98-5858. Development, Marketing and Distribution of Small Business Accounting Software Templates

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5858]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00233; FRL-5771-3]


Development, Marketing and Distribution of Small Business 
Accounting Software Templates

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Call for Commercial Partners.

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SUMMARY: The EPA seeks to establish a Cooperative Research and 
Development Agreement (CRADA) with a commercial partner to develop, 
market and distribute to small businesses accounting software templates 
designed to introduce small and medium-sized businesses to the concepts 
of environmental accounting and encourage eco-efficiency through 
pollution prevention. CRADAs are vehicles for government and industry 
to cooperatively develop technologies to then be distributed in the 
marketplace by the commercial partner. Under the Federal Technology 
Transfer Act of 1986, Federal laboratories or offices are permitted to 
establish CRADAs with private industry for the purpose of enhancing the 
competitiveness of American industry. This is not a Federal contract.
DATES: To be considered for this project, letters of inquiry or e-mail 
must be received by March 15, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send letters of inquiry to: Kristin Pierre, Environmental 
Accounting Project, (7409) Rm #ET406, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, phone: [phone]; fax: 
202-260-0178; e-mail:[e-mail].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan B. Hazen, Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. E-545, 401 
M St., SW., Washington, DC, 20460, [phone], TDD [phone]; 
e-mail: [e-mail].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Environmental Protection Agency is 
seeking an established off-the-shelf accounting software provider 
(commercial partner) for the development, marketing and distribution of 
small business accounting software templates designed to introduce 
small and medium-sized businesses to the concepts of environmental 
accounting and encourage eco-efficiency through pollution prevention 
(P2). Environmental accounting encourages the incorporation of not only 
costs historically associated with environmental, health, and safety, 
but also costs associated with material, labor, and capital resources 
into mainstream business practices. Recognition of these costs, which 
are traditionally buried in overhead accounts, will reveal cost-
effective opportunities to prevent pollution and eliminate wastes. 
Waste and pollution are a red flag for manufacturing inefficiency or 
profits being lost in the form of waste.
    Efficient use of materials/resources can assist businesses to 
simultaneously meet cost, quality, performance goals, reduce 
environmental impacts and conserve valuable resources. These templates 
will provide information that will make apparent the financial burden 
created by material inefficiencies and waste. Already, many firms have 
begun to pursue pollution prevention strategies that emphasize 
materials eco-efficiency, i.e., reducing the consumption and/or the 
waste proportion of purchased materials. Environmental accounting will 
enable companies to quantify the economic value added from these eco-
efficiency initiatives. This can encourage business decisions that are 
both financially superior and beneficial to the environment.
    The U.S. EPA's Environmental Accounting Project is sponsoring the 
development of this project. If interested, please send a letter or e-
mail requesting additional information. You will receive a package of 
information providing a detailed description of the project and next 
step options. In order to be considered, letters or e-mail must be 
received by March 15, 1998.

    Dated: February 26, 1998.

William H. Sanders, III,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 98-5858 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F