[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 205 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63231-63235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27102]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket Number: 000817241-0241-01]


Financial Assistance for Internship Program for Postsecondary 
Students

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DoC) established a postsecondary 
internship program to aid and promote experiential training activities 
which foster future employment in DoC or the Federal Government in 
general. U.S. citizens enrolled as students in two-and four-year 
accredited educational institutions, and accredited graduate and law 
schools will participate in on-site work experiences in DoC bureaus and 
offices in order to integrate academic theory and workplace 
requirements; gain relevant skills and knowledge; explore Federal 
career options; develop professional networks; and develop a greater 
awareness of the role of Federal agencies. The program will be 
administered through a partnership between the DoC and non-profit and/
or educational institution(s) and funded by cooperative agreement(s). 
This notice solicits proposals from eligible institutions that desire 
to collaborate with the DoC on this initiative.
    Student opportunities will be primarily in the Washington, DC 
metropolitan area, but will include field locations outside the area. 
Summer internship sessions will be for a ten-week period. Academic 
semester or quarter internship sessions will be structured to coincide 
with the academic calendar of the students' institutions. Institutions 
that are selected as training partners will develop and administer a 
comprehensive internship program. The DoC will serve as hosts for the 
student interns and provide program support through the financial 
assistance award; however, students may be assigned to work in Federal 
agencies other than DoC. When interns are assigned to other Federal 
agencies, those agencies will reimburse DoC for costs associated with 
the interns. There will be no employer-employee relationship between 
the DoC and its hosted interns. Interns will receive stipends. Round-
trip air or ground transportation between the metropolitan DC area (or 
field job location) and the students' residence or school site will 
also be provided to interns, as needed. The number of available 
internships will vary depending upon the financial position of the 
potential host offices and bureaus, but for the purposes of this 
notice, the following will be used for projections: thirty student 
interns for the summer session, and five interns for each academic year 
session.
    Selected institution(s) will perform the following functions: 
Outreach and recruitment; application processing and referral; 
selection notification and follow up; logistics, including temporary 
housing and accommodations; orientation and communication; enrichment 
activities program; intern personnel and pay administration; intern 
monitoring; intern evaluation; program evaluation; and evaluation 
reporting.

DATES: Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern 
Standard Time, December 22, 2000. Applications or portions of 
applications will not be accepted via facsimile or electronic mail.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original plus two (2) 
copies of the application, including all information required by the 
application kit. Applications should be mailed to: U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Office of Executive Assistance Management, Attn.: Carin M. 
Otero, Room H6022, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.


    Note: If the application is hand-delivered by the applicant or 
its representative to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert C. 
Hoover Building, the application must be delivered to Room 1874, 
which is located at Entrance #10, 15th Street, NW., between 
Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. Applications delivered on the 
date of the application deadline must be delivered by 5 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time.


[[Page 63232]]



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Carin M. Otero, (202) 482-3275.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7201 requires that each 
Executive agency conduct a continuing program for the recruitment of 
members of minorities to address under representation of minorities in 
various categories of Federal employment. Executive Order 12876 
provides for Executive departments to enter into, among other things, 
cooperative agreements with Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCUs) to further the goals of the Executive Order, 
principally that of strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to provide 
quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and 
benefit from Federal programs. Executive Order 12900 calls for 
Executive departments to develop plans to increase opportunities for 
Hispanic Americans to participate in and benefit from Federal education 
programs. Executive Order 13201 helps ensure that greater Federal 
resources are available to the tribal colleges. Executive Order 13125 
directs Federal agencies to increase participation of Asian and Pacific 
Islanders in Federal programs. Applications will be accepted from any 
eligible institution, and applications for internships shall be 
accepted from all students meeting program eligibility criteria and 
will not be limited only to minority students. Application, referral 
and selection processes shall be conducted without any consideration of 
race, ethnicity, gender, or other personal factors.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 11.702-Internship Program 
for Postsecondary Students

Program Description

    In order to ensure that the Federal Government can maintain 
visibility and attractiveness to the ``best and brightest'' college 
students, this program supports partnerships between Federal 
departments and nonprofit or educational institutions. This program 
continues to improve opportunities for college students to prepare for 
their transition to the workplace and foster human resource diversity 
in DoC. Depending upon the responsiveness of the institutions which 
submit applications, more than one institution may be selected to 
participate in this program.
    There will be two components to the program: A ten-week summer 
session and an academic year program that consists of two sessions. The 
length of each academic year session will be structured to coincide 
with the academic calendar of the students' institutions, e.g., 
semester or quarter hour system; applicants who wish to administer an 
academic year program must indicate the proposed duration of the 
academic year sessions. In order to obtain a sufficient number of 
quality candidates during the spring and fall sessions, applicants 
should consider a component of the program to allow for interns to work 
a part-time schedule while attending school during those sessions. The 
first session under this program will begin summer 2001. The first 
academic session will begin in fall 2001, followed by a session in the 
spring of 2002. This cycle is expected to be repeated until three years 
after the initial grant is awarded. It is anticipated that intern 
opportunities will be greater during the summer sessions than the 
academic year sessions.
    In addition to including the mandatory activities described below, 
an organization should propose an intern program design that represents 
a comprehensive approach to a work-study experience and its own 
philosophy about workforce preparedness. For the purposes of the 
proposal, plans and budgets should be presented separately for the 
summer and academic year sessions. An organization may wish to 
collaborate with DoC on a summer program only, on an academic year 
program only, or on both a summer program and an academic year program. 
It is not required that both components be included in an application 
in order to be selected as a recipient.
    The recipient(s) selected to administer the intern program must 
conduct the following activities:
    Outreach and recruitment. Design, prepare, duplicate and distribute 
application materials to students. Collect information about potential 
internship openings from host offices to assist in identifying student 
applicants who are the best matches for the offices' needs. Prepare 
publicity to inform academic institutions and students about upcoming 
program opportunities and to solicit applications from a broad range of 
students who meet defined program criteria such as GPA and academic 
standing. Process applications, including evaluating candidates' 
eligibility and qualifications, and referring candidates to host 
Federal officials for consideration and selection. Outreach and 
publicity must be conducted so that women and minorities that are under 
represented in the DoC are included in the target groups. Participation 
in the program must be open to all eligible students without regard to 
age, race, ethnicity, gender, or other pertinent factors. In cases of 
jobs requiring technical skills or for other related reasons, Federal 
managers, liaisons, or other program officials may elect to participate 
in the evaluation of applicant packages.
    Selection notification and follow up. Receive selection decisions 
from host offices, convey internship offers to selectees, explain 
logistical and administrative processes to selectees. Distribute 
written information to students that will help them adequately prepare 
for their professional and personal needs during their internship; 
material must be sent to students before their departure for their 
internship sites. Communicate with DoC program representatives or 
liaisons on the status of offers of selection, acceptances and 
declinations.
    Logistical arrangements. Locate suitable housing for students, make 
all prior arrangements to allow students to move into housing upon 
their arrival at the internship site. Make round trip airline 
reservations for students between home/school city and host office 
location; arrange for students to receive their tickets. Arrange for 
ground transportation to pick up arriving students at airport and take 
to housing site. At the end of the internship period, arrange for 
transportation between the housing site and the airport. Explain 
housing, air transportation, ground transportation, and other 
logistical arrangements to students so that there is a clear 
expectation of what costs, if any, are involved and what the 
responsibilities of both the student and the recipient institution/
organization are. Housing must be convenient to public transportation 
and affordable. The DoC must be consulted in the process to select 
student housing facilities, but the final decision and negotiations 
with the housing provider will be left wholly to the recipient 
institution.
    Orientation and communication. Design and provide orientation 
program to familiarize students with local area in which they will live 
and work, services, safety and security, public transportation systems, 
and educational and administrative program requirements. Applicants 
must include plans for on-site orientation for summer sessions.
    Enrichment activities. Design and implement a comprehensive 
enrichment program; ideally the program should require a minimum of 
time away from the work site during duty hours. The activities should 
focus on students' personal and professional growth, and provide 
insights into ways to reach their academic and personal goals. They may 
also be designed to teach students how

[[Page 63233]]

the different branches of the Federal Government operate, to improve 
interns' communication skills, or to foster an understanding of 
cultural or ethnic issues.
    Personnel administration. Maintain interns' personnel records, pay 
stipends, deduct applicable payroll taxes, provide worker compensation 
insurance, unemployment insurance, and short-term accident insurance, 
and provide state, Federal and local tax information and report of 
earnings forms to students.
    Intern monitoring. Communicate on a regular basis, both by 
telephone and in person, with the students, their supervisors, and DoC 
and bureau coordinators to assure that the experience is progressing as 
intended and that problems or questions are resolved.
    Intern performance evaluation. Selected recipients must develop and 
design an effective evaluation program that will assess the interns' 
performance and progress. Ideally, all aspects of intern performance 
and the overall work experience from the perspective of both the intern 
and his or her supervisor will be included in the assessment. Student 
performance should be evaluated at the mid-point and at the end of each 
session. Evaluations will be submitted to the DoC Federal Program 
manager within one month of the assessment date.
    Program Performance. In accordance with 15 CFR Part 14, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions 
of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit, and Commercial 
Organizations,'' selected recipients must manage and monitor functions 
and activities supported by the financial award and should have a plan 
to do so. Performance reports are required at mid-term and at the end 
of each session. The reports should focus on program accomplishments 
against the goals and objectives of the program, and include other 
pertinent information. Of interest would be overall demographic 
information about program participants such as name of educational 
institutions and/or regional area represented, academic majors 
represented, academic standing, and average GPA. Additionally, lessons 
learned about the design and implementation of the program and 
identification of areas requiring improvement are particularly useful.
    Funding Availability. Applicants must submit project plans and 
budgets for three years. Project(s) will be funded for no more than one 
year at a time. Funding for each subsequent year will be at the sole 
discretion of the DoC and will depend on satisfactory performance by 
the recipient and the availability of funds to support the continuation 
of the project(s). Funds for the first year are expected to be awarded 
in March 2001. Funds available under this program for successive years 
are expected to be awarded in February of each year. Projections based 
upon previous experience indicate availability of between $150,000-
$730,000 to support from 25 up to about 100 interns. However the exact 
level of funding available is not yet known. Proposals should be based 
upon the cost of administering a summer program for 30 student interns 
and also include a per capita cost for additional interns, proposals 
for a semester or quarter session should be projected on the basis of 5 
interns.
    Use of Program Income. Applicants are advised that any program 
income generated by a proposed project is subject to special 
conditions. Anticipated program income must be documented appropriately 
in the proposed budget. In addition, should an application be funded, 
unanticipated program income must be reported to the Federal Program 
Officer, and the budget for the project must be renegotiated to reflect 
receipt of the program income. Program income means gross income earned 
by the recipient that is either directly generated by a supported 
activity, or earned as a result of the award.
    Matching Requirements. Applications must reflect the total budget 
necessary to accomplish the project, including contributions and/or 
donations. Cost-sharing is not required for the internship program; 
however, cost-sharing is encouraged. The appropriateness of all cost-
sharing will be determined on the basis of guidance provided in 
applicable Federal cost principles. If an applicant chooses to cost-
share, and if that application is selected for funding, the applicant 
will be bound by the percentage of the cost-share reflected in the 
cooperative agreement award. The non-Federal share may include the 
value of in-kind contributions by the applicant or third parties or 
funds received from private sources or from state or local governments. 
Federal funds may not be used to meet the non-Federal share of matching 
funds, except as provided by Federal statute.
    Third party in-kind contributions may be in the form of, but are 
not limited to, personal services rendered in carrying out functions 
related to the project and use of real or personal property owned by 
others (for which consideration is not required) in carrying out the 
projects. The total cost of a project begins on the effective award 
date of an authorized cooperative agreement between the applicant and 
the DoC Grants Officer and ends on the date specified in the award. 
Accordingly, time expended and costs incurred in either the development 
of a project or the financial assistance application, or in any 
subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to the award, are neither 
reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the recipient's cost share.
    Type of Funding Instrument. Financial assistance awards in the form 
of cooperative agreements will be used to fund this program. The DoC 
and its participating bureaus will have substantive involvement in the 
following program activities: provide liaisons to institutions who will 
assist in coordinating program activities, provide description of 
available intern assignments and required academic backgrounds and job 
skills, participate in review and rating panels, and interview and make 
final selections from lists of eligible students that are provided by 
the institutions.
    Eligibility Criteria. Accredited universities, colleges and non-
profit organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible institutions may 
form joint ventures to submit a joint application to share costs and 
administration roles and responsibilities. In such cases, one of the 
institutions must be designated as the lead organization for purposes 
of receipt and overall accountability for any financial assistance 
award received under this program.
    Award Period. The award period for the internship project will be 
three years. Funding will be provided annually at the discretion of the 
DoC and will depend upon satisfactory performance by the recipient and 
availability of funds for the DoC to continue funding the project. 
Normally each budget period may be no more than 12 months in duration. 
Project proposals accepted for funding for an award period over 1 year 
that include multiple project components and severable tasks to be 
funded during each budget period will not compete for funding in 
subsequent budget periods within the approved award period. Publication 
of this notice does not obligate DoC to award any specific cooperative 
agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.
    Indirect Costs. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs 
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the 
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal 
agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award.

[[Page 63234]]

    Application Forms and Kit. An application kit containing all 
required application forms and certifications is available by calling 
Lisa Duckett at (202) 482-3275. The application kit is also available 
on-line at http://www.doc.gov/oebam/.

Evaluation Criteria

    Quality of Program Plan (30%). Includes, but is not limited to, 
strategy for outreach and publicity, procedures for collecting and 
evaluating applications, comprehensiveness of program design to include 
plans for on-site orientation for summer sessions, and practicality of 
approach.
    Proposed Costs (30%). The proposed budget must be comprehensive and 
should include all costs for program personnel, fringe benefits, 
travel, equipment, supplies, and other associated items. The stipend 
level proposed for students should be stated in the budget.
    Key Personnel Qualifications (20%). Includes an assessment of the 
number, qualifications, and proposed roles of staff who will administer 
the internship program. Resumes of proposed personnel will facilitate 
the evaluation of the competency and experience of the proposed staff.
    Capabilities of the Applicant Organization (20%). Considers, among 
other things, previous experience and success administering similar 
programs, and staff and resources to assure adequate development, 
supervision, and execution of the proposed program. Additionally, an 
organization's commitment to educate/advance the education of women, 
minorities, and people with disabilities will be a consideration in 
evaluating this factor.

Selection Procedures

    Each application will receive an independent, objective review by a 
panel qualified to evaluate the applications submitted. The Independent 
Review Panel, consisting of at least three individuals, will review all 
applications based on the criteria stated above. The Independent Review 
Panel will evaluate and rank the proposals. The final decision on 
awards will be based upon the numerical review panel ranking, 
availability of funding, and the Selecting Official's (DoC Federal 
Program Officer) determination of which proposals best meet the 
objectives of the program. The amount of funds awarded to each 
recipient will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant, the Grants Officer, and the DoC Program Officer.
    Federal Policies and Procedures. Recipients and subrecipients are 
subject to all Federal laws and Federal and DoC policies, regulations, 
and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
    Past Performance. Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal 
awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.
    Pre-award Activities. If applicants incur any costs prior to an 
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being 
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal or written 
assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the 
part of DoC to cover pre-award costs.
    No Obligation for Future Funding. If an application is selected for 
funding, DoC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding 
in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding 
or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of DoC.
    Delinquent Federal Debts. No award of Federal funds shall be made 
to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until 
either: the delinquent account is paid in full, a negotiated repayment 
schedule is established and at least one payment is received, or other 
arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Name Check Review (CD-346). All nonprofit applicants are subject to 
a name check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any 
key individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or 
are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management 
honesty or financial integrity.
    Primary Applicant Certifications. All primary applicants must 
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby 
provided:
    Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective participants 
(as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 CFR Part 
26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    Drug-Free Workplace. Recipients (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government 
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 105) 
are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation 
on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting 
and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the 
certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for 
grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, 
and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single 
family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is 
greater; and
    Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will pay 
for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
    Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier 
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if 
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier 
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL 
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to 
DoC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award 
document.
    False Statements. A false statement on an application is grounds 
for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Intergovernmental Review. Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products. Applicants are 
hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the extent feasible, to 
purchase American-made equipment and products with funding provided 
under this program in accordance with Congressional intent.
    Fly America Act. The Fly America Act requires that Federal 
travelers and others performing U.S. Government-financed foreign air 
travel must use U.S. flag air carriers, to the extent that service by 
such carriers is available. Foreign air carriers may be used only when 
a U.S. flag air carrier is unavailable, or use of U.S. flag air

[[Page 63235]]

carrier service will not accomplish the agency's mission.

Classification

    This document involves collections of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, which have been approved by OMB under OMB 
control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046. 
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 Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a current valid OMB control number.
    This document has been determined to be ``not significant'' for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

John J. Phelan, III,
Acting Director for Executive Budgeting and Assistance Management.
[FR Doc. 00-27102 Filed 10-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BV-P