70308 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 11, 2007 / Notices 

applications submitted. The review 

panel will consist of at least 3 persons, 

all of whom will be full-time federal 

employees and at least one of whom 

will be an MBDA employee, who will 

review the applications for a specified 

project based on the above evaluation 

criterion. Each reviewer shall evaluate 

and provide a score for each proposal. 

Each project review panel (through the 

panel Chairperson) shall provide the 

MBDA National Director 

(Recommending Official) with a ranking 

of the applications based on the average 

of the reviewers’ scores and shall also 

provide a recommendation regarding 

funding of the highest scoring 

application. 

3. Oral Presentation—Upon MBDA 

Request 

MBDA may invite the two (2) topranked applicants for each project 

competition to develop and provide an 

oral presentation. If an oral presentation 

is requested, the affected applicants will 

receive a formal communication (via 

standard mail, e-mail or fax) from 

MBDA indicating the time and date for 

the presentation. In-person 

presentations are not mandatory but are 

encouraged; telephonic presentations 

are acceptable. Applicants will be asked 

to submit a PowerPoint presentation (or 

equivalent) to MBDA that addresses the 

oral presentation criteria set forth above. 

The presentation must be submitted at 

least 24 hours before the scheduled date 

and time of the presentation. The 

presentation will be made to the MBDA 

National Director (or his/her designee) 

and up to three senior MBDA staff who 

did not serve on the original review 

panel. The oral panel members may ask 

follow-up questions after the 

presentation. MBDA will provide the 

teleconference dial-in number and pass 

code. Each applicant will present to 

MBDA staff only; competitors are not 

permitted to listen (and/or watch) other 

presentations. 

All costs pertaining to this 

presentation shall be borne by the 

applicant. MBOC award funds may not 

be used as a reimbursement for this 

presentation. MBDA will not accept any 

requests or petitions for reimbursement. 

The oral panel members shall score 

each presentation in accordance with 

the oral presentation criterion provided 

above. An average score shall be 

compiled and added to the score of the 

original panel review. 

4. Final Recommendation 

The MBDA National Director makes 

the final recommendation to the Grants 

Officer regarding the funding of 

applications under this competitive 

solicitation. MBDA expects to 

recommend for funding the highest 

ranking application for each project, as 

evaluated and recommended by the 

review panel and taking into account 

oral presentations (as applicable). 

However, the MBDA National Director 

may not make any selection, or he may 

select an application out of rank order 

for the following reasons: 

(a) A determination that an 

application better addresses one or more 

of the funding priorities for this 

competition. The National Director (or 

his/her designee) reserves the right to 

conduct one or more site visits (subject 

to the availability of funding), in order 

to make a better assessment of an 

applicant’s capability to achieve the 

funding priorities; or 

(b) The availability of MBDA funding. 

Prior to making a final 

recommendation to the Grants Officer, 

MBDA may request that the apparent 

winner of the competition provide 

written clarifications (as necessary) 

regarding its application. 

Intergovernmental Review: 

Applications under this program are not 

subject to Executive Order 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.’’

Limitation of Liability: In no event 

will MBDA or the Department of 

Commerce be responsible for proposal 

preparation costs if this program fails to 

receive funding or is cancelled because 

of other MBDA or Department of 

Commerce priorities. All funding 

periods are subject to the availability of 

funds to support the continuation of the 

project and the Department of 

Commerce and MBDA priorities. 

Publication of this notice does not 

obligate the Department of Commerce or 

MBDA to award any specific 

cooperative agreement or to obligate all 

or any part of available funds. 

Universal Identifier: Applicants 

should be aware that they will be 

required to provide a Dun and 

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 

system (DUNS) number during the 

application process. See the June 27, 

2003 Federal Register notice (68 FR 

38402) for additional information. 

Organizations can receive a DUNS 

number at no cost by calling the 

dedicated toll-free DUNS Number 

request line at 1–866–705–5711 or by 

accessing the Grants.gov Web site at 

http://www.Grants.gov. 

Department of Commerce Pre-Award 

Notification Requirements for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements: The 

Department of Commerce Pre-Award 

Notification Requirements for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements contained 

in the Federal Register notice of 

December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) are 

applicable to this solicitation. 

Paperwork Reduction Act: This 

document contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 

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

SF–LLL, and CD–346 have been 

approved by OMB under the respective 

control numbers 0348–0043, 0348–0044, 

0348–0040, 0348–0046, and 0605–0001. 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of 

law, no person is required to respond to, 

nor shall any person be subject to a 

penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection displays a currently valid 

OMB Control Number. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been determined to be not 

significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. 

Administrative Procedure Act/ 

Regulatory Flexibility Act: Prior notice 

and an opportunity for public comment 

are not required by the Administrative 

Procedure Act for rules concerning 

public property, loans, grants, benefits, 

or contracts (5 U.S.C. 533(a)(2)). Because 

notice and opportunity for comment are 

not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 533 or 

any other law, the analytical 

requirements of the Regulatory 

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

inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory 

flexibility analysis is not required and 

has not been prepared. 

Dated: December 6, 2007. 

Ronald N. Langston, 

National Director, Minority Business 

Development Agency. 

[FR Doc. E7–23990 Filed 12–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–21–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Availability of Seats for the Cordell 

Bank National Marine Sanctuary 

Advisory Council 

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary 

Program (NMSP), National Ocean 

Service (NOS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 

Department of Commerce (DOC). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

applications. 

SUMMARY: The Cordell Bank National 

Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS or 

Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the 

following vacant seats on its Sanctuary 

Advisory Council (Council): Research 

Primary, Research Alternate, Marin 

County Community-at-Large Alternate, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 11, 2007 / Notices 70309 

Sonoma County Community-at-Large 

Primary. Applicants are chosen based 

upon their particular expertise and 

experience in relation to the seat for 

which they are applying; community 

and professional affiliations; philosophy 

regarding the protection and 

management of marine resources; and 

possibly the length of residence in the 

area affected by the Sanctuary. 

Applicants who are chosen as members 

should expect to serve two 3-year terms 

pursuant to the council’s Charter. 

DATES: Applications are due by January 

30, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Application kits may be 

obtained on the Cordell Bank Web site 

at: http://cordellbank.noaa.gov, and 

from Cordell Bank National Marine 

Sanctuary, Rowena Forest, P.O. Box 

159, Olema, CA 94950. Completed 

applications should be sent to the above 

mailing address or faxed to (415) 663–

0315. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rowena Forest/CBNMS, 

Rowena.forest@noaa.gov, P.O. Box 159, 

Olema, CA 94950, (415) 663–0314 x105. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Advisory Council for Cordell Bank was 

established in 2002 to support the joint 

management plan review process 

currently underway for the CBNMS and 

its neighboring sanctuaries, Gulf of the 

Farallones and Monterey Bay National 

Marine Sanctuaries. The Council has 

members representing education, 

research, conservation, maritime 

activity, and community-at-large. The 

government seats are held by 

representatives from the National 

Marine Fisheries Service, the United 

States Coast Guard, and the managers of 

the Gulf of the Farallones, Monterey Bay 

and Channel Islands National Marine 

Sanctuaries. The Council holds four 

regular meetings per year, and one 

annual retreat. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, et seq. 

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 

Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) 

Dated: December 4, 2007. 

Daniel J. Basta, 

Director, National Marine Sanctuary Program, 

National Ocean Services, National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration. 

[FR Doc. 07–5999 Filed 12–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–NK–M 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Hydrographic Services Review Panel 

Membership Solicitation 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of Membership 

Solicitation for Hydrographic Services 

Review Panel. 

SUMMARY: This notice responds to the 

Hydrographic Services Improvement 

Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 

107–372, which requires the Under 

Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

Atmosphere to solicit nominations for 

membership on the Hydrographic 

Services Review Panel (the Panel). This 

advisory committee will advise the 

Under Secretary on matters related to 

the responsibilities and authorities set 

forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic 

Services Improvement Act of 1998, (the 

Act) and such other appropriate matters 

as the Under Secretary refers to the 

Panel for review and advice. 

DATES: Resumes should be sent to the 

address, e-mail, or fax specified and 

must be received by March 15, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Director, Office of Coast 

Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA 

(N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, Silver 

Spring, MD 20910, fax: 301–713–4019, 

e-mail: Hydroservices.panel@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Captain Steven Barnum, Director, Office 

of Coast Survey, NOS/NOAA, 301–713–

2770 x134, fax 301–713–4019, e-mail: 

steven.barnum@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 33 

U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA’s National 

Ocean Service (NOS) is responsible for 

providing nautical charts and related 

information for safe navigation. NOS 

collects and compiles hydrographic, 

tidal and current, geodetic, and a variety 

of other data in order to fulfill this 

responsibility. The Hydrographic 

Services Review Panel provides advice 

on topics such as ‘‘NOAA’s 

Hydrographic Survey Priorities,’’

technologies relating to operations, 

research and development, and 

dissemination of data pertaining to: 

(a) Hydrographic surveying; 

(b) Nautical charting; 

(c) Water level measurements; 

(d) Current measurements; 

(e) Geodetic measurements; and 

(f) Geospatial measurements. 

The Panel comprises fifteen voting 

members appointed by the Under 

Secretary in accordance with section 

105 of the Act. Members are selected on 

a standardized basis, in accordance with 

applicable Department of Commerce 

guidance. The Co-Director of the Joint 

Hydrographic Center and two other 

employees of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration serve as 

nonvoting members of the Panel. The 

Director, Office of Coast Survey, serves 

as the Designated Federal Official 

(DFO). 

This solicitation is to obtain 

candidates to replace voting members 

who might resign during 2008. Voting 

members are individuals who, by reason 

of knowledge, experience, or training, 

are especially qualified in one or more 

disciplines relating to hydrographic 

surveying, tides, currents, geodetic and 

geospatial measurements, marine 

transportation, port administration, 

vessel pilotage, and coastal or fishery 

management. An individual may not be 

appointed as a voting member of the 

Panel if the individual is a full-time 

officer or employee of the United States. 

Any voting member of the Panel who is 

an applicant for, or beneficiary of (as 

determined by the Under Secretary) any 

assistance under the Act shall disclose 

to the Panel that relationship, and may 

not vote on any matter pertaining to that 

assistance. 

Voting members of the Panel serve a 

four-year term, except that vacancy 

appointments shall be for the remainder 

of the unexpired term of the vacancy. 

Members serve at the discretion of the 

Under Secretary and are subject to 

government ethics standards. Any 

individual appointed to a partial or full 

term may be reappointed for one 

additional full term. A voting member 

may serve until his or her successor has 

taken office. The Panel selects one 

voting member to serve as the Chair and 

another to serve as the Vice Chair. The 

Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence 

or incapacity of the Chair but will not 

automatically become the Chair if the 

Chair resigns. 

Meetings occur at least twice a year, 

and at the call of the Chair or upon the 

request of a majority of the voting 

members or of the Under Secretary. 

Voting members receive compensation 

at a rate established by the Under 

Secretary, not to exceed the maximum 

daily rate payable under section 5376 of 

title 5, United States Code, when 

actually engaged in performing duties 

for the Panel, and members are 

reimbursed for actual and reasonable 

expenses incurred in performing such 

duties. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES