[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71248-71249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Technical Information Service


Request for Nominations for Members To Serve on the National 
Technical Information Service (NTIS) Advisory Board

AGENCY: National Technical Information Service, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NTIS invites nomination of individuals for appointment to the 
National Technical Information Service Advisory Board (Board or 
Committee). NTIS will consider nominations received in response to this 
notice for appointment to the Committee, in addition to nominations 
already received.

DATES: NTIS will accept nominations on a rolling basis. Members to fill 
the existing vacancies will be selected from nominations submitted by 
5:00 p.m. on March 25th, 2022. Any nominations received after that date 
will be kept on file and may be used to fill vacancies on the Board 
should they occur.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO), NTIS at [email protected], Subject: NTIS Advisory Board Membership.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Shaw at [email protected] or 
Steven Holland at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Committee Information

    The Secretary of Commerce, pursuant to Section 212(c) of the 
National Technical Information Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 3704b(c)), 
established the Advisory Board, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.

Objectives and Duties

    1. The NTIS Advisory Board shall review and make recommendations to 
improve NTIS programs, operations, and general policies in support of 
NTIS's mission to advance Federal data priorities, promote economic 
growth, and enable operational excellence by providing innovative data 
services to Federal agencies through joint venture partnerships with 
the private sector.
    2. The Board shall report to the Secretary of Commerce and to the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology through the 
Director of NTIS.
    3. The Board shall act in the public interest to:
    a. Provide advice on the optimal data services business and 
operating model to best implement NTIS's joint venture authority.
    b. Provide advice on the means, including infrastructure and 
process improvements, to make Federal data easier to find, access, use, 
analyze, and combine.
    c. Assess progress in evolving NTIS programs toward a focus on 
Federal data priorities.
    d. Assess the use of merit-based criteria and processes to plan, 
conduct, and oversee programs and projects, including the selection of 
joint venture partners.

[[Page 71249]]

    e. Assess policies in connection with fees and charges for NTIS 
services in order for the agency to operate on a substantially self-
sustaining basis, as required by law.
    f. Assess organizational capabilities required to carry out NTIS's 
mission, including capabilities in data science and for operational 
management of its project portfolio.

Membership

    1. The NTIS Advisory Board shall be composed of a Chairperson 
appointed by the Secretary and four other members appointed by the 
Secretary. In the event of a vacancy in the Chairperson position, the 
NTIS Director may designate a member to serve as acting Chairperson 
until a Chairperson is appointed by the Secretary.
    2. Members shall be selected solely on the basis of established 
records of distinguished service and objectivity; shall have recognized 
expertise in data collection, compilation, analysis, use, and 
dissemination, as well as data science, information technology, 
cybersecurity, and privacy. Members will be selected from the business, 
academic, non-profit, and state and local government communities. 
Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure members represent the entire 
spectrum of Federal data interests including demographic, economic, 
trade, health, scientific, patent, environmental, geospatial, 
cybersecurity, and transactional data. No Federal Government employee 
shall serve as a member of the Board.
    3. The term of office of each member of the Board shall be three 
years, except that vacancy appointments shall be for the remainder of 
the unexpired term of the vacancy. All appointments shall automatically 
terminate if the charter is terminated or not renewed. All members 
serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
    4. Any person who has completed two consecutive full terms of 
service on the Board shall be ineligible for appointment for a third 
term during the one-year period following the expiration of the second 
term.
    5. Members shall serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) and 
will be subject to all ethical standards and rules applicable to SGEs.

Miscellaneous

    1. Members of the Committee will not be paid for their services, 
but will, upon request, be allowed travel and per diem expenses in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq., while attending meetings of the 
Committee or of its subcommittees, or while otherwise performing duties 
at the request of the chairperson, while away from their homes or a 
regular place of business.
    2. The Board shall meet at the call of the Secretary or the 
Secretary's designee, but not less often than once every six months.
    3. NTIS may establish such subcommittees of its members as may be 
necessary, pursuant to the provisions of FACA, the FACA implementing 
regulations, and applicable Department of Commerce guidance. 
Subcommittees will report to the NTIS Advisory Board and may not 
provide advice or work products directly to the Department of Commerce 
or NTIS.
    4. Recordkeeping. Records of the NTIS Advisory Board, any formally 
and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the 
Board, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 
or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records 
shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

Nomination Information

    1. NTIS seeks nominations of practitioners with recognized 
expertise in data collection, compilation, analysis, use, and 
dissemination, as well as data science, information technology, 
cybersecurity, and privacy.
    2. Members will be selected from the business, academic, non-
profit, and state and local government communities.
    3. Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure members represent the 
entire spectrum of Federal data interests including demographic, 
economic, trade, health, scientific, patent, environmental, geospatial, 
cybersecurity, and transactional data. Collectively, their knowledge 
will include all types of data the Federal Government collects, 
compiles, analyzes, uses, and disseminates.
    4. Nominees should have established records of distinguished 
service. The field of expertise in which the candidate is qualified 
should be specified in the nomination letter. Nominations for a 
particular field should come from organizations or individuals within 
that field. A summary of the candidate's qualifications should be 
included with the nomination, including (where applicable) current or 
former service on federal advisory boards and federal employment. In 
addition, each nomination letter should state that the person agrees to 
the nomination, acknowledges the responsibilities of serving on the 
board, and will actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the 
NTIS Advisory Board.
    5. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in 
the workplace and seeks a broad-based and diverse NTIS Advisory Board 
membership.

Greg Capella,
Acting Director, National Technical Information Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27094 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
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