[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 8069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03683]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory 
Board will hold an open meeting on March 7, 2018.

DATES: The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2018, from 8:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Reagan Building at 1300 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004. Please note admittance 
instructions in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl L. Gendron, Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-4800, 
telephone number (301) 975-2785, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MEP Advisory Board is authorized under 
Section 3003(d) of the America COMPETES Act (Pub. L. 110-69), as 
amended by the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, Public Law 
114-329 sec. 501 (2017), and codified at 15 U.S.C. 278k(m), in 
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. The Hollings MEP Program (Program) is a 
unique program, consisting of centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico 
with partnerships at the state, federal, and local levels. By statute, 
the MEP Advisory Board provides the NIST Director with: (1) Advice on 
the activities, plans, and policies of the Program; (2) assessments of 
the soundness of the plans and strategies of the Program; and (3) 
assessments of current performance against the plans of the Program. 
Background information on the MEP Advisory Board is available at http://www.nist.gov/mep/about/advisory-board.cfm.
    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 
U.S.C. App., notice is hereby given that the MEP Advisory Board will 
hold an open meeting on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting agenda will include an update on 
Hollings MEP programmatic operations, as well as provide guidance and 
advice on current activities related to the 2017-2022 MEP National 
Network Strategic Plan. The MEP Advisory Board will provide input to 
NIST on supply chain development with an emphasis on defense suppliers, 
in order to strengthen the defense industrial base; make 
recommendations on the development of research and performance metrics 
to support and enrich MEP Center evaluation; receive updates from 
external organizations that work closely with the Program regarding 
national and state economic challenges, opportunities, and data trends. 
The final agenda will be posted on the MEP Advisory Board website at 
http://www.nist.gov/mep/about/advisory-board.cfm.
    Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to 
offer comments and suggestions related to the MEP Advisory Board's 
business are invited to request a place on the agenda. Approximately 15 
minutes will be reserved for public comments at the end of the meeting. 
Speaking times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. 
The amount of time per speaker will be determined by the number of 
requests received but is likely to be no more than three to five 
minutes each. Requests must be received in writing before February 28, 
2018 to be considered. The exact time for public comments will be 
included in the final agenda that will be posted on the MEP Advisory 
Board website at http://www.nist.gov/mep/about/advisory-board.cfm. 
Questions from the public will not be considered during this period. 
Speakers who wish to expand upon their oral statements, those who 
wished to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, or those 
who are/were unable to attend in person are invited to submit written 
statements to the MEP Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-4800, via fax at (301) 963-6556, or electronically by 
email to [email protected].
    Admittance Instructions: Anyone wishing to attend the MEP Advisory 
Board meeting must submit their name, email address and phone number to 
Cheryl Gendron ([email protected] or 301-975-2785) no later than 
Friday, March 2, 2018, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2018-03683 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P