[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 212 (Thursday, October 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56262-56263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27838]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Award for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and
Development
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Announcement of award; request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the National Award for the Advancement
of Motor Vehicle Research and Development, describes its background and
basis, and solicits nominations for the award. It also identifies the
required content for nominations and describes the evaluation process
and criteria to be used in making selections.
DATES: Nominations must be received not later than December 13, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send complete nominations with supporting information to
William A. Boehly, Associate Administrator for Research and
Development, NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
400 Seventh St. SW, Washington, DC 20590. For further information,
contact Louis J. Brown, Jr., Special Assistant for Technology Transfer
Policy and Programs, NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Washington, DC 20590, phone: 202-366-5199, fax: 202-
366-5930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 established a National Award for the
Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development. It set the basis
for the award as follows:
The Secretary of Transportation shall periodically make and present
the award to domestic motor vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, or
Federal laboratory personnel who, in the opinion of the Secretary of
Transportation, have substantially improved domestic motor vehicle
research and development in safety, energy savings, or environmental
impact. No person may receive the award more than once every 5 years.
(15 USC 3711c.)
This announcement is to solicit nominations for the National Award
for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development and to
provide relevant information. It is the fourth year of competition for
the award; the third competition having closed on December 15, 1995
after having been announced by Federal Register notice (60 FR 55645,
Wednesday, November 1, 1995). The award consists of a medal and
citation from the Secretary of Transportation. It will be presented at
an appropriate ceremony.
Nominators: Any person may nominate individuals or organizations he
or she believes are worthy of receiving the award by reason of
accomplishments.
Eligibility: Eligibility for the National Award for the Advancement
of Motor Vehicle Research and Development is limited to domestic motor
vehicle manufacturers, domestic suppliers to the motor vehicle
industry, their employees, and personnel of Federal laboratories. See
the Definitions section below for the definitions of the following
terms:
Domestic motor vehicle manufacturer,
Domestic supplier, and
[[Page 56263]]
Federal laboratory.
Qualifying Work: The award will recognize work that has
substantially improved domestic motor vehicle research and development
in the areas of motor vehicle safety, motor vehicle energy savings, or
environmental impacts of motor vehicles. The work may be a singular one
time accomplishment or it may be a series of accomplishments that have
had substantial effect over time. Examples of the types of achievements
that fall into the three categories are:
1. Safety Improvement--Vehicular technology that reduces the
likelihood of crashes (crash avoidance) or the likelihood of serious
injury when a crash occurs (crashworthiness) or otherwise improves the
chances of post-crash survival/recovery of crash victims. This could
include research and development of instrumentation or biomechanics.
2. Energy Savings--Technology that saves energy in the production
or operation of motor vehicles by such means as light weight
structures, engine and drive train improvements, reductions in tire
rolling resistance or aerodynamic drag, and modifications of fuel
characteristics.
3. Improvements in Environmental Quality--Motor vehicle technology
that reduces emissions, reduces solid waste, reduces hazardous waste,
reduces noise (e.g., tire noise), as well as technology that reduces
waste byproducts of motor vehicle production, operation, or scrappage.
Required Contents of Nomination
Names and identification of specific individuals or
organizations being nominated.
Identification of nominator(s) with title(s), address(es)
and phone number(s). At least one nominator must sign the nomination.
Description of accomplishments, including the nature of
the specific research and development accomplishment and reasons why it
constitutes substantial improvement. Identify involvement of
organization or individual(s) nominated.
References for improvements (patents, awards, papers,
other recognition).
Establish eligibility of nominees. Individuals must be
past or current employees of organization at which research and
development was accomplished.
Establish that improved technology is for motor vehicles
offered for sale in the United States.
Limitation on length of nomination: The nomination is limited to 10
numbered pages of 8.5 inch by 11.0 inch paper with one inch margins and
font size not less than 12 point.
Send an original and three copies of the complete nomination to
William A. Boehly, Associate Administrator for Research and
Development, NRD-01, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
400 Seventh St. SW, Washington, DC 20590. Nomination will be returned
to the nominator if it includes a written request.
Evaluation process and criteria: NHTSA and other Federal agency
staff will make an initial screening of all nominations received on or
before December 13, 1996 to ensure that they contain the required
information and meet the statutory requirements for eligibility and
field of work. Subsequently, a special panel will evaluate the
nominations. NHTSA intends that the evaluation panel will include
experts in the fields of energy savings and environmental impact in
addition to motor vehicle safety. The panel will make its evaluations
according to the following criteria:
1. Quality of cited work.
2. Contribution of cited work to improved safety, energy savings or
environmental quality.
3. Involvement of nominees with cited work.
The Secretary of Transportation will then select the awardee from
among the nominees receiving high evaluations from the evaluation
panel. The Secretary may also decide not to make an award. His decision
is final.
Definitions
For the purposes of determining eligibility for the National Award
for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development, the
following definitions will apply:
Domestic motor vehicle manufacturer--a company engaged in the
production and sale of motor vehicles in the United States and that
has majority ownership or control by individuals who are citizens of
the United States. [Definition based on that of ``United States-
owned company'' in Section 15 U.S.C. 278n(j)(2) as added by Public
Law 102-245.]
Domestic supplier--a company that supplies research and
development, design services, materials, parts and/or items of
equipment or machinery to a motor vehicle manufacturer or
subcontractor to a motor vehicle manufacturer or whose products are
used in new motor vehicles and that has majority ownership or
control by individuals who are citizens of the United States.
Personnel of Federal laboratory--Individuals employed by the
Federal Government at a facility engaging in research and
development activities or employed by a contractor at such a
facility that is owned by the Federal Government and operated by
that contractor.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-27838 Filed 10-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
