[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26249-26252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10514]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-MX-2014-01; Docket No. 2014-0002; Sequence 18]


Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the ``Public 
Sector Program Management--a Vision for the Future'' Ideation Challenge

AGENCY: Performance Improvement Council (PIC), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Performance Improvement Council (PIC) located in the 
General Services Administration (GSA) announces the ``Public Sector 
Program Management--A Vision for the Future'' ideation challenge. GSA 
is interested in initiating a public dialog on the future of program 
management in the government context. The contest challenges the public 
to look ahead 25 years and imagine how advances in technology and the 
skill set of a new generation will drive the development of public 
sector program management.

DATES: The challenge begins May 13, 2014 and ends May 27, 2014 (1:59 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). Contestants must register and submit all 
entries by the contest end date. Public voting for a ``Most Popular'' 
entry begins May 13, 2014 and extends through June 03, 2014 (1:59 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time). GSA expects to announce winners in June, 2014. 
GSA reserves the right to extend the registration and submission 
period, and delay the award announcement, for any reason. The challenge 
can be viewed at https://www.challenge.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bethany Blakey, Performance 
Improvement Council, General Services Administration at 202-694-2981 
and/or via email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Subject of the Competition: GSA designed this challenge to 
generate a discussion about the coming state of program management in 
the public sector. Planning, project management, financial management, 
employee engagement, and reporting are among the key responsibilities 
of today's public sector program managers. The approach to each of 
these and so many others is defined, in part, by the state of existing 
technology, access to data, and the ability of a skilled workforce to 
take full advantage of those resources. Today's tools and resources 
both enable and limit program managers' ability to deliver the best 
service to the public, efficiently and within budget, while adjusting 
to changes in political direction and mission focus.

[[Page 26250]]

    This contest challenges contestants to look beyond the current 
state to imagine how new or emerging trends will transform the 
government workplace and the practice of program management. 
Contestants should describe where they think the field of public sector 
program management will be in 25 years. Contestants may choose to 
illustrate their visions with scenarios that reach ahead to the year 
2039 or they may describe their visions in more general terms. The 
challenge instructions encourage contestants to use their foresight and 
be creative. Contestants need not address any particular management 
issue or question. Instead, the rules give contestants the latitude to 
develop and present their own visions.
    The challenge instructions contain brief profiles of four 
government program managers and some of the challenges they faced in 
2014. These profiles appear at the bottom of this notice. They are an 
entirely optional resource for the contestants' benefit. Contestants 
are encouraged to use them if they find them helpful in focusing their 
thoughts. However, entries need not refer to any of the themes 
discussed in the profiles.
    2. Contestant Eligibility: The challenge is open to U.S. citizens 
and permanent legal residents age 18 and older at the time of 
registration, and private entities such as corporations and nonprofit 
organizations that are incorporated in and maintain a primary place of 
business in the United States. Individuals entering as teams, and 
individuals submitting entries on behalf of corporations or other 
organizations, must meet the eligibility requirements of individual 
contestants. All eligible individuals, teams, or other entities that 
submit entries that adhere to the contest's rules are referred to as 
``contestants'' below. The following individuals and entities are not 
eligible to participate:
    i. GSA employees and contractors, and members of their immediate 
families (spouses, children, siblings, and parents).
    ii. Other Federal Government employees, acting within the scope of 
their employment.
    iii. Entities involved with the production or execution of the 
challenge, employees of such entities, and members of their immediate 
families.
    iv. Contest judges and individuals with a familial or financial 
relationship with a contest judge.
    v. Entities in which a contest judge is an employee, officer, 
director, or agent.
    vi. Other entities in which a contest judge has a personal or 
financial interest.
    Final determination of contestant eligibility rests with GSA.
    3. Contestant Registration and Submission of Entries: Contestants 
must register and submit their entries through the contest site's 
``Submit Solution'' tab (accessible from https://www.challenge.gov/) 
between May 13, 2014 and May 27, 2014 (1:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time). Contestants will be prompted for the following registration 
information when they submit their entries:
    i. Contestant's name (or the team's name for team entries);
    ii. Contestant's email address (teams must enter the team leader's 
email address);
    iii. The title of contestant's entry;
    iv. External link to contestant's YouTube video entry, if 
applicable; and
    v. The text of contestant's submission.
    If entering as a team, contestants must submit their team leader's 
name in an attached text file titled ``Team Information'' (or something 
similar) using the contest site's ``Additional Files'' option. 
Registered contestants and team leaders will receive contest updates by 
email.
    Contestants must accept the following terms and conditions to 
submit an entry:
    i. Contestants warrant that they are the sole authors and copyright 
holders of their entries, and that their entries do not infringe the 
property or other rights of any other individual or entity as protected 
by U.S. law.
    ii. Contestants grant GSA the non-exclusive right to use, publish, 
and reproduce their names and entries for educational and/or 
promotional purposes, as well as the right to permit the same use by 
any other agency of the Federal Government.
    iii. Contestants must take care to avoid the suggestion or the 
appearance of Government endorsement of their participation in this 
contest, or of the content of their entries.
    iv. GSA will discard entries and remove comments that violate U.S. 
law.
    v. At its sole discretion, GSA will discard entries and remove 
comments that it finds indecent, in bad taste, or off topic, or embrace 
or promote discrimination, hatred, or harm against any individual or 
group.
    vi. Once an entry is accepted by GSA and posted to the contest Web 
site it may not be withdrawn by the contestant. Contestants may, 
however, submit more than one entry.
    vii. Registered contestants agree to assume any and all risks and 
waive claims against the Federal Government and its related entities 
(as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3719), except in the case of willful 
misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, 
revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, 
arising from their participation in this challenge, whether the injury, 
death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise. In 
addition, contestants agree to indemnify the Federal Government against 
third party claims for damages arising from or related to competition 
activities.
    viii. Registered contestants are not required to obtain liability 
insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility in order to 
participate.
    ix. Contest disputes arising from matters not addressed in these 
rules shall be resolved by GSA.
    Contestants may submit their entries as text, a combination of text 
and graphics, or video. Entries must satisfy the following maximum and 
minimum length requirements. GSA will discard entries that fall outside 
of these bounds:
    i. Text-only entries. 500-1,500 words, inclusive of title, 
footnotes, endnotes, citations, and other references.
    ii. Text entries with graphics. 500-1,500 words, inclusive of text 
contained in graphics, titles, footnotes, endnotes, citations, and 
references. Text entries containing graphics must be printable at full 
size on no more than four single-sided 8\1/2\ x 11 inch sheets of paper 
with one inch margins.
    iii. Video entries. 2\1/2\-7\1/2\ minutes of video posted to 
YouTube. Video entries must be supplemented with a separate document of 
introductory text, not to exceed 100 words, and a full written 
transcript. The introductory text will accompany the video's YouTube 
link on the challenge Web site.
    To be eligible for recognition as a contest winner, contestants 
must submit their entries in English on the challenge site's ``Submit 
Solution'' tab. Contestants may submit multiple entries.
    For text-only entries: Contestants are strongly encouraged to 
upload their entries as attachments using the site's ``Additional 
Files'' option; however, contestants may type or paste their entries in 
the ``Submission Text'' box.
    For video entries: Contestants are strongly encouraged to upload 
their videos' introductory text and transcripts using the site's 
``Additional Files'' option; however, contestants may type or paste 
their introductory text and/or transcripts in the ``Submission Text'' 
box.
    For text entries with graphics: Contestants must submit text 
entries with embedded graphics as attached

[[Page 26251]]

files using the site's ``Additional Files'' option.
    4. Selection of Winners: Entries will be evaluated by GSA's 
Performance Improvement Council staff and the panel of judges named on 
the contest Web site. GSA is solely responsible for the selection of 
judges. Judging will take place in two rounds:
    1. GSA's Performance Improvement Council staff will review all 
entries and award points according to the Judging Criteria, listed 
below. The ten entries with the most points will be selected as Round 1 
finalists.
    2. The panel of judges named on the contest site will select the 
winning entries, based on the Judging Criteria, from Round 1 finalists.
    GSA will recognize up to four entries as winners based on the 
points awarded by the contest's judges. In addition, one entry will be 
selected for recognition based on the votes cast by visitors to the 
contest Web site.
    i. ``Best Overall'' entry--Judges will select a best overall entry 
according to the criteria outlined under Judging Criteria.
    ii. ``Most Popular'' entry--The entry that receives the highest 
average rating from among the five entries with the greatest number of 
votes received from visitors to the contest Web site will be recognized 
as the Most Popular.
    iii. ``Most Original Vision''--Judges may select an entry not 
recognized in another category as the most original based on the 
criteria for ``originality'' outlined under Judging Criteria.
    iv. ``Honorable Mention''--Judges may select up to two entries not 
recognized in another category for honorable mention based on the same 
criteria used to select the best overall entry.
    Winning entries will be recognized on the contest and GSA Web 
sites. GSA will invite contest winners to participate in a moderated 
event about the future of program management, and may feature winning 
entries in a follow-up contest. The contest will award no cash prizes.
    Contestants conditionally selected for awards will be notified by 
email using the contact information provided at registration. Final 
determination of contest winners is subject to verification of 
contestants' eligibility and compliance with all contest rules.
GSA reserves the right to cancel the contest before announcing winners.
    5. Judging Criteria: The entry awarded the most points by contest 
judges in the following categories will be named the ``Best Overall'' 
entry.
    i. Originality: Judges will award up to 35 points for originality. 
An original vision will see beyond or around the path defined by a 
linear extension of current trends in technology, the scope and nature 
of program managers' responsibilities, the workplace environment, or 
the professional competencies of program managers. An original vision 
will identify new or emerging trends that have the potential to 
transform the field.
    ii. Clarity: Judges will award up to 35 points to entries that 
offer a clear and coherent vision of the future. Where originality 
demands imagination, clarity calls for focus and structure. Contestants 
will be awarded points for clarity to the extent that they offer a 
coherent view of the future and a convincing argument for how we'll get 
there.
    iii. Presentation: Judges will award up to 30 points to entries for 
readability and style. Because GSA hopes to feature winning entries on 
its Web site and in other forums, judges will award the most points in 
this category to well-written and engaging entries that are likely to 
capture and hold the attention of a general audience.
    6. Public Comment and Voting: GSA encourages visitors to the 
contest Web site to review entries, offer comments, and vote for their 
favorites. The comment and voting process offers the public an 
opportunity to contribute to the dialog.
    i. Entries received from eligible contestants will be posted to the 
contest Web site after GSA determines that they comply with the 
contest's Terms and Conditions. Once an entry is posted to the contest 
Web site, Web site visitors will be able to view, comment on, and vote 
for that entry.
    ii. The voting period will extend one week beyond the deadline for 
submission of entries in order to give visitors an opportunity to view, 
comment, and vote on all posted entries.
    iii. Visitors may cast up to one vote for each entry, including 
their own.
    iv. Visitors will vote by awarding up to 5 stars, with each star 
representing one point.
    7. Post-Challenge Activity: The General Services Administration 
(GSA) and the Performance Improvement Council expect this challenge to 
kick off an ongoing dialog about current trends and challenges in 
public sector program management, what tomorrow promises, and how 
today's managers can position themselves and their organizations for 
future success. GSA will feature winning entries on both the challenge 
homepage and on the GSA Web site. GSA will also invite contest winners 
to participate in a moderated and recorded Google Hangout conversation, 
and may highlight ideas from one or more winning entries in a follow-up 
contest.
    8. Optional Contestant Resource: ``Profiles of Public Sector 
Program Managers--ca. 2014.''
    Program managers in the public sector are a diverse group. They 
confront an extraordinary range of challenges in mission areas as 
diverse as regulatory compliance, basic research, service delivery, law 
enforcement, and military preparedness, to name just a few. While many 
are unique to a particular program mission, some challenges tend to be 
shared by all program managers.
    The following profiles offer a snapshot of the immediate challenges 
faced by four government program managers. These challenges are defined 
in part by the tools and resources available to address them. They are 
defined, as well, by current expectations of what government can and 
should do. As expectations change, and as technology and workplace 
skills evolve, the nature of these challenges will change as well.

Profile 1--Regulatory Compliance

    Trina is a program manager with a Federal Government regulatory 
agency. She leads an office that writes policy, processes industry 
applications for licenses, and tracks routine industry reporting in 
support of the agency's industry compliance efforts. The office also 
conducts inspections to ensure industry compliance with laws and 
policy. In the 20 years that Trina has spent with the Government, the 
work of her office has been transformed by historic advances in online 
and data processing technologies. Although the agency's compliance 
efforts are more effective than at any point in the past, Trina 
recognizes the need to develop more sophisticated approaches to keep up 
with a rapidly evolving industry and an increasingly complicated 
regulatory environment.

Profile 2--Service Delivery

    Henry manages a program that benefits low income households. 
Removing barriers to participation by eligible households is central to 
the program's purpose. At the same time the program is committed to 
eliminating payments to ineligible recipients. Henry believes that 
facilitating access to benefits and strengthening program integrity 
need not compete against each other; greater understanding of the 
factors that lead to improper certification for program benefits might 
be useful in developing strategies to reach the unserved eligible 
population. Henry has challenged his staff and program partners to draw 
on their

[[Page 26252]]

diversity of skills and perspectives to come up with ideas that advance 
both goals simultaneously so that 25 years from now the present tension 
between the two is replaced with a relationship of positive and mutual 
reinforcement. Welcome to the team!

Profile 3--Grants Management

    Ty oversees an office that awards and administers grants to 
community-based social service organizations. As part of an ongoing 
effort to maximize the agency's return on investment, Ty's office is 
awarding more grants to organizations that promise innovative 
approaches to service delivery. Many of those organizations are first-
time recipients of government grants. Although Ty and his staff are 
encouraged by early signs of success, they recognize the need for 
careful oversight and evaluation. They also recognize that new models 
of service delivery may call for changes in the way that the office 
collects and analyzes program data. Responding to these challenges is 
critical to ensuring that management of the grant-making process does 
not stand in the way of grantee-led program innovation.

Profile 4--Law Enforcement

    Sami was recently hired by her city's chief of police to review the 
organization's case prioritization approach. She is faced with the 
dilemma of meeting higher expectations for successful criminal 
prosecution/crime reduction/agility in response to emerging threats 
without any increase in enforcement and civilian staff. She is expected 
to do so in a more transparent manner and to further complicate things, 
the budget is shrinking. Sami is reaching out to other law enforcement 
agencies to learn what they are doing that she may be able to replicate 
but she also believes that new, innovative approaches are necessary to 
meet expectations in the long run. She is actually more concerned about 
internal resistance to trying new approaches than she is about anything 
else.

    Authority: America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, Section 
105 (15 U.S.C. 3719).

    Dated: April 24, 2014.
Kevin Donahue,
Executive Director, Performance Improvement Council, General Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-10514 Filed 5-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-BR-P