83 FR 33921 - Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program; Knowledge Sharing Strategies.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)
| Page Range | 33921-33923 | |
| FR Document | 2018-15265 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 33921-33923] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-15265] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No. 171003965-7965-01] Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program; Knowledge Sharing Strategies. AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program includes a network of centers located in all 50 States and Puerto Rico, and is a source of trusted advice about new technologies, production techniques and business management practices. In order for the MEP System to grow, improve and have a greater impact on the growth and competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers in the global marketplace, the MEP System needs to transform to an organizationally and operationally integrated MEP National Network. This transformation will require a learning and knowledge sharing infrastructure, which NIST MEP envisions will be stood up as ``The MEP Network Learning and Knowledge Sharing System'' (MEP NLKSS). NIST is requesting information from interested vendors and others on possible designs and implementation of networked learning and knowledge sharing. The responses will inform NIST's planning of the MEP NLKSS, including assisting NIST MEP with the development of the final Statement of Work for a performance-based contract. DATES: NIST will accept responses to this request for information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 17, 2018. ADDRESSES: Responses will be accepted by email only. Responses must be sent to meprfi@nist.gov with the subject line ``MEP Network Learning and Knowledge Sharing System RFI Response.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Simpson, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5020, meprfi@nist.gov; or Mary Ann Pacelli, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5020, meprfi@nist.gov. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office of Public Affairs at 301-975- NIST (6478). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST will consider the information obtained in response to this request for information in the development of a Scope of Work for a competitively awarded contract to develop and/or implement any or all parts of the MEP NLKSS. Background--The MEP System The MEP System consists of NIST MEP and its MEP Centers located in all 50 States and Puerto Rico. For almost 30 years the MEP Centers have served as trusted advisors focused largely on the continuous improvement of U.S. manufacturers for the purpose of achieving improved productivity. MEP Centers are a diverse system of state, university- based, and other non-profit organizations, comprising more than 1,300 technical experts offering products, technical expertise and services that address the critical needs of their local manufacturers. MEP Centers are funded through cooperative agreements issued by NIST. [[Page 33922]] Each MEP Center works directly with manufacturers in their area to provide expertise and services tailored to their most critical needs, ranging from process improvement and workforce development to business practices and technology transfer. Additionally, MEP Centers connect manufacturers with government and trade associations, universities and research laboratories, and a host of other public and private resources to help manufacturers realize individual business goals. Through the efforts of its existing MEP Centers to provide services to small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers, the MEP System addresses many of the needs of small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers. However, to continue to effectively enhance the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing, and assist manufacturers with competing in the global economy, MEP Centers require access to expertise specific to a given technology, supply chain and/or sector which any one specific MEP Center may not possess. Since its creation in 1988, the MEP System has become a source of trusted advice about new technologies, production techniques, and business management practices for a significant number of firms (about 8,000 to 10,000 per year). The MEP System engages another 20,000 to 22,000 firms each year in training and outreach events. However, NIST recognizes that past events do not predict the future, and the MEP program must continue to add new capabilities to all its MEP Centers to improve its support of small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers in the United States. While successful in serving U.S. manufacturers locally, there is much more work to be done to support U.S. manufacturing supply chains. In general, the MEP System can do a better job in leveraging its diverse capabilities and regional and national strengths to reach more companies. NIST recognizes a need to provide more services to more manufacturers. The MEP Program understands the need to assist more manufacturers to establish a resilient, dependable, productive, and highly-trained supplier base to meet national manufacturing needs to support a wide array of U.S. industrial sectors, for example, the defense, transportation, and physical infrastructure sectors. Transformation to a National Network To address the challenges facing the MEP Program and its customers, the system needs to transform from its current state to one organized and operated as an integrated MEP National Network. The integrated MEP National Network is envisioned as an organization of MEP Centers which collectively act on a regional and national basis to provide solutions to the current and future needs of small and medium-sized manufacturers across the United States. The transformation of the MEP System to an integrated MEP National Network will require a learning and knowledge sharing infrastructure to assist MEP Centers with obtaining access to integrated solutions for serving U.S. manufacturers. NIST MEP envisions the learning and knowledge sharing infrastructure will be stood up as ``The MEP Network Learning and Knowledge Sharing System'' (MEP NLKSS). The MEP NLKSS is expected to include both the human and digital networks necessary to support access to and the sharing of expertise, best practices, community resources, and training and professional development within the integrated MEP National Network, thus allowing the MEP Centers to access and impart relevant technical and strategic knowledge to small and medium-sized manufacturers locally, regionally, and nationally. The integrated MEP National Network is being built on the MEP Centers' ability to serve as trusted advisors for their clients. By strengthening the MEP footprint with the connected MEP NLKSS, both manufacturers and MEP Centers can benefit. For example, manufacturers can take advantage of expertise, delivery credibility, and services that are not offered by their local MEP Center or that need to be delivered across regions. More specifically, using the NKLSS, manufacturers will be able to benefit from the following:Access to resources and capabilities from the MEP National Network to address their unique, complex, critical business and technology challenges quickly, even if their local MEP Center does not possess such solutions; In those situations where a manufacturer has multiple locations in multiple states the MEP National Network, and the NKLSS will allow the creation and sharing of new processes, technologies, and capabilities for all locations, consistently and seamlessly from multiple MEP Centers. Similarly, through the NLKSS, MEP Centers will be able to share resources and expertise, communicate frequently and widely on market and manufacturing trends, and assist each other across the U.S. Moreover, MEP Centers will be able to take advantage of the broad base of expertise the integrated MEP National Network will offer and can bring the right resources to bear regardless of their location. More specifically, the NLKSS will provide MEP Centers opportunities to: Serve more manufacturers; Partner with other MEP Centers to provide services locally, regionally, or nationally; Deliver services that have been developed at other MEP Centers; Increase capacity and capabilities for project activities with existing and new manufacturers; Assist manufacturers to bring new products to market quickly and effectively; Share timely intelligence about manufacturing trends as a repeatable process; Train MEP Center personnel on new services, approaches, and tools used at other MEP Centers; Share and deploy the unique strengths inherent to the three types of MEP Center host organizations: states, universities, and non-profit organizations. No Confidential Proprietary, Business or Personally Identifiable Information No confidential proprietary information, business identifiable information, or personally identifiable information should be included in the written responses to this request for information. Reponses received by the deadline may be made publicly available without change at: www.nist.gov/mep. Request for Information Considering the description of the MEP NLKSS above, NIST MEP is seeking input and information regarding how other organizations and vendors have modeled and addressed organization learning and knowledge sharing, especially in a manufacturing services environment. The responses are intended to inform NIST's planning of the MEP NLKSS, including assisting NIST MEP with the development of the final Statement of Work for a performance-based contract. Through this notice, NIST requests information from interested vendors and others on possible designs and implementation of networked learning and knowledge sharing, particularly with respect to the following issues: (1) Key problems and issues NIST MEP and the network will face related to knowledge management in the near-term (1 to 2 years), mid- term (3 to 5 years) and/or long-term (more than 5 years); (2) Solutions (technical and non-technical) available to address the problems/issues identified in question 1 [[Page 33923]] in the near-term (1 to 2 years), mid-term (3 to 5 years) and/or long- term (more than 5 years). More specifically, a. Specific solutions available to address the needs of working groups/communities of practice; b. Specific solutions available to address the more immediate needs of individual practitioners and management; c. How information is best disseminated to the leadership and staff of organizations within a network, and whether this would be applicable for the integrated MEP National Network; (3) Cultural and technical barriers that need to be addressed by any system(s) of knowledge management; (4) Complementary services, including information services, that are and/or will be needed by NIST MEP and the MEP Centers to take full advantage of any knowledge management system and culture; (5) Any other critical issues that NIST MEP should consider in its strategic planning for investments in this area that are not covered by the first four issues. Further information on the MEP program is available at: https://www.nist.gov/mep. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k. Kevin A. Kimball, Chief of Staff. [FR Doc. 2018-15265 Filed 7-17-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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this administrative review, as provided This notice is issued and published in order for the MEP System to grow,
by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) accordance with section 751(a)(1) and improve and have a greater impact on
The cash deposit rate for each specific 777(i)(1) of the Act. the growth and competitiveness of U.S.
company listed above will be that Dated: July 11, 2018. manufacturers in the global
established in the final results of this Gary Taverman,
marketplace, the MEP System needs to
review, except if the rate is less than transform to an organizationally and
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
0.50 percent and, therefore, de minimis and Countervailing Duty Operations,
operationally integrated MEP National
within the meaning of 19 CFR performing the non-exclusive functions and Network. This transformation will
351.106(c)(1), in which case the cash duties of the Assistant Secretary for require a learning and knowledge
deposit rate will be zero; (2) for Enforcement and Compliance. sharing infrastructure, which NIST MEP
previously investigated companies not envisions will be stood up as ‘‘The MEP
participating in this review, the cash Appendix Network Learning and Knowledge
deposit will continue to be the List of Topics Discussed in the IDM Sharing System’’ (MEP NLKSS). NIST is
company-specific rate published for the I. Summary requesting information from interested
most recently completed segment of this II. Background vendors and others on possible designs
proceeding in which the company III. Margin Calculations and implementation of networked
participated; (3) if the exporter is not a IV. Discussion of the Issues learning and knowledge sharing. The
firm covered in this review, or the General Issues: responses will inform NIST’s planning
Comment 1: Existence of a Particular of the MEP NLKSS, including assisting
original less-than-fair-value (LTFV)
Market Situation (PMS) NIST MEP with the development of the
investigation, but the manufacturer is, Comment 2: Additional PMS Adjustments
the cash deposit rate will be the rate final Statement of Work for a
Comment 3: Allegations of Improper
established for the most recent segment Political Influence in Determining the performance-based contract.
for the manufacturer of the PMS DATES: NIST will accept responses to
merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit Comment 4: Differential Pricing this request for information until 11:59
rate for all other manufacturers or Comment 5: Reimbursement of p.m. Eastern Time on August 17, 2018.
exporters will continue to be 4.38 Antidumping Duties ADDRESSES: Responses will be accepted
Hyundai Steel-Specific Issues:
percent, the all-others rate established by email only. Responses must be sent
Comment 6: Collapsing Hyundai RB with
in the LTFV investigation.14 These Hyundai Steel to meprfi@nist.gov with the subject line
deposit requirements, when imposed, Comment 7: Date of Sale for Hyundai ‘‘MEP Network Learning and
shall remain in effect until further Steel’s U.S. Sales Knowledge Sharing System RFI
notice. Comment 8: Reporting of Hyundai Steel’s Response.’’
Downstream Sales FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Notification to Importers Comment 9: Assignment of Costs for
Michael Simpson, 100 Bureau Drive,
This notice serves as a final reminder Hyundai Steel’s Non-Prime Pipe
Comment 10: Hyundai Steel’s Foreign Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD
to importers of their responsibility 20899–4800, 301–975–5020, meprfi@
under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a Inland Freight Expenses
Comment 11: Calculation Error for nist.gov; or Mary Ann Pacelli, 100
certificate regarding the reimbursement Hyundai Steel in the Preliminary Results Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800,
of antidumping duties prior to SeAH-Specific Issues: Gaithersburg, MD 20899–4800, 301–
liquidation of the relevant entries Comment 12: SeAH’s Third Country 975–5020, meprfi@nist.gov. Please
during this review period. Failure to Comparison Market Viability direct media inquiries to NIST’s Office
comply with this requirement could Comment 13: Constructed Export Price of Public Affairs at 301–975–NIST
result in the Secretary’s presumption (CEP) Offset for SeAH (6478).
that reimbursement of antidumping V. Recommendation
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST will
duties occurred and the subsequent [FR Doc. 2018–15327 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am]
assessment of double antidumping consider the information obtained in
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
duties. response to this request for information
in the development of a Scope of Work
Administrative Protective Order for a competitively awarded contract to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
This notice serves as the only develop and/or implement any or all
reminder to parties subject to National Institute of Standards and parts of the MEP NLKSS.
administrative protective order (APO) of Technology Background—The MEP System
their responsibility concerning the [Docket No. 171003965–7965–01] The MEP System consists of NIST
disposition of proprietary information MEP and its MEP Centers located in all
disclosed under APO in accordance Hollings Manufacturing Extension 50 States and Puerto Rico. For almost 30
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which Partnership Program; Knowledge years the MEP Centers have served as
continues to govern business Sharing Strategies. trusted advisors focused largely on the
proprietary information in this segment continuous improvement of U.S.
of the proceeding. Timely written AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of manufacturers for the purpose of
notification of return/destruction of achieving improved productivity. MEP
APO materials or conversion to judicial Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information. Centers are a diverse system of state,
protective order is hereby requested. university-based, and other non-profit
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Failure to comply with the regulations SUMMARY: The Hollings Manufacturing organizations, comprising more than
and the terms of an APO is a Extension Partnership (MEP) Program 1,300 technical experts offering
sanctionable violation. includes a network of centers located in products, technical expertise and
14 See Welded Line Pipe from the Republic of
all 50 States and Puerto Rico, and is a services that address the critical needs
Korea and the Republic of Turkey: Antidumping
source of trusted advice about new of their local manufacturers. MEP
Duty Orders, 80 FR 75056, 75057 (December 1, technologies, production techniques Centers are funded through cooperative
2015). and business management practices. In agreements issued by NIST.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices 33923
in the near-term (1 to 2 years), mid-term contacting Nicole Capps at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(3 to 5 years) and/or long-term (more Nicole.Capps@noaa.gov or 831–647–
than 5 years). More specifically, 6451 at least one working day in National Oceanic and Atmospheric
a. Specific solutions available to advance of the meeting. Administration
address the needs of working groups/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RIN 0648–XG257
communities of practice;
b. Specific solutions available to Charles M. Wahle, Ph.D., Designated
Federal Officer, MPA FAC, National Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
address the more immediate needs of
General Provisions for Domestic
individual practitioners and Marine Protected Areas Center, 99
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
management; Pacific St., Suite 100–F, Monterey, CA
c. How information is best Fishing Permits
93940. (Phone: 831–647–6460; Fax:
disseminated to the leadership and staff 831–647–1732; email: charles.wahle@ AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
of organizations within a network, and noaa.gov; or visit the National MPA Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
whether this would be applicable for the Center website at http:// Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
integrated MEP National Network; marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac). Commerce.
(3) Cultural and technical barriers that
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
need to be addressed by any system(s) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
of knowledge management; Committee, composed of external, SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator,
(4) Complementary services, knowledgeable representatives of West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a
including information services, that are stakeholder groups, was established by preliminary determination that an
and/or will be needed by NIST MEP and the Department of Commerce (DOC) to application for an Exempted Fishing
the MEP Centers to take full advantage provide advice to the Secretaries of Permit warrants further consideration.
of any knowledge management system Commerce and the Interior on The application, submitted by the
and culture; implementation of Section 4 of California Wetfish Producers
(5) Any other critical issues that NIST
Executive Order 13158, on marine Association, requests an exemption
MEP should consider in its strategic
protected areas (MPAs). The MPA FAC from the prohibition of primary directed
planning for investments in this area
was continued via Presidential fishing for Pacific sardine for the 2018–
that are not covered by the first four
Executive Order on September 29, 2017. 2019 fishing year to collect Pacific
issues. Further information on the MEP
The meeting is open to the public, and sardine as part of an industry-based
program is available at: https://
public comment will be accepted from scientific survey. NMFS requests public
www.nist.gov/mep.
12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time on comment on the application.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018. In DATES: Comments must be received by
Kevin A. Kimball, general, each individual or group will August 2, 2018.
Chief of Staff. be limited to a total time of three (3) ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
[FR Doc. 2018–15265 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am] minutes. If members of the public wish on this document, identified by NOAA–
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P to submit written statements, they NMFS–2018–0072, by any of the
should be submitted to the Designated following methods:
Federal Officer by Friday, September 14, • Electronic Submissions: Submit all
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2018. electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Matters to be Considered: This
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;
Administration meeting will focus on: (i) Approving the D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0072, click the
Committee’s final findings and ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the
Marine Protected Areas Federal recommendations on Sustaining MPA required fields, and enter or attach your
Advisory Committee; Public Meeting Benefits in a Changing Ocean; and, (ii) comments. The EFP application will be
AGENCY: Office of National Marine approving updates to the Cultural available under Relevant Documents
Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Resources Toolkit developed previously through the same link.
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and by the Committee and published on the • Mail: Submit written comments to
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), MPA Center website (https:// Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region,
Department of Commerce (DOC). marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/toolkit/ NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 4200,
ACTION: Notice of open meeting. ). The agenda is subject to change. The Long Beach, CA 90802–4250.
latest version will be posted at http:// • Instructions: Comments must be
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac. submitted by one of the above methods
virtual meeting of the Marine Protected to ensure that the comments are
Areas Federal Advisory Committee Dated: June 14, 2018.
received, documented, and considered
(MPA FAC) via teleconference. John A. Armor,
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
DATES: The meeting will be held on Director, Office of National Marine method, to any other address or
Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, individual, or received after the end of
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time National Oceanic and Atmospheric the comment period, may not be
(2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time). Administration.
considered. All comments received are
These times and the agenda topics [FR Doc. 2018–15340 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am] a part of the public record and will
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
described below are subject to change. BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P generally be posted for public viewing
Please refer to the Committee’s webpage on www.regulations.gov without change.
for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. All personal identifying information
http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/ (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
fac. voluntarily by the sender will be
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held publicly accessible. Do not submit
virtually via teleconference. Register by confidential business information, or
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:25:13
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:25:13
| 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; request for information. | |
| Dates | NIST will accept responses to this request for information until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 17, 2018. | |
| Contact | Michael Simpson, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5020, [email protected]; or Mary Ann Pacelli, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5020, [email protected] Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office of Public Affairs at 301-975- NIST (6478). | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 33921 |
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