[Federal Register: March 20, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 14957-14958]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr08-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 080306392-8393-01]
RIN 0648-ZB89
Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP); Extension of Award Period
AGENCY: Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) is publishing this notice to
allow for the extension of the award period for an additional four-
month period of funding, on a non-competitive basis, to awards of
current Postsecondary Internship Program (PIP) recipients who will be
completing the third year of partnership with DOC on May 31, 2008. The
Federal Register notice (69 FR 68125, November 23, 2004) and Federal
Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement that solicited applications for
the program established the total project award period for cooperative
agreements under the Postsecondary Internship Program as three years
and three months (March 1, 2005-May 31, 2008). This extension of time
will permit DOC's Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) to
implement an overall program review, consider potential enhancements
and revisions of the program scope, work requirements and performance
measures for the PIP. 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.
DATES: The award period and related funding, if approved by the DOC
Grants Officer, will commence on June 1, 2008, and will continue
through September 30, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam D. Santo, Project Manager,
United States Department of Commerce, Office of Human Resources
Management, Room 5204, 1400 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
20230. Mr. Santo may be reached by telephone at (202) 482-4286 and by
e-mail at asanto@doc.gov.
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
[[Page 14958]]
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. In order to provide the program
with the necessary time to review and develop its revised program for
new awards, this notice amends DOC's prior Federal Register notice
dated November 23, 2004 (69 FR 68125) to allow for an additional four-
month period of funding, on a non-competitive basis, to current PIP
recipients who will be completing the third year of partnership with
DOC on May 31, 2008. The following recipients whose award period is
scheduled to end on May 31, 2008, are affected by this notice and will
be eligible for an additional four-month period of funding, on a non-
competitive basis, through September 30, 2008: American Indian Science
and Engineering Society, Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities National Intern Program, Minority Access, Inc., Oak Ridge
Associated Universities, and The Washington Center for Internships and
Academic Seminars.
The award period and related funding, if approved by the DOC Grants
Officer, will commence on June 1, 2008, and will continue through
September 30, 2008. The additional period of funding will permit
student participation in the PIP through the 2008 summer session of the
program (June through August), which coincides with the academic year.
Funding for the additional period of time will be at the sole
discretion of the DOC using the evaluation criteria and process used to
determine the continuation of funding during the original award period
(March 1, 2005-May 31, 2008). In making such determinations, the
following factors will be considered: (1) Satisfactory performance by
the recipients; (2) the availability of appropriated funds; and (3) DOC
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. The OHRM is
currently reviewing the program to ensure it meets workforce planning
needs. The additional period of funding, as announced in this notice,
will allow OHRM the necessary time to review and develop its revised
program so that a competition can be held for new awards, which will
permit student participation in the PIP commencing with the fall
session of 2008.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696) 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 14, 2008.
Deborah A. Jefferson,
Director for Human Resources Management, Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E8-5660 Filed 3-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BS-S