Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices 4873 

1An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer 

employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small 

business under SBA regulations (see http://

www.sba.gov/size). Parent companies, affiliates, and 

subsidiaries will be considered when determining 

business size. The dual pricing reflects the 

Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that became 

effective May 1, 2008. For additional information, 

see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/

initiatives.html. 

may apply. Applications will be 

reviewed on a rolling basis in the order 

that they are received. 

Fees and Expenses 

Companies selected to participate in 

the Roundtable will be required to pay 

a fee for participation. The participation 

fee is $700 for large firms. The 

participation fee is $500 for small or 

medium-sized firms.1 The fee for each 

additional representative of the selected 

company is $500. Up to four additional 

representatives can be accommodated 

per company. The Roundtable and 

related events may be cancelled at any 

time by the Department of Commerce 

and all contributions refunded. If, for 

any reason, a company withdraws from 

participation prior to the Roundtable, 

the Department of Commerce, at its sole 

discretion, and upon its determination 

that it would be consistent with its 

authorities, may allow a partial refund 

of the contributed fee. 

Exclusions 

The conference fee does not include 

any personal travel expenses such as 

airfare, lodging, most meals, incidentals, 

and local ground transportation and 

personal interpreters. Delegation 

members will be able to take advantage 

of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms. 

Business visas may be required. 

Government fees and processing 

expenses to obtain such visas are also 

not included in the Business 

Roundtable costs. However, the U.S. 

Department of Commerce will provide 

instructions to each participant on the 

procedures required to obtain necessary 

business visas. 

Conditions for Participation 

Applicants must submit a completed 

mission application signed by a 

company official, together with 

supplemental application materials, 

including adequate information on the 

company’s products and/or services, 

interest in doing business in Japan, and 

goals for participation by February 6, 

2015. If the U.S. Department of 

Commerce receives an incomplete 

application, the U.S. Department of 

Commerce may reject the application, 

request additional information, or take 

the lack of information into account in 

its evaluation. 

Each applicant must also certify that 

the products and services it seeks to 

export through its participation in the 

Business Roundtable are either 

produced in the United States, or, if not, 

are marketed under the name of a U.S. 

firm and have at least fifty-one percent 

U.S. content. 

Applications can be found at http://

export.gov/trademissions/index.asp or 

can be obtained by contacting 

Danius.Barzdukas@trade.gov. 

In addition, the applicant must 

address how he/she satisfies the four 

selection criteria listed below in an 

email to Danius.Barzdukas@trade.gov: 

(1) Whether the applicant represents a 

U.S. company that fits one of the 

following profiles: 

• Companies that manufacture 

technology or provide services in the 

renewable energy sector; 

• Developers of renewable energy 

projects with global experience; 

• Local utilities who are willing to 

share their experience with domestic 

policies; and 

• Companies active in the smart grid 

and energy efficiency industries. 

(2) The applicant’s interest in the 

Japanese RE&EE sector; 

(3) The applicant’s ability to identify 

and discuss policy issues relevant to 

U.S. competitiveness in the renewable 

energy or smart grid sectors; 

(4) Consistency of the applicant’s 

experiences and background with the 

stated scope of the event. 

Referrals from political organizations 

and any documents containing 

references to partisan political activities 

(including political contributions) will 

be removed from an applicant’s 

submission and not considered during 

the selection process. 

Timeframe for Recruitment and 

Participation 

Recruitment for the Business 

Roundtable will be conducted in an 

open and public manner, including 

publication in the Federal Register, 

posting on CS Japan’s Web site, notices 

by industry trade associations and other 

multiplier groups, and publicity through 

the Commercial Service network. 

Recruitment will begin immediately and 

conclude no later than February 6, 2015. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce will 

review applications and make selection 

decisions beginning on or about January 

20, 2014. Applications received after 

February 6, 2015 will be considered 

only if space and scheduling constraints 

permit. 

DATES: The Business Roundtable will 

take place February 23, 2015. 

Applications are due no later than 

February 6, 2015. 

Contacts 

Danius Barzdukas, Office of East Asia 

and APEC, International Trade 

Administration, Department of 

Commerce, 202–482–1147, 

Danius.Barzdukas@trade.gov. 

Andrew S. Bennett, Office of Energy and 

Environmental Industries, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 

202.482.5235, Andrew.Bennett@

trade.gov. 

Gregory Taevs, U.S. Commercial Service 

Tokyo, International Trade 

Administration, Department of 

Commerce, +81–3–3224–5070, 

Gregory.Taevs@trade.gov. 

Frank Spector, 

International Trade Specialist. 

[FR Doc. 2015–01635 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Mining Equipment and Mining Services 

Business Development Trade Mission 

to Zacatecas, Mexico, June 1–2, 2015 

AGENCY: International Trade 

Administration, Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Mission Description 

The International Trade 

Administration is coordinating with the 

State of Zacatecas to organize a trade 

mission to Zacatecas, Mexico from June 

1–2, 2015. This business development 

mission will promote U.S. exports to 

Mexico by helping export-ready U.S. 

companies launch or increase their 

business in the Mining Equipment and 

Mining Services sector. 

Participating firms will gain market 

information, make business and 

government contacts, solidify business 

strategies, and/or advance specific 

projects. In each of these targeted 

sectors, participating U.S. companies 

will meet with prescreened local 

partners, agents, distributors, 

representatives, and licensees. The 

agenda will also include meetings with 

high-level local government officials, 

networking opportunities, country 

briefings, and seminars. 

The delegation will be composed of 

representatives of 10–15 U.S. firms in 

the mission’s target sector. 

Commercial Setting 

Overview 

Mexico is the United States’ secondlargest export market (after Canada) and 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

4874 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices 

1Reforma daily, Business supplement Oct 2012. 2CANIMEX 2012 Report, Mexico’s Mining 

Situation. 

3CEEFP, House of Representatives. Mexico. 

third-largest trading partner (after 

Canada and China). In fact, the United 

States exports more to Mexico than to 

Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) 

combined. With a World Bank Ease of 

Doing Business rank more favorable 

than that of any of the BRIC countries, 

this fast growing market, right on our 

doorstep, offers a wealth of 

opportunities for U.S. companies. 

Twenty-two U.S. states depend on 

Mexico as their first or second 

destination for exports and more than 

$1.25 billion in goods and services are 

traded between the United States and 

Mexico every day, supporting millions 

of jobs in both countries. Mexico and 

the United States together with Canada 

comprise one of the most competitive 

and successful regional economic 

platforms in the world. 

Mexico is the most populous Spanishspeaking country in the world with a 

population of 115 million, over half of 

whom are members of the upper and 

middle class. With a shared Western 

and Hispanic culture, U.S. producers 

find it easier to market and sell their 

services and products in Mexico. This 

may account for the fact that more than 

18,000 U.S. companies have operations 

in Mexico, investing $150 billion in 

Mexico since 2000 and more than 

54,000 U.S. companies currently export 

goods to Mexico. The mission supports 

the federal government’s Look South 

initiative, which encourages U.S. 

companies to explore opportunities in 

the United States’ 11 free trade 

agreement partner (FTA) countries in 

Latin America. These markets share 

with Mexico high economic growth 

rates and market-liberalizing reforms, 

making Mexico a potential stepping 

stone to wider regional demand for 

mining equipment in countries like 

Chile, Colombia, and Peru. 

Industry Sector 

Mining and Mining Equipment 

In the last five years, mining has been 

one of the five most promising sectors 

in Mexico’s economy. In fact, the 

mining sector accounts for 4.9% of 

Mexico’s GDP 1 and employs nearly 

337,598 people. According to a report 

from INEGI (Mexico’s Geography and 

Statistics Agency) for 2012, Mexico’s 

total production of mining materials 

reached USD$23 billion, 14% higher 

than 2011. Mexico’s mining sector 

invested USD$8.43 billion, which is 

30% more than 2011. Mexico’s mining 

sector produces 23 different 

commodities, the major ones being gold, 

silver and copper. 

In 2011, Mexico was the world’s 

largest producer of silver and second 

largest producer of the mineral fluorite. 

There is a lot of interest from foreign 

firms to invest in Mexico based 

primarily on the vast mining resources 

scattered around the country’s territory. 

Experts say that only 34% of the 

country has been exploited and a few 

foreign companies are taking part in the 

benefits of this low rate of competition. 

In 2012, Mexico’s overall FDI was 

USD$12 billion and USD$627.7 million 

was invested in the mining sector,2

representing 4.96%.3 For 2013, 

combined FDI from 2007 is expected to 

reach USD$25.2 billion. 

Zacatecas 

The state economy, thus far in 2014, 

is maintaining a GDP growth rate of 

4.5% compared to 2.2% for Mexico. 

Agriculture and mining remain the 

state’s largest industry sectors, but in 

recent years, the state has successfully 

attracted investments in the aerospace 

and automotive industries. 

In 2013, in terms of production, 

mining output from Zacatecas ranks 

second among Mexican states. 

Currently, Zacatecas is Mexico’s largest 

producer of silver, lead and zinc, the 

second largest producer of copper and 

the third largest producer of gold. 

Canadians are the largest group of 

foreign investors followed by the U.S. 

Best Prospect Products and Services 

D Antioxidants; 

D Conveyors; 

D Crushers, Feeders, Sizers; 

D Cutting Equipment; 

D Dewatering Systems and parts; 

D Drilling Systems; 

D Dust Control Equipment; 

D Flotation Machines; 

D Hydraulic Excavators and Cutters; 

D Loaders Back Hole; 

D Lubricants (High Performance); 

D Portable roadways; 

D Power Generators; 

D Pumps; 

D Safety Devices; 

D Shovels and Loaders; 

D Temporary Flooring; 

D Tire Service; 

D Tires and tire pressure monitors; 

D Ventilation Equipment; 

D Waste Water Treatment Plants; 

D Water Filtration; 

D Wear Prevention. 

Mission Goals 

This mission will demonstrate the 

United States’ commitment to a 

sustained economic partnership with 

Mexico. The mission’s purpose is to 

support the business development goals 

of U.S. firms as they construct a firm 

foundation for future business in 

Mexico and specifically aims to: 

• Assist in identifying potential 

partners and strategies for U.S. 

companies to gain access to the Mexican 

market for the Mining Equipment and 

Mining Services sector. 

• Confirm U.S. government support 

for the promotion of U.S. exports to 

Mexico, a region full of potential 

opportunity but not yet served by a 

trade mission. 

• Organize focused events with local 

government, business and association 

leaders capable of becoming partners 

and clients for U.S. firms as they 

develop their business in Mexico. 

Mission Scenario 

The mission will stop in Zacatecas, 

Mexico. In Zacatecas, participants will 

meet with pre-screened potential agents, 

distributors, and representatives, as well 

as other business partners and 

government officials. They will also 

attend market briefings by United States 

Embassy officials, as well as networking 

events offering further opportunities to 

speak with local business and industry 

decision-makers. 

PROPOSED TIME TABLE

May 31 ............................................ Zacatecas ...................................... • Arrival. 

• Overnight in Zacatecas, Mexico. 

June 1 ............................................. Zacatecas ...................................... • Orientation provided by U.S. Commercial Service. 

• Industry & Commercial Briefings by U.S. Commercial Service and 

Under Secretary of Economic Development, State of Zacatecas. 

• Mine site tours—underground and open pit. 

• Networking Reception hosted by the Governor of Zacatecas. 

• Overnight in Zacatecas. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices 4875 

4An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer 

employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small 

business under SBA regulations (see http://

www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/

sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, 

affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when 

determining business size. The dual pricing reflects 

the Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that 

became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://

www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/

initiatives.html for additional information). 

PROPOSED TIME TABLE—Continued 

June 2 ............................................. Zacatecas ...................................... • Individual One-on-One Company Appointments. 

June 3 ............................................. Zacatecas ...................................... • Departure. 

Participation Requirements 

All parties interested in participating 

in the Trade Mission to Zacatecas, 

Mexico must complete and submit an 

application package for consideration by 

the Department of Commerce. All 

applicants will be evaluated on their 

ability to meet certain conditions and 

best satisfy the selection criteria as 

outlined below. Approximately 10–15 

companies will be selected to 

participate in the mission from the 

applicant pool. U.S. companies doing 

business in Mexico, as well as U.S. 

companies seeking to enter the Mexican 

market for the first time, may apply. 

Fees and Expenses 

After a company has been selected to 

participate on the mission, a payment to 

the Department of Commerce in the 

form of a participation fee is required. 

The fee schedule for the mission is 

below: 

• $2,000 for large firms 

• $1,500 for a small or medium-sized 

enterprises (SMEs) 4

• $700 each additional firm 

representative 

Expenses for air travel, lodging, some 

meals, local transportation, and 

incidentals will be the responsibility of 

each mission participant. 

Conditions of Participation 

An applicant must submit a 

completed and signed mission 

application and supplemental 

application materials, including 

adequate information on the company’s 

products and/or services, primary 

market objectives, and goals for 

participation. If the Department of 

Commerce receives an incomplete 

application, the Department may reject 

the application, request additional 

information, or take the lack of 

information into account when 

evaluating the applications. Each 

applicant must also certify that: 

• The goods and/or services it seeks 

to export through the mission are either 

produced in the United States, or, if not, 

contain at least 51% U.S. content; 

• The export of its goods, software, 

technology, and services would be in 

compliance with U.S. export control 

laws and regulations, including those 

administered by the Department of 

Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and 

Security; 

• It has identified any matter pending 

before any bureau or office of the 

Department of Commerce; 

• It has identified any pending 

litigation (including any administrative 

proceedings) to which it is a party that 

involves the Department of Commerce; 

• It and its affiliates (1) have not and 

will not engage in the bribery of foreign 

officials in connection with its 

involvement in this Mission, and (2) 

maintain and enforce a policy that 

prohibits the bribery of foreign officials; 

and 

• It meets the minimum requirements 

as stated in this announcement. 

Selection Criteria for Participation: 

Selection will be based on the following 

criteria, listed in decreasing order of 

importance: 

• Suitability of a company’s products 

or services to the Mexican market and 

the likelihood of a participating 

company’s increased exports to or 

business interests in the target markets 

as a result of this mission; 

• Demonstrated export-readiness; and 

• Consistency of company’s products 

or services with the scope and desired 

outcome of the mission’s goals. 

Additional factors, such as balance of 

company size, type, location, and 

demographics, may also be considered 

during the review process. 

Timeframe for Recruitment and 

Applications 

Recruitment will begin immediately 

and conclude no later than Friday, April 

10, 2015. The Department of Commerce 

will evaluate applications and inform 

applicants of selection decisions on a 

rolling basis. Applications received after 

the deadline will be considered only if 

space and scheduling constraints 

permit. 

Contacts 

CS Pittsburgh 

Ryan Russell, Senior International 

Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 

Service Pittsburgh, (412) 644–2817, 

ryan.russell@trade.gov. 

CS Monterrey 

John Howell, Principal Commercial 

Officer, U.S. Commercial Service 

Monterrey, +52 81 8047 3223, 

john.howell@trade.gov. 

Mario Vidan ̃ a, Senior Commercial 

Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service 

Monterrey, +52 81 8047 3118, 

mario.vidana@trade.gov. 

Frank Spector, 

International Trade Specialist. 

[FR Doc. 2015–01636 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology 

[Docket Number: 150123071–5071–01] 

Announcement of Requirements and 

Registration for Head Health Advanced 

Materials Prize Competition—Head 

Health Challenge III 

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST), Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST), a 

non-regulatory agency of the United 

States Department of Commerce, in a 

cooperative partnership with the 

National Football League (NFL), the 

General Electric Company (GE) and 

Under Armour, Inc. (UA), is conducting 

a prize competition funding initiative to 

support the discovery, design and 

deployment of materials that improve 

the protection of athletes, members of 

the military, and society overall. 

The Head Health Advanced Materials 

Prize Competition (Head Health 

Challenge III, Challenge III, or 

Competition) is being conducted to 

broadly advance the science of materials 

for impact protection, as well as 

measurements and standards for 

assessing the performance of such 

materials. These advances are essential 

for the health of athletes of every age, 

and they will have a broad positive 

impact on the range of activities and 

occupations in our society that require 

protective gear. It is hoped that Head 

Health Challenge III will stimulate 

engagement with diverse science and 

technology communities across 

industry, academia and government (e.g. 

automotive, aerospace, light-weighting, 

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