[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60702-60703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21049]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


8(a) Business Development Program Regulation Changes; Tribal 
Consultation

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces that it 
is holding a tribal consultation meeting in Denver, Colorado on the 
topic of the 8(a) Business Development (BD) program regulations. 
Testimony presented at this tribal consultation meeting will become 
part of the administrative record for SBA's consideration when the 
Agency deliberates on approaches to changes in the regulations 
pertaining to the 8(a) BD program.

DATES: The Tribal Consultation meeting date is Sunday, November 11, 
2007, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MST), Denver, Colorado. The Tribal Consultation 
meeting pre-registration deadline date is November 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES:
    1. The Tribal Consultation meeting address is the Hyatt Regency 
Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, Centennial C Room, 650 15th 
Street, Denver, CO 80202.
    2. Send pre-registration requests to attend and/or testify to Ms. 
Delcine Montgomery of SBA's Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. 
Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20416; or [email protected]; or Facsimile to 202/481-1597.
    3. Send all written comments to Mr. Joseph Loddo, Associate 
Administrator for Business Development, U.S. Small Business 
Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416; 
[email protected]; or Facsimile to 202/481-2740.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delcine Montgomery, Business 
Development Specialist for SBA's Office of Native American Affairs, at 
[email protected] or 202/ 205-6195 or by facsimile 202/481-
1597.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    SBA is in the process of reassessing its rules relating to the 8(a) 
BD program, particularly those directly affecting tribally-owned and 
ANC-owned 8(a) firms. 13 CFR 124.506, 124.513, and 124.519. Part of 
SBA's analysis pertains to a recent report issued by the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) titled ``Increased Use of Alaska Native 
Corporations' Special 8(a) Provisions Calls for Tailored Oversight'' 
(GAO-06-399). This GAO report concluded that SBA needs to tailor its 
regulations and policies to provide greater oversight over its ANCs' 
8(a) procurements. GAO determined that without sufficient oversight, 
there is the potential for unintended consequences or abuse.
    In response, SBA is considering regulatory changes to the 8(a) BD 
program to address the issues and concerns raised in the report, 
particularly those relating to ANC and tribal participation in the 8(a) 
BD mentor/prot[eacute]g[eacute] program. It is SBA's intent that any 
changes contemplated and instituted will incorporate the business 
development intent and mission of the 8(a) BD program as established by 
the Small Business Act. This notice provides information for the 
purpose, format, scheduling, and registration for the tribal 
consultation meeting.

Tribal Consultation Meeting

    The purpose of this tribal consultation meeting is to conform to 
the requirements of Executive Order 13175, Tribal Consultations; to 
provide interested parties with an opportunity to discuss their views 
on the issues; and for SBA to obtain the views of these SBA's 
stakeholders on approaches to the 8(a) BD program regulations. SBA 
considers tribal consultation meetings a valuable component of its 
deliberations and believes that this tribal consultation meeting will 
allow for constructive dialogue with the Tribal community, Tribal 
Leaders, Tribal Elders, elected members of Alaska Native Villages or 
their appointed representatives, and principals of tribally-owned and 
ANC-owned 8(a) firms.
    The format will consist of a panel of SBA representatives who will 
represent the Agency and moderate the discussions. Oral and written 
testimony will become part of the record for SBA's consideration. 
Written testimony may be submitted in lieu of oral testimony. SBA will 
analyze the testimony, both oral and written, along with any written 
comments received. SBA officials may ask questions of a presenter to 
clarify or further explain the testimony. The purpose of the tribal 
consultation meeting is to assist SBA with gathering information to 
potentially develop new proposals. SBA respectfully requests that the 
testimony focus on the issues as discussed in the GAO report, general 
issues as they pertain to the 8(a) BD program regulations and the 
mentor/prot[eacute]g[eacute] program, or the unique concerns of the 
tribal communities. SBA respectfully requests that presenters do not 
raise issues pertaining to other SBA small business programs. 
Presenters may provide a written copy of their testimony. SBA will 
accept written material that the presenter wishes to provide that 
further supplements his or her testimony. Electronic or digitized 
copies are encouraged.
    The tribal consultation meeting will be held for one day. The 
meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. (MST), with a break from 
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. SBA will adjourn early if all those scheduled have 
delivered their testimony.

                                                VENUE INFORMATION
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           Location                  Address                    Date                 Registration closing date
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Denver, Colorado..............  Hyatt Regency      November 11, 2007.............  November 5, 2007.
                                 Denver at the
                                 Colorado
                                 Convention
                                 Center,
                                 Centennial C
                                 Room, 650 15th
                                 Street, Denver,
                                 CO 80202.
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[[Page 60703]]

Registration

    SBA respectfully requests that any elected or appointed 
representative of the tribal communities or principal of a tribally-
owned or ANC-owned 8(a) firm that is interested in attending please 
pre-register in advance and indicate whether you would like to testify 
at the hearing. Registration requests should be received by SBA at 
least 5 business days prior to the tribal consultation meeting date. 
Please contact Ms. Delcine Montgomery of SBA's Office of Native 
American Affairs in writing at [email protected] or by 
facsimile to 202/481-1597. If you are interested in testifying please 
include the following information relating to the person testifying: 
Name, Organization affiliation, Address, Telephone number, E-mail 
address and Fax number. SBA will attempt to accommodate all interested 
parties that wish to present testimony. Based on the number of 
registrants it may be necessary to impose time limits to ensure that 
everyone who wishes to testify has the opportunity to do so. SBA will 
confirm in writing the registration of presenters and attendees.

(Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634)

Stephen D. Kong,
Deputy General Counsel.
 [FR Doc. E7-21049 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P