[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6399-6400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1193]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 8, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 6399]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Part 1496


Procurement of Commodities for Foreign Donation; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a public 
meeting to discuss the proposed rule, Procurement of Commodities for 
Foreign Donation, published in the Federal Register on December 16, 
2005 (70 FR 74717).

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for February 21, 2006, from 1 p.m. to 3 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Washington, DC in USDA's Jamie 
L. Whitten Building, Room 107A, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250. The Jamie L. Whitten Building is located near the 
Smithsonian Metro Station. Requests to address the meeting must be 
submitted by February 15, 2006 by any of the following methods:
    E-mail: [email protected].
    Fax: (202) 690-0767.
    Mail: Send to Director, Commodity Procurement Policy and Analysis 
Division (CPPAD), FSA, USDA, Room 5755-S, Stop 0551, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0551.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Cacciatore, USDA, FSA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0551, Washington, DC 20250-0551; 
Telephone: 202-720-5074, Fax: 202-690-0767; E-mail: 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require 
special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting should 
contact Paul Cacciatore by February 15, 2006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 16, 2005, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 
published a proposed rule, Procurement of Commodities for Foreign 
Donation, in the Federal Register (70 FR 74717). The proposed rule 
would adopt new procedures to be used by CCC in the evaluation of bids 
in connection with the procurement of commodities for donation 
overseas. In general, CCC proposes to amend the existing regulations to 
provide for the simultaneous review of commodity and ocean freight 
offers when evaluating lowest landed cost options in connection with 
the procurement of commodities. This proposed rule would enhance 
bidding opportunities for potential vendors while allowing CCC to more 
efficiently acquire commodities.
    Comments on the proposed rule were due on or before January 17, 
2006. In response to public requests, CCC reopened and extended the 
comment period for 45 days until March 9, 2006, via a document 
published in the Federal Register January 23, 2006 (71 FR 3442). The 
Agency believes the request for additional time to comment on the 
proposed rule is reasonable and will allow the rulemaking to proceed in 
a timely manner. Further, CCC has determined that a public meeting 
should be held to provide for open discussion on the proposed rule.

II. Registration

    To register, contact the Public Meeting Coordinator by e-mail at 
[email protected], by phone at (202) 720-5074, or by fax at 
(202) 690-0767. The following information must be provided when 
registering to attend the meeting: Name, company name and address, 
telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and special needs 
information. A staff member will confirm your registration by e-mail, 
fax or phone. You may also register in person at the meeting.

III. Speaker Presentations

    Persons who wish to address the meeting must register using the 
registration procedures described above. At the time of registration, 
those wishing to address the meeting, must provide a brief, written 
statement regarding the nature of the information they intend to 
present.
    Those attendees who wish to address the meeting but did not pre-
register, will be permitted to sign up at the meeting, on a first-come, 
first-served basis. Based on the number of items on the agenda and the 
progress of the meeting, a determination will be made at the meeting by 
the Public Meeting Coordinator and the meeting moderator regarding how 
many speakers can be accommodated. Speakers will be limited to 
approximately five minutes and must provide their name, company name 
and address, contact information as well as provide a brief, written 
statement regarding the nature of the information they intend to 
present.
    The meeting will be transcribed and the transcription, together 
with any written submissions, made part of the rule-making record.

IV. Written Comments on the Proposed Rule

    Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted at the 
meeting or, by March 9, 2006, by the following methods:
    E-mail: Send comments to [email protected].
    Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to: (202) 690-2221.
    Mail: Send comments to: Director, Commodity Procurement Policy & 
Analysis Division, Farm Service Agency, United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), Rm. 5755-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0512.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to above address.
    Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http//www.regulations.gov Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.

V. General Information

    The meeting will be held in a Federal government building. 
Therefore, Federal security measures will be in force. In planning your 
arrival, we recommend allowing extra time to clear security. The main 
entrance to the USDA building will be at the North entrance on 
Jefferson Drive. In order to enter the building, participants must 
bring government-issued photo identification. Entry may be denied to 
persons without proper identification.
    In addition, all persons entering the building must pass through a 
metal detector. All items brought to the meeting, whether personal or 
for the

[[Page 6400]]

purposes of demonstration or support of a presentation, are subject to 
inspection. We cannot assume responsibility for coordinating the 
receipt, transfer, transport, storage, set-up, safety, or timely 
arrival of any personal belongings or items used for demonstration or 
support of a presentation.

    Signed at Washington, DC, February 1, 2006.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice-President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 06-1193 Filed 2-6-06; 8:56 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P