[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7281-7282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02455]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness Solicitation 
of Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity to apply for membership on the 
Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration 
(ITA), requests nominations for the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain 
Competitiveness (``The Committee''). The Committee was established 
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Committee was first 
chartered on November 21, 2011, and subsequently renewed on November 
20, 2013, November 17, 2015, and November 16, 2017. The Department of 
Commerce most recently renewed the Committee for another two-year term 
beginning on November 14, 2019. The Committee has functioned 
effectively, and the Department has an on-going need for consensus 
advice regarding U.S. supply chain competitiveness. The Committee 
advises the Secretary on the necessary elements of a comprehensive 
policy approach to supply chain competitiveness designed to support 
U.S. export growth and national economic competitiveness, encourage 
innovation, facilitate the movement of goods, and improve the 
competitiveness of U.S. supply chains for goods and services in the 
domestic and global economy; and provides advice to the Secretary on 
regulatory policies and programs and investment priorities that affect 
the competitiveness of U.S. supply chains. The Department is seeking 
nominations for the rechartered Committee.

DATES: Applications for immediate consideration for appointment must be 
received on or before 5:00 p.m. EDT on February 28, 2020. After that 
date, the Department of Commerce will continue to accept applications 
to fill any vacancies that may arise during the charter period.

ADDRESSES: Richard Boll, Office of Supply Chain, Professional & 
Business Services, Room 11004, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone 202-482-1135; 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Boll, Office of Supply Chain, 
Professional & Business Services, Room 11004, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone 202-
482-1135; email: [email protected]. Please visit the Advisory 
Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness website at: https://www.trade.gov/meeting-summaries.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee has a maximum of 45 members. 
The Department of Commerce seeks nominations for immediate 
consideration to fill positions on the Committee for the 2019-2021 
charter term, and will continue to accept nominations under this notice 
on an on-going basis for two-years for consideration to fill vacancies 
that may arise during the charter term. Member appointment terms run 
for two-years concurrently with the Committee charter. Members will be 
selected based upon their ability to advise the Secretary of Commerce 
on the necessary elements of a comprehensive policy approach to supply 
chain competitiveness designed to support U.S. export growth and 
national economic competitiveness, encourage innovation, facilitate the 
movement of goods, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. supply 
chains for goods and services in the domestic and global economy; and 
to provide advice to the Secretary on regulatory policies and programs 
and investment priorities that affect the competitiveness of U.S. 
supply chains. The Committee provides detailed policy and technical 
advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary regarding:
    (1) National, state, or local factors in trade programs and 
policies that affect the efficient domestic and international operation 
and competitiveness of U.S. global supply chains from point of origin 
to destination;
    (2) elements of national policies affecting the movement of goods, 
infrastructure, investment, and regulatory factors that affect supply 
chain competitiveness and sustainability; and
    (3) information and data systems to generate metrics that can be 
used to quantify and improve supply chain performance.
    Members shall be selected in a manner that ensures that the 
Committee remains balanced in terms of product and service lines and 
reflects the

[[Page 7282]]

diversity of the supply chain sector, including with regard to 
geographic location and company size.
    Members of the Committee shall represent companies, organizations, 
and stakeholders involved in the U.S. supply chain, with at least one 
individual representing each of the following: Supply chain firms or 
their associations; users of supply chains (e.g., retailers, 
distributors, manufacturers or other sectors); freight transportation 
providers; ports; and academia. Based on the balance of viewpoints 
currently represented on the Committee, representatives from the 
trucking, air transport, energy, logistics, supply chain financing, 
warehousing, terminal operators, retailers, and supply chain compliance 
sectors are encouraged to apply.
    Other than the experts from academia, all members shall serve in a 
representative capacity, expressing the views and interests of a U.S. 
company or U.S. organization, as well as its particular sector. Members 
serving in such a representative capacity are not Special Government 
Employees. The members from academia serve as experts and therefore are 
Special Government Employees (SGEs) and shall be subject to the ethical 
standards applicable to SGEs. Members who serve as SGEs must certify 
that they are not Federally registered lobbyists.
    Each member of the Committee must be a U.S. citizen and not 
registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration 
Act. All appointments are made without regard to political affiliation. 
Self-nominations will be accepted.
    Members of the Committee will not be compensated for their services 
or reimbursed for their travel expenses. The Committee shall meet 
approximately quarterly, or as determined by the DFO.
    Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
    All nominations for membership on the Committee should provide the 
following information:
    (1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone, 
fax, and email address) of the individual requesting consideration; and
    (2) An affirmative statement that the applicant is not required to 
register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act 
of 1938.
    In addition to the above requirements for all nominations, 
nominations for representatives of companies, organizations, and 
stakeholders involved in the U.S. supply chain, including supply chain 
firms or their associations; users of supply chains (e.g., retailers, 
distributors, manufacturers, or other sectors); freight transportation 
providers; and ports, should also provide the following information:
    (1) A sponsor letter on the letterhead of the sponsoring U.S. 
company or U.S. organization to be represented, containing a brief 
description why the nominee should be considered for membership;
    (2) Short biography of nominee including credentials;
    (3) Brief description of the U.S. company or U.S. organization to 
be represented and its activities and size (number of employees or 
members and annual sales, if applicable); and
    (4) An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all Committee 
eligibility requirements for representative members, including that the 
applicant represents a U.S. company or U.S. organization.
    a. For purposes of Committee eligibility, a U.S. company is at 
least 51 percent owned by U.S. persons.
    b. For purposes of Committee eligibility, a U.S. organization is 
controlled by U.S. persons, as determined based on its board of 
directors (or comparable governing body), membership, and funding 
sources, as applicable.
    In addition to the above requirements for all nominations, 
nominations for experts from academia should also provide the following 
information:
    (1) A description of the nominee's area(s) of expertise;
    (2) A concise Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume that covers 
education, experience, and relevant publications and summarizes how 
this expertise addresses supply chain competitiveness;
    (3) An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all Committee 
eligibility requirements.
    Please do not send company or organization brochures.
    Nominations may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to the 
attention of Richard Boll at 202-482-2669, or mailed to Richard Boll, 
Office of Supply Chain, Professional & Business Services, Room 11004, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20230, and must be received on or before February 28, 2020. Nominees 
selected for appointment to the Committee will be notified.

    Dated: February 4, 2020.
Maureen Smith,
Director, Office of Supply Chain and Professional & Business Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-02455 Filed 2-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P