Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 7, 2009 / Notices 15709 

Avenue, Seward, AK 99664 [Dr. Ian 

Dutton, Responsible Party] has been 

issued an amendment to scientific 

research Permit No. 881–1724. 

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the following office(s): 

Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 

(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and 

Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 

21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone 

(907)586–7221; fax (907)586–7249. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, 

(301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

requested amendment has been granted 

under the authority of the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the 

regulations governing the taking and 

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR 

part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq.), the regulations governing the 

taking, importing, and exporting of 

endangered and threatened species (50 

CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal 

Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 

et seq.). 

This minor amendment extends the 

expiration date of the permit from 

March 30, 2009 to March 30, 2010, and 

minor changes to personnel are 

authorized. The permit authorizes the 

Permit Holder to import, export, and 

collect parts from marine mammals 

taken under existing permits in the 

country of origin; from legal subsistence 

hunts; from legal incidental bycatch; 

and from opportunistic collection of 

stranded carcasses. The purposes of this 

research are to study marine mammal 

population ecology, diet and nutrition, 

reproductive physiology, toxicology, 

and health. No takes of live animals are 

authorized by the permit. 

Issuance of this permit, as required by 

the ESA, was based on a finding that 

such permit: (1) was applied for in good 

faith; (2) will not operate to the 

disadvantage of endangered species; and 

(3) is consistent with the purposes and 

policies set forth in section 2 of the 

ESA. 

Dated: April 1, 2009 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–7858 Filed 4–6–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[Docket No. 090401622–9623–01; I.D. 

GF001] 

Market Development Cooperator 

Program (MDCP) 2009 

AGENCY: International Trade 

Administration (ITA), Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of funding availability. 

SUMMARY: ITA announces the 

availability of funding for the FY 2009 

Market Development Cooperator 

Program (MDCP). Through this program, 

ITA helps to underwrite the start-up 

costs of foreign market development 

ventures that industry organizations are 

often reluctant to undertake without 

Federal government support. The intent 

of this program is to support ITA’s 

mission to create economic opportunity 

for U.S. workers and firms by promoting 

international trade and investment, 

strengthening industry competitiveness, 

and ensuring fair trade. 

DATES: Public Meeting: The Department 

will hold a public meeting to discuss 

MDCP proposal preparation, 

procedures, and selection process on 

Wednesday, April 22, 2009. The ninetyminute meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in 

Room B841B, at the Herbert Clark 

Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The 

Department will not discuss specific 

proposals at this meeting. Attendance is 

not required. Interested parties may 

participate via telephone conference. 

Dial-in instructions will be posted on 

the Internet at trade.gov/mdcp. 

Interested parties can also obtain dial-in 

instructions from Mrs. Tonya Milstead 

at 202–482–5093. 

Applications: The Department must 

receive completed applications by 5 

p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Tuesday, 

June 2, 2009. Late applications will not 

be accepted. Applicants whose 

applications have been accepted will be 

notified via e-mail or fax within ten 

days of the submission deadline. 

ADDRESSES: Application packages will 

be available at http://www.grants.gov. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to 

submit their applications via http:// 

www.grants.gov. A hard-copy 

application kit can be obtained by 

contacting Mr. Brad Hess, U.S. 

Department of Commerce, HCHB 3215, 

14th Street and Constitution Avenue, 

NW., Washington, DC 20230. Although 

grants.gov is the preferred method of 

submission, hard-copy applications may 

be submitted to the address noted 

above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Brad Hess, Manager, Market 

Development Cooperator Program, 

Manufacturing and Services, ITA, U.S. 

Department of Commerce, 14th Street 

and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 

3215, Washington, DC 20230. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Trade 

associations, State departments of trade, 

and other non-profit industry 

organizations are eligible to apply for an 

MDCP award. These organizations are 

particularly effective in reaching smalland medium-size enterprises (SMEs). 

Through MDCP cooperative agreements 

the Department provides technical and 

financial assistance that these 

organizations match. Organizations 

compete for a limited number of MDCP 

awards. (The program’s eligibility 

requirements effectively preclude 

applications from individuals and 

private companies.) MDCP awards help 

to underwrite the start-up costs of new 

ventures that organizations are often 

reluctant to undertake without Federal 

government support. MDCP strengthens 

the competitiveness of U.S. industry by 

fostering projects that result in 

increased exports and/or market share 

for non-agricultural goods and services 

produced in the United States. As an 

active partner, ITA will, as appropriate, 

guide and assist organizations in 

achieving project objectives. ITA 

encourages organizations to propose 

projects that (1) best strengthen their 

industry through market development; 

and (2) leverage the partnership 

between the organization and ITA. 

1. Definitions 

Several definitions are provided in 

section VIII of the Federal Funding 

Opportunity notice (FFO), which is 

available at http://www.trade.gov/mdcp. 

2. Examples of Project Activity 

Applicants should propose market 

development activities tailored to 

strengthen the competitiveness of the 

relevant U.S. industry. Examples from 

prior years are set forth below and, in 

greater detail, at http://www.trade.gov/ 

mdcp. These are provided only for 

illustration. Applicants are not required 

to propose any of these activities. 

a. Promotion of standards that ensure 

market access for U.S. products; 

b. Helping business leaders to 

leverage free trade agreements to the 

advantage of U.S. industry; 

c. Demonstration of U.S. products 

abroad; 

d. Development of a shared Internetbased distribution system in a target 

market; 

e. Establishment of technical servicing 

of U.S. products abroad; 

15710 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 7, 2009 / Notices 

f. Joint promotion of U.S. products 

with foreign partners; 

g. Establishment of a trade association 

office in a target market; 

h. Education of foreign users of U.S. 

technology concerning intellectual 

property rights; 

i. Training foreign staff for after-sale 

service of U.S. products in target 

markets; 

j. Increasing trust in U.S. products in 

foreign markets by safeguarding nonU.S. elements of the supply chain with 

an ingredient testing system; 

k. Publication of product brochures 

and company directories; and 

l. Development of product quality 

standards and designations along with 

target-market promotion of same. 

Electronic Access: For more 

information on this program and the 

application requirements, please read 

the full text of the full funding 

opportunity announcement at http:// 

www.grants.gov. The announcement 

will also be available by contacting the 

program officials identified under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 

Statutory Authority: MDCP is 

provided for in 15 U.S.C. 4723. The 

program strengthens U.S. industry’s 

competitiveness by developing, 

maintaining, and expanding foreign 

markets for non-agricultural goods and 

services produced in the United States. 

CFDA: 11.112, Market Development 

Cooperator Program. 

Funding Availability: Approximately 

$2,000,000 is expected to be available 

for fiscal year 2009. The total number of 

awards made will depend on the 

amounts requested by top-scoring 

applicants and the availability of funds. 

No award will exceed $400,000. The 

Department anticipates awarding five to 

nine cooperative agreements. 

Eligibility: Trade associations, State 

departments of trade and their regional 

associations, and non-profit industry 

organizations, including organizations 

such as World Trade Centers, centers for 

international trade development, and 

small business development centers are 

eligible to apply for an MDCP award. In 

cases where no entity described above 

represents the industry, private industry 

firms or groups of firms may be eligible 

to apply for an MDCP award. Such 

private industry firms or groups of firms 

must provide in their applications, 

documentation demonstrating that no 

entity in the first three categories listed 

below represents their industry. 

1. Trade Association. A fee-based 

organization consisting of member firms 

in the same industry, or in related 

industries, or which share common 

commercial concerns. The purpose of 

the trade association is to further the 

commercial interests of its members 

through the exchange of information, 

legislative activities, and the like. 

2. Non-Profit Industry Organization. 

This definition applies to: a non-profit 

small business development center 

operating under agreement with the 

Small Business Administration; a nonprofit World Trade Center chartered or 

recognized by the non-profit World 

Trade Centers Association; or an 

organization granted status as a nonprofit organization under 26 U.S.C. 

501(c)(3), (4), (5), or (6), which operates 

as one of the following: Chamber of 

commerce, board of trade, business, 

export or trade council/interest group, 

visitors bureau or tourism promotion 

group, economic development group, 

small business development center, or 

port authority. 

3. State Departments of Trade and 

Their Regional Associations. This 

definition includes: department of a 

State government tasked with promoting 

trade, tourism, or other types of 

economic development; associations of 

the departments of trade (as defined 

above) of two or more States; or entities 

within a State or within a region that are 

associated with a State department of 

trade, tourism, or other types of 

economic development including nonprofit, non-private, non-commercial 

entities which are at least partially 

funded by, directed by, or tasked by a 

State government to promote trade, 

tourism, or other types of economic 

development. 

4. Educational Institutions: 

Educational institutions, such as 

schools, colleges, and universities, are 

generally not eligible. However, 

organizations that are part of or 

affiliated with an educational institution 

for administrative, accounting, legal, or 

logistical reasons may be eligible. Such 

organizations that are not independent 

legal entities—for example, an 

unincorporated organization—that 

otherwise may be classified above as a 

trade association, non-profit industry 

association, or State department of trade 

or regional association are eligible. In 

such a case, the eligible entity will 

include in its application a signed letter 

from the educational institution stating 

that MDCP funds will be used only by 

the eligible entity for the purposes 

outlined in its application, and that no 

such funds will be used by or retained 

by the educational institution, even 

though the funds may need to go 

through the educational institution 

because of the eligible entity’s lack of a 

separate accounting system or lack of 

status as a separate legal entity. 

Cost Sharing Requirements: A 

cooperator must contribute at least two 

dollars for each Federal dollar received. 

The first dollar’s worth of contribution 

must be cash. The remaining cost share 

amount can be either cash or an in-kind 

contribution that is equivalent to that 

amount. 

Evaluation and Selection Procedures: 

The evaluation criteria and selection 

factors that apply to applications to this 

funding opportunity are summarized 

below. The evaluation criteria for 

applications will have different weights 

and details. Further information about 

the evaluation criteria and selection 

factors can be found in the full funding 

opportunity announcement. 

Evaluation Criteria For Projects: The 

Department is interested in projects that 

demonstrate the possibility of both 

significant progress during the award 

period, and lasting benefits extending 

beyond the award period. To that end, 

the selection panel reviews each 

application for financial assistance 

under MDCP based upon the evaluation 

criteria listed below. 

1. Potential to Strengthen 

Competitiveness (20 points). A project’s 

potential to strengthen competitiveness 

is evaluated primarily on the likelihood 

that it will result in export initiatives by 

U.S. firms, particularly small- and 

medium-sized enterprises. Such 

initiatives are normally characterized by 

a significant expenditure of resources by 

the chief executive officer of a company 

in the active pursuit of export sales. As 

noted above in Examples of Project 

Activity, many different kinds of 

activity can strengthen the 

competitiveness of U.S. industry; 

however, an applicant can earn the 

maximum number of points under this 

criterion only by demonstrating how its 

proposed project is expected to result in 

increased export initiatives by 

individual U.S. firms and exports by 

those firms. 

2. Performance Measurement (20 

points). Applicants must provide 

quantifiable estimates of projected 

export and market share increases and 

explain how they are derived. No 

application that lacks an estimate of 

exports can receive a performance 

measurement score that exceeds ten 

(10). Applicants must detail the 

methods they will use to gather and 

report performance information. 

3. Partnership and Priorities (20 

points). The degree to which the project 

initiates or enhances partnership with 

ITA and the degree to which the 

proposal furthers or is compatible with 

the following ITA priorities: 

a. Improve the competitiveness of 

U.S. manufacturing and service 

industries by addressing impediments 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 7, 2009 / Notices 15711 

to innovation and reducing the cost of 

doing business in foreign countries; 

b. Increase competitiveness of U.S. 

industries in large markets like China, 

India, and Brazil by addressing nontariff barriers, especially those related to 

standards and intellectual property 

rights; 

c. Help U.S. industry to capitalize on 

effective global supply chain 

management strategies; 

d. Advance market-based approaches 

to energy, clean development, and 

commercialization of alternative energy 

technologies; 

e. Facilitate ease of travel to the 

United States and promote U.S. higher 

education and training opportunities to 

non-U.S. entities; 

f. Capitalize on trade opportunities 

resulting from trade agreements; 

g. Increase overall export awareness 

and awareness of ITA programs and 

services among U.S. companies, by 

making SMEs export-ready or by 

facilitating deal-making; and 

h. Support the Administration’s 

broader foreign policy objectives 

through competitiveness-related 

initiatives. 

4. Creativity and Capacity (20 points). 

Creativity, innovation, and realism 

displayed by the work plan as well as 

the institutional capacity of the 

applicant to carry out the work plan. 

a. Demonstrating Creativity. 

Applicants might propose ideas not 

previously tried to promote a particular 

industry in a market. Creativity can be 

demonstrated by the manner in which 

techniques are customized to meet the 

specific needs of certain client groups. 

b. Table Comparing Proposal to 

Current or Past MDCP Projects. 

Applicants that have received an MDCP 

award in the past must submit a table 

comparing their current or past MDCP 

project(s) and their proposed project. 

The need for this table and the 

requested format are described below. 

MDCP awards are designed to help 

underwrite the start-up costs of new 

projects. Accordingly, current or past 

cooperators can be in a position to earn 

the maximum number of points under 

this criterion only if they propose 

projects that are entirely new. In order 

to determine whether a project is 

entirely new, the current or past 

cooperator must provide, as a separate 

appendix, a comparison between the 

elements of the proposed project and 

the elements of its current or past 

MDCP-funded projects. Current or past 

cooperators that propose projects that 

are not entirely new will receive fewer 

points under this criterion than they 

would receive otherwise. In determining 

the number of points under this 

criterion, the selection panel will 

consider the level to which a particular 

applicant has incorporated elements of 

its previously funded MDCP projects. 

To do this, current or past cooperators 

should submit a table wherein they 

approximate the amount of resources 

devoted to each project element. 

c. Institutional capacity. The 

Department measures institutional 

capacity by what each applicant 

submits. A current or past cooperator 

should not assume that success with a 

prior MDCP project will automatically 

be taken into account by the Department 

when reviewing its application. Each 

applicant must document its 

institutional capacity in its application. 

5. Budget and Sustainability (20 

points). This criterion encompasses the 

reasonableness of the itemized budget 

for project activities, the amount of the 

cash match that is readily available at 

the beginning of the project, and the 

probability that the project can be 

continued on a self-sustained basis after 

the completion of the award. Current or 

past cooperators must show how the 

proposed project will achieve selfsustainability independent of any 

current or past MDCP projects. ITA does 

not assume that prior MDCP projects are 

self-sustaining. As noted in Creativity 

and Capacity above, ITA assesses each 

application based on what each 

applicant chooses to include in its 

application. If an applicant wants ITA to 

consider the self-sustainability of a prior 

project when evaluating a new project 

proposal, it should include relevant 

information in its application. Each of 

the above criteria is worth a maximum 

of 20 points. The five criteria together 

constitute the application score. At 20 

points per criterion, the total possible 

score is 100. 

Review and Selection Process: The 

applicant is responsible for submitting a 

complete application in a timely 

manner. Each complete application will 

be subject to the process set forth below. 

1. Eligibility Determination. The 

MDCP staff of the Office of Planning, 

Coordination and Management (OPCM) 

in ITA’s Manufacturing and Services 

(MAS), in consultation with the 

Department’s Office of General Counsel, 

reviews all applications to determine 

the eligibility of each applicant. 

2. Program Area Review. Relevant 

program areas, including ITA’s MAS, 

Market Access and Compliance (MAC), 

and Commercial Service, have the 

opportunity to review the submitted 

applications. This allows experts in the 

industry sector or geographical region to 

assess applicant claims. These reviewers 

provide insights into both the potential 

benefits and the potential difficulties 

associated with the applications. 

3. OPCM Review. Representatives of 

OPCM review and comment on 

applications using the evaluation 

criteria identified above. OPCM 

prepares for the selection panel a review 

packet including the applications and 

reviewer comments. The OPCM staff 

and program area comments afford the 

selection panel the insights and breadth 

of experience of Department 

professionals. However, the selection 

panel is free to consider or disregard 

them as it sees fit. 

4. Selection Panel Composition. The 

MDCP Manager forwards all of the 

eligible applications, along with all 

related materials, to the selection panel 

of at least three senior ITA managers. 

This panel is chaired by the OPCM 

Director and typically includes three 

other members, one each from MAS, 

MAC, and the Commercial Service. 

Panel members are office directors or 

higher. 

5. Selection Panel Scoring. Each 

selection panel member reviews each 

eligible application and assigns a score 

for each of the five criteria stated above. 

The scores of each selection panel 

member for each application reviewed 

are maintained in the files for seven 

years. The individual criteria scores are 

averaged to determine the total score for 

each application. The evaluation criteria 

scores assigned by the panel determine 

which applications are recommended 

for funding. 

6. Ranked Recommendation. Based 

on the scores assigned by selection 

panel members and deliberations by the 

selection panel, the selection panel 

forwards the applications with the ten 

highest total scores (‘‘top-ranked 

applications’’) to the Assistant Secretary 

for Manufacturing and Services and 

recommends which of the top 

applications should receive funding. If 

the amount of funds requested by the 

top ten applicants is less than the 

funding available, the selection panel 

recommends additional applications for 

funding in rank order. The selection 

panel’s recommendation will not 

deviate from the rank order. This means, 

for example, that the selection panel 

cannot recommend funding for the 

application ranked seventh without 

recommending funding for applicants 

ranked first through sixth. The selection 

panel recommendation includes the 

panel’s written assessment of the 

strengths and weaknesses of the topranked applications. 

Selection Factors for Projects: From 

the top-ranked applications forwarded 

by the selection panel, the Assistant 

Secretary for Manufacturing and 

15712 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 7, 2009 / Notices 

Services selects those applications that 

will receive funding. In addition to the 

Evaluation Criteria for Projects above, 

the Assistant Secretary for 

Manufacturing and Services may 

consider the selection factors listed 

below: 1. The selection panel’s written 

assessments, 2. The degree to which 

applications satisfy the ITA priorities 

established under Project Funding 

Priorities above, 3. Geographic 

distribution of the proposed awards, 4. 

Diversity of industry sectors and 

overseas markets covered by the 

proposed awards, 5. Diversity of project 

activities represented by the proposed 

awards, 6. Avoidance of redundancy 

and conflicts with the initiatives of 

other Federal agencies, and 7. 

Availability of funds. 

Intergovernmental Review: There are 

no intergovernmental review 

requirements beyond those already 

noted. 

Limitation of Liability: In no event 

will the Department of Commerce be 

responsible for proposal preparation 

costs if these programs fail to receive 

funding or are cancelled because of 

other agency priorities. Publication of 

this announcement does not oblige the 

Department of Commerce to award any 

specific project or to obligate any 

available funds. 

Paperwork Reduction Act: This 

document contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 

use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, 

and SF–LLL and CD–346 has been 

approved by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) under the respective 

control numbers 0348–0043, 0348–0044, 

0348–0040, 0348–0046, and 0605–0001. 

Notwithstanding any other provision 

of law, no person is required 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 currently valid 

OMB control number. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been determined to be not 

significant for purposes of Executive 

Order 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 or any 

other law 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 for the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are 

inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory 

flexibility analysis has not been 

prepared. 

Dated: April 2, 2009. 

Robert W. Pearson, 

Director, Office of Planning, Coordination and 

Management Manufacturing and Services, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

[FR Doc. E9–7823 Filed 4–6–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) 

Notice of Additional Public Meetings 

(Proposers’ Conferences) 

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST), United States 

Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The National Institute of 

Standards and Technology’s (NIST) 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) 

announces that it has scheduled three 

public meetings (Proposers’ 

Conferences) on April 13, 2009, in 

Boston, Massachusetts; on April 15, 

2009, in Detroit, Michigan; and on April 

17, 2009, in San Jose, California. These 

meetings are in addition to the 

Proposers’ Conference scheduled for 

April 8, 2009, in Gaithersburg, 

Maryland, that was announced 

previously in the Federal Register on 

March 31. 

DATES: TIP announces that it is holding 

public meetings (Proposers’ 

Conferences) on 

1. April 8, 2009, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern 

Time in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

2. April 13, 2009, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Eastern 

Time in Boston, Massachusetts. 

3. April 15, 2009, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Eastern 

Time in Detroit, Michigan. 

4. April 17, 2009, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Pacific 

Time in San Jose, California. 

ADDRESSES: The Proposers’ Conferences 

will be held at the following locations: 

1. NIST Red Auditorium, 100 Bureau 

Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 

20899. Electronic registration at: 

https://rproxy.nist.gov/CRS/. 

2. Marriott Boston Cambridge, Two 

Cambridge Center, 50 Broadway, 

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142. 

3. Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance 

Center, 400 Renaissance Center, 

Detroit, Michigan 48243. 

4. San Jose Marriott, 301 S. Market St., 

San Jose, California 95113. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barbara Cuthill at 301–975–3273 or by 

e-mail at barbara.cuthill@nist.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 

31, 2009, the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology’s (NIST) 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) 

announced that it was soliciting highrisk, high-reward research and 

development (R&D) proposals for 

financial assistance. TIP is soliciting 

proposals under this fiscal year 2009 

competition in two areas of critical 

national need entitled ‘‘Civil 

Infrastructure’’ and ‘‘Manufacturing’’ 

(74 FR 14524). TIP also announced the 

date and location of its Proposers’ 

Conference on April 8, 2009, in 

Gaithersburg, Maryland, and indicated 

that any additional Proposers’ 

Conferences would be announced in the 

Federal Register, on the http:// 

grants.gov Web site and on the TIP Web 

site at http://www.nist.gov/tip. The legal 

authority for TIP is 15 USCS 278n. 

TIP is holding Proposers’ Conferences 

to provide general information regarding 

TIP, to offer guidance on preparing 

proposals, and to answer questions. 

Proprietary technical discussions about 

specific project ideas with NIST staff are 

not permitted at this Conference or at 

any time before submitting the proposal 

to TIP. Therefore, proposers should not 

expect to have proprietary issues 

addressed at the Proposers’ Conference. 

Also, NIST/TIP staff will not critique or 

provide feedback on project ideas while 

they are being developed by a proposer. 

However, NIST/TIP staff will answer 

questions about the TIP eligibility and 

cost-sharing requirements, evaluation 

and award criteria, selection process, 

and the general characteristics of a 

competitive TIP proposal at the 

Proposers’ Conference and by phone 

and e-mail. Attendance at the TIP 

Proposers’ Conference is not required. 

No registration fee will be charged at 

the Proposers’ Conference. Presentation 

materials from the Proposers’ 

Conference will be made available on 

the TIP Web site. 

The Proposers’ Conferences will be 

held as follows: 

April 8, 2009, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern 

Time: NIST Red Auditorium, 100 

Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 

20899, (301–975–8910). Pre-registration 

is required by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on 

April 6, 2009 for the Proposers’ 

Conference being held at NIST 

Gaithersburg, MD. Due to increased