[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 193 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21976]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 56183]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institutes of Standards and Technology

15 CFR Part 290

[Docket No.: 210913-0184]
RIN 0693-AB68


Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership--Amendment to Venue 
for Publishing Notices of Funding Opportunities for Financial 
Assistance

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United 
States Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NIST is issuing a final rule to amend the regulations 
governing the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 
program to reflect the current requirements for publishing Notices of 
Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the establishment and operation of 
MEP Centers, consistent with the current MEP authorizing statute and 
Department of Commerce (Department or DOC) policy.

DATES: This rule is effective October 8, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Chancy Lyford, External Affairs, 
Performance and Support Division, Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 240-660-0324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Hollings MEP Program (Program) is a unique program, consisting 
of centers in each state and Puerto Rico with partnerships at the 
state, federal, and local levels. Prior to being amended by Section 
501(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), 
Public Law 114-329, the Program statute, 15 U.S.C. 278k(c), required 
that NIST publish in the Federal Register a description of each 
financial assistance program to establish an MEP Center. Section 501(b) 
of AICA removed the requirement that such notices be published in the 
Federal Register, which is consistent with the current policy of the 
Department of Commerce to publish all notices of funding opportunities 
(NOFOs) on www.Grants.gov, unless otherwise required by statute or 
regulation.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ In addition, the Office of Management and Budget has 
encouraged Federal agencies to use www.Grants.gov since 2003. 68 FR 
58146.
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    NIST is amending the MEP regulations, specifically 15 CFR 290.7, to 
remove the requirement that NOFOs to solicit applications to establish 
a new MEP Center or to operate a pre-existing MEP Center be published 
in the Federal Register.

II. Statutory Authority

    15 U.S.C. 278k was revised by section 501(b) of AICA to eliminate 
the requirement that solicitations for operators of MEP Centers be 
published in the Federal Register.

III. Regulatory Analysis

    Because this final rule is a matter relating to public property, 
loans, grants, benefits, or contracts, 5 U.S.C. 553 does not apply. See 
5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2). Therefore, prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, and there is no 
requirement for a 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule was determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132

    This final rule does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications as defined in Executive Order 13132.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., do not apply.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule contains no new collection of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This final rule will not significantly affect the quality of the 
human environment. Therefore, an environmental assessment or 
Environmental Impact Statement is not required to be prepared under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 290

    Cooperative agreements, Grant programs, Science and technology.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, NIST is amending 15 CFR 
part 290 as follows:

PART 290--REGIONAL CENTERS FOR THE TRANSFER OF MANUFACTURING 
TECHNOLOGY

0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 290 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k.


0
2. Revise Sec.  290.7 to read as follows:


Sec.  290.7  Proposal selection process.

    Upon the availability of funding to solicit applications to 
establish a new Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center or to 
operate a pre-existing MEP Center, the Director shall publish a notice 
of funding opportunity on www.Grants.gov requesting submission of 
competitive proposals from eligible organizations.

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2021-21976 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
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