[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10337-10338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4066]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency
Notice of Solicitation of Nominations for Membership to National
Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE)
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In March 2010, the Department of Commerce established the
National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise (Council) 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 purpose of the Council 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). The Council's charter provides for not more than 25
members. In October 2010, 21 individuals accepted appointments from the
Secretary to serve on the Council. The Department of Commerce is
publishing this notice to solicit nominations for the four open Council
membership positions for the 2-year charter term, which began in April
2010.
DATES: Complete nomination packages for the four open Council
membership positions must be received by the Department of Commerce on
or before March 30, 2011 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). MBDA
will continue to accept nominations on an ongoing basis and will
consider nominations received after the due date if the four open
Council membership positions are not filled and as future Council
vacancies arise.
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: Bria Bailey, 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 can be submitted online at:
www.mbda.gov/nacmbenominations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bria Bailey, MBDA Office of
Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Council was established in
the Department of Commerce as a discretionary advisory
[[Page 10338]]
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 Council will be administered
primarily by MBDA. Twenty-one individuals were appointed to the Council
by the Secretary in October 2010. The Department of Commerce is
requesting nominations to fill the present vacancies on the Council.
Objectives and Scope of Activities: The Council will advise the
Secretary on key issues pertaining to the growth and 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 the Council may take the
form of one or more written reports. The Council 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 the Council
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: The Council shall be composed of not more than 25
members. The Council 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. The Council shall have a balanced membership reflecting
diversity of industries, ethnic backgrounds and geographical regions,
and to the extent practicable, gender and persons with disabilities.
The Council members shall be appointed as Special Government
Employees for no more than 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
the Council. The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson(s) shall serve at the
pleasure of the Secretary.
The Council 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. The Council members will serve in a solely advisory capacity.
Eligibility: In addition to the above criterion, eligibility for
the Council 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
Council.
Nomination Procedures and Selection of Members: The Department of
Commerce is accepting nominations for NACMBE membership for the 2-year
charter term that began in April 2010. Members shall serve until the
Council 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 Council.
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 Council
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 Council 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 Council and during his/her tenure as a Council
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.
Council members will be selected in accordance with applicable
Department of Commerce guidelines and in a manner that ensures the
Council 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: February 11, 2011.
David A. Hinson,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-4066 Filed 2-23-11; 8:45 am]
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