[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 43 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10202-10203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4883]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 000817241-4074-02]


Identification of Currently Funded Projects Eligible to be 
Extended for an Additional Year of Funding in Light of the Department 
of Commerce's Intent to Revise the Postsecondary Internship Program

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) publishes this notice to 
announce that the project award period of cooperative agreements under 
the Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) is extended for an 
additional year of funding. The Federal Register notice that solicited 
applications for the program established the total project award period 
for cooperative agreements under the Postsecondary Internship Program 
as three (3) years. (65 FR 63231, October 23, 2000) The office 
administering the program at the time the cooperative agreements were 
awarded, the DOC Office of Executive Assistance Management, has 
recently been reorganized, with subsequent realignment of the program 
management responsibilities to the DOC Office of Human Resources 
Management (OHRM.) This extension of time will permit DOC's OHRM to 
implement an overall program review, consider potential enhancements 
and revisions of the program scope, work requirements and performance 
measures for the Postsecondary Internship Program. This notice also 
identifies specific program recipients who will be eligible for an 
additional year of funding. It is OHRM's intent to assess the future 
direction of the program especially in outlining initiatives for 
successful and strategic management of human capital. DOC's OHRM has a 
workforce restructuring plan in place, has identified best practices 
for succession planning, and is tracking DOC mission-critical 
occupations which will suffer a severe and identifiable shortage over 
the next five years.

DATES: The award period is extended as of March 4, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Carin M. Otero, (202) 482-1445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) 
was developed as one vehicle the DOC uses to promote participation of 
minorities in Federal programs as mandated by Executive Orders and 
statutes. Title 5, section 7201 of the U.S. Code requires that each 
Executive agency conduct a continuing program for the recruitment of 
members of minorities to address under representation of minorities in 
various categories of Federal employment. Executive Order 13256 
provides for Executive departments to enter into, among other things, 
cooperative agreements with Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCUs) to further the goals of the Executive Order, 
principally that of strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to provide 
quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and 
benefit from Federal programs. Executive Order 13230 calls for 
Executive departments to develop plans to increase opportunities for 
Hispanic Americans to participate in and benefit from Federal education 
programs. Executive Order 13270 helps ensure that greater Federal 
resources are available to the tribal colleges. Executive Order 13216 
directs Federal agencies to increase participation of Asian and Pacific 
Islanders in Federal programs.
    In order to ensure that the Federal Government can maintain 
visibility and attractiveness to the ``best and brightest'' college 
students, this program supports partnerships between Federal 
departments and nonprofit or educational institutions. This program 
continues to improve opportunities for college students to prepare for 
their transition to the workplace and foster human resource diversity 
at DOC.
    As part of the review and revision of the program, DOC amends the 
award period to provide an additional year of funding, on a non-
competitive basis, to current intern program recipients who will be 
completing the third year of partnership with DOC. The additional year 
of funding will permit student participation through the 2005 spring 
session of the program (January through May) which coincides with the 
academic year. Specifically, the additional year of funding will 
comprise the 2004 summer session, the 2004 fall session and the 2005 
spring session of the program. Funding for the additional year will be 
at the sole discretion of the DOC and will depend on satisfactory 
performance by the recipients, the availability of funds, and Agency 
priorities that support the continuation of the project. DOC has no 
obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with 
this award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC.
    Under normal circumstances, Postsecondary Internship Program 
partners would conduct a new competition at the end of the three year 
award period. However, due to the addition of a fourth year of funding, 
the Postsecondary Internship Program did not conduct a competition 
during 2003. The additional year of funding, as announced in this 
notice, will allow OHRM the necessary time to review and develop its 
revised program.
    The following program partners are affected by this notice and will 
be eligible for an additional year of funding, which includes the 2005 
spring session for an extension of the project award period for a total 
of 15 months (3/

[[Page 10203]]

1/04-5/31/05), on a non-competitive basis: American Indian Science and 
Engineering Society, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 
National Intern Program, Minority Access, Inc., and Oak Ridge 
Associated Universities.
    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are 
applicable to this notice.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 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 has not 
been prepared.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7201 and Executive Orders 13216, 13230, 
13256, and 13270.

    Dated: March 1, 2004.
Deborah A. Jefferson,
Director for Human Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 04-4883 Filed 3-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BS-P