05-14264. Office of Research and Development; Proposed Federally Funded Research and Development Center; Notice No. 3

AGENCY:

Office of National Laboratories, Directorate of Science and Technology, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expects to sponsor a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to address the need for scientific research to better anticipate, prevent, and mitigate the consequences of biological attacks. The proposed FFRDC will be the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) which is a critical component in the overarching Homeland Security national biodefense complex. The NBACC will both coordinate biodefense research activities among various Federal agencies and to execute its own research plan. Also required will be technical and program management capabilities to facilitate operation of the NBACC facility. This is the third of three notices which must be published over a 90 day period in order to advise the public of the agency's intention to sponsor an FFRDC.

DATES:

The agency must receive comments on or before August 4, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Comments must be identified by DHS-2005-0052 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• EPA Federal Partner EDOCKET Web site: http://www.epa.gov/​feddocket. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Web site.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail] and send copy to Project Officer: [e-mail]. Include docket number DHS-2005-0052 in the subject line of the message.
• Mail to: United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Attn: Mary C. Rico, 820 Chandler Street, Ft. Detrick, Maryland 21702. Mail Copy to: Department of Homeland Security, Attn: Science and Technology Directorate, James V. Johnson, [phone], Washington DC 20528.

Docket: For access to the docket to read the background documents or comments received, go to http://www.epa.gov/​feddocket. You may also access the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary C. Rico via e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FFRDC would be established under the authority of Section 305 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-296. Pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, “acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall have the authority to establish * * * 1 or more federally funded research and development centers to provide independent analysis of homeland security issues, or to carry out other responsibilities under this Act * * *.”

This notice is provided pursuant to 5.205(b) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), 48 CFR 5.205(b), to enable interested members of the public to provide comments to DHS on this proposed action. The potential FFRDC procurement will involve a Request for Proposals shortly after the agency has reviewed any comments received on this and the two prior notices. Upon request, a copy of the Request for Proposals, including the scope of work for the proposed FFRDC, will be provided to any interested party or parties. Contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, above.

This also constitutes preliminary notice pursuant to section 308(c)(3) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that DHS may establish a headquarters laboratory to perform the functions envisioned by the NBACC. As required under section 308(c)(3)(A) and (B) of the Homeland Security Act, should the Secretary choose to establish a headquarters laboratory, he will establish criteria for the selection of that laboratory in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences and other agencies and experts. The criteria so established will be published in the Federal Register.

Further background of this potential establishment of the proposed FFRDC can be found out at the USAMRAA Web site, http://www.usamraa.army.mil.

Dated: July 15, 2005.

Robert Hooks,

Deputy Director, Office of Research and Development, Department of Homeland Security.