[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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