[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41049-41050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19289]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Operations

7 CFR Part 2812

RIN 0599-AA03


Priorities and Administrative Guidelines for Donation of Excess 
Research Equipment

AGENCY: Office of Procurement and Property Management, Office of 
Operations, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Procurement and Property Management of the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to amend its procedures for 
the donation of excess research equipment for technical and scientific 
education and research activities to educational institutions and 
nonprofit organizations under section 11(I) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 3710(I)). This amendment would expand the 
list of entities eligible to receive such equipment, establish a 
priority list for eligible entities seeking transfer of such equipment, 
and clarify administrative rules regarding equipment transfer.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by August 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to USDA, OPPM, PMD, 1400 
Independence Ave., S.W., Mail Stop 9304, Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Fay on 202-720-9779.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Procedural Requirements
    A. Executive Order Number 12866.
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act.
III. Electronic Access Addresses

I. Background

    USDA regulations for the donation of excess research equipment for 
technical and scientific educational and research activities under 
section 11(I) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
3710(I)) were promulgated at 7 CFR part 2812 on July 3, 1995. USDA has 
determined that the eligibility of organizations to receive excess 
research equipment under this part is not clear.
    The President signed Executive Order (EO) 12999 on April 17, 1996, 
requiring Federal agencies, when donating educationally useful Federal 
research equipment under section 11(I) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Act and other laws, to give the highest preference to 
schools (including pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade) and 
nonprofit organizations (including community-based educational 
organizations) with particular preference to such schools and nonprofit 
organizations located in Federal enterprise communities and empowerment 
zones designated pursuant to the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, 
Public Law 103-66. USDA is taking action in this rule-making to 
implement EO 12999.
    Further, consistent with the EO 12999 and other authorities 
available to USDA for transfer of excess personal property (such as 
that implemented in 7 CFR part 3200), USDA desires to establish a 
preference list for those eligible entities seeking to receive property 
donated under this part.

II. Procedural Requirements

A. Executive Order Number 12866

    This proposed rule was reviewed under EO 12866, and it has been 
determined that it is not a significant regulatory action because it 
will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more 
or adversely and materially affect a sector of the economy, 
productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or 
safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. This 
proposed rule will not create any serious inconsistencies or otherwise 
interfere with any actions taken or planned by another agency. It will 
not materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user 
fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    USDA certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined in the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., for the reason that 
this regulation imposes no new requirements on small entities.

C. Paperwork Reduction

    The information collection and record keeping requirements to 
implement these procedures have been cleared by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), under 0505-0019, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. ch. 35).

III. Electronic Access Addresses

    You may send electronic mail (E-mail) to [email protected] or 
contact us via fax at (202) 720-3747.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR part 2812

    Government property management.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 2812 is 
proposed to be amended as set forth below:

PART 2812--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GUIDELINES FOR THE DONATION OF 
EXCESS RESEARCH EQUIPMENT UNDER 15 U.S.C. 3710(I)

    1. The authority citation for part 2812 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; E.O. 12999, 61 FR 17227, 3 CFR, 1997 
Comp., p. 180.

    2. Amend Sec. 2812.3 by removing paragraph (b), redesignating 
paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) as (e), (h), and (i), respectively, and 
adding new paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (f) and (g) to read as follows:


Sec. 2812.3  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) Community-based educational organization means nonprofit 
organizations that are engaged in collaborative projects with pre-
kindergarten through twelfth grade educational institutions or that 
have education as their primary focus. Such organizations shall qualify 
as nonprofit educational institutions for purposes of section 203(j) of 
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 
484(j)).
    (c) Educational institution means a public or private, non-profit 
educational institution, encompassing pre-kindergarten through twelfth 
grade and two- and four-year institutions of higher education, as well 
as public school districts.
    (d) Educationally useful Federal equipment means computers and 
related peripheral tools (e.g., printers, modems, routers, and 
servers), including telecommunications and research equipment, that are 
appropriate for use in prekindergarten, elementary, middle, or 
secondary school education. It shall also include computer software, 
where the transfer of licenses is permitted.
* * * * *
    (f) Federal empowerment zone or enterprise community (EZ/EC) means 
a

[[Page 41050]]

rural area designated by the Secretary of Agriculture under 7 CFR part 
25.
    (g) Non-profit organization means: (1) Any corporation, trust 
association, cooperative, or other organization which--
    (i) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, 
charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest;
    (ii) Is not organized primarily for profit; and
    (iii) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand its 
operations.
    (2) For the purposes of this part, ``non-profit organizations'' may 
include entities affiliated with institutions of higher education, or 
with state and local governments and federally recognized Indian 
tribes.
* * * * *
    4. Amend Sec. 2812.4 by removing and reserving paragraph (a), and 
revising paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as follows:


Sec. 2812.4  Procedures.

    (a) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (c) After USDA screening has been accomplished, excess personal 
property targeted for donation under this part will be made available 
on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are competing requests, 
donations will be made to eligible recipients in the following priority 
order:
    (1) Educationally useful Federal equipment for pre-kindergarten 
through twelfth grade educational institutions and community-based 
educational organizations in rural EZ/EC communities;
    (2) Educationally useful Federal equipment for pre-kindergarten 
through twelfth grade educational institutions and community-based 
educational organizations not in rural EZ/EC areas;
    (3) All other eligible organizations.
    (d) Upon reporting property for excess screening, if the pertinent 
USDA agency has an eligible organization in mind for donation under 
this part, it shall enter ``Public Law 102-245'' in the note field. The 
property will remain in the excess system approximately 30-45 days, and 
if no USDA agency or cooperator requests it during the excess cycle, 
Departmental Excess Personal Property Coordinator will send the agency 
a copy of the excess report stamped, ``DONATION AUTHORITY TO THE 
HOLDING AGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 102-245.'' The holding 
USDA agency may then donate the excess property to the eligible 
organization.
* * * * *
    5. Appendix A to part 2812 is removed.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 12th day of July, 1999.
W.R. Ashworth,
Director, Office of Procurement and Property Management.
[FR Doc. 99-19289 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-PA-P ]