80 FR 23504 - Establishment of a Ready Applicant Pool for Department of Commerce Trade Missions
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 81 (April 28, 2015)
International Trade Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 81 (April 28, 2015)
| Page Range | 23504-23505 | |
| FR Document | 2015-09800 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 81 (Tuesday, April 28, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 23504-23505] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-09800] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Establishment of a Ready Applicant Pool for Department of Commerce Trade Missions AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce (Department), International Trade Administration (ITA), is establishing a Ready Applicant Pool initiative, the Ready Applicant Pool (RAP), for organizations and companies that would like to receive information directly from the Department, when it organizes a trade mission aligned with the products, services, technologies, sectors, target markets or goals of the applicant. Applicants willing and interested to send a high-level representative to participate on an expedited trade mission to any location, at any time, on very short notice are especially encouraged to apply for the RAP. Applications to join the RAP can be found at http://www.export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp and will be accepted at any time. DATES: The RAP is established as of April 28, 2015. Applications may be submitted at any time at http://www.export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp. Applications will be evaluated quarterly and those accepted will be notified as soon as possible. Applicants will be selected for the current RAP term and will need to reapply when the term ends on December 31, 2016. Each term will last two years. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Department of Commerce (the Department), International Trade Administration (ITA), is establishing a Ready Applicant Pool (RAP) initiative for companies and organizations that would like to receive information directly from the Department when it organizes a trade mission aligned with the products, services, technology, sectors, target markets or goals of the applicant. The program is entitled the Ready Applicant Pool (RAP). One of the primary goals of the RAP is to provide a fast and efficient method for the Department to recruit for expedited trade missions. Expedited trade missions will utilize expedited procedures, web-based notification, and will have short application deadlines. Because of their expedited nature, the Department will rely heavily on the members of the RAP for recruitment, especially those RAP members that are willing to send a high-level representative to participate on a mission to any location, at any time, on very short notice. The Department may also rely on appropriate RAP members in its recruitment for other trade missions. Specifically, the Department intends to directly contact those RAP members with products, services, technologies, target sectors, target markets or goals that align with a particular trade mission. The benefits of joining the RAP are: (1) To ensure the Department will contact the current point-of-contact when it organizes a trade mission that it determines is aligned with the RAP member's products, services, technologies, target sectors, target markets or goals; (2) to speed up the trade mission selection process by providing the Department with the information necessary for pre-screening with respect to participation generally in its trade missions and (3) to indicate in advance a willingness to apply for and potentially participate in expedited trade missions to any location at any time, possibly on very short notice. Any member of the U.S. business community may apply to become a member of the RAP. The U.S. business community consists of corporations, partnerships, and other business associations created under the laws of the United States or of any state; U.S. citizens; state or local economic development or international trade office or agency; trade association and other non-profit organizations that represent a sector or sectors of the U.S. economy; university competitiveness programs; and any other U.S. entity seeking to promote United States business interests abroad. The criteria for evaluating applicants for selection for the RAP are:Whether the applicant will be a suitable representative of the U.S. industry sector in which it operates; The applicant's potential for helping to advance Department of Commerce strategic priorities; The applicant's past, present, and prospective business activities abroad; The applicant's conduct on past trade missions; and Whether the applicant is willing to send a high-level representative to participate on an expedited trade mission to any location, at any time, on very short notice. The last criterion will not be dispositive for RAP selection but it will be weighted significantly in selection for the RAP. Applicants that cannot fulfill this criterion will not be excluded from the RAP. Applicants selected for the RAP will be contacted directly by the Department when it organizes a trade mission aligned with the products, services, technologies, target sectors, target markets or goals of the applicant. The Department will have up-to-date contact information for RAP members, ensuring that trade mission information reaches the correct company contact. When contacted, RAP members will be given step-by-step instructions on how to apply for the mission. Selection for the RAP does not guarantee or assure selection for a particular trade mission. But, RAP members are pre-screened with respect to participation generally in Department trade missions. Applications for the RAP may be submitted at any time at http://www.export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp. They will be evaluated on a quarterly basis and those accepted will be notified as soon as possible. Once selected, the Department will reach out to the RAP member for updated contact information every six months. This ensures that the Department has current information about the applicant's products, services, technologies, target sectors, target markets and goals. The RAP term will end every two years. The first RAP term will begin immediately and conclude on December 31, 2016. At that time, all members will be required to reapply in order to gain membership for the following term (January 1, 2017--December 31, 2018). Applications received after July 1, 2016 will be reviewed for both the first and second cohorts of the RAP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Spector, Acting Director, Trade [[Page 23505]] Missions Program, Phone: (202) 482-2054, Email: [email protected]. Frank Spector, Acting Director, Trade Missions Program. [FR Doc. 2015-09800 Filed 4-27-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P
![23504 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 81 / Tuesday, April 28, 2015 / Notices
This information collection request International Trade Administration • Whether the applicant will be a
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. (ITA), is establishing a Ready Applicant suitable representative of the U.S.
Follow the instructions to view Pool (RAP) initiative for companies and industry sector in which it operates;
Department of Commerce collections organizations that would like to receive • The applicant’s potential for
currently under review by OMB. information directly from the helping to advance Department of
Written comments and Department when it organizes a trade Commerce strategic priorities;
recommendations for the proposed mission aligned with the products,
collection should be sent within 30 days services, technology, sectors, target • The applicant’s past, present, and
of publication of this notice to markets or goals of the applicant. The prospective business activities abroad;
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax program is entitled the Ready Applicant • The applicant’s conduct on past
to (202) 395–5806. Pool (RAP). trade missions; and
One of the primary goals of the RAP
Dated: April 23, 2015. • Whether the applicant is willing to
Glenna Mickelson,
is to provide a fast and efficient method
send a high-level representative to
for the Department to recruit for
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
expedited trade missions. Expedited participate on an expedited trade
Information Officer. mission to any location, at any time, on
trade missions will utilize expedited
[FR Doc. 2015–09796 Filed 4–27–15; 8:45 am]
procedures, web-based notification, and very short notice.
BILLING CODE 3510–33–P The last criterion will not be
will have short application deadlines.
Because of their expedited nature, the dispositive for RAP selection but it will
Department will rely heavily on the be weighted significantly in selection
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
members of the RAP for recruitment, for the RAP. Applicants that cannot
International Trade Administration especially those RAP members that are fulfill this criterion will not be excluded
willing to send a high-level from the RAP.
Establishment of a Ready Applicant representative to participate on a Applicants selected for the RAP will
Pool for Department of Commerce mission to any location, at any time, on be contacted directly by the Department
Trade Missions very short notice. The Department may when it organizes a trade mission
also rely on appropriate RAP members aligned with the products, services,
AGENCY: International Trade in its recruitment for other trade
Administration, Department of technologies, target sectors, target
missions. Specifically, the Department
Commerce. markets or goals of the applicant. The
intends to directly contact those RAP
ACTION: Notice. Department will have up-to-date contact
members with products, services,
information for RAP members, ensuring
SUMMARY: The United States Department technologies, target sectors, target
that trade mission information reaches
of Commerce (Department), markets or goals that align with a
particular trade mission. the correct company contact. When
International Trade Administration contacted, RAP members will be given
The benefits of joining the RAP are:
(ITA), is establishing a Ready Applicant step-by-step instructions on how to
(1) To ensure the Department will
Pool initiative, the Ready Applicant apply for the mission. Selection for the
contact the current point-of-contact
Pool (RAP), for organizations and when it organizes a trade mission that RAP does not guarantee or assure
companies that would like to receive it determines is aligned with the RAP selection for a particular trade mission.
information directly from the member’s products, services, But, RAP members are pre-screened
Department, when it organizes a trade technologies, target sectors, target with respect to participation generally
mission aligned with the products, markets or goals; (2) to speed up the in Department trade missions.
services, technologies, sectors, target trade mission selection process by Applications for the RAP may be
markets or goals of the applicant. providing the Department with the submitted at any time at http://
Applicants willing and interested to information necessary for pre-screening www.export.gov/trademissions/eg_
send a high-level representative to with respect to participation generally main_023185.asp. They will be
participate on an expedited trade in its trade missions and (3) to indicate
mission to any location, at any time, on evaluated on a quarterly basis and those
in advance a willingness to apply for accepted will be notified as soon as
very short notice are especially and potentially participate in expedited
encouraged to apply for the RAP. possible. Once selected, the Department
trade missions to any location at any will reach out to the RAP member for
Applications to join the RAP can be time, possibly on very short notice.
found at http://www.export.gov/ updated contact information every six
Any member of the U.S. business months. This ensures that the
trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp and community may apply to become a
will be accepted at any time. Department has current information
member of the RAP. The U.S. business about the applicant’s products, services,
DATES: The RAP is established as of community consists of corporations, technologies, target sectors, target
April 28, 2015. Applications may be partnerships, and other business markets and goals. The RAP term will
submitted at any time at http:// associations created under the laws of end every two years. The first RAP term
www.export.gov/trademissions/eg_ the United States or of any state; U.S. will begin immediately and conclude on
main_023185.asp. Applications will be citizens; state or local economic December 31, 2016. At that time, all
evaluated quarterly and those accepted development or international trade members will be required to reapply in
will be notified as soon as possible. office or agency; trade association and
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
order to gain membership for the
Applicants will be selected for the other non-profit organizations that following term (January 1, 2017—
current RAP term and will need to represent a sector or sectors of the U.S. December 31, 2018). Applications
reapply when the term ends on economy; university competitiveness received after July 1, 2016 will be
December 31, 2016. Each term will last programs; and any other U.S. entity reviewed for both the first and second
two years. seeking to promote United States cohorts of the RAP.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: business interests abroad.
The United States Department of The criteria for evaluating applicants FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commerce (the Department), for selection for the RAP are: Frank Spector, Acting Director, Trade
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 81 / Tuesday, April 28, 2015 / Notices 23505
Missions Program, Phone: (202) 482– the use of expedited procedures, the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
2054, Email: Frank.Spector@trade.gov. Department will endeavor to conduct
recruitment and selection for the National Institute of Standards and
Frank Spector,
mission within 2–3 weeks. Technology
Acting Director, Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2015–09800 Filed 4–27–15; 8:45 am] The mission statements for Expedited Manufacturing Extension Partnership
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P Trade Missions will only be posted on Advisory Board
the Web site above. The mission
statement will include the conditions of AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE participation and the participation and Technology, Commerce.
criteria for the Expedited Trade Mission. ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting.
International Trade Administration Any party interested in participating is
encouraged to apply if it meets the SUMMARY: The National Institute of
Establishment of Expedited Trade Standards and Technology (NIST)
Mission Procedures conditions of participation. All
announces that the Manufacturing
applicants will be evaluated on an equal
AGENCY: International Trade Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory
basis with respect to the participation
Administration, Department of Board will hold an open meeting on
criteria.
Commerce. Tuesday, May 19, 2015, from 8:30 a.m.
The deadline to apply for an to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
ACTION: Notice.
Expedited Trade Mission may be DATES: The meeting will be held
SUMMARY: The United States Department extremely short, potentially as little as Tuesday, May 19, 2015, from 8:30 a.m.
of Commerce, International Trade 5 business days from the date the to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
Administration, is establishing new mission statement is posted. Short ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
procedures for Expedited Trade deadlines are needed to allow for the Embassy Suites Phoenix-Scottsdale,
Missions. When the Secretary approves recruitment and selection to be 4415 E. Paradise Village Parkway South,
a Decision Memo justifying the use of completed within 2–3 weeks. In most Phoenix, AZ 85032. Please note
expedited procedures, the Department cases, as specified in the mission admittance instructions in the
of Commerce will endeavor to conduct statement, applications received after SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
recruitment and selection for the the indicated deadline will be below.
mission within 2–3 weeks. Applicants considered only if space and scheduling
should be aware that mission statements constraints permit. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kari
for Expedited Trade Missions will NOT Reidy, Manufacturing Extension
The selection process for Expedited Partnership, National Institute of
be notified in the Federal Register.
Trade Missions will not differ Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau
Instead, they will be posted online at:
http://www.export.gov/trademissions/ substantively from other trade missions, Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg,
eg_main_023185.asp. but will be compressed. The Department Maryland 20899–4800, telephone
Applicants should also be aware that will endeavor to complete selection number (301) 975–4919, email
deadlines for applying for Expedited within 5 business days after the kari.reidy@nist.gov.
Trade Missions will be extremely short. application deadline. Applicants for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MEP
The procedures for selecting Expedited Trade Missions will be Advisory Board (Board) is authorized
participants for Expedited Trade informed promptly whether or not they under section 3003(d) of the America
Missions will be compressed. All have been selected. COMPETES Act (Pub. L. 110–69);
interested parties that meet the The timing for Expedited Trade codified at 15 U.S.C. 278k(e), as
conditions of participation are Missions is expected to be extremely amended, in accordance with the
encouraged to apply, and all applicants compressed. We encourage those provisions of the Federal Advisory
will be evaluated on an equal basis with selected for an Expedited Trade Mission Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C.
respect to the participation criteria. to begin making arrangements to App. The Board is composed of 10
DATES: Expedited Trade Mission participate immediately. Business or members, appointed by the Director of
procedures are established as of April entry visas may be required to NIST. Hollings MEP is a unique
28, 2015. participate on the mission. Applying for program, consisting of centers across the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and obtaining such visas will be the United States and Puerto Rico with
Department of Commerce endeavors to responsibility of the mission partnerships at the state, federal, and
plan trade missions as far in advance as participant. Government fees and local levels. The Board provides a forum
is feasible. However, in certain processing expenses to obtain such visas for input and guidance from Hollings
circumstances it is in the Department’s are not included in the participation fee. MEP program stakeholders in the
interest, and consistent with its However, the Department of Commerce formulation and implementation of
priorities, to lead a trade mission on an will provide instructions to each tools and services focused on
expedited basis, contingent on the participant on the procedures required supporting and growing the U.S.
availability of Departmental resources. to obtain necessary business visas. manufacturing industry, provides
The Department is establishing new advice on MEP programs, plans, and
procedures for Expedited Trade FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: policies, assesses the soundness of MEP
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Missions that will allow it, upon the Frank Spector, Acting Director, Trade plans and strategies, and assesses
approval of the Secretary, Deputy Missions Program, Phone: (202) 482– current performance against MEP
Secretary or Under Secretary of 2054, Email: Frank.Spector@trade.gov. program plans.
International Trade, to lead trade Background information on the Board
Frank Spector,
missions on an expedited basis. When is available at http://www.nist.gov/mep/
the Secretary, Deputy Secretary or Acting Director, Trade Missions Program. about/advisory-board.cfm.
Under Secretary of International Trade [FR Doc. 2015–09802 Filed 4–27–15; 8:45 am] Pursuant to the Federal Advisory
approves a Decision Memo justifying BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Apr 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_23585/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-16 08:35:44
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 08:35:44
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | The RAP is established as of April 28, 2015. Applications may be submitted at any time at http://www.export.gov/trademissions/ eg_main_023185.asp. Applications will be evaluated quarterly and those accepted will be notified as soon as possible. Applicants will be selected for the current RAP term and will need to reapply when the term ends on December 31, 2016. Each term will last two years. | |
| Contact | Frank Spector, Acting Director, Trade Missions Program, Phone: (202) 482-2054, Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 23504 |
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