[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27301-27302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11596]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Notice of the Re-Opening of the Deadline To Receive Nominations 
for the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. 
Department of Commerce, solicited nominations for individuals to serve 
on the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise 
(NACMBE) pursuant to a Federal Register Notice published on March 29, 
2010 (75 FR 15413). The March 29, 2010 notice provided that all 
nominations must be received on or before May 3, 2010. On May 3, 2010, 
MBDA published a Federal Register Notice (75 FR 23238) extending the 
deadline for the receipt of nominations until May 10, 2010. This notice 
re-opens the nomination period for NACMBE membership and allows for the 
receipt of nominations on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) 
on June 30, 2010. The purpose of this notice is to allow the public 
additional time to submit nominations. The requirements for submitting 
nominations and the evaluation criteria for selecting members contained 
in the March 29, 2010 notice shall continue to apply in their entirety 
and, for convenience, are being republished in this notice.
    Nominations submitted on or before May 10, 2010 will be considered 
by MBDA and persons do not need to resubmit their nomination materials, 
although they may amend or revise such nomination materials on or 
before the new deadline of June 30, 2010. Nominations received after 
May 10, 2010 and on or before the new deadline of June 30, 2010 will 
also be considered for NACMBE membership. The purpose of the NACMBE is 
to advise the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on key issues 
pertaining to the growth and competitiveness of the nation's Minority 
Business Enterprises (MBEs).

DATES: Complete nomination packages for NACMBE membership must be 
received by the Department of Commerce on or before June 30, 2010 at 5 
p.m. (EDT).

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages may be submitted through the mail or may 
be submitted electronically. Interested persons are encouraged to 
submit nominations electronically. The deadline is the same for 
nominations submitted through the mail and for nominations submitted 
electronically.
    1. Submission by Mail: Nominations sent by mail should be addressed 
to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development 
Agency, Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, 
Attn: Stephen Boykin, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5063, 
Washington, DC 20230. Applicants are advised that the Department of 
Commerce's receipt of mail sent via the United States Postal Service 
may be substantially delayed or suspended in delivery due to security 
measures. Applicants may therefore wish to use a guaranteed overnight 
delivery service to ensure nomination packages are received by the 
Department of Commerce by the deadline set forth in this notice.
    2. Electronic Submission: Nomination sent electronically should be 
addressed to: [email protected]. Please include ``NACMBE 
Nomination'' in the title of the e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Boykin, MBDA Office of 
Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, at (202) 482-1712 
or by e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Pursuant to Executive Order 11625, as amended, the 
Department of Commerce, through the Minority Business Development 
Agency (MBDA), is charged with promoting the growth and competitiveness 
of the nation's minority business enterprise. NACMBE is being 
established in the Department of Commerce as a discretionary advisory 
committee in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and with the concurrence of 
the General Services Administration. The NACMBE will be administered 
primarily by MBDA.
    Although MBDA has received many applications and is still 
considering all applications received to date, the Agency is seeking a 
broader applicant pool. By re-opening the application period, the 
Agency also hopes to have a broader applicant pool to reflect greater 
ethnic, gender, and industry diversity. Persons who have previously 
submitted nominations remain under consideration and do not need to 
resubmit their nomination materials, although they may amend such 
nomination materials on or before the closing date of June 30, 2010
    Objectives and Scope of Activities: NACMBE will advise the 
Secretary on key issues pertaining to the growth and

[[Page 27302]]

competitiveness of the nation's MBEs, as defined in Executive Order 
11625, as amended, and 15 CFR 1400.1. NACMBE will provide advice and 
recommendations on a broad range of policy issues that affect minority 
businesses and their ability to successfully access the domestic and 
global marketplace. These policy issues may include, but are not 
limited to:
     Methods for increasing jobs in the health care, 
manufacturing, technology, and ``green'' industries;
     Global and domestic barriers and impediments;
     Global and domestic business opportunities;
     MBE capacity building;
     Institutionalizing global business curriculums at colleges 
and universities and facilitating the entry of MBEs into such programs;
     Identifying and leveraging pools of capital for MBEs;
     Methods for creating high value loan pools geared toward 
MBEs with size, scale and capacity;
     Strategies for collaboration amongst minority chambers, 
trade associations and nongovernmental organizations;
     Accuracy, availability and frequency of economic data 
concerning minority businesses;
     Methods for increasing global transactions with entities 
such as but not limited to the Export-Import Bank, OPIC and the IMF; 
and
     Requirements for a uniform and reciprocal MBE 
certification program.
    The advice and recommendations provided by NACMBE may take the form 
of one or more written reports. NACMBE will also serve as a vehicle for 
an ongoing dialogue with the MBE community and with other stakeholders.
    The Secretary has determined that the establishment of NACMBE is 
necessary and in the public interest in connection with MBDA's duties 
and responsibilities in advancing the growth and competitiveness of 
MBEs pursuant to Executive Order 11625, as amended.
    Membership: NACMBE shall be composed of not more than 25 members. 
The NACMBE members shall be distinguished individuals from the 
nonfederal sector appointed by the Secretary. The members shall be 
recognized leaders in their respective fields of endeavor and shall 
possess the necessary knowledge and experience to provide advice and 
recommendations on a broad range of policy issues that impact the 
ability of MBEs to successfully participate in the domestic and global 
marketplace. NACMBE shall have a balanced membership reflecting a 
diversity of industries, ethnic backgrounds and geographical regions, 
and to the extent practicable, gender and persons with disabilities.
    NACMBE members shall be appointed as Special Government Employees 
for a two-year term and shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
Members may be re-appointed to additional two-year terms, without 
limitation. The Secretary may designate a member or members to serve as 
the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson(s) of NACMBE. The Chairperson or 
Vice-Chairperson(s) shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
    NACMBE members will serve without compensation, but will be allowed 
reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, including a per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, as amended, for 
persons serving intermittently in federal government service. NACMBE 
members will serve in a solely advisory capacity.
    Eligibility. In addition to the above criterion, eligibility for 
NACMBE membership is limited to U.S. citizens who are not full-time 
employees of the Federal Government, are not registered with the U.S. 
Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and are 
not a federally-registered lobbyists pursuant to the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995, as amended, at the time of appointment to the 
NACMBE.
    Nomination Procedures and Selection of Members: The Department of 
Commerce is accepting nominations for NACMBE membership for the 
upcoming 2-year charter term beginning in April 2010. Members shall 
serve until the NACMBE charter expires in April 2012, although members 
may be re-appointed by the Secretary without limitation. Nominees will 
be evaluated consistent with the factors specified in this notice and 
their ability to successfully carryout the goals of the NACMBE.
    For consideration, a nominee must submit the following materials: 
(1) Resume, (2) personal statement of interest, including a summary of 
how the nominee's experience and expertise would support the NACMBE 
objectives; (3) an affirmative statement that the nominee is not 
required to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act of 1938, as amended, and (4) an affirmative statement 
that: (a) The nominee is not currently a federally-registered lobbyist 
and will not be a federally-registered lobbyist at the time of 
appointment and during his/her tenure as a NACMBE member, or (b) if the 
nominee is currently a federally-registered lobbyist, that the nominee 
will no longer be a federally-registered lobbyist at the time of 
appointment to the NACMBE and during his/her tenure as a NACMBE member. 
All nomination information should be provided in a single, complete 
package by the deadline specified in this notice. Nominations packages 
should be submitted by either mail or electronically, but not by both 
methods. Self-nominations will be accepted.
    NACMBE Members will be selected in accordance with applicable 
Department of Commerce guidelines and in a manner that ensures that 
NACMBE has a balanced membership. In this respect, the Secretary seeks 
to appoint members who represent a diversity of industries, ethnic 
backgrounds and geographical regions, and to the extent practicable, 
gender and persons with disabilities.
    All appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis 
of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or cultural, 
religious, or socioeconomic status. All appointments shall also be made 
without regard to political affiliations.

    Dated: May 10, 2010.
David A. Hinson,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010-11596 Filed 5-13-10; 8:45 am]
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