[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63569-63570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27301]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration

[Docket No. 000 721216-0228-02]


Announcement of the Establishment of a Joint Public-Sector 
Private-Sector Technology Demonstration Center; Criteria To Be Used in 
Selecting Exhibits To Be Demonstrated, and To Clarify Other Matters

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of a Technology Demonstration Center, 
announcement of criteria for selection of exhibits, and clarification 
of other issues.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce Technology 
Administration is clarifying a recently published (August 4, 2000, Vol. 
65, No. 151, p. 47968) Federal Register notice announcing the 
establishment of a joint public-sector private-sector Technology 
Demonstration Center. The purpose of the Center will be to demonstrate 
state-of-the-art and cutting edge technological advances in a variety 
of technologies and to encourage future development. Demonstrations 
will consist of presentations by the United States Department of 
Commerce Technology Administration, other Federal, state and local 
agencies, and private sector parties. This is not a grant program.

DATES: The Technology Demonstration Center will open on September 14, 
2000 on a permanent basis, and proposed demonstrations will be accepted 
for review at any time.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in participating in the Technology 
Demonstration Center should send inquiries to, Technology 
Demonstration, United States Department of Commerce, Technology 
Administration, Attn: Ms. Jacki Pickett, Washington DC, 20232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jacki Pickett, Technology 
Administration, (202) 482-1039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authorities granted by Title 15 
United States Code sections 3704, the Under Secretary for Technology is 
establishing a Technology Demonstration Center in cooperation with the 
public and private sectors. On August 4, 2000, TA issued a Federal 
Register notice which indicated that TA would enter into Cooperative 
Research and Development Agreements with private sector participants. 
TA now issues this notice to clarify that the agency might also make 
use of other legal instruments, in its discretion. Further, TA wishes 
to publish the criteria it will use in selecting technological advances 
to be displayed in the Technology Demonstration Center.
    The purpose of the Center will be to demonstrate emerging new 
technologies that demonstrate and/or go beyond the state-of-the-art and 
to encourage debate on future technological advances in a variety of 
technologies. Demonstrations will be solicited from the Technology 
Administration's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
labs, other Federal and state research centers, and private-sector 
parties. The Center will be for demonstration purposes only and will 
comply with applicable Federal regulations and Departmental 
requirements. The Center will not be used for sales of merchandise, 
solicitations, orders, or the advertisement of specific products or 
services. The Center will be permanently located at the United States 
Department of Commerce's Herbert C. Hoover Building, in Washington DC.

General Q&As

What Is the Technology Demonstration Center?

    The Center is a joint public/private collaboration in downtown 
Washington, DC. Creating a convenient venue for senior government 
officials and policy makers to learn about emerging technologies and 
assess its meaning for our future the Center will promote a better 
understanding of technology's impact on America by ``Bringing 
Technology Downtown.''

What Are the Center's Objectives?

    Provide a permanent venue at which private- and public-sector 
innovators can demonstrate technological advances in a variety of 
technologies at the pre-commercial phase, and encourage future 
technological development;
    Provide a neutral venue for open discussion of the impact of 
technology on policy and policy making;
    Create an educational resource accessible to a broad range of 
senior government officials and policy makers.

What Areas of Technology Will Be Considered?

    Demonstrations in areas including, but not limited to, 
nanotechnology, biotechnology, computing, and electronic commerce will 
be considered.

What Is Not Included?

    The Center will be used for demonstrations. The Center will not be 
used for sales of merchandise, solicitations, orders, or the 
advertisement of specific products or services.

Who May Apply?

    Innovators from all parts of the American R&D enterprise are 
eligible, both private- and public-sector.

What Is the Center Looking For?

    Demonstrations of innovative technologies in the pre-commercial 
development phase and innovative uses of commercial technologies that 
have the capability to transform the competitive landscape, provide 
substantial improvement in quality of

[[Page 63570]]

life or the environment, or require substantial change in policy.

What Is the Level of Technical Expertise in the Target Audience?

    The target audience will include senior federal science and 
engineering staff who have substantial technological expertise, and 
policy makers.

Eligibility Requirements and Selection Criteria

    To be selected as an exhibitor, each applicant must meet the 
following eligibility requirements and selection criteria:

A. Eligibility Requirements

    1. Participation in the Center is open to private sector parties, 
as well as to Federal, State and local government agencies, subject to 
successful completion of a thorough vetting process for each candidate 
(to review possible conflict of interest and other relevant issues).
    2. An important purpose of the Center is to provide a permanent 
venue for the demonstration of state-of-the-art (and beyond) technology 
from the high tech community nationwide. Such technologies should be 
expected to make a meaningful or significant impact on commerce, the 
environment, and the U.S. economy and standard of living, as well as 
contribute to U.S. competitiveness and encourage future development.
    3. Any technology to be demonstrated at the Center must comply with 
applicable Federal laws and regulations and Department of Commerce 
requirements.
    4. The Center will not be used for sales of merchandise, 
solicitations, orders or for the advertisement of specific products or 
services.

B. Selection Process

    1. The applicant submits detailed information to address the 
Center's selection criteria of technological innovation and potential 
market impact.
    2. If the information submitted is determined to have high merit, 
Technology Administration may seek additional information--either in 
written or oral format--or request an in-person review of the 
technology.
    3. If TA determines, based on all of the information received, that 
the technology has high merit, final selection processing will proceed.

C. Selection Criteria

    In assessing prospective technological advances for possible 
demonstration, the following criteria will be used:
    Technical Innovation (40%). TA will assess the proposed achievement 
or technical innovation from the following perspectives.
    What is the achievement or innovation and what makes it 
extraordinary?
    How does the proposed demonstration constitute an advancement 
beyond the current state-of-the-art in a particular technology or 
field?
    What is the competitive landscape today (i.e., what is the current 
state-of-the-art in this technical area) and how does this innovation 
surpass current and developing technologies?
    Does the proposed demonstration show promise for encouraging future 
development in this and other fields?
    Market Impact (40%). In this section, TA will assess how the 
proposed achievement or innovation might generate national economic 
benefit from the following perspectives.
    What is the potential commercial use of this achievement or 
innovation?
    Who are the potential users and how will this achievement or 
innovation affect American competitiveness?
    What might be its economic impact--job creation, new markets, new 
product development, increased imports, reduced reliance on non-
renewable resources, affect on quality of life and the environment? How 
will the existence of this technology affect other markets? Will it 
require policy change?
    How will the Exhibitor bring this technology into the market place?
    To what extent can lessons learned in the development of this 
achievement or innovation serve as role models?
    Portfolio Balance (20%). TA will assess how the Exhibitor's 
proposed demonstration might stimulate future developments in its or 
other fields, and broader policy debates.
    How will the proposed demonstration contribute to the impact of the 
suite of demonstrations?
    Is there a grouping of exhibits that might frame an emerging policy 
debate?
    Are all technologies and all sectors of the American R&D enterprise 
being fairly represented?
    This program involves a collection of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). TA is currently seeking approval for 
this collection from the Office of Management and Budget. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to 
respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA unless that collection of information displays a current valid 
OMB control number.
    The information collected will be used by TA to assess applicants 
against the above stated criteria. It is estimated that the annual 
public burden for the collection will average 1 hour per response, with 
approximately 100 responses submitted each year. This estimate includes 
the time for reviewing the instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this 
burden estimate or any aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC, 20503 (Attention: TA Desk Officer).

Dr. Cheryl L. Shavers,
Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 00-27301 Filed 10-23-00; 8:45 am]
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