[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 55 (Thursday, March 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14957-14958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5660]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 080306392-8393-01]
RIN 0648-ZB89


Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP); Extension of Award Period

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) is publishing this notice to 
allow for the extension of the award period for an additional four-
month period of funding, on a non-competitive basis, to awards of 
current Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) recipients who will be 
completing the third year of partnership with DOC on May 31, 2008. The 
Federal Register notice (69 FR 68125, November 23, 2004) and Federal 
Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement that solicited applications for 
the program established the total project award period for cooperative 
agreements under the Postsecondary Internship Program as three years 
and three months (March 1, 2005-May 31, 2008). This extension of time 
will permit DOC's Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) to 
implement an overall program review, consider potential enhancements 
and revisions of the program scope, work requirements and performance 
measures for the PIP. It is OHRM's intent to assess the future 
direction of the program especially in outlining initiatives for 
successful and strategic management of human capital.

DATES: The award period and related funding, if approved by the DOC 
Grants Officer, will commence on June 1, 2008, and will continue 
through September 30, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam D. Santo, Project Manager, 
United States Department of Commerce, Office of Human Resources 
Management, Room 5204, 1400 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20230. Mr. Santo may be reached by telephone at (202) 482-4286 and by 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) 
was developed as one vehicle the DOC uses to promote participation of 
minorities in Federal programs as mandated by Executive Orders and 
statutes. Title 5, section 7201 of the U.S. Code requires that each 
Executive agency conduct a continuing program for the recruitment of 
members of minorities to address under representation of minorities in 
various categories of Federal employment. Executive Order 13256 
provides for Executive departments to enter into, among other things, 
cooperative agreements with Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCUs) to further the goals of the Executive Order, 
principally that of strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to provide 
quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and 
benefit from Federal programs. Executive Order 13230 calls for 
Executive departments to develop plans to increase opportunities for 
Hispanic Americans to participate in and benefit from Federal education 
programs. Executive Order 13270 helps ensure that greater Federal 
resources are available to the tribal colleges. Executive Order 13216 
directs Federal agencies to increase participation of Asian and Pacific 
Islanders in Federal programs.
    In order to ensure that the Federal Government can maintain 
visibility and attractiveness to the ``best and brightest'' college 
students, this program supports

[[Page 14958]]

partnerships between Federal departments and nonprofit or educational 
institutions. This program continues to improve opportunities for 
college students to prepare for their transition to the workplace and 
foster human resource diversity at DOC. In order to provide the program 
with the necessary time to review and develop its revised program for 
new awards, this notice amends DOC's prior Federal Register notice 
dated November 23, 2004 (69 FR 68125) to allow for an additional four-
month period of funding, on a non-competitive basis, to current PIP 
recipients who will be completing the third year of partnership with 
DOC on May 31, 2008. The following recipients whose award period is 
scheduled to end on May 31, 2008, are affected by this notice and will 
be eligible for an additional four-month period of funding, on a non-
competitive basis, through September 30, 2008: American Indian Science 
and Engineering Society, Hispanic Association of Colleges and 
Universities National Intern Program, Minority Access, Inc., Oak Ridge 
Associated Universities, and The Washington Center for Internships and 
Academic Seminars.
    The award period and related funding, if approved by the DOC Grants 
Officer, will commence on June 1, 2008, and will continue through 
September 30, 2008. The additional period of funding will permit 
student participation in the PIP through the 2008 summer session of the 
program (June through August), which coincides with the academic year.
    Funding for the additional period of time will be at the sole 
discretion of the DOC using the evaluation criteria and process used to 
determine the continuation of funding during the original award period 
(March 1, 2005-May 31, 2008). In making such determinations, the 
following factors will be considered: (1) Satisfactory performance by 
the recipients; (2) the availability of appropriated funds; and (3) DOC 
priorities that support the continuation of the project. DOC has no 
obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with 
this award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC. The OHRM is 
currently reviewing the program to ensure it meets workforce planning 
needs. The additional period of funding, as announced in this notice, 
will allow OHRM the necessary time to review and develop its revised 
program so that a competition can be held for new awards, which will 
permit student participation in the PIP commencing with the fall 
session of 2008.

The 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 Federal Register 
notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696) are applicable to this notice.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 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 or any other law 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 has not 
been prepared.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7201 and Executive Orders 13216, 13230, 
13256, and 13270.

    Dated: March 14, 2008.
Deborah A. Jefferson,
Director for Human Resources Management, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E8-5660 Filed 3-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BS-S