[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68125-68126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25901]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 000817241-4320-03]


Notice of Funding Availability for Postsecondary Internship 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Human Resources Management, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) established a postsecondary 
internship program to aid and promote experiential training activities 
which foster future employment in DOC or the Federal Government in 
general. United States citizens enrolled as students in 2- and 4-year 
accredited educational institutions will participate in onsite work 
experiences in DOC bureaus and office in order to integrate academic 
theory and workplace requirements, gain relevant skills and knowledge, 
explore federal career options, develop professional networks, and 
develop a greater awareness of the role of federal agencies. The 
program will be administered through a partnership between the DOC and 
nonprofit and/or educational institution(s) of higher education and 
funded by cooperative agreement(s). There will be no employer-employee 
relationship between DOC and its hosted interns. The recipient will be 
the supervisor of record for the interns and shall control the means 
and manner of the interns' activities. This notice solicits proposals 
from eligible institutions that desire to collaborate with the DOC on 
this initiative.

DATES: Proposals must be received by the DOC no later than 12 noon 
Eastern Standard Time (EST), December 23, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Office of Human Resources Management, ATTN: Carin Otero, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5004, Washington DC 20230. Note: If the 
application is hand-delivered by the applicant or its representative to 
the U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, the 
application must be delivered to Room 1874, which is located at 
Entrance 10, 15th Street, NW., between Pennsylvania and 
Constitution Avenues. The application should be addressed as specified 
above. Applications delivered on the date of the application deadline 
must be delivered by 12 noon EST. Applications will not be accepted 
electronically or via facsimile.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the full funding 
opportunity announcement for this request for proposals and/or an 
application kit, please note the Web site below listed under 
``Electronic Access.'' For a paper copy of the full funding opportunity 
announcement and/or an application kit, contact Carin Otero, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Office of Human Resources Management, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5004, Washington DC 20230, or via 
Internet at [email protected], or via telephone at (202) 482-1445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Electronic Access: The full funding opportunity announcement for 
the Postsecondary Internship Program is available via the Internet at: 
http://ohrm.doc.gov/Intern/internprogram.htm. This announcement will 
also be available through Grants.gov at: http://www.Grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: Projections based upon previous programs 
indicate an average availability of between $230,000-$950,000 to 
support from 25 to 100 interns. However, the exact level of funding is 
not yet known until DOC and other agency host offices project their 
participation levels. Proposals should be based upon the cost of 
administering a summer program for 25 student interns and five interns 
for each academic year session.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the Postsecondary Internship 
Program is provided by 5 U.S.C. 7201, which 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

[[Page 68126]]

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 increasing 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. Applications will be accepted from any 
eligible institution, and applications for internships shall be 
accepted from all students meeting program eligibility criteria and 
will not be limited only to minority students. Application, referral, 
and selection processes shall be conducted without any consideration of 
race, ethnicity, gender, or other personal factors.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 11.702--Internship Program 
for Postsecondary Students.
    Eligibility: Accredited universities, colleges and nonprofit 
organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible institutions may form 
joint ventures to submit a joint application to share costs and 
administration roles and responsibilities. In such cases, one of the 
institutions must be designated as the lead organization for purposes 
of receipt and overall accountability for any financial assistance 
award received under this program.
    Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Cost sharing is not required 
for the internship program.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: Prior to the formal paneling 
process, each application will receive an initial review to ensure that 
all required forms, signatures, and documentation are present. Each 
application will receive an independent, objective review by a panel 
qualified to evaluate the applications submitted. The Independent 
Review Panel, consisting of at least three individuals (who are federal 
employees), will review all applications based on the criteria stated 
below. The Independent Review Panel will evaluate and rank the 
proposals. Each reviewer will evaluate and provide a score for each 
proposal. After all proposals are assigned a score, each proposal will 
be ranked according to the average total score given by the reviewers. 
The final decision on awards will be based upon the proposal ranking, 
availability of funding, and the Selecting Official's (DOC Program 
Officer) determination of which proposals best meet the objectives of 
the program, specifically relating to who will best reach the targeted 
audience of intern candidates. The amount of funds awarded to each 
recipient will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant, the Grants Office and the DOC Program Officer.
    Evaluation Criteria:
    (1) Quality of Program Plan (30 percent). Includes, but is not 
limited to, strategy for outreach and publicity, procedures for 
collecting and evaluating applications, comprehensiveness of program to 
include plans for onsite orientation for summer sessions, and 
practicality of approach.
    (2) Proposed Costs (20 percent). The proposed budget must be 
comprehensive and should include all costs for program personnel, 
fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and other associated 
items. The stipend level and other benefits (i.e., housing, local 
transportation, etc.) proposed for students should be stated in the 
budget and the budget narrative.
    (3) Key Personnel Qualifications (20 percent). Includes an 
assessment of the number, qualifications, and proposed roles of staff 
who will administer the internship program. Resumes of proposed 
personnel will facilitate the evaluation of the competency and 
experience of the proposed staff.
    (4) Capabilities of the Applicant Organization (20 percent). 
Considers, among other things, previous experience and success 
administering similar programs, and staff and resources to assure 
adequate development, supervision, and execution of the proposed 
program. Additionally, an organization's commitment to educate/advance 
the education of women, minorities, and people with disabilities will 
be a consideration in evaluating this factor.
    Limitation of Liability: Funding for the program listed in this 
notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2005 
appropriations. DOC issues this notice subject to the appropriations 
made available under the current Continuing Resolution, H.J. Res. 107, 
``making continuing appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2005, and for 
other purposes,'' Public Law 108-309. DOC anticipates making awards for 
this program provided that funding for the program is continued beyond 
November 20, 2005, the expiration of the current Continuing Resolution. 
In no event will the DOC be responsible for proposal preparation costs 
if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of 
other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not 
oblige the DOC to award any specific project or to obligate any 
available funds.
    The 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 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 solicitation.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: This document contains collection-of-
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, 
and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision 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 
requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    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 comments are not required by the 
Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this notice 
concerning 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.

    Dated: November 17, 2004.
Deborah A. Jefferson,
Director for Human Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 04-25901 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BS-P