[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 225 (Friday, November 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65707-65708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22844]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency

[Docket No.: 071116709-7711-01]


Extension of the Award Period for Certain Minority Business 
Enterprise Centers

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 overall award periods for those Minority 
Business Enterprise Centers (MBECs) identified in this notice. MBDA is 
taking this action to allow for continued program delivery by the 
incumbent MBEC operators while MBDA completes the competitive 
solicitation and award processes for the next three (3) year MBEC 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

[[Page 65708]]

may be reached by telephone at (202) 482-1940 and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Executive Order 11625, the MBEC 
Program provides standardized business assistance and development 
services directly to eligible minority-owned businesses. The MBEC 
Program is a key component of MBDA's overall business development 
assistance program and promotes the growth and competitiveness of 
minority business enterprises and further incorporates an 
entrepreneurial approach to the delivery of client services. This 
entrepreneurial strategy expands the reach and service delivery of the 
MBEC 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 MBEC's applicable 
geographical service area.
    This notice amends MBDA's prior Federal Register notice dated 
August 17, 2004 (69 FR 51064), as amended on March 19, 2007 (72 FR 
12769), to allow for up to a 180-day funded extension, on a non-
competitive basis, of the overall award period for the following three 
MBECs: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale MBEC (M. Gill and Associates); Oklahoma 
City MBEC (Langston University); and the Honolulu MBEC (University of 
Hawaii). MBDA is taking this action to allow for continued program 
delivery by the incumbent MBEC operators while MBDA completes the 
competitive solicitation and award processes for the next three (3) 
year MBEC award period.
    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 for the optional third-year of the original 
award. In making such determinations, the following factors will be 
considered: (1) The MBEC'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 MBEC Program.
    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, as amended by H.R. 3222, Public 
Law 110-116. 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 MBEC projects affected by this 
notice if the MBEC 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 16, 2007.
Ronald J. Marin,
Financial Management Officer, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E7-22844 Filed 11-21-07; 8:45 am]
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