmittal of Applications: January 31, 

2007. 

Eligible Applicants: Entities that are, 

at the time of award, small business 

concerns as defined by the Small 

Business Administration (SBA). This 

definition is included in the application 

package. 

All technology, science, or 

engineering firms with strong research 

capabilities in any of the priority areas 

listed in this notice are encouraged to 

participate. 

Consultative or other arrangements 

between these firms and universities or 

other non-profit organizations are 

permitted, but the small business 

concern must serve as the grantee. For 

Phase I projects, at least two-thirds of 

the research and/or analytic activities 

must be performed by the proposing 

firm. Furthermore, the total of all 

consultant fees, facility leases or usage 

fees, and other subcontracts or purchase 

agreements may not exceed one-third of 

the total funding award. 

If it appears that an applicant 

organization does not meet the 

eligibility requirements, we will request 

an evaluation by the SBA. Under 

circumstances in which eligibility is 

unclear, we will not make an SBIR 

award until the SBA makes a 

determination. 

Estimated Available Funds: The 

Administration has requested 

$5,000,000 for the SBIR program for FY 

2007, of which we intend to use an 

estimated $1,125,000 for new Phase I 

awards. The actual level of funding, if 

any, depends on final congressional 

action. However, we are inviting 

applications to allow enough time to 

complete the grant process if Congress 

appropriates funds for this program. 

Note: The estimated amount of funds 

available for new Phase I awards is based 

upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation 

for the Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), minus prior 

commitments for Phase II continuation 

awards. 

Estimated Range of Awards: $70,000–

75,000. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 

$72,000. 

Maximum Award: We will reject any 

application that proposes a budget 

exceeding $75,000 for a single budget 

period of six months. The Assistant 

Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services may change the 

maximum amount through a notice 

published in the Federal Register. 

Note: The maximum award amount 

includes direct and indirect costs and fees. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 15. 

Note: The Department is not bound by any 

estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to six months for 

Phase I awards. 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

this program is to stimulate 

technological innovation in the private 

sector, strengthen the role of small 

business in meeting Federal research or 

research and development (R/R&D) 

needs, increase the commercial 

application of the U.S. Department of 

Education (ED or the Department) 

supported research results, and improve 

the return on investment from federally 

funded research for economic and social 

benefits to the Nation. 

Note: This program is in concert with 

President George W. Bush’s New Freedom 

Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR’s Final LongRange Plan for FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The NFI 

can be accessed on the Internet at the 

following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ 

infocus/newfreedom 

The Plan, which was published in the 

Federal Register on February 15, 2006 

(71 FR Doc 8165), can be accessed on 

the Internet at the following site: http:// 

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/ 

nidrr/policy.html 

Through the implementation of the 

NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to—(1) 

Improve the quality and utility of 

disability and rehabilitation research; 

(2) Foster an exchange of expertise, 

information, and training to facilitate 

the advancement of knowledge and 

understanding of the unique needs of 

traditionally underserved populations; 

(3) Determine best strategies and 

programs to improve rehabilitation 

outcomes for underserved populations; 

(4) Identify research gaps; (5) Identify 

mechanisms of integrating research and 

practice; and (6) Disseminate findings. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICESEN17NO06.004</GPH>