[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43103-43108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15389]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2018-0088]


Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce; Notice of 
Opportunity To Apply for Maritime Training and Education Designation

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of application opportunity.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites eligible and qualified training entities 
to apply to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for designation as a 
Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and 
Education (CoE). The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 (the 
Act) provided the Secretary of Transportation with the discretionary 
authority to designate eligible and qualified entities as CoEs. CoE 
designations serve to assist the maritime industry in obtaining and 
maintaining the highest quality workforce. MARAD issued a notice in the 
Federal Register on October 23, 2020 entitled Center of Excellence for 
Domestic Maritime Workforce: Notice of Opportunity to Apply for 
Training and Education Designation, and on the MARAD website at 
www.MARAD.dot.gov, requesting applications from qualified training 
entities seeking to be designated as a CoE. The application period 
closed on December 22, 2020. Thirty applications for designation were 
received. Upon the Secretary's approval, twenty-seven institutions were 
designated on May 19, 2021 as CoEs for the 2021 program year. The 
purpose of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible and 
qualified training entities for the next round of CoE designations for 
the 2022 program year.

DATES: Applications, including all supporting information and 
documents, must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Applications, including all supporting information and 
documents, must be submitted via electronic mail to [email protected]. 
The original application letter, including one copy of all supporting 
information and documents, may also be submitted by mail addressed to 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Deputy 
Associate Administrator for Maritime Education and Training, Attention: 
CoE Designation Program, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Wall, Centers of Excellence for 
Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) Program 
Manager, via electronic mail at [email protected] or call 202-366-
7273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following the enactment of the National 
Defense Authorization Act of 2018, Public Law 115-91 (the ``Act''), 
codified at 46 U.S.C. 51706, MARAD developed a procedure to recommend 
to the Secretary the designation of eligible institutions as Centers of 
Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education 
(CoE). Pursuant to the Act, the Secretary of Transportation may 
designate certain eligible and qualified training entities as CoEs and 
may subsequently execute Cooperative Agreements with CoE designees. 
Authority to administer the CoE program is delegated to MARAD in 49 CFR 
1.93(a).
    Qualified training entities seeking to be designated as a CoE need 
to apply to MARAD. MARAD has developed this policy to provide 
interested parties with comprehensive agency guidance on how to apply 
for CoE designation and how the CoE program will be administered. 
Applications should include information to demonstrate that the

[[Page 43104]]

applicant institution meets certain eligibility requirements, selection 
criteria, and qualitative attributes consistent with Section 3507 of 
the Act.
    The MARAD application procedure and program details are listed 
below and are also available to the public on its website at https://www.maritime.dot.gov/education/maritime-centers-excellence.

Prior Federal Action

    As the first step in developing a CoE policy, MARAD issued a 
Federal Register notice requesting comments on its proposed application 
process entitled Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce 
Training and Education, 83 FR 25109 (May 31, 2018). In response to the 
notice, we received 18 written comments. On July 19, 2019, MARAD 
published another notice (84 FR 34994) in which MARAD responded to 
comments received and sought comments on the proposed policy to which 
five comments were received. On March 6, 2020, MARAD published its 
final CoE designation policy in the Federal Register (85 FR 13231) in 
which MARAD responded to comments received and sought new comments to 
the Office of Management and Budget on the information collection 
requirements in the CoE designation policy. No comments were received.
    After receipt of an Information Collection Review (ICR) one-year 
approval from OMB, MARAD issued a notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 
67599) on October 23, 2020 entitled Center of Excellence for Domestic 
Maritime Workforce: Notice of Opportunity to Apply for Training and 
Education Designation, and on the MARAD website at www.MARAD.dot.gov, 
requesting applications from qualified training entities seeking to be 
designated as CoEs. The application period closed on December 22, 2020. 
Thirty applications for designation were received. Upon the Secretary's 
approval, twenty-seven institutions were designated on May 19, 2021 as 
CoEs for the 2021 program year.
    On April 27, 2021, MARAD published a notice in the Federal Register 
(86 FR 18115) requesting comments on its intention to request approval, 
for three years, of the previously approved information collection 
related to designating CoEs. No comments were received. On July 6, 2021 
a 30-day comment period notice announcing that the ICR was being 
forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
comments was published in the Federal Register (86 FR 35561). One 
public comment was received. After careful review of the comment by 
MARAD's Office of Maritime Labor and Training, it was determined to be 
non-related to the notice and/or collection. In December 2021, OMB 
approved the three-year ICR request.
    Unabridged comments are available for review electronically at 
www.regulations.gov by searching DOT Docket Id ``MARAD-2018-0088'' or 
by visiting the DOT Docket, Room PL-401, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except for Federal Holidays.

How To Be Designated a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime 
Workforce Training and Education

Introduction

    The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime 
Administrator, may designate certain eligible and qualified training 
entities as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce 
Training and Education (CoE) and may subsequently execute Cooperative 
Agreements with CoE designees. MARAD developed the CoE Program to 
provide interested parties with comprehensive agency guidance on how 
best to apply for CoE designation. However, conformity with this CoE 
applicant guidance, except to the extent that it references statutory 
requirements, is voluntary. MARAD will review and consider all 
applications it receives and may contact applicants with questions to 
assist in reviewing their applications. The CoE Program is a voluntary 
program. Each eligible and qualified training entity is free to decide 
whether it wishes to participate in the program and apply for a CoE 
designation. Applications should include information to demonstrate 
that the applicant institution meets certain eligibility criteria, 
designation requirements, and attributes consistent with 46 U.S.C. 
51706.

Key Terms

    The following list of key terms are either (1) directly taken from 
the statute or (2) have been developed by MARAD or from comments 
received from the public during our earlier notice and comment periods. 
The list is intended to assist applicants by providing context and 
insight into the approval process. If you believe that your institution 
qualifies for CoE designee status under an alternate interpretation or 
by qualifications not otherwise clearly articulated in the statute, 
your application should include a cogent justification for any such 
alternative and it will be given due consideration during our review.
    1. ``Afloat Career'' is a term developed by MARAD to mean a career 
as a merchant mariner compensated for service aboard a vessel in the 
U.S. Maritime Industry.
    2. ``Arctic'' as explicitly stated in the statute means all United 
States and foreign territory north of the Arctic Circle and all United 
States territory north and west of the boundary formed by the 
Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas, including 
the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and the 
Aleutian chain. [Section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 
1984, codified at 15 U.S.C. 4111];
    3. ``Ashore Career'' is a term developed by MARAD to mean a shore-
based compensated occupation in the United States Maritime Industry.
    4. ``Community or Technical College'' is interpreted by MARAD to 
mean an institution of higher education that --
    a. admits as regular students, persons who are beyond the age of 
compulsory school attendance, or are enrolled in a high school and 
concurrently are participating in a dual credit or similar program, in 
the State in which the institution is located or in an adjoining State 
or region; and
    b. has primary focus on awarding Associate (or equivalent) degrees; 
and
    c. provides an educational program that is acceptable for full 
credit toward a bachelor's or equivalent degree or that may culminate 
in a professional or technical certificate or credential, stackable 
certificates and credentials, and/or two-year degree;
    5. ``Maritime Training Center'' is interpreted by MARAD to mean a 
training institution that:
    a. does not grant baccalaureate or higher levels of academic 
degree;
    b. is not a ``Community or Technical College''; and
    c. provides a structured program of training courses to prepare 
students and/or enhance their skills for Afloat Careers and/or Ashore 
Careers in the United States Maritime Industry.
    6. ``Mississippi River System'' is interpreted by MARAD to mean the 
mostly riverine network of the United States which includes the 
Mississippi River, and all connecting waterways, natural tributaries 
and distributaries. The system includes the Arkansas, Illinois, 
Missouri, Ohio, Red, Allegheny, Tennessee, Wabash and Atchafalaya 
rivers. Important connecting waterways include the Illinois Waterway, 
the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

[[Page 43105]]

    7. ``Operated by, or under the supervision of, a State'' is 
interpreted by MARAD to mean operated by or under the supervision of a 
public entity of a State government or one of its subdivisions, as well 
as county governments, and city or local governments;
    a. ``operated by'' a State is interpreted by MARAD to mean that the 
State controls or provides direct oversight to the Maritime Training 
Center or the Community or Technical College through:
    i. a State charter process, or other equivalent documents and 
system; and
    ii. a State oversight body.
    b. ``under the supervision of a State'' is interpreted by MARAD to 
mean that the State oversees in some manner the Maritime Training 
Center or the Community or Technical College through at least one of 
the following means:
    i. Accreditation or similar review, validation, and approval by a 
public entity of the State government or one of its subdivisions as 
well as, county governments, and city or local governments;
    ii. Registration approval by a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), 
in accordance with 29 CFR part 29, of an apprenticeship program offered 
by the Maritime Training Center to qualified students from the public; 
or
    iii. Other means which demonstrate to MARAD that the State is 
supervising the educational process for which a CoE designation is 
sought.
    c. ``State'' is interpreted by MARAD to mean a State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other 
territory or possession of the United States.
    d. ``United States Maritime Industry'' is a term developed by MARAD 
that includes all segments of the maritime-related transportation 
system of the United States, both in domestic and foreign trade, 
coastal and inland waters, as well as non-commercial maritime 
activities, such as pleasure boating, marine sciences (including all 
scientific research vessels) and all of the industries that support 
such uses, including, but not limited to vessel construction and 
repair, vessel operations, ship logistics supply, berthing, port 
operations, port intermodal operations, marine terminal operations, 
vessel design, marine brokerage, marine insurance, marine financing, 
chartering, maritime-oriented supply chain operations, offshore 
industry, including offshore wind energy, and maritime-oriented 
research and development.

Applicant Information

1. Who is eligible to apply for designation as a Center of Excellence 
for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE)?

    Participation in the CoE program is entirely voluntary for an 
eligible educational institution. An eligible educational institution 
is not required to seek a CoE designation. Under the statute, an 
educational institution that provides training and education for the 
domestic maritime workforce is eligible to apply so long as it meets 
the following criteria:
    a. An institution located in a State that borders on at least one 
of the following bodies of water:
    1. Gulf of Mexico;
    2. Atlantic Ocean;
    3. Long Island Sound;
    4. Pacific Ocean;
    5. Great Lakes;
    6. Mississippi River System;
    7. Arctic; or
    8. Gulf of Alaska.
    b. The institution is:
    1. A Community or Technical College; or
    2. A Maritime Training Center--
    i. Operated by, or under the supervision of a State; and
    ii. With a maritime training program in operation in its curriculum 
on 12/12/2017; or
    3. A group of Community or Technical Colleges and/or Maritime 
Training Centers that:
    i. Consists only of members that meet the eligibility criteria at 
(1)(a) and either (1)(b)(1) or (1)(b)(2), and the selection criteria 
under (2);
    ii. Names a member of such group as a lead entity. The lead entity 
will serve as the primary point of contact with MARAD and will be 
responsible for all duties, including administrative, legal and 
financial, as related to the CoE designation. For example, the lead 
entity is responsible for submitting the CoE application, responding to 
any inquiries from MARAD, and coordinating and executing any 
cooperative agreements with MARAD; and
    iii. Has a legally binding agreement signed by all members. That 
agreement must include the name of the group, which will receive the 
CoE designation if one is granted and list the lead entity and its 
responsibilities consistent with (ii) of this section.

2. How does MARAD interpret the selection criteria for CoE designation?

    I. Assuming no alternative qualifications are provided, MARAD will 
consider applicants eligible for designation if they can demonstrate 
compliance with all the following criteria:
    a. The academic programs offered by the institution include:
    1. One or more Afloat Career preparation tracks in the United 
States Maritime Industry, and/or
    2. One or more Ashore Career preparation tracks in the United 
States Maritime Industry.
    b. Applicant institutions offering Afloat Career and/or Ashore 
Career tracks have been accredited as follows:
    1. ``Community or Technical Colleges'' hold current accreditation 
of the institution from a Regional Accreditation Agency or a Nationally 
Recognized Agency on the list of Accrediting Agencies approved by the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    2. ``Maritime Training Centers'' hold current accreditation--
    i. either of the institution, from a Regional Accreditation Agency 
or a Nationally Recognized Agency on the list of Accrediting Agencies 
approved by the U.S. Department of Education; or
    ii. of the maritime training program offered by the institution 
from either:
    A. the State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in accordance with 29 CFR 
part 29,
    B. the State's Department of Education or equivalent State agency,
    C. the United States Coast Guard (USCG), or
    D. other appropriate external review body which is specifically 
authorized to review and validate post-secondary education programs and 
is acceptable to MARAD.
    c. As applicable, maintain USCG approval for the merchant mariner 
training program and/or merchant mariner training course(s) offered by 
the institution.
    d. Provide data and statistics to demonstrate institutional and/or 
program effectiveness. This should include, but is not limited to, 
recruitment data, past/current enrollment (trends), attrition rates, 
student program completion data, post-program job and placement 
statistics (to the extent available to the institution), and program 
effectiveness feedback from students, faculty, alumni, and other 
stakeholders.
    e. As applicable, maintain authorization and/or endorsement of the 
program and/or course(s) by an applicable professional society or 
industry body (including, but not limited to Welding, Electrician, 
Electronics, Maritime Construction, Maritime Logistics, Maritime 
Systems, etc.) to issue industry accepted

[[Page 43106]]

certifications that reflect professional recognition of the level of 
educational or technical skill achievement.
    II. Additional factors to be considered include the following 
qualitative attributes fostered by the institution:
    a. Supporting workforce needs of the local, state, or regional 
economy;
    b. Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within 
the institution, including among the student body, faculty, and staff;
    c. Building Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) 
competencies of local/future workforce through maritime programs to 
meet emerging local, regional, and national economic interests;
    d. Offering a broad-based curriculum and stackable credentials 
where applicable;
    e. Engaging and/or collaborating with the maritime industry 
including, but not limited to employers, associations, and other 
industry organizations or partners;
    f. Engaging and/or collaborating with employer-led maritime 
training practices and programs through Sector Partnerships as 
authorized in the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Section 
3(26);
    g. Engaging and/or collaborating with local and regional maritime 
high schools or other high schools with maritime, maritime related, 
Career Technical Education (CTE) or STEM programs;
    h. Engaging and/or collaborating with maritime academies as 
appropriate and other applicable institutions or organizations for 
advanced proficiency and higher education; and
    i. Conducting other significant domestic maritime workforce 
development related activities.

3. What agreement may MARAD execute with a designated CoE?

    Designation as a CoE does not entitle any entity to any federal 
funding and does not necessarily lead to a cooperative agreement with 
MARAD. The Maritime Administrator, or designee, may enter into a 
cooperative agreement with a CoE to support maritime workforce training 
and education, including but not limited to, efforts of the CoE to:
    a. Recruit, admit, and train students;
    b. Recruit and train faculty;
    c. Expand or enhance facilities;
    d. Create new maritime career pathways;
    e. Award students credit for prior experience, including military 
service;
    f. Expand and improve employer-led maritime training practices and 
programs through the establishment of Sector Partnerships as authorized 
in the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Section 3(26); and
    g. Conduct such other CoE activities that are determined by MARAD 
to further maritime workforce training and education.

4. What specific assistance may MARAD offer to a designated CoE under a 
Cooperative Agreement?

    By entering into a cooperative agreement, MARAD may be able to 
offer the following types of assistance:
    a. Donation of surplus equipment to CoEs that also meet the 
requirements of 46 U.S.C. 51103(b)(2)(C);
    b. Temporary use of MARAD vessels and assets for indoctrination, 
training, and assistance, subject to availability and approval by MARAD 
and the Department of Defense when applicable. For any CoE requests 
relating to temporary use of a MARAD Training Ship operated by a State 
Maritime Academy, the MARAD approval process will include consultation 
with that Academy;
    c. Availability of MARAD subject matter experts to address students 
when feasible; and
    d. Funding, to the extent such funds are properly appropriated and 
made available for this purpose.

Implementation and Administration

    MARAD will evaluate the applicant's supporting documentation and 
either approve or disapprove the request for designation. During the 
evaluation of the application and the documentation, MARAD may request 
clarifications or additional information from the applicant. Upon 
approval, the Maritime Administrator or his/her designee will make a 
designation. MARAD will thereafter publish the CoE's name and contact 
information on its website. After issuance of the designation, MARAD 
may enter into a cooperative agreement with the CoE.

5. When and where should I submit my application for designation?

    a. MARAD will publish notifications in the Federal Register and on 
its website indicating the application period for the next designation 
cycle. Anticipated time frame for application invitation announcement 
is early summer, with application submission expected within 60 days of 
announcement. Applicants will be provided 60 days to prepare and submit 
their applications.
    b. An eligible training entity seeking designation as a CoE may 
submit applications, including all supporting information and 
documents, by email to [email protected] or, by mail addressed as 
follows: Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Deputy 
Associate Administrator for Maritime Education and Training, Attention: 
CoE Designation Program, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590.

6. How will I know the outcome of my designation request application?

    MARAD will notify each applicant of the status of their designation 
request. During the evaluation period, MARAD may request clarification 
or additional information from the applicant.

7. Does my CoE designation expire?

    Yes. CoE designation is valid only for the period of the program 
year and until the next round of designees is named. CoE designations 
are identified by year (e.g., X has been designated a Center of 
Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education for 
2021). Successful applicants from one designation cycle are encouraged 
to reapply during any subsequent designation cycle.

How To Apply for a CoE Designation

8. What should be included in my CoE Designation Application?

    Special Instructions: To assist MARAD in its review of your 
application and to ensure that your application is identified as 
complete, your institution should provide only concise and relevant 
information and supporting documentation to demonstrate your 
eligibility and compliance with the statutory designation criteria. To 
that end, MARAD encourages your institution to ensure that each 
responsive section and each page of any document or enclosure in your 
application clearly references the question number(s) and section(s) 
listed in this guidance and or the statute. See the examples that 
follow:
    Example 1. ``Mar Ex'' is eligible for the CoE program as a 
community college. (Q3). Please find enclosed our Articles of 
Incorporation, Certificate of Status, State supervision and validation 
document. (Q3, a, b, c).
    Example 2. ``Mar Ex'' is enclosing the following supporting 
documents to demonstrate that our Maritime Training Center offers 
Afloat Track programs and that we are State accredited. (Q5, Section 
b): U.S. Department of Education Accrediting Agency XYZ accreditation 
(Q5, Section b,ii,B).

    Note: MARAD will host two (2) ``Center of Excellence 
Application'' sessions to provide guidance to prospective applicants 
on the content of this Federal Register notice. The dates and times 
of these sessions will be announced on the MARAD CoE homepage

[[Page 43107]]

within forty-eight (48) hours of the publication of this Notice of 
Opportunity to Apply. Attendance at either of these information 
sessions is entirely voluntary and not a requirement of the 
application process.

Information To Include in Your Application

    All submitted documents should clearly reference the question 
number(s) and section(s) listed in this guidance and/or the statute.
    1. Letter applying for CoE designation from the Chief Executive of 
the applicant institution.
    2. Applicant contact information:
    a. Legal name of applicant institution and address.
    b. Chief executive's name, position title, address, phone number(s) 
and email.
    c. Points of contact (POC) name(s), position titles, phone 
number(s), emails.
    3. Indicate if the applicant institution is claiming eligibility 
for the CoE program as a ``Community or Technical College'' or 
``Maritime Training Center'', and submit the following supporting 
information and documents:
    a. Charter, Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of 
Incorporation, or equivalent, if applicable.
    b. Certificate of Status (also known as Certificate of Existence or 
Certificate of Good Standing), a document issued by a State official 
(usually the Secretary of State), if applicable.
    c. State operation or State supervision validation documents, if 
applicable.
    d. Non-Profit certification, if applicable.
    e. Accreditation approval letter(s) from an accrediting 
agency(ies).
    f. Approval letter from a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in 
accordance with 29 CFR part 29, if applicable.
    g. Approval letter from the State's Department of Education or 
equivalent State agency, if applicable.
    h. Approval letter from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), if 
applicable.
    i. ISO 9001 or other quality management certification (Maritime 
Training Centers only), if applicable.
    j. Data and statistics to demonstrate institutional effectiveness. 
This should include, but not be limited to, recruitment data, past/
current enrollment (trends), attrition rates, student program 
completion data, post-program job and placement statistics (to the 
extent available to the institution), and program effectiveness 
feedback from students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders.

    Note: This information corresponds to the types of data commonly 
collected annually as part of a higher education institution's 
Performance Accountability Report (PAR).

    4. Indicate the total number of Afloat Career preparation tracks 
and/or the total number of Ashore Career preparation tracks your 
institution offers in the United States Maritime Industry and submit 
the following supporting information:
    a. Program summary;
    b. A description of applicable courses offered (only relevant 
maritime related program-specific pages from the catalogue);
    c. If applicable, letters of authorization and/or endorsement of 
the course/program and/or course(s) by an applicable professional 
society or industry body (including, but not limited to Welding, 
Electrician, Electronics, Maritime Construction, Maritime Logistics, 
Maritime Systems, etc.) to issue industry accepted certifications that 
reflect a professionally recognized level of educational or technical 
skill achievement; and
    d. Any other relevant supporting documentation.

    Note: Applicant institutions offering both Ashore and Afloat 
Career tracks should submit supporting information for both tracks.

    5. Applicant institutions offering Afloat Career and/or Ashore 
Career tracks should indicate that they have satisfied accreditation 
requirements, as set forth below:
    a. ``Community and Technical Colleges'' hold current accreditation 
of the institution from a Regional Accreditation Agency or a Nationally 
Recognized Agency on the list of Accrediting Agencies approved by the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    b. ``Maritime Training Centers'' hold current accreditation--
    i. either of the institution from a Regional Accreditation Agency 
or a Nationally Recognized; Agency on the list of Accrediting Agencies 
approved by the U.S. Department of Education; or
    ii. of the maritime training program offered by the institution 
from one or more of the following:
    A. a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in accordance with 29 CFR 
part 29,
    B. the State's Department of Education or equivalent State agency,
    C. the United States Coast Guard (USCG), if applicable; or
    D. other appropriate external review body which is specifically 
authorized to review and validate post-secondary education programs and 
is acceptable to MARAD.
    6. All applicant institutions should submit a brief narrative 
statement * for one or more qualitative attributes fostered by the 
institution to accomplish the following:
    a. Support the workforce needs of the local, state, or regional 
economy;
    b. Build the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) 
competencies of local/future workforce to meet emerging local, 
regional, and national economic interests;
    c. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within 
the institution, including among the student body, faculty, and staff;
    d. Offer a broad-based curriculum and stackable credentials, where 
applicable;
    e. Engage and/or collaborate with the maritime industry, including, 
but not limited to employers, associations, and other industry 
organizations or partners;
    f. Engage and/or collaborate with employer-led maritime training 
practices and programs through Sector Partnerships as authorized in the 
2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Section 3(26);
    g. Engage and/or collaborate with local and regional maritime high 
schools with maritime, maritime related, Career Technical Education 
(CTE) or STEM programs;
    h. Engage and/or collaborate with maritime academies and other 
institutions or organizations for advanced proficiency and higher 
education; and
    i. Conduct other significant domestic maritime workforce 
development related activities.
    j. All applicant institutions may provide any relevant 
endorsements, awards, recognition, and significant accomplishments in 
support of their application.

    * Note: As part of designation, CoE designee institutions are 
geolocated on MARAD's CoE Interactive Map located on the MARAD 
website. Aside from identifying geographic location, this map also 
provides a link to a landing page for each institution and a brief 
narrative statement, an Institution Overview, about each 
institution's maritime program. Applicants are encouraged to take 
into consideration that the information they submit for 6a-6j may 
serve dual purpose: application support and content for a one-page 
institutional overview that highlights your institution's 
achievements and aspirations.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements in the final CoE 
designation policy have been approved under information collection 
number 2133-0549 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. In accordance 
with 5 CFR

[[Page 43108]]

1320.5(b)(2)(i), persons are not required to provide information to the 
Government unless the information collection displays a current and 
valid OMB control number. This application process is operating under 
the following current and valid OMB control number: 2133-0549.

(Authority: The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. 
115-91 (December 12, 2017), 46 U.S.C. 51706, The Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended, 49 CFR 1.49)

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-15389 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P