Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices 27943

Washington State Delegation 7 a.m.

Enforcement Consultants: As

necessary

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in this agenda may come

before this Council for discussion, those

issues may not be the subject of formal

Council action during this meeting.

Council action will be restricted to those

issues specifically listed in this notice

and any issues arising after publication

of this notice that require emergency

action under section 305(c) of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

provided the public has been notified of

the Council’s intent to take final action

to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter

at (503) 326–-6352 at least 5 days prior

to the meeting date.

Dated: May 11, 2001.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–12748 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration

[Docket No.: 010514126–1126–01]

RIN 0692–ZA00

Under Secretary/Office of Technology

Policy Grants Program

AGENCY: Technology Administration,

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

SUMMARY: The Office of Technology

Policy, Technology Administration, U.S.

Department of Commerce invites

proposals from eligible organizations for

funding projects under the Under

Secretary/Office of Technology Policy

(US/OTP) Grants Program. Under this

program, the Under Secretary/Office of

Technology Policy will provide grants

and cooperative agreements in the

following areas: Identifying Government

Policies That Affect Innovation,

Supporting State and Local Efforts to

Harness Technology for Economic

Development, and Facilitating

Technology Development and Transfer.

DATES: The US/OTP Grants Program

proposals must be received no later than

the close of business September 30,

2001. Proposals received after June 30,

2001 will continue to be processed and

considered for funding but may be

funded in the next fiscal year, subject to

the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Applicants are requested to

submit one signed original and two

copies of the proposal, along with a

Grant Application, (Standard Form 424

REV. 7/97 and other required forms),

clearly marked to identify the field of

research, to: Jon Paugh; Office of

Technology Policy; Technology

Competitiveness Staff, Room 4418;

United States Department of Commerce;

14th & Constitution Ave.; Washington,

DC 20239; Tel: (202) 482–2100; E-mail:

otptech@ta.doc.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Laney-Cummings; Office of

Technology Policy; Technology

Competitiveness Staff, Room 4418;

United States Department of Commerce;

14th & Constitution Ave.; Washington,

DC 20239; Tel: (202) 482–2100; E-mail:

otptech@ta.doc.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: The authority for the US/OTP

Grants Program is as follows: As authorized

by 15 U.S.C. 3704 (b) and (c) and 15 U.S.C.

3706, the Office of Technology Policy

conducts directly, and supports through

grants and cooperative agreements, a program

of policy analysis and development relating

to technological innovation and its

contribution to economic growth and

industrial competitiveness.

Background: The responsibilities of

the Office of Technology Policy (OTP)

are defined by the Stevenson-Wydler

Technology Innovation Act, 15 U.S.C.

3701 et seq., and related legislation,

detailed below. The Stevenson-Wydler

Technology Innovation Act requires the

Assistant Secretary for Technology

Policy, who serves as Director of OTP,

to support the Under Secretary for

Technology in carrying out the Act’s

policy responsibilities by:

• Conducting technology policy

analyses to improve United States

industrial productivity, technology, and

innovation, and cooperate with United

States industry in the improvement of

its productivity, technology, and ability

to compete successfully in world

markets;

• Identifying technological needs,

problems, and opportunities within and

across industrial sectors that, if

addressed, could make a significant

contribution to the economy of the

United States;

• Supporting studies and policy

experiments, in cooperation with other

Federal agencies, to determine the

effectiveness of measures with the

potential of advancing U.S.

technological innovation;

• Encouraging and assisting joint

initiatives by State or local

governments, regional organizations,

private businesses, institutions or higher

education, nonprofit organizations, or

Federal laboratories to encourage

technology transfer, to stimulate

innovation, and to promote an

appropriate climate for investment in

technology-related industries;

• Serving as a convener for

discussions among U.S. companies on

topics of interest to industry and labor,

including discussions regarding

manufacturing or emerging

technologies.

In addition, the Stevenson-Wydler

Technology Innovation Act, the Federal

Technology Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C.

3710, the Bayh-Dole Act, 15 U.S.C. 200

et seq., and implementing regulations

found at 37 CFR Parts 401, 404, and 501

give OTP specific responsibilities to

encourage cooperation between

government, universities and industry

in the development and diffusion of

new technologies. OTP is to:

• Provide services to Federal agencies

in support of the commercialization of

technology developed at Federal

laboratories

• Monitor agency use of cooperative

agreements and prepare regular reports

on agency use of those mechanisms

• Develop policies and issue

regulations governing ownership and

licensing of patents arising from

Federally-funded research at

universities and in small businesses

• Issue regulations governing

licensing of Federally owned inventions

by the federal agencies

• Decide disputes regarding

ownership of patents between Federal

agencies and their employees.

Program Description and Objectives:

Specific examples of policy-related

activities that OTP may wish to support

through grants or cooperative

agreements are presented here in terms

of OTP’s areas of policy activity:

I. Identifying Government Policies

That Affect Innovation—OTP is

interested in identifying and analyzing

government policy areas with a marked

effect on private sector innovation. To

this end, OTP is interested in proposals

for projects related to emerging policy

issues that affect the business

environment for innovation—for

example, regulatory barriers, tax and

accounting rules, legal issues such as

intellectual property rights or liability,

investment incentives, capital

availability, ethical issues, or workforcerelated issues. Preferences will be given

to issues that impact multiple business

sectors or that may have spillover effects

for the U.S. economy.

27944 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices

II. Supporting State and Local Efforts

to Harness Technology for Economic

Development—OTP is primarily

interested in four subtopics. First, OTP

is interested in developing a systematic

body of knowledge regarding the

manner in which Federal laboratories

seek to support economic development

in the communities in which they

reside, and identifying and analyzing

the most effective practices utilized by

the Federal laboratories for this purpose.

The object of this effort is to improve

the contribution that Federal

laboratories make to local economies.

Second, OTP is also interested in

improving the availability of web-based

sources of data pertaining to technologybased economic growth, particularly at

the sub-state and multi-state levels.

Proposals are invited for projects that

will assemble and analyze data from a

variety of sources about factors that

affect high technology industry growth.

Such a database should allow users to

customize data sets from multiple

sources.

Third, OTP is interested in data

development and dissemination

focusing on public programs’ and

private entities’ efforts to provide

capital to new and young technology

firms to generate local economic growth

ant technological innovation.

Fourth, OTP is also interested in data

development and dissemination efforts

relating to the comparison of outcomes

and determination of best practices in

business incubators. Such efforts might

be based on quantitative data and case

studies where appropriate. OTP is

particularly interested in expanding

understanding of those incubators that

are affiliated with universities or

Federal labs.

Specific outcomes for any project may

include, but not be limited to, reference

guides for analysts, policy makers and

program practitioners, the identification

of best practices, databases to improve

knowledge and program performances,

and further progress toward

measurement and performance criteria.

III. Facilitating Technology

Development and Transfer—OTP is

interested in developing a better

understanding of the barriers to research

collaboration and technology licensing

between the private sector and the

Federal laboratories. It is especially

interested in studies that identify and

analyze in detail specific areas where

these entities’ views and practices

diverge in connection with such

undertakings. It is also interested in

identifying the kinds of information and

process that can best enable private

sector parties to identify Federal

laboratories with the competencies they

are seeking. In addition, OTP is

interested in developing a more detailed

knowledge base concerning the issues

arising from university technology

transfer with industry under the BayhDole Act, 15 U.S.C. 200 et seq.

OTP is also interested in proposals

that may illuminate questions of

measurements relating to the technology

policy process. For example, while R&D

investment and patent grants are useful

for measuring technology creation

activity, equally effective measures are

needed for better gauging the effective

use of technology by industry. Another

important area relates to measuring the

performance of the many companies

that rely increasingly on investment and

management of intangible assets such as

human intelligence, knowledge, ideas,

skills, brand recognition, and

organizational capabilities. Often

referred to as intellectual capital (IC),

these and other intangible assets are

neither precisely defined nor

systematically measured.

Eligibility: Under 15 U.S.C. Sec. 3706,

any person is eligible for this program.

When applicable, applicants should

designate themselves on the SF–424 as

institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations; commercial

organizations; international

organizations; or state, local, and Indian

tribal governments.

In addition, US/OTP will accept

applications from authorized Federal

organizations and compete them with

applications from non-Federal

applicants. Before a Federal applicant

may be considered for funding, it must

demonstrate that it has statutory

authority to receive funds from another

Federal organization in excess of its

appropriation. As this announcement is

not proposing to procure goods or

services for US/OTP from applicants,

the Economy Act, 31 U.S.C. Sec. 1535,

is not an appropriate legal basis.

Proposals selected for funding from

non-Federal applicants will be funded

through a project grant or cooperative

agreement under the terms of this

Notice. Proposals selected for funding

from Federal agencies will be funded

through an interagency or intra-agency

transfer agreement, as applicable.

Funding Availability: In fiscal year

2001, the US/OTP Grants Program

anticipates funding of approximately

$400,000, including new awards and

continuing projects. Most grants and

cooperative agreements are expected to

be in the $20,000 to $50,000 per year

range.

Proposal Review Process and

Evaluation Criteria: First, all proposals

will be reviewed by OTP staff to

determine whether the proposal

supports one of OTP’s areas of policy

responsibility, as described in this

Notice. Second, proposals meeting that

threshold test will be reviewed and

ranked by at least three independent

reviewers knowledgeable about the

relevant subject area that will be

appointed by the OTP Staff Directors.

The reviewers will use the following

evaluation criteria:

1. Importance of the proposed

research—Does it have the potential of

answering or providing new insight into

pressing questions in areas of OTP’s

policy responsibilities? (60%)

2. Expertise and Experience—Does

the proposal provide evidence of the

applicant’s expertise in the relevant

subject area? Does the proposal provide

evidence that the quality of the research

previously carried out by the applicant

is such that there is a high probability

that the proposed research will be

successfully carried out? (20%)

3. Budget—Is the proposed budget

reasonable, and is adequate rationale

provided for costs? (10%)

4. Implementation Plan—Does the

proposal include a reasonable plan for

achieving the project goals, and a

realistic schedule for the performance of

the work, with defined milestones?

(10%)

Reviews will be conducted on a bimonthly basis during the third quarter

and fourth quarters of the fiscal year,

which ends September 30, 2001.

Third, the results of the reviews will

be provided to the Selecting Official, the

Director of the Office of Technology

Competitiveness, OTP, who will make

funding recommendations, taking into

account the following:

• The evaluation and ranking by the

reviewers,

• The evaluation criteria listed above,

• The degree to which the slate of

recommended applications, taken as a

whole, satisfies the program’s stated

purposes, and

• The availability of funds.

Any selection recommendation

outside the ranking of the reviewers

shall be justified in writing by the

Selecting Official on the basis of one or

more of the above selection factors.

Fourth, the final approval of selected

applications and the award of financial

assistance will be made by the

Technology Administration’s National

Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) Grants Officer, who will handle

administration of these awards. The

Grants Officer’s approval will be based

on compliance with application

requirements as published in this

Notice, compliance with applicable

legal and regulatory requirements, and

whether the recommended applicants

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices 27945

appear to be responsible. The decision

of the Grants Officer is final.

Prior to award, applicants may be

asked to modify objectives, work plans,

or budgets, and provide supplemental

information required by the agency.

Applicants should allow up to 90

days processing time.

Award Period: Proposals will

generally be considered for research

projects for one year. If a proposal for

a multi-year project is submitted and

approved, funding will initially be

provided for only the first year of the

program. If an application is selected for

funding. DoC has no obligation to

provide any additional funding in

connection with that award. Funding for

each subsequent year of a multi-year

proposal will be contingent on

satisfactory progress, continuing

relevance to OTP’s mission, and the

available of funds.

Matching Requirements: Pursuant to

15 U.S.C. 3706, the Office of Technology

Policy Grants Program may not fund

more than 75 percent of any project

performed under a grant or cooperative

agreement. Therefore, at least 25 percent

matching funds are required for all

financial assistance awarded under this

program.

Application Kit: An application kit,

containing all required application

forms and certifications is available by

contacting: Claudeen Julia; Office of

Technology Policy; Technology

Competitiveness Staff, Room 4418;

United States Department of Commerce;

14th & Constitution Ave.; Washington,

DC 20239; Tel: (202) 482–2100; E-mail:

otptech@doc.gov

Additional Information

Funding Availability: Awards are

contingent on the availability of funds.

Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Name and Number: 11.615,

Office of Technology Policy Grants

Program.

For Further Information Contact: All

grants administration questions

concerning these programs should be

directed to the NIST Grants Office at

(301) 975–5718.

Application Kit: The application kit

includes the following:

SF 424 (Rev 7/97)—APPLICATION FOR

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

SF 424A (Rev 7/97)—BUDGET

INFORMATION—Non-Construction

Programs, including a detailed budget

narrative explaining the details of

each budget category and the basis for

the cost. If indirect costs are included

in the budget, a copy of the

applicant’s negotiated indirect cost

rate must be submitted, if available.

SF 424B (Rev 7/97—ASSURANCE—

Non-Construction Programs

CD 511 (7/91)—CERTIFICATION

REGARDING DEBARMENT,

SUSPENSION, AND OTHER

RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS; DRUGFREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS

AND LOBBYING

CD 512 (7/91)—CERTIFICATION

REGARDING DEBARMENT,

SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY AND

VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION—LOWER

TIER COVERED TRANSACTIONS

AND LOBBYING

SF–LLL—DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING

ACTIVITIES

CD–346—APPLICANT FOR FUNDING

ASSISTANCE

Paperwork Reduction Act: The

Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B and

SR–LLL in the application kit are

subject to the requirements of the

Paperwork Reduction Act and have

been approved by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) under

Control No. 0348–0043, 0348–0044,

0348–0040, and 0348–0046. CD–346 is

approved under OMB Control No. 0605–

0001.

Notwithstanding any other provision

of the law, no person is required to

respond to, nor shall any person be

subject to a penalty for failure to comply

with a collection, subject to the

requirements of the Paperwork

Reduction Act, unless that collection of

information displays a currently valid

OMB Control Number.

Research Projects Involving Human

Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or

Recordings Involving Human Subjects:

Any proposal that includes research

involving human subjects, human

tissue, data or recording involving

human subjects must meet the

requirements of the Common Rule for

the Protection of Human Subjects,

codified for the Department of

Commerce (DoC) at 15 CFR part 27. In

addition, any proposal that includes

research on these topics must be in

compliance with any statutory

requirements imposed upon NIH and

other federal agencies regarding these

topics, all regulatory policies and

guidance adopted by NIH, FDA, and

other federal agencies on these topics,

and all Presidential statements of policy

on these topics.

The NIH recently released their

guidelines on the use of human

pluripotent stem cells derived from

human embryos in research. The DoC is

currently reviewing these guidelines.

Until DoC has had the opportunity to

fully assess the new guidelines and

develop appropriate implementing

procedures, DoC will not consider

proposals that involve human

pluripotent stem cells derived from

human embryos for funding.

On December 3, 2000, the U.S.

Department of Health and Human

Services (DHHS) introduced a new

Federalwide Assurance of Protection of

Human Subjects (FWA). The FWA

covers all of an institution’s Federallysupported human subjects research, and

eliminates the need for other types of

Assurance documents. In anticipation of

the new Assurance, the Office for

Human Research Protections (OHRP)

has suspended processing of multiple

project assurance (MPA) renewals. All

existing MPAs will remain in force until

further notice. OHRP will continue to

accept new single project assurances

(SPAs) until approximately March 1,

2001. For information about FWAs,

please see the OHRP website at http://

ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/whatsnew.htm.

In accordance with the DHHS change,

DoC will continue to accept the

submission of human subjects protocols

that have been approved by Institutional

Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a

current, valid MPA from DHHS. DoC

also will accept the submission of

human subjects protocols that have been

approved by IRBs possessing a current,

valid FWA from DHHS. DoC will not

issue an SPA for any IRB reviewing any

human subjects protocol proposed to

OTP.

Research Projects Involving Vertebrate

Animals: Any proposal that includes

research involving vertebrate animals

must be in compliance with the

National Research Council’s ‘‘Guide for

the Care and Use of Laboratory

Animals’’ which can be obtained from

National Academy Press, 2101

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 20055. In addition, such proposals

must meet the requirements of the

Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et

seq.), 9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3, and if

appropriate, 21 CFR Part 58. These

regulations do not apply to proposed

research using pre-existing images of

animals or to research plans that do not

include live animals that are being cared

for, euthanased, or used by the project

participants to accomplish research

goals, teaching, or testing. These

regulations also do not apply to

obtaining animal materials from

commercial processors of animal

products or to animal cell lines or

tissues from tissue banks.

Type of Funding Instrument: The

funding instrument will be a grant or

cooperative agreement, depending on

the nature of the proposed work. A grant

will be used unless OTP is

‘‘substantially involved’’ in the project,

in which case a cooperative agreement

27946 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices

will be used. A common example of

substantial involvement is collaboration

between OTP personnel and recipient

personnel. Further examples are listed

in Section 5.03.d of Department of

Commerce Administrative Order 203–

26, which can be found at http://

wwhttp://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/daos/

203–26.htm. OTP will make decisions

regarding the use of a cooperative

agreement on a case-by-case basis.

Funding for contractual arrangements

for services and products for delivery to

OTP is not available under this

announcement.

Additional Requirements

Primary Application Certifications:

All primary applicant institutions 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 must be

provided:

1. Nonprocurement Debarment and

Suspension. Prospective participants (as

defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section 105)

are subject to 15 CFR part 26,

‘‘Nonprocurment Debarment and

Suspension’’ and the related section of

the certification form prescribed above

applies;

2. Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (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;

3. 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.

4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure. Any

applicant institution 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.

5. Lower-Tier Certifications.

Recipients shall require applicant/

bidder institutions 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 NIST. SF–

LLL submitted by any tier recipient or

subrecipient should be submitted to

NIST in accordance with the

instructions contained in the award

document.

Name Check Reviews: All for-profit

and non-profit applicants will be 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. Form CD–346 must

be completed for all personnel with key

programmatic or fiduciary

responsibilities.

Preaward Activities: Applicants (or

their institutions) who incur any costs

prior to an award being made do so

solely at their own risk of not being

reimbursed by the Government.

Notwithstanding any verbal assurance

that may have been provided, there is

no obligation on the part of DoC to cover

pre-award costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding: If

an application is accepted 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.

Past Performance: Unsatisfactory

performance under prior Federal awards

may result in an application not being

considered for funding.

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.

Delinquent Federal Debts: No award

of Federal funds shall be made to an

applicant who has an outstanding

delinquent Federal debt until either:

1. The delinquent account is paid in

full.

2. A negotiated repayment schedule is

established and at least one payment is

received, or

3. Other arrangements satisfactory to

DoC are made.

Indirect costs: Regardless of any

approved indirect cost rate applicable to

the award, the maximum dollar amount

of allocable indirect costs for which the

DoC will reimburse the Recipient shall

be the lesser of:

(a) the Federal Share of the total

allocable indirect costs of the award

based on the negotiated rate with the

cognizant Federal agency as established

by audit or negotiation; or

(b) the line item amount for the

Federal share of indirect costs contained

in the approved budget of the award.

Purchase of American-Made

Equipment and Products: Applicants

are hereby notified that they are

encouraged, to the greatest practicable

extent, to purchase American-made

equipment and products with funding

provided under this program.

Federal Policies and Procedures:

Recipients and subrecipients under each

of the above grant programs shall be

subject to all Federal laws and Federal

and Departmental regulations, policies,

and procedures applicable to financial

assistance awards, including 15 CFR

part 14 and 15 CFR part 24, as

applicable.

The OTP Grants Program does not

directly affect any state or local

government.

Applications under this program are

not subject to Executive Order 12372,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs.’’

Executive Order Statement: This

funding notice was determined to be

‘‘not significant’’ for purposes of

Executive Order 12866.

Dated: May 15, 2001.

Karen H. Brown,

Acting Under Secretary for Technology.

[FR Doc. 01–12687 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–18–M

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Revision of Currently Approved

Information Collection; Comment

Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (hereinafter the

‘‘Corporation’’), as part of its continuing

effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, conducts a

preclearance consultation program to

provide the general public and Federal

agencies with an opportunity to

comment on proposed and/or

continuing collections of information in

accordance with the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44

U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program