[Federal Register: March 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 43)]
[Notices]
[Page 10202-10203]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr04-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 000817241-4074-02]
Identification of Currently Funded Projects Eligible to be
Extended for an Additional Year of Funding in Light of the Department
of Commerce's Intent to Revise the Postsecondary Internship Program
AGENCY: Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) publishes this notice to
announce that the project award period of cooperative agreements under
the Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) is extended for an
additional year of funding. The Federal Register notice that solicited
applications for the program established the total project award period
for cooperative agreements under the Postsecondary Internship Program
as three (3) years. (65 FR 63231, October 23, 2000) The office
administering the program at the time the cooperative agreements were
awarded, the DOC Office of Executive Assistance Management, has
recently been reorganized, with subsequent realignment of the program
management responsibilities to the DOC Office of Human Resources
Management (OHRM.) This extension of time will permit DOC's OHRM to
implement an overall program review, consider potential enhancements
and revisions of the program scope, work requirements and performance
measures for the Postsecondary Internship Program. This notice also
identifies specific program recipients who will be eligible for an
additional year of funding. It is OHRM's intent to assess the future
direction of the program especially in outlining initiatives for
successful and strategic management of human capital. DOC's OHRM has a
workforce restructuring plan in place, has identified best practices
for succession planning, and is tracking DOC mission-critical
occupations which will suffer a severe and identifiable shortage over
the next five years.
DATES: The award period is extended as of March 4, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Carin M. Otero, (202) 482-1445.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP)
was developed as one vehicle the DOC uses to promote participation of
minorities in Federal programs as mandated by Executive Orders and
statutes. Title 5, section 7201 of the U.S. Code requires that each
Executive agency conduct a continuing program for the recruitment of
members of minorities to address under representation of minorities in
various categories of Federal employment. Executive Order 13256
provides for Executive departments to enter into, among other things,
cooperative agreements with Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) to further the goals of the Executive Order,
principally that of strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to provide
quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and
benefit from Federal programs. Executive Order 13230 calls for
Executive departments to develop plans to increase opportunities for
Hispanic Americans to participate in and benefit from Federal education
programs. Executive Order 13270 helps ensure that greater Federal
resources are available to the tribal colleges. Executive Order 13216
directs Federal agencies to increase participation of Asian and Pacific
Islanders in Federal programs.
In order to ensure that the Federal Government can maintain
visibility and attractiveness to the ``best and brightest'' college
students, this program supports partnerships between Federal
departments and nonprofit or educational institutions. This program
continues to improve opportunities for college students to prepare for
their transition to the workplace and foster human resource diversity
at DOC.
As part of the review and revision of the program, DOC amends the
award period to provide an additional year of funding, on a non-
competitive basis, to current intern program recipients who will be
completing the third year of partnership with DOC. The additional year
of funding will permit student participation through the 2005 spring
session of the program (January through May) which coincides with the
academic year. Specifically, the additional year of funding will
comprise the 2004 summer session, the 2004 fall session and the 2005
spring session of the program. Funding for the additional year will be
at the sole discretion of the DOC and will depend on satisfactory
performance by the recipients, the availability of funds, and Agency
priorities that support the continuation of the project. DOC has no
obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with
this award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC.
Under normal circumstances, Postsecondary Internship Program
partners would conduct a new competition at the end of the three year
award period. However, due to the addition of a fourth year of funding,
the Postsecondary Internship Program did not conduct a competition
during 2003. The additional year of funding, as announced in this
notice, will allow OHRM the necessary time to review and develop its
revised program.
The following program partners are affected by this notice and will
be eligible for an additional year of funding, which includes the 2005
spring session for an extension of the project award period for a total
of 15 months (3/
[[Page 10203]]
1/04-5/31/05), on a non-competitive basis: American Indian Science and
Engineering Society, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
National Intern Program, Minority Access, Inc., and Oak Ridge
Associated Universities.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are
applicable to this notice.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not
been prepared.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 7201 and Executive Orders 13216, 13230,
13256, and 13270.
Dated: March 1, 2004.
Deborah A. Jefferson,
Director for Human Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 04-4883 Filed 3-3-04; 8:45 am]