[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32431-32432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08970]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-MEG-2024-01; Docket No.2024-0002; Sequence No.15]


Notice of Intent To Establish a Federal Advisory Committee and 
Call for Nominations

AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) announces its intent 
to establish the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee 
(hereinafter ``the Committee'' or ``the OG FAC'') and is requesting 
member nominations.

DATES: GSA will consider nominations that are submitted via email or 
postmarked by May 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Arthur Brunson, Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO), General Services Administration, Office of 
Government-wide Policy, 1800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20405; or send 
by email having a subject line of ``OG FAC Nomination'' to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur Brunson, DFO, Office of 
Government-wide Policy, 202-501-1126, or email having a subject line of 
``OG FAC Nomination'': [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administrator of the U.S. General 
Services Administration (GSA) intends to establish the Open Government 
Federal Advisory Committee (OG FAC) as a discretionary advisory 
committee under agency authority in accordance with the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. 10.
    GSA's Open Government Secretariat supports ensuring a more 
transparent, responsive and inclusive Federal Government. This is done 
by providing channels for members of the public to regularly engage 
with their government. The OG FAC will advise GSA in its endeavor to 
increase the public's access to data, to better advance equity, engage 
the public in the regulatory process, make government records more 
accessible, and improve the delivery of government services and 
benefits through expert advice.
    The OG FAC will serve as an advisory body to GSA on GSA Open 
Government initiatives including GSA's creation, implementation and 
monitoring of U.S. Open Government National Action Plans (NAPs)and 
commitment themes. The initial focus for the OG FAC will be to provide 
advice to GSA on the development of NAP 6, Open Government Policy, and 
Public Engagement. The OG FAC will advise GSA's Administrator on 
emerging open government issues, challenges and opportunities to 
support GSA's Open Government Secretariat.
    The OG FAC is essential to conduct agency business for GSA and 
bring together civil society, Federal agencies, academia, industry, and 
other interested stakeholders. GSA needs a wide diversity of views on 
Open Government initiatives.
    It is anticipated that the OG FAC will be comprised of no less than 
ten (10) and no more than twenty (20) Federal and non-Federal members, 
with a strong background and expertise in open government themes such 
as Access to Information, Anti-Corruption, Civic Space, Climate and 
Environment, Digital Governance, Fiscal Openness, Gender and Inclusion, 
Justice, Media Freedom, Public Participation, and improving the 
delivery of government services and benefits. The GSA Administrator 
will appoint all members. Members serve one (1) to three (3) year 
terms. No member will serve for more than six (6) consistent years. 
Membership balance is not static given the broad nature of the work, 
and the expertise or experience relevant to the function of this 
Committee may change over time, depending on the work of the Committee. 
GSA values opportunities to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and 
accessibility on its federal advisory committees.

Committee

    The OG FAC will operate in accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, (5 U.S.C. 10). The 
OG FAC will be solely advisory in nature. Consistent with FACA and its 
requirements, each meeting of the OG FAC will be open to the public 
unless otherwise notified in accordance with the Government in the 
Sunshine Act. A notice of each meeting will be published in the Federal 
Register at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. Records 
will be maintained for each meeting and made available for public 
inspection. All activities of the OG FAC will be conducted in an open, 
transparent, and accessible manner.
    The OG FAC is expected to be a continuing entity with charter 
renewals every two years. The first meeting date and agenda topics will 
be announced in the Federal Register at least fifteen (15) days prior 
to the first meeting date. In addition, as needed, working groups or 
subcommittees will be established to facilitate the OG FAC's work. 
Special accommodations for meetings will be made available to 
individuals with disabilities upon request.
    Members will be designated as Regular Government Employees (RGEs), 
Special Government Employees (SGEs), or Representative members as 
appropriate. GSA's Office of General Counsel will assist the DFO to 
determine the advisory committee member designations. In general, SGEs 
are experts in their field who provide Federal advisory committees with 
their own best independent judgment based on their individual 
expertise. Representatives are members selected to represent a specific 
point of view held by a particular group, organization, or association. 
Members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian 
officers or employees shall be appointed to serve as Regular Government 
Employee (RGE) members.
    In accordance with OMB Final Guidance published in the Federal

[[Page 32432]]

Register on October 5, 2011 and revised on August 13, 2014, federally 
registered lobbyists may not serve on the Committee in an individual 
capacity to provide their own individual best judgment and expertise, 
such as SGEs and RGEs members. This ban does not apply to lobbyists 
appointed to provide the Committee with the views of a particular 
group, organization, or association, such as a representative member.

Member Nominations

    GSA invites nominations to serve on the Committee in the 
disciplines related to Open Government policy and initiatives such as, 
but not limited to: Access to Information, Anti-Corruption, Civic 
Space, Climate and Environment, Digital Governance, Fiscal Openness, 
Gender and Inclusion, Justice, Media Freedom, Public Participation, and 
improving the delivery of government services and benefits. In the 
selection of members for the Committee, GSA will consider a cross-
section of those directly affected, interested, and qualified, as 
appropriate to the nature and functions of the Committee.
    Membership will depend upon several factors, including: (i) The 
Committee's mission; (ii) The geographic, ethnic, social, economic, or 
scientific impact of the Committee's recommendations; (iii) The types 
of specific perspectives required, for example, such as those of 
consumers, technical experts, the public at-large, academia, business, 
or other sectors; (iv) The need to obtain divergent points of view on 
the issues before the Committee; and (v) The relevance of State, local, 
territorial, or Tribal governments to the development of the 
Committee's recommendations.

Member Selection Criteria

    The following factors will be used to evaluate nominees:

Committee Members

    a. Subject matter expertise in the key issue the OG FAC is 
examining for the current period;
    b. Professional experiences and accomplishments (e.g., projects, 
nature of work, or publications);
    c. Current employment and membership in associations or other 
activities (e.g., industry, academia, and civil society organizations); 
and
    d. Willingness to commit time to the Committee and demonstrated 
ability to work constructively and effectively on committees;

Committee Chair and Any Co-chairs or Vice-Chairs

     Demonstrated credentials and interdisciplinary expertise 
in the open government themes such as Access to Information, Anti-
Corruption, Civic Space, Climate and Environment, Digital Governance, 
Fiscal Openness, Gender and Inclusion, Justice, Media Freedom, Public 
Participation, and improving the delivery of government services and 
benefits.
     Willingness to commit substantial time to the Committee 
and demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively on 
committees;
     Background and experience helping engage people from 
different backgrounds work towards common objectives;
     Demonstrated ability to assess and analyze policy 
challenges with objectivity and integrity;
     Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication 
skills; and
     Excellent leadership and consensus-building skills.
    All members will be appointed by the GSA Administrator, who will 
also select the Chair and any Co-Chairs or Vice-Chairs from among the 
members.

Miscellaneous

    The OG FAC will meet at least four times per year. Such meetings 
will be open to the public unless an appropriate authority determines, 
in accordance with FACA, as amended, that a meeting shall be closed or 
partially closed. The Committee will meet virtually or in person as 
agreed to by the Committee Chair and DFO.
    Committee members (including the Committee Chair and any Co-Chairs 
or Vice-Chairs) will not be compensated for their services and may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem, in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 5703. Regardless of the type of committee membership 
appointment, any travel expenses shall be paid at rates equivalent to 
that allowable to Federal employees.
    The GSA Open Government Secretariat will host a virtual Question 
and Answer (Q&A) session on May 10, 2024 at 1:00pm ET. The purpose of 
the Q&A session is to answer questions on the selection process and 
timeline. The Q&A session will be recorded and will be posted to the 
GSA YouTube Channel, on the Open Government Secretariat Playlist. To 
attend this virtual session please complete and submit a registration 
form at https://gsa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItduyurz0jEvnY1VG4FD-PswDaufetOsc or submit your contact information 
via email having a subject line of ``OG FAC Q&A Session Attendance'' 
to: [email protected].

Nomination Submissions

    Any interested person and/or organization may nominate qualified 
individuals for membership. Individuals are also encouraged to self-
nominate. The following items must be submitted in a nomination 
package:
    (1) A letter of nomination stating the nominee's name and 
organizational affiliation(s), nominee's field of expertise, specific 
qualifications to serve on the Committee, and a brief statement of 
interest, including if the nominee is interested in serving as the 
Chair of the Committee;
    (2) A professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV); and
    (3) A short biography (no more than two paragraphs) describing the 
nominee's professional and educational qualifications, including a list 
of relevant activities and any current or previous/current service on 
advisory committees.
    The letter of nomination, resume or CV, and a short biography 
should include the candidate's full name, address of the current 
organization, position title, email address, and daytime telephone 
number(s) of the nominee and nominator.
    In preparing the letter of nomination, please describe how the 
nominee's background, knowledge, and experience will bring value to the 
work of the Committee and how these qualifications would contribute to 
the overall diversity of the Committee. Also, describe any previous 
involvement with GSA through employment, grant funding, and/or 
contracting sources, if applicable.
    Nominations are due by May 28, 2024 and must be submitted to Arthur 
Brunson, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), General Services 
Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy, 1800 F Street, NW 
Washington, DC 207405 having a postmarked date of no later than the due 
date or via email having a subject line of ``OG FAC Nomination'' to: 
[email protected].

Krystal J. Brumfield,
Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy, General 
Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-08970 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
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