Notices. Notice of public meeting

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BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 121503C] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public meetings. DATES: The meetings will be held on January 12-15, 2004. ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street, Austin, TX; telephone: 512-476-3700. *Council address* :

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone:

(813)228-2815. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Council January 14, 2004 *8:30 a.m* .--Convene. *8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m* .--Receive public testimony on the Cooperative Texas Shrimp Closure, Secretarial Reef Fish Amendment 1, and Draft Reef Fish amendment 22 (Red Snapper Rebuilding Plan). *3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m* .--Receive the Reef Fish Management Committee report. *5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m* .--(Closed Session) Receive the report of the Joint Personnel/Administrative Policy Committee. January 15, 2004 *8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m* .--Receive the Habitat Protection Committee report. *9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m* .--Receive the Shrimp Management Committee report. *9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m* .--Receive the Mackerel Management Committee report. *9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m* .--Receive the Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum Management Committee report. *10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m* .--Receive the Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel Management Committee Report. *10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m* .--Receive the Red Drum Management Committee report. *10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m* .--Receive the Joint Personnel/Administrative Policy Committee report. *10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m* .--Receive the Law Enforcement Committee report. *11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m* .--Receive the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Liaison Report. *11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m* .--Receive a report on the Gulf Safety Committee. *11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m* .--Receive a report on the Joint Council meeting. *11:45 a.m. - 12 noon* --Receive Enforcement Reports. *12 noon - 12:15 p.m* .--Receive the NMFS Regional Administrator's Report. *12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m* .--Receive Director's Reports. *12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m* .--Other Business Committees January 12, 2004 *8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m* .--Convene a joint meeting of the Personnel and Administrative Policy Committees to consider contracting a court reporter and to discuss personnel issues. *9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m* .--Convene the Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum Management committees to review and approve the Aquaculture Amendment Scoping Document, select scoping hearing sites, and receive a presentation on a cage culture study. *1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m* .--Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee to review the Vermilion Snapper Draft Amendment 23 that contains alternatives for arresting overfishing of that stock by commercial and recreational fishermen. The committee will also review and take final action on the Secretarial Reef Fish Amendment 1 that contains alternatives for arresting overfishing of red grouper by the commercial and recreational fishermen; as well as review and take final action on the Draft Reef Fish Amendment 22 that contains alternatives for a red snapper rebuilding plan. The species groupings for status determination criteria will also be discussed. The Committee will also review the Proposed Rule for Reef Fish Amendment 21 and address their intent on the definition of surface trolling. The Committee will address their intent on Reef Fish Amendment 21's definition of surface trolling. The Committee will develop recommendations for consideration by full Council on Wednesday afternoon. January 13, 2004 *8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.* --Convene the Shrimp Management Committee to review Draft Shrimp Amendment 13/EA that includes alternatives for status criteria and benchmarks as well as a revised standardized bycatch reporting methodology. The Committee will also review Texas Closure analyses. *9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m* .--Convene the Red Drum Management Committee to hear the issue of shipping of stock across the EEZ and to discuss overfishing of the stock. *10:30 a.m. - 12 noon* --Convene the Mackerel Management Committee to review the Options Paper for Amendment 15, discuss trip limit revisions, and select scoping meeting sites. *1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m* .--Convene the Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel Committees will meet to review a scoping document for joint reef fish/mackerel limited access program and select sites for scoping hearings. *2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m* .--Convene the Law Enforcement Committee to review the issue of criminal penalties under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) *3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m* .--Convene the Habitat Protection Committee to review the comments/response section of the Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS)for the Generic Essential Fish Habitat

(EFH)Amendment; and to hear comments from the Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panel meeting. Although non-emergency issues not contained in the agenda may come before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305

(c)of the MSFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. A copy of the Committee schedule and agenda can be obtained by calling

(813)228-2815. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES ) by January 5, 2004. Dated: December 16, 2003. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E3-00600 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 121503B] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP). DATES: The Shrimp AP meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2004. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton, 901 Airline Highway, Kenner, LA; telephone:

(504)469-5000. *Council address:* Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone:

(813)228-2815. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP will receive reports from NMFS on the status and health of the shrimp stocks as well as a report on the biological and economic aspects of the 2003 Cooperative Shrimp Closure with the state of Texas. The Shrimp AP may make recommendations for a cooperative closure with Texas for 2004. The Shrimp AP will also review Draft Amendment 13 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan

(FMP)addressing maximum sustainable yield (MSY), optimum yield (OY), minimum stock size threshold (MSST), and maximum fishing mortality threshold

(MFMT)for shrimp stocks, as well as improved effort alternatives and standardized bycatch reporting methodologies. The Shrimp AP will also review an Options Paper for Amendment 14 that includes alternatives for vessel monitoring systems (VMS), additional bycatch reduction measures, and measures to reduce effort in order to achieve OY. The Shrimp AP consists principally of commercial shrimp fishermen, dealers, and association representatives. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the AP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the AP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency. Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Trish Kennedy at the Council ( *see* ADDRESSES ) by December 29, 2003. Dated: December 16, 2003. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E3-00601 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 121503A] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene public meetings of the Red Snapper Advisory Panel

(AP)and the Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committee

(SSC)from January 6 through January 7, 2004. DATES: The Council's Red Snapper AP and SSC will convene jointly at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2004, to receive a presentation on the vermilion snapper and make recommendations. The AP and SSC will hold separate meetings to discuss Draft Reef Fish Amendment 22 (a red snapper rebuilding plan) beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 200, and will conclude by 3 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL; telephone: 813-877-6688. *Council address:* Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-228-2815. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AP and SSC will meet jointly on Tuesday, January 6 2004 to receive a presentation on the vermilion snapper catch-per-unit-effort

(CPUE)indices from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Vermilion snapper were recently declared to be overfished by the NOAA Fisheries Regional Office, which triggers a requirement that the Council develop a rebuilding plan. However, the most recent vermilion snapper stock assessment was conducted in 2001 using data through 1999, and some fishermen feel that it may not be representative of the current status of the stock. The updated CPUE analyses, which uses data through 2002, will show if there has been any change in catch rates since 1999, but it is not a full stock assessment. Based on the results of the new CPUE analyses, the AP and SSC will each be asked to recommend whether the Council should request a new vermilion snapper stock assessment from NOAA Fisheries. The SSC will also be asked to evaluate the scientific validity of the new CPUE analyses. If a new stock assessment is requested, the earliest it could be done is 2005, and it would replace a scamp assessment that is currently scheduled for that year. Scamp, one of the most commonly caught grouper species after red grouper and gag, has never had a stock assessment done, and its status is unknown. On Wednesday, January 7, 2004, the AP and SSC will convene separately to discuss Draft Reef Fish Amendment 22, a red snapper rebuilding plan. Although there is a red snapper rebuilding plan currently in place, that plan was developed prior to implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 (SFA), and it is not in full compliance with provisions of the SFA. Draft Amendment 22 will create a new rebuilding plan that is in compliance by establishing status determination criteria (minimum stock size threshold, maximum fishing mortality rate, maximum sustainable yield, and optimum yield). Draft Amendment 22 will also contain alternatives to select a rebuilding strategy that will restore the red snapper stock within the time frame allowed under SFA (the recovery time in the absence of fishing mortality plus one generation time, equal to 32 years for red snapper). The amendment will also contain alternatives to implement or revise bycatch reporting methodologies in the commercial and recreational red snapper fisheries. The recommendations of the AP and SSC will be presented to the Gulf Council at its January 12-15, 2004 meeting in Austin, TX. At that meeting, the Council will decide whether to request a vermilion snapper stock assessment in place of a scamp assessment in 2005, and will take final action on selection of proposed alternatives for Amendment 22. Copies of the updated vermilion snapper CPUE analyses and Draft Reef Fish Amendment 22 can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-228-2815 (toll-free 888-833-1844), or can be downloaded from the Council website ( *http://www.gulfcouncil.org* ). Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the AP/SSC for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the AP/SSC will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305

(c)of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Trish Kennedy at the Council ( *see* ADDRESSES ) by December 29, 2003. Dated: December 16, 2003. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E3-00602 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in India December 17, 2003. AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection adjusting limits. EFFECTIVE DATE: December 23, 2003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,

(202)482-4212. For information on the quota status of these limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards of each Customs port, call

(202)927-5850, or refer to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection website at http://www.customs.gov. For information on embargoes and quota re-openings, refer to the Office of Textiles and Apparel website at *http://otexa.ita.doc.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended. The current limit for Group II is being increased for special swing from Category 369-S, decreasing the limit for Category 369-S to account for the special swing being applied to Group II. A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see **Federal Register** notice 68 FR 1599, published on January 13, 2003). Also see 67 FR 68569, published on November 12, 2002. James C. Leonard III, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements December 17, 2003. Commissioner, *Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229* Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, the directive issued to you on November 1, 2002, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That directive concerns imports of certain cotton, man-made fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products, produced or manufactured in India and exported during the twelve-month period which began on January 1, 2003 and extends through December 31, 2003. Effective on December 23, 2003, you are directed to adjust the current limits for the following categories, as provided for under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing: Category Adjusted twelve-month limit 1 Levels in Group I 369-S 2 740,745 kilograms. Group II 200, 201, 220, 224-227, 237, 239pt. 3 , 300, 301, 331pt. 4 , 332, 333, 352, 359pt. 5 , 360-362, 603, 604, 611-620, 624-629, 631pt. 6 , 633, 638, 639, 643-646, 652, 659pt. 7 , 666pt. 8 , 845, 846 and 852, as a group 191,947,246 square meters equivalent. 1 The limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports exported after December 31, 2002. 2 Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005. 3 Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers). 4 Category 331pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1720, 6116.10.4810, 6116.10.5510, 6116.10.7510, 6116.92.6410, 6116.92.6420, 6116.92.6430, 6116.92.6440, 6116.92.7450, 6116.92.7460, 6116.92.7470, 6116.92.8800, 6116.92.9400 and 6116.99.9510. 5 Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.19.8010, 6117.10.6010, 6117.20.9010, 6203.22.1000, 6204.22.1000, 6212.90.0010, 6214.90.0010, 6406.99.1550, 6505.90.1525, 6505.90.1540, 6505.90.2060 and 6505.90.2545. 6 Category 631pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1730, 6116.10.4820, 6116.10.5520, 6116.10.7520, 6116.93.8800, 6116.93.9400, 6116.99.4800, 6116.99.5400 and 6116.99.9530. 7 Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.11.0010, 6115.12.2000, 6117.10.2030, 6117.20.9030, 6212.90.0030, 6214.30.0000, 6214.40.0000, 6406.99.1510 and 6406.99.1540. 8 Category 666pt.: all HTS numbers except 5805.00.4010, 6301.10.0000, 6301.40.0010, 6301.40.0020, 6301.90.0010, 6302.53.0010, 6302.53.0020, 6302.53.0030, 6302.93.1000, 6302.93.2000, 6303.12.0000, 6303.19.0010, 6303.92.1000, 6303.92.2010, 6303.92.2020, 6303.99.0010, 6304.11.2000, 6304.19.1500, 6304.19.2000, 6304.91.0040, 6304.93.0000, 6304.99.6020, 6307.90.9884, 9404.90.8522 and 9404.90.9522. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1). Sincerely, James C. Leonard III, *Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.* [FR Doc. E3-00608 Filed 12-19-03 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Denying Entry to Textiles and Textile Products Allegedly Manufactured by a Certain Factory in El Salvador December 16, 2003. AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to deny entry to shipments allegedly manufactured by a certain factory in El Salvador. EFFECTIVE DATE: December 22, 2003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,

(202)482-3400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 12475 of May 9, 1984, as amended. The U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has conducted on-site verification of textile and apparel production in a number of foreign countries. Based on information obtained through on-site verifications and from other sources, U.S. Customs has informed CITA that certain companies were illegally transshipping, were closed, or were unable to produce records to verify production. The Chairman of CITA has directed the U.S. Customs Service to issue regulations regarding the denial of entry of shipments from such companies. ( *See* **Federal Register** notice 64 FR 41395, published on July 30, 1999). In order to secure compliance with U.S. law, including section 204 and U.S. customs law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements, and to avoid circumvention of textile agreements, the Chairman of CITA is directing the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to deny entry, for two years, to textile and textile products allegedly manufactured by Daewoo El Salvador, S.A. de C.V. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has informed CITA that this company was found to have been illegally transhipping, closed, or unable to produce records to verify production. Should CITA determine that this decision should be amended, such amendment will be published in the **Federal Register.** James C. Leonard III, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements December 16, 2003. Commissioner, *Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.* Dear Commissioner: The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has conducted on-site verification of textile and textile product production in a number of foreign countries. Based on information obtained through on-site verifications and from other sources, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has informed CITA that certain companies were illegally transshipping, were closed, or were unable to produce records to verify production. The Chairman of CITA has directed the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to issue regulations regarding the denial of entry of shipments from such companies (see directive dated July 27, 1999 (64 FR 41395), published on July 30, 1999). In order to secure compliance with U.S. law, including Section 204 and U.S. customs law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements, and to avoid circumvention of textile agreements, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, effective for goods exported on and after December 22, 2003 and extending through December 21, 2005, to deny entry to textiles and textile products allegedly manufactured by the factory, Daewoo El Salvador, S.A. de C.V. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has informed CITA that this company was found to have been illegally transshipping, closed, or unable to produce records to verify production. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that this action falls within the foreign affairs exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1). Sincerely, James C. Leonard III, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. E3-00598 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Institute of Education Sciences; Overview Information; Small Business Innovation Research Program—Phase I Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY)2004 *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number:* 84.305S *Dates:* Applications Available: December 22, 2003. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: 8 p.m. Eastern time, February 19, 2004. *Eligible Applicants:* Each organization submitting an application must qualify as a small business concern as defined by the Small Business Administration

(SBA)at the time of the award. This definition is included in the application package. Firms with strong research capabilities in educational technologies, science, or engineering in any of the priority areas listed in the application package are encouraged to participate. Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the small business must serve as the grantee. If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA. Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make a Small Business Innovation Research

(SBIR)award until the SBA makes a determination. *Estimated Available Funds:* Approximately $3,000,000 for this competition for Phase I awards from the Institute of Education Sciences (Institute). The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research will announce another Phase I competition later in the fiscal year. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $75,000 to $100,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* Approximately $100,000. *Maximum Award:* We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 6 months. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 30 to 35. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 6 months for Phase I awards. Full Text of Announcement. I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* The purpose of this program is to stimulate technological innovation, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Department of Education research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and increase the commercial application of innovations derived from Department-supported research or research and development. For FY 2004, applicants must present activities that focus on priorities listed in the Priorities section of this application notice. *Priorities:* For FY 2004, we have selected two priorities for the SBIR program. An application must be limited to one priority listed in this notice. Duplicate applications will be returned without review. When an application is relevant to more than one priority, the applicant must decide which priority is most relevant and submit it under that priority only. However, there is no limitation on the number of different applications that an applicant may submit under this competition, even to the same priority. A firm may submit separate applications on different priorities, or different applications on the same priority, but each application should respond to only one priority. Priorities We invite applications that meet one of the following priorities. Awards for each priority will be made for amounts up to $100,000. Priority 1—Services This priority supports research to develop effective business consulting services that can better serve the education community at both the local and State levels. The Institute's SBIR program invites proposals that seek to develop a plan or a business model for the provision of such services. More details about this priority can be found in the application package. Priority 2—Products This priority supports the development of empirically derived educational products in the areas of reading, mathematics, science or character/pro-social development at the pre-kindergarten through postsecondary levels, including products that support teachers and administrators as well as products that are used directly by students. More details about this priority can be found in the application package. Successful applicants will be expected to collect some empirical evidence as to the effectiveness of the service or product they are proposing, or, at a minimum, to incorporate a plan for measuring its efficacy and usefulness. *Program Authority:* The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, Pub. L. 106-554 (15 U.S.C. 631 and 638) and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I of Pub. L. 107-279 (20 U.S.C. 9501 *et seq.* ). *Applicable Regulations:* The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 77, 81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. In addition 34 CFR part 75 is applicable, except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217, 75.219, 75.220, and 75.230. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* Approximately $3,000,000 for Phase I awards for this competition from the Institute. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research will announce another Phase I competition later in the fiscal year. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $75,000 to $100,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* Approximately $100,000. *Maximum Award:* We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 6 months. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 30 to 35. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 6 months for Phase I awards. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* Each organization submitting an application must qualify as a small business concern as defined by the SBA at the time of the award. This definition is included in the application package. Firms with strong research capabilities in educational technologies, science, or engineering in any of the priority areas listed in the application package are encouraged to participate. Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the small business must serve as the grantee. If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA. Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make an SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This program does not involve cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* The application package is available at: *http://www.ed.gov/programs/edresearch/applicant.html.* You may address questions regarding this application package to: Joe Teresa, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 608f, Washington, DC 20208. Telephone:

(202)219-2046 or by e-mail: *joe.teresa@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format ( *e.g.* , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact person listed in this section. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the application package. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with information about the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program. The application package is available at: *http://www.ed.gov/programs/edresearch/applicant.html.* 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* Applications Available: December 22, 2003. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: 8 p.m. Eastern time, February 19, 2004. The date and time for the transmittal of electronic applications are in the application package for this program. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* The Government Paperwork Elimination Act

(GPEA)of 1998, (Pub. L. 105-277) and the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, (Pub. L. 106-107) encourage us to undertake initiatives to improve our grant processes. Enhancing the ability of individuals and entities to conduct business with us electronically is a major part of our response to these Acts. Therefore, we are taking steps to adopt the Internet as our chief means of conducting transactions in order to improve services to our customers and to simplify and expedite our business processes. We are requiring that applications for grants under the Institute's FY 2004 SBIR Phase I competition be submitted electronically to the following Web site: *http://ies.constellagroup.com.* Information on the software to be used will also be available at this site. V. Application Review Information *Selection Criteria:* The evaluation criteria for this competition are: Significance—25 points; Quality of the Project Design—50 points; Quality of Project Personnel—15 points; and Adequacy of Resources—10 points. More information about the evaluation criteria and about other application requirements can be found in the application package. VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. *Reporting:* At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as required by the Institute. The report should identify the purpose of the research, and include a brief description of the research carried out, the research findings or results, and the potential applications of the research. You must submit this project summary without restriction on publication. The project summary may be published by the U.S. Department of Education. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* Joe Teresa, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 608f, Washington, DC 20208. Telephone:

(202)219-2046 or by e-mail: *joe.teresa@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format ( *e.g.* , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section. *Electronic Access to This Document:* You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

(202)512-1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the **Federal Register** . Free Internet access to the official edition of the **Federal Register** and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.* Dated: December 17, 2003. Grover J. Whitehurst, Director, Institute of Education Sciences. [FR Doc. 03-31446 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]

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