Solicitation of Nominations for the Secretary of Labors New Freedom
Initiative Award; Notice
[02/10/2005]
Volume 70, Number 27, Page 7145-7147
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Part II
Department of Labor
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Office of Disability Employment Policy
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Solicitation of Nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom
Initiative Award; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Disability Employment Policy
[OMB Number 1230-0002]
Solicitation of Nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award
The Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award presented by
Secretary Elaine L. Chao, United States Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210:
1. Subject: The Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award.
2. Purpose: To outline the eligibility criteria, the nomination
process and the administrative procedures for the New Freedom
Initiative Award, and to solicit the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom
Initiative Award nominations.
3. Originator: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
4. Background: To encourage the use of public-private partnerships,
the Secretary of Labor will present the Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award. Initiated in 2002, this award is made
annually to individual(s), non-profit organization(s), or business(es),
including small businesses, that have, through programs or activities,
demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the
employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom
Initiative. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html.
By increasing access to assistive technologies,
and by utilizing innovative training, hiring, and retention strategies,
the recipient(s) will have established and instituted comprehensive
strategies to enhance the ability of Americans with disabilities to
enter and advance within the 21st Century workforce and to participate
in daily community life.
5. Eligibility Criteria: The following criteria apply to the New
Freedom Initiative Award Nominees:
A. The nominees must be individuals, businesses, or non-profit
organizations whose activities exemplify the goals of President George
W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative, which include the Office of
Disability Employment Policy's mission of increasing employment
opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities. Nominations may
be submitted by other persons and entities with the knowledge and
permission of the nominee. Self-nomination is also encouraged.
B. Nominees must have developed and implemented a multi-faceted
program directed toward increasing employment opportunities for people
with disabilities through increased access to assistive technologies,
and use of innovative training, hiring, and retention techniques.
C. Federal, State and local government organizations are not
eligible for this award.
6. Nomination Submission Requirements:
A. The single program or multiple programs for which the individual
or company is being nominated must demonstrate a commitment to people
with disabilities, and clearly show measurable results in terms of
significantly enhancing employment opportunities for people with
disabilities. The programs or activities may also address such issues
as the widening skills gap among persons with disabilities, a
diversified 21st Century workforce, and discrimination based on
disability.
B. The nomination packages should be limited to only that
information relevant to the nominee's program(s). Nomination packages
should be no longer than twenty (20) typed pages double-spaced. A page
is 8.5 x 11 (on one side only) with one-inch
margins (top, bottom, and sides).
C. Nomination packages must include the following for
consideration:
1. An executive summary prepared by or on behalf of the nominee,
which clearly identifies the specific activities, program(s), or
establishment under nomination and fully describes the results
achieved.
2. A full description of the specific activities, program(s), or
establishment for which the nomination is being submitted.
3. Specific data on training, placements, resources expended and
other relevant information that will facilitate evaluation of the
nominee's submission.
4. A description of how the program(s) and/or activities that are
the subject of the nomination have had a positive and measurable impact
on the employment of people with disabilities.
5. A data summary on the nominee. See Section 6(D).
6. A report detailing any unresolved violations of State or Federal
law, as determined by compliance evaluations, complaint investigations,
or other Federal inspections and investigations. In addition, the
nominee must report any pending Federal or State enforcement actions,
and any corrective actions or consent decrees that have resulted from
litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the laws
enforced by the Department of Labor (DOL).
D. A data summary on the Nominee will include the following:
1. Name(s) of the individual, organization or business being
nominated.
2. Full street address, telephone number and e-mail address where
applicable.
3. Name of highest ranking official(s) (where appropriate).
4. Name of executive(s) responsible for human resources, equal
employment opportunity, and/or disability awareness at nominee's
establishment and/or corporate office (where appropriate).
5. Name of parent company (where appropriate).
6. Name, street address, telephone number and email address of CEO
or President of parent company (where appropriate).
7. Name, title, street address, telephone number and e-mail address
of a contact person.
8. Number of employees at the establishment or business being
nominated (where appropriate).
9. Name and description of principal program(s) or service(s).
E. Timing and Acceptable Methods of Submission of Nominations:
Nomination packages must be submitted to Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Room
S-1303, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210 by May 27,
2005. Any application received after 4:45 p.m. EDT on May 27, 2005,
will not be considered unless it was received before the award is made
and:
1. It was sent by registered or certified mail no later than May
22, 2005.
2. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due
solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S.
Department of Labor at the address indicated; or
3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day
Service--Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place
of mailing, May 25, 2005.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a
late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S.
Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original
receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible,
an application received after the above closing time and date will be
processed as if mailed late. ``Postmark'' means a printed, stamped, or
otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression)
that is readily identifiable without further action as having been
applied and affixed by an
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employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing. Therefore,
applicants should request that the postal clerk place a legible hand
cancellation ``bull's-eye'' postmark on both the receipt and the
envelope or wrapper.
The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at
the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Office of
Disability Employment Policy on the application wrapper or other
documentary evidence or receipt maintained by that office.
Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal
Express, UPS, e-mail, etc., will also be accepted; however, the
applicant bears the responsibility of timely submission.
Confirmation of receipt of your application can be made by
contacting Dina Dorich of the Office of Disability Employment Policy,
telephone (202) 693-7880, (866) ODEP-DOL, TTY (202) 693-7881, prior to
the closing deadline.
7. The Administrative Review Process:
A. The ODEP Steering Committee will perform preliminary
administrative review to determine the sufficiency of all submitted
application packages.
B. An Executive Evaluation Committee made up of representatives
appointed by the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Office of Disability
Employment Policy, from Department of Labor employees will perform
secondary review.
C. The Secretary of Labor will conduct the final review and
selections.
8. Other Factors to be Considered During the Administrative Review
Process:
A. If a nominee merges with another company during the evaluation
process, only that information relative to the nominated company will
be evaluated, and the award, if any, will be limited to the nominated
company.
B. Prior receipt of this award will not preclude a nominee from
being considered for the New Freedom Initiative Award in subsequent
years. Programs and activities serving as the basis of a prior award,
however, may not be considered as the basis for a subsequent award
application.
9. Procedures Following Selection:
A. Awardees will be notified of their selection via the contact
person identified in the application package at least six weeks prior
to the awards ceremony. Non-selected nominees will also be notified
within 45 days of the selection of the awardees.
B. As a precondition to acceptance of the award, the nominee agrees
to:
1. Submit to ODEP for review a two-minute video of the program(s)
or activity(ies) for which it is being recognized within 30 days of
notification of award selection;
2. Participate in any New Freedom Initiative workshops hosted by
ODEP in conjunction with or within 12 months following the awards
ceremony.
C. The awardee may also display an exhibit or showcase of the
program(s)/activity(ies) for which it is being recognized at the awards
ceremony, with contents of the display submitted to ODEP for review
within 30 days of notification of award selection.
D. Materials developed by the awardees in conjunction with Section
11(B) and (C) will be subject to legal review at the Department of
Labor to ensure compliance with applicable ethics standards.
10. Location: The awards ceremony will generally be held during the
month of October at a location to be determined by the Secretary of
Labor.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice (Pub. L. 104-13): Persons are not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
This collection of information is approved under OMB Number 1230-0002
(Expiration Date: 12/31/05). The obligation to respond to this
information collection is voluntary; however, only nominations that
follow the nomination procedures outlined in this notice will receive
consideration. The average time to respond to this information of
collection is estimated to be 10 hours per response; including the time
for reviewing instructions, researching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing
the collection of information. Submit comments regarding this estimate;
including suggestions for reducing response time to the U.S. Department
of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Room S-1303, 200
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington DC 20210. Please reference OMB
Number 1230-0002.
We are very interested in your thoughts and suggestions about your
experience in preparing and filing this nomination packet for the
Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. Your comments will
be very useful to the Office of Disability Employment Policy in making
improvements in our solicitation for nominations for this award in
subsequent years. All comments are strictly voluntary and strictly
private. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to tell us--for
example, whether you thought the instructions were sufficiently clear;
what you liked or disliked; what worked or didn't work; whether it
satisfied your need for information or if it didn't, or anything else
that you think is important for us to know. Your comments will be most
helpful if you can be very specific in relating your experience.
We value your comments, and would really like to hear from you.
Please send any comments you have to Dina Dorich at dorich.dina@dol.gov
or via mail to the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Room S-1303,
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.
Thank you.
Signed at Washington, DC, the 1st of February, 2005.
W. Roy Grizzard, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy.
[FR Doc. 05-2498 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P
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