[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 220 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64196-64197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22387]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency

[Docket No.: 071107681-7682-01]


Extension of the Award Period for Certain Native American 
Business Enterprise Centers

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is publishing 
this notice to allow for up to a 180-day funded extension, on a non-
competitive basis, of the award periods for those Native American 
Business Enterprise Centers (NABECs) identified in this notice whose 
current award period is scheduled to end on December 31, 2007. MBDA is 
taking this action to allow for continued program delivery by the 
identified NABEC operators while MBDA completes the competitive 
solicitation and award processes for the next three (3) year NABEC 
award period.

DATES: The award period and related funding, if approved by the 
Department of Commerce Grants Officer, will commence January 1, 2008 
and will continue for a period not to exceed 180 days.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Efrain Gonzalez, Chief, Office of 
Business Development, Minority Business Development Agency, 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: Pursuant to Executive Order 11625, the NABEC 
Program provides standardized business assistance and development 
services directly to Native American- and other eligible minority-owned 
businesses. The NABEC Program is a key component of MBDA's overall 
business development assistance program and promotes the growth and 
competitiveness of eligible businesses and further incorporates an 
entrepreneurial approach to the delivery of client services. This 
entrepreneurial strategy expands the reach and service delivery of the 
NABEC Program by requiring project operators to develop and to build 
upon strategic alliances with public and private sector partners as a 
means of serving eligible businesses within each NABEC's applicable 
geographical service area. MBDA currently funds a network of eight (8) 
NABEC projects located throughout the United States.
    This notice amends MBDA's prior Federal Register notice dated 
August 29, 2003 (68 FR 51981), as amended on September 30, 2003 (68 FR 
56267), February 11, 2004 (69 FR 6644), February 19, 2004 (69 FR 7726) 
and October 25, 2006 (71 FR 62420) to allow for up to a 180-day funded 
extension, on a non-competitive basis, of the award period for the 
following five (5) NABECs whose award period is scheduled to end on 
December 31, 2007: Minnesota/Iowa Statewide NABEC (Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe); North Dakota/South Dakota Statewide NABEC (United Tribes 
Technical College); Arizona Statewide NABEC (The National Center for 
American Indian Enterprise Development); California Statewide NABEC 
(The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development); and 
the Northwest NABEC (The National Center for American Indian Enterprise 
Development). MBDA is taking this action to allow for continued program 
delivery by the five identified NABEC operators while MBDA completes 
the competitive solicitation and award processes for the next three (3) 
year NABEC award period. The remaining three (3) NABEC projects: North 
Carolina Statewide NABEC (The National Center for American Indian 
Enterprise Development); New Mexico Statewide NABEC (American Indian 
Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico); and the Oklahoma Statewide NABEC 
(Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.) are not affected by this notice 
as their respective awards period do not expire until the end of July 
or August 2008 (as the case may be).
    The allowable award extensions and additional funding set forth 
herein will be made at the sole discretion of MBDA and the Department 
of Commerce using the evaluation criteria and process used to determine 
the continuation of funding during the original award period (Program 
Years 1-4). In making such determinations, the following factors will 
be considered: (1) The NABEC's program performance rating during the 
prior program period; (2) the availability of appropriated funds; and 
(3) MBDA and Department of Commerce priorities. MBDA will review the 
project's performance rating as evaluated through the standardized 
performance reports and assessments required under the NABEC Program. 
Projects receiving below a ``Satisfactory'' performance rating in the 
prior program period will be eligible for an award extension under this 
notice.

[[Page 64197]]

    Funding for the allowable award extensions listed in this notice is 
contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations, 
which have not yet been appropriated for the NABEC program. MBDA 
therefore issues this notice subject to the appropriations made 
available under the current continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 52, 
``Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2008, and for 
other purposes,'' Public Law 110-92. In no event will MBDA or the 
Department of Commerce be responsible to cover any costs incurred 
outside of the current award period by the incumbent operators of the 
five (5) NABEC projects affected by this notice if the NABEC Program 
fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of other MBDA or 
Department priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige 
MBDA or the Department to award any extensions 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: November 9, 2007.
Ronald N. Langston,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-22387 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P