[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 65 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16869-16870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06862]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9951]


Request for Statements of Interest

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State announces a request for statements of 
interest (RSI) from qualified entities interested in seeking the 
Department's designation as an Accrediting Entity (AE) to accredit and 
approve U.S. agencies and persons that seek to provide adoption 
services in intercountry adoption cases. The RSI is posted on the Web 
site of the Office of Children's Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
U.S. Department State at adoption.state.gov.

DATES: The RSI will be open from March 31, 2017 through June 1, 2017 at 
5:00 p.m. EDT. Extended time to submit a statement of interest may be 
considered upon request to the Department.

ADDRESSES: Consult the RSI posted on adoption.state.gov for 
instructions on where to submit statements of interest and supporting 
documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be submitted to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (Pub. 
L. 106-279; 114 Stat. 825; 42 U.S.C. 14901 et seq.) designates the 
Department of State as the U.S. Central Authority for the 1993 Hague 
Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of 
Intercountry Adoption (Senate Treaty

[[Page 16870]]

Doc. 105-51, 105th Cong., 2d Sess.). Some Central Authority duties are 
explicitly assigned to other entities, including the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS.) The IAA confers on the Department the 
authority and responsibility for establishing and overseeing the system 
for accreditation/approval and monitoring and oversight of accredited 
agencies and approved persons (hereinafter referred to as adoption 
service providers (ASPs). Rather than mandating the Department to 
directly accredit/approve ASPs, the IAA directs the Department to 
select and designate one or more AEs to carry out those functions. 
Designated AEs responsibilities are discussed in 22 CFR 96.7 and may be 
further established by agreement with the Department of State. The 
federal regulations governing intercountry adoption and the 
accreditation of agencies and approval of persons can be found at 22 
CFR 96, with Subpart B focusing on the selection, designation, and 
duties of AEs.
    This opportunity is extended to nonprofit organizations with 
expertise in developing and administering standards for entities 
providing child welfare services and to U.S. State or local government 
public entities with such expertise and responsibility for licensing 
adoption agencies, per 22 CFR 96.5. If selected, a State or local 
government public entity may only accredit/approve agencies and persons 
within the public entity's State. Federal government entities are not 
eligible to apply. Newly established nonprofit organizations may apply 
provided they have IRS Code 501(c)(3) status and can demonstrate that 
they have the required expertise, as discussed in 22 CFR 96.5, either 
as an entity or within their staffing.
    Under 22 CFR 96.4, the Department is authorized to designate one or 
more entities to perform AE functions. The Department currently works 
with one designated AE that is responsible for accreditation/approval 
of agencies and persons throughout the United States. The number of AEs 
selected through the upcoming RSI process will depend on the 
qualifications of the applicants and the Department's determination 
regarding the best interests of the accreditation/approval program.

Karen L. Christensen
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Overseas Citizen Services, Bureau of 
Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-06862 Filed 4-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-06-P