Notice2021-22767
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through Procurement and Contracting Opportunities
Primary source
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Published
October 19, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior Department
Abstract
As part of its implementation of an Executive order, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is conducting five virtual listening sessions and inviting public comments to obtain stakeholder input on barriers that underserved communities and individuals may face in taking advantage of DOI procurement and contracting opportunities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57849-57850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22767]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[DOI-2021-0009]
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through Procurement and Contracting Opportunities
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of listening session and request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its implementation of an Executive order, Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the
Federal Government, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is conducting
five virtual listening sessions and inviting public comments to obtain
stakeholder input on barriers that underserved communities and
individuals may face in taking advantage of DOI procurement and
contracting opportunities.
DATES: DOI will hold five virtual listening sessions on the following
dates:
--October 19, 2021 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET
--October 20, 2021 from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. ET
--October 21, 2021 from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. ET
--October 25, 2021 from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. ET
--October 26, 2021 from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
November 18, 2021.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may
submit comments online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by entering
``DOI-2021-0009'' in the Search bar and clicking ``Search'' or by mail
to U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Policy Analysis--Mailstop
3530, ATTN: E.O. 13985 Contracting Comments, 1849 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20240. You may respond to some or all of the questions
listed in the ``Supplementary Information--Questions'' section of this
document. All public comments received are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act and will be posted in their entirety at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal or business confidential
information provided. Do not include any information you would not like
to be made publicly available.
If you plan to attend one of the virtual listening sessions and
need assistance in a language other than English or if you are a person
with disabilities who needs a reasonable accommodation, please contact
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0a4a5a9a1a0898f93ce848f89ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3377767a72735a5c401d575c5a1d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Oliver, D&I Strategist, Office of
Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ace8e9e5edecc5c3df82c8c3c582cbc3da"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3b7b6bab2b39a9c80dd979c9add949c85">[email protected]</span></a>. 202-208-7301.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued Executive
Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities through the Federal Government. In response to Executive
Order 13985, DOI is consulting with members of communities who have
been historically underrepresented in the Federal Government and
underserved by, or subject to discrimination, in Federal policies and
programs. The term ``underserved communities'' refers to populations
sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities,
that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate
in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, such as Black, Latino,
and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities;
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer and related
identities (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who
live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by
persistent poverty or inequality. In addition to identifying barriers,
DOI seeks recommendations on how to update processes, policies,
regulations, and guidance to address inequities in DOI procurement and
contracting opportunities. While all members of the public are invited
to submit comments, the target audience for listening sessions is
members of the underserved communities identified in Executive Order
13985, which includes:
<bullet> Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons,
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color;
<bullet> LGBTQ+ persons;
<bullet> Persons with disabilities;
<bullet> Persons who live in rural areas; and
[[Page 57850]]
<bullet> Persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty
or inequality.
Questions
The Department of the Interior is generally interested in input on
the following questions, where applicable:
1. Have you applied for or accessed procurement and contracting
opportunities with DOI in the past? If so, please describe what you
liked and did not like about the process. If not, why not? What would
have made it easier for you to apply or access procurement and
contracting opportunities with DOI?
2. What are the barriers to applying for procurement and
contracting opportunities with DOI? How can DOI remove or reduce
barriers (e.g., update policies, practices, or programs) that
underserved communities and individuals face when they participate or
attempt to participate in agency procurement and contracting
opportunities?
3. How can DOI establish and maintain connections to a wider and
more diverse set of stakeholders representing underserved communities?
How can DOI better share information with underserved stakeholders
about procurement and contracting opportunities? What are the best ways
to notify and engage underserved stakeholders about new opportunities?
4. What have been your experience(s) interacting with DOI when
trying to access procurement and contracting opportunities using the
following tools/mechanisms:
[cir] One-on-one interactions with DOI staff, offices, programs, and/or
leadership in person, by email or phone
[cir] DOI websites, including Bureau web pages and the Office of Small
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization's web page
[cir] DOI-hosted industry days and/or matching-making event(s)
[cir] DOI Forecast of Contracting Opportunities
Consider how you became aware of the tool/mechanism, if the tool/
mechanism was helpful, if you were able to obtain useful and/or
relevant information, what could be improved upon, if you would use or
have used the tool/mechanism again, and other tools/mechanisms you have
utilized or would like to have available to utilize to support your
efforts.
5. Are there sources of data and metrics that DOI should use to
evaluate the effects of DOI procurement and contracting policies or
regulations on underserved communities? If so, please identify or
describe them.
Comments received in response to this notice and from listening
sessions will be evaluated and, as appropriate, incorporated into DOI's
efforts to improve support to underserved communities through
procurement and contracting opportunities.
Listening Session Registration Information
Advanced registration for individuals and groups is strongly
encouraged. For additional information about the listening sessions and
to register for a listening session, please visit <a href="https://www.doi.gov/ppa/equity">https://www.doi.gov/ppa/equity</a>/13985. Details for the sessions will be posted to the
website and additional information will be emailed to registered
participants in advance of the sessions.
Eric Werwa,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Policy, Management and
Budget.
[FR Doc. 2021-22767 Filed 10-15-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P
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