[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1706]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

15 CFR Part 290

[Docket No. 931239-3339]

 

Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology

agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

action: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.

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summary: The National Institute of Standards and Technology requests 
comments on the proposed amendments contained in this document to the 
regulations found at part 290 of title 15 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, which implement the Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
Manufacturing Technology. This change revises the matching fund 
requirements in the fifth and sixth years of operation to reflect 
program experience during the first five years. With this change, the 
maximum allowable Federal funding will be one third of total expenses 
during years five and six. Currently, the maximum allowable Federal 
funding is 30 percent in year five and 20 percent in year six. This 
change also modifies the requirements for cash match. With this change, 
at least half of the match must be in cash or full-time personnel 
loaned to the operating organization. Currently at least 55 percent of 
the match must be in cash or full-time personnel.

dates: Comments on the proposed program must be received no later than 
February 28, 1994.

addresses: Comments on the proposed rule changes must be submitted in 
writing to: MTC Program Rule Comments, Technology Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, room B115 Polymers Building, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899. All comments received in response to this notice will become 
part of the public record and will be available for inspection and 
copying in the Commerce Department's Central Reference and Records 
Inspection Facility, Herbert Hoover Building, room 6020, 14th Street 
between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

for further information contact: To receive additional program 
information, contact Philip Nanzetta at (301) 975-3414.

supplementary information: The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology requests comments regarding proposed changes to the matching 
funds requirements for the Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
Manufacturing Technology (Manufacturing Technology Centers, MTC) 
program found at part 290 of title 15 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations. The MTC program provides financial and technical 
assistance to regional centers (MTCs) which work directly with small 
and medium sized manufacturing firms to advance their level of 
manufacturing technology. The MTCs are selected on a competitive basis 
in accordance with the regulation at 15 CFR part 290.
    Part of the funding for each MTC is provided by a Federal 
cooperative agreement and the balance (the ``match'') is provided 
through a variety of means by the operating organization. The match is 
generally provided as a combination of non-Federal public funds or in-
kind match, contributions of cash or in-kind resources from private 
sources, and earned income of the MTC. The authorizing legislation 
allows Federal funding of up to half the total budget (cash and in-
kind) in the first three years and requires that the Secretary adopt 
regulations which specify a declining level of Federal support during 
the next three years. The current regulation specifies those maximum 
funding levels to be 40 percent, 30 percent, and 20 percent in years 
four through six respectively. The changes proposed to part 290 will 
specify those maximum funding levels to be 40 percent, \1/3\, and \1/3\ 
in years four through six respectively.
    The current regulation requires that 55 percent of the match be in 
cash or full-time personnel. There is no statutory requirement for this 
cash ratio. The changes proposed to part 290 will specify that half of 
the match be in cash or full-time personnel.

Classification

    This document was not reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866. The General Counsel has certified 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration, that 
this rule will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial 
number of small entities requiring a flexibility analysis under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act because the proposed rule changes will 
affect only those governmental units that are selected to receive 
funding under the Program. The program is entirely voluntary for the 
participants that seek funding. It is not a major federal action 
requiring an environmental assessment under the National Environmental 
Policy Act. The Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing 
Technology Program does not involve the mandatory payment of any 
matching funds from a state or local government, and does not affect 
directly any state or local government. Accordingly, the Technology 
Administration has determined that Executive Order 12372 is not 
applicable to this program. This notice does not contain policies with 
Federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a 
Federalism assessment under Executive Order 12612.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 290

    Science and technology, Business and industry, Small businesses.

    Dated: January 19, 1994.
Raymond G. Kammer,
Deputy Director.

    For reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed that title 
15, part 290 of the Code of Federal Regulations be amended as follows:

PART 290--REGIONAL CENTERS FOR THE TRANSFER OF MANUFACTURING 
TECHNOLOGY

    1. The authority section for part 290 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k.

    2. Section 290.4 is amended by revising Table 1 in paragraph (b) 
and paragraph (c)(5) to read as follows:


Sec. 290.4  Terms and schedule of financial assistance.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

Table 1. Schedule of NIST Matching Funds

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Year of center operation                Maximum NIST share        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-3................................                    \1/2\            
4..................................                    \2/5\            
5-6................................                    \1/3\            
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) * * *
    (5) In-kind contribution of part-time personnel, equipment, 
software, rental value of centrally located space (office and 
laboratory) and other related contributions up to a maximum of one-half 
of the host's annual share. Allowable capital expenditures may be 
applied in the award year expended or in subsequent award years. These 
restrictions on host contribution apply to all awards issued or 
extended after September 30, 1994.
[FR Doc. 94-1706 Filed 1-26-94; 8:45 am]
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