[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26820]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

 

National Award for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and 
Development

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of award; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the National Award for the Advancement 
of Motor Vehicle Research and Development, describes its background and 
basis, and solicits nominations for the award. It also identifies the 
required content for nominations and describes the evaluation process 
and criteria to be used in making selections.

DATES: Nominations must be received not later than December 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send complete nominations with supporting information to 
George L. Parker, Associate Administrator for Research and Development, 
NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St. 
SW, Washington, DC 20590. For further information, contact Dr. Richard 
L. Strombotne, Special Assistant for Technology Transfer Policy and 
Programs, NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
Washington, DC 20590, phone: 202-366-4730, fax: 202-366-5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Intermodal Surface Transportation 
Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 establishes a National Award for the 
Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development. It sets the 
basis for the award as follows:

    The Secretary of Transportation shall periodically make and 
present the award to domestic motor vehicle manufacturers, 
suppliers, or Federal laboratory personnel who, in the opinion of 
the Secretary of Transportation, have substantially improved 
domestic motor vehicle research and development in safety, energy 
savings, or environmental impact. No person may receive the award 
more than once every 5 years. (15 USC 3711c.)

    This announcement is to solicit nominations for the National Award 
for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development and to 
provide relevant information. It is the second year of competition for 
the award; the first competition having closed on December 31, 1993 
after having been announced by Federal Register notice (58 FR 62180, 
Wednesday, November 24, 1993). The award consists of a medal and 
citation from the Secretary of Transportation. It will be presented at 
an appropriate ceremony.

Nominators

    Any person may nominate individuals or organizations he or she 
believes are worthy of receiving the award by reason of 
accomplishments.

Eligibility

    Eligibility for the National Award for the Advancement of Motor 
Vehicle Research and Development is limited to domestic motor vehicle 
manufacturers, domestic suppliers to the motor vehicle industry, their 
employees, and personnel of Federal laboratories. See the Definitions 
section below for the definitions of the following terms:

Domestic motor vehicle manufacturer,
Domestic supplier, and
Federal laboratory.

Qualifying Work

    The award will recognize work that has substantially improved 
domestic motor vehicle research and development in the areas of motor 
vehicle safety, motor vehicle energy savings, or environmental impacts 
of motor vehicles. The work may be a singular one time accomplishment 
or it may be a series of accomplishments that have had substantial 
effect over time. Examples of the types of achievements that fall into 
the three categories are:

1. Safety Improvement

    Vehicular technology that reduces the likelihood of crashes (crash 
avoidance) or the likelihood of serious injury when a crash occurs 
(crashworthiness) or otherwise improves the changes of post-crash 
survival/recovery of crash victims. This could include research and 
development of instrumentation of biomechanics.

2. Energy Savings

    Technology that saves energy in the production or operation of 
motor vehicles by such means as light weight structures, engine and 
drive train improvements, reductions in tire rolling resistance or 
aerodynamic drag, and modifications of fuel characteristics.

3. Improvements in Environmental Quality

    Motor vehicle technology that reduces emissions, reduces solid 
waste, reduces hazardous waste, reduces noise (e.g. tire noise), as 
well as technology that reduces waste byproducts of motor vehicle 
production, operation, or scrappage.

Required Contents of Nomination

     Names and identification of specific individuals or 
organizations being nominated.
     Identification of nominator(s) with title(s), address(es) 
and phone number(s). At least one nominator must sign the nomination.
     Description of accomplishments, including the nature of 
the specific research and development accomplishment and reasons why it 
constitutes substantial improvement. Identify involvement of 
organization or individual(s) nominated.
     References for improvements (patents, awards, papers, 
other recognition).
     Establish eligibility of nominees. Individuals must be 
past or current employees of organization at which research and 
development was accomplished.
     Establish that improved technology is for motor vehicles 
offered for sale in the United States.

Limitation on Length of Nomination

    The nomination is limited to 10 numbered pages of 8.5 inch  x  11.0 
inch paper with one inch margins and font size not less than 12 point.
    Send an original and three copies of the complete nomination to 
George L. Parker, Associate Administrator for Research and Development, 
NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St. 
SW, Washington, DC 20590. Nomination will be returned to the nominator 
if it includes a written request.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

    NHTSA and other Federal agency staff will make an initial screening 
of all nominations received on or before December 16, 1994 to ensure 
that they contain the required information and meet the statutory 
requirements for eligibility and field of work. Subsequently, a special 
panel will evaluate the nominations. NHTSA intends that the evaluation 
panel will include experts in the fields of energy savings and 
environmental impact in addition to motor vehicle safety. The panel 
will make its evaluations according to the following criteria:
    1. Quality of cited work.
    2. Contribution of cited work to improved safety, energy savings or 
environmental quality.
    3. Involvement of nominees with cited work.
    The Secretary of Transportation will then select the awardee from 
among the nominees receiving high evaluations from the evaluation 
panel. The Secretary may also decide not to make an award. His decision 
is final.

Definitions

    For the purposes of determining eligibility for the National Award 
for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development, the 
following definitions will apply:

    Domestic motor vehicle manufacturer--a company engaged in the 
production and sale of motor vehicles in the United States and that 
has majority ownership or control by individuals who are citizens of 
the United States. [Definition based on that of ``United States-
owned company'' in Section 15 U.S.C. 278n(j)(2) as added by Public 
Law 102-245.]
    Domestic supplier--a company that supplies research and 
development, design services, materials, parts and/or items of 
equipment or machinery to a motor vehicle manufacturer or 
subcontractor to a motor vehicle manufacturer or whose products are 
used in new motor vehicles and that has majority ownership or 
control by individuals who are citizens of the United States.
    Personnel of Federal laboratory--Individuals employed by the 
Federal Government at a facility engaging in research and 
development activities or employed by a contractor at such a 
facility that is owned by the Federal Government and operated by 
that contractor.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-26820 Filed 10-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M