[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 41777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14264]



[[Page 41777]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2005-0052]


Office of Research and Development; Proposed Federally Funded 
Research and Development Center; Notice No. 3

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 plan. Also required will be technical and 
program management capabilities to facilitate operation of the NBACC 
facility. This is the third of three notices which must be published 
over a 90 day period in order to advise the public of the agency's 
intention to sponsor an FFRDC.

DATES: The agency must receive comments on or before August 4, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by DHS-2005-0052 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] and send copy to Project 
Officer: [email protected]. Include docket number DHS-2005-0052 
in the subject line of the message.
     Mail to: United States Army Medical Research Acquisition 
Activity (USAMRAA), Attn: Mary C. Rico, 820 Chandler Street, Ft. 
Detrick, Maryland 21702. Mail Copy to: 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: Mary C. Rico via e-mail at 
[email protected].

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 5.205(b) of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulations (FAR), 48 CFR 5.205(b), 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 shortly after the agency has reviewed any comments received 
on this and the two prior notices. 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)(3) 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: July 15, 2005.
Robert Hooks,
Deputy Director, Office of Research and Development, Department of 
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 05-14264 Filed 7-19-05; 8:45 am]
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