[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30962-30963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10664]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2005-0039]


Office of Research and Development; Proposed Federally Funded 
Research and Development Center; Notice 2

AGENCY: Office of National Laboratories, Directorate of Science and 
Technology, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expects to sponsor a 
Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to address the 
need for scientific research to better anticipate, prevent, and 
mitigate the consequences of biological attacks. The proposed FFRDC 
will be the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center 
(NBACC) which is a critical component in the overarching Homeland 
Security national biodefense complex. The NBACC will both coordinate 
biodefense research activities among various federal agencies and to 
execute its own research

[[Page 30963]]

plan. Also required will be technical and program management 
capabilities to facilitate operation of the NBACC facility.

DATES: The agency must receive comments on or before 30 days after date 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by DHS-2005-0039 and may be 
submitted by one of the following methods:
     EPA Federal Partner EDOCKET Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/feddocket. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Web 
site.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number DHS-
2005-0039 in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 202-254-6163.
     Mail: Department of Homeland Security, Attn: Science and 
Technology Directorate, James V. Johnson, 202-254-6098, Washington DC 
20528.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read the background documents 
or comments received, go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket. You may also 
access the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

For Further Information Contact: James V. Johnson via e-mail at 
[email protected], 202-254-6098.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FFRDC would be established under the 
authority of Section 305 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. 
107-296. Pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
``acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall 
have the authority to establish * * * 1 or more federally funded 
research and development centers to provide independent analysis of 
homeland security issues, or to carry out other responsibilities under 
this Act * * * .''
    This notice is provided pursuant to 5.205b of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulations (FAR) to enable interested members of the 
public to provide comments to DHS on this proposed action. The 
potential FFRDC procurement will involve a Request for Proposals within 
approximately 90 days of the date of this notice. Upon request, a copy 
of the Request for Proposals, including the scope of work for the 
proposed FFRDC, will be provided to any interested party or parties. 
Contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section, above.
    This also constitutes preliminary notice pursuant to section 
308(c)(2)-(4) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that DHS may 
establish a headquarters laboratory to perform the functions envisioned 
by the NBACC. As required under section 308(c)(3)(A) and (B) of the 
Homeland Security Act, should the Secretary choose to establish a 
headquarters laboratory, he will establish criteria for the selection 
of that laboratory in consultation with the National Academy of 
Sciences and other agencies and experts. The criteria so established 
will be published in the Federal Register.
    Further background of this potential establishment of the proposed 
FFRDC can be found out at the USAMRAA Web site, http://www.usamraa.army.mil.

    Dated: May 20, 2005.
Dr. Maureen McCarthy,
Director, Office of Research and Development, Department of Homeland 
Security.
[FR Doc. 05-10664 Filed 5-27-05; 8:45 am]
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