[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12769-12770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4902]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency

[Docket No. 0612243002-7057-01]


Amendment to the Required Minimum Performance Ratings for 
Optional Third-Year Funding for the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Oklahoma City 
and Honolulu Minority Business Enterprise Centers

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On August 17, 2004, the Minority Business Development Agency 
(MBDA) published a Federal Register notice soliciting competitive 
applications for operators of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Oklahoma City 
and Honolulu Minority Business Enterprise Centers (MBECs) (formerly 
Minority Business Development Centers). No other MBECs were included as 
part of this competitive solicitation. The August 17, 2004 notice 
provides for a two-year award period, with an optional third-year award 
period available at the sole discretion of MBDA and the Department of 
Commerce. The notice also provides that only those MBECs achieving 
``outstanding'' performance ratings for each of the two prior program 
years are eligible to receive funding for the optional third-year of 
the award.
    This notice amends the August 17, 2004 notice to change the minimum 
required performance rating for the optional third-year award period 
from ``outstanding'' to ``at least commendable'' for the first program 
year. The ``outstanding'' performance requirement for the second 
program year continues to apply. MBDA is making this amendment to allow 
the operators of these three MBECs to be eligible for a third and final 
year of continuation funding if they achieve at least a ``commendable'' 
performance rating for first program year and an ``outstanding'' 
performance rating for the second program year.

DATES: The optional third-year award period, if approved by the 
Department of Commerce Grants Officer, will be effective as of January 
1, 2007 and will continue through December 31, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Efrain Gonzalez, Program Manager, 
Minority Business Development Agency, Office of Business Development, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5075, Washington, DC 20230. Mr. 
Gonzalez may be reached by telephone at (202) 482-1940 and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 17, 2004, MBDA published a Federal 
Register notice (69 FR 51064) soliciting competitive applications for 
operators of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Oklahoma City and Honolulu 
MBECs, which cover the metropolitan statistical areas of Miami/Ft. 
Lauderdale, Florida, the State of Oklahoma and the Island of Hawaii, 
respectively. No other MBECs were included as part of this competitive 
solicitation. The August 17, 2004 notice provides for a two-year award 
period (January 1, 2005-December 31, 2006), with a third-year option 
(January 1, 2007-December 31, 2007) available at the sole discretion of 
MBDA and the Department of Commerce. The August 17, 2004 notice further 
provides that only those MBECs achieving ``outstanding'' performance 
ratings for each of the two prior program years are eligible to receive 
funding for the optional third-year of the award. Pursuant to the 
August 17, 2004 notice, two-year awards were made to M. Gill and 
Associates (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale MBEC), Langston University (Oklahoma 
City MBEC) and the University of Hawaii (Honolulu MBEC) for the award 
period January 1, 2005-December 31, 2006.
    MBDA has determined that it is necessary to amend the August 17, 
2004 notice to change the minimum required

[[Page 12770]]

performance rating for optional third-year funding from ``outstanding'' 
to ``at least commendable'' (as defined in the FFO accompanying the 
original notice) for the first program year. All other provisions of 
the original August 17, 2004 notice remain the same.

Limitation of Liability

    Publication of this announcement does not oblige the Department of 
Commerce or MBDA to award a third-year extension to any of the MBEC 
operators or projects identified in this notice or to obligate any 
available funds for such purpose.

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 December 30, 2004 
Federal Register notice (69 FR 78389) are applicable to this notice.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 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 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 is not required and has 
not been prepared.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512 and Executive Order 11625.

    Dated: March 13, 2007.
Ronald Marin,
Financial Management Officer, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-4902 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
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