[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69454-69456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27231]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Solicitation for Annual Combating Human Trafficking in 
Transportation Impact Award

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to a recommendation by the Department of 
Transportation (DOT or the Department) Advisory Committee on Human 
Trafficking, the Secretary of Transportation is launching the annual 
Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award (``the 
award'') to incentivize an increase in human trafficking awareness, 
training, and prevention among transportation stakeholders. The award 
will be a component of the Department's Transportation Leaders Against 
Human Trafficking initiative. Additional information regarding the 
Department's counter-trafficking activities can be found at 
www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking.
    The award serves as a platform for transportation stakeholders to 
unlock their creativity, and empower them to develop impactful and 
innovative counter-trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns, and 
technologies that can help defeat this heinous crime. The award is open 
to individuals and entities, including non-governmental organizations, 
transportation industry associations, research institutions, and State 
and local government organizations. Entrants compete for a $50,000 cash 
award that will be awarded to the individual(s) or entity selected for 
creating the most impactful counter-trafficking initiative or 
technology. The Department of Transportation intends to incentivize 
individuals and entities to think creatively in developing innovative 
solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry, 
and to share those innovations with the broader community.

DATES: Submissions accepted January 1, 2020 through midnight on January 
31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, and to register 
your intent to compete individually or as part

[[Page 69455]]

of a team, visit www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking, email 
[email protected], or contact the Office of International 
Transportation and Trade at (202) 366-4398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Award Approving Official: Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of 
Transportation.
    Subject of Award Competition: The Secretary's Combating Human 
Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award will recognize impactful and 
innovative approaches to combating human trafficking in the 
transportation industry.

Problem

    As many as 24.9 million men, women, and children are held against 
their will and trafficked into forced labor and prostitution. 
Transportation figures prominently in human trafficking enterprises 
when traffickers move victims, which uniquely positions the industry to 
combat the crime.

Challenge

    The Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award is looking for 
the best innovators to develop original, impactful, and innovative 
human trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns, and technologies that 
can help defeat this heinous crime in the transportation industry.

Eligibility

    To be eligible to participate in the Secretary's Combating Human 
Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award competition, private 
entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of 
business in the United States, and individuals must be citizens or 
permanent residents of the United States. There is no charge to enter 
the competition.

Rules, Terms, and Conditions

    The following additional rules apply:
    1. Entrants shall submit a project to the competition under the 
rules promulgated by the Department in this Notice;
    2. Entrants must indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Federal 
Government from and against all third-party claims, actions, or 
proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, 
costs, and expenses relating to or arising from participant's 
submission or any breach or alleged breach of any of the 
representations, warranties, and covenants of participant hereunder. 
Entrants are financially responsible for claims made by a third party;
    3. Entrants may not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting 
within the scope of employment;
    4. Entrants may not be an employee of the Department;
    5. Entrants shall not be deemed ineligible because an individual 
used Federal facilities or consulted with Federal employees during a 
competition, if the facilities and employees are made available to all 
individuals participating in the competition on an equitable basis;
    6. The competition is subject to all applicable Federal laws and 
regulations. Participation constitutes the Entrants' full and 
unconditional agreement to these rules and to the Secretary's 
decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to this 
competition;
    7. Entries which in the Secretary's sole discretion are determined 
to be substantially similar to a prior submitted entry may be 
disqualified;
    8. Entries must be original, be the work of the entrant and/or 
nominee, and must not violate the rights of other parties. All entries 
remain the property of the entrant. Each entrant represents and 
warrants that:
     Entrant is the sole author and owner of the submission;
     The Entry is not the subject of any actual or threatened 
litigation or claim;
     The Entry does not and will not violate or infringe upon 
the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or 
other legal rights of any third party; and
     The Entry does not and will not contain any harmful 
computer code (sometimes referred to as ``malware,'' ``viruses,'' or, 
``worms'').
    9. By submitting an entry in this competition, entrants agree to 
assume any and all risks and waive any claims against the Federal 
Government and its related entities (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 competition, whether the injury, death, 
damage, or loss arises through negligence of otherwise. Provided, 
however, that by registering or submitting an entry, entrants and/or 
nominees do not waive claims against the Department arising out of the 
unauthorized use or disclosure by the agency of the intellectual 
property, trade secrets, or confidential information of the entrant;
    10. The Secretary and/or the Secretary's designees have the right 
to request additional supporting documentation regarding the 
application from the entrants and/or nominees;
    11. The entries cannot have been submitted in the same or 
substantially similar form in any previous Federally-sponsored 
promotion or Federally-sponsored competition, of any kind;
    12. Each entrant grants to the Department, as well as other Federal 
agencies with which it partners, the right to use names, likeness, 
application materials, photographs, voices, opinions, and/or hometown 
and state for the Department's promotional purposes in any media, in 
perpetuity, worldwide, without further payment or consideration;
    13. If selected, the entrant and/or nominee must provide written 
consent granting the Department and any parties acting on their behalf, 
a royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to 
display publicly and use for promotional purposes the entry 
(``demonstration license''). This demonstration license includes 
posting or linking to the entry on Department websites, including the 
Competition website, and partner websites, and inclusion of the entry 
in any other media, worldwide;
    14. Applicants which are Federal grantees may not use Federal funds 
to develop submissions;
    15. Federal contractors may not use Federal funds from a contract 
to develop applications or to fund efforts in support of a submission; 
and
    16. The submission period begins on January 1, 2020. Submissions 
must be sent by 11:59 p.m. Pacific standard time on January 31, 2020. 
The timeliness of submissions will be determined by the postmark (if 
sent in hard copy) or time stamp of the recipient (if emailed). 
Competition administrators assume no responsibility for lost or 
untimely submissions for any reason.
    Expression of Interest: While not required, entrants are strongly 
encouraged to send brief expressions of interest to the DOT prior to 
submitting entries. The expressions of interest should be sent by 
January 15, 2020 to [email protected], and include the following 
elements: (1) Name of entrant/s; (2) telephone and email address; and 
(3) a synopsis of the concept, limited to no more than two pages.

Submission Requirements

    Applicants must submit entries via email to or by mail. Electronic 
packages may be transmitted by email to [email protected]. Hard 
copies should be forwarded with a cover letter to the attention of 
Secretary's Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award, 
(Room W88-121), 1200

[[Page 69456]]

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    Complete submission packages shall consist of the following 
elements:

1. Eligibility Statement

    A statement of eligibility by private entities indicating that they 
are incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the 
United States, or a statement of eligibility by individuals indicating 
that they citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

2. Summary (1 Page)

    An overall summary of the project that includes: (a) The project 
title, (b) a one paragraph synopsis, and, (c) a statement of the 
potential impact the concept will have on combating human trafficking 
in the transportation industry.

3. Supporting Documents (No Page Limit)

    The paper(s) and/or technologies, programs, video/audio files, and 
other related materials, describing the project and addressing the 
selection criteria. As applicable, this can include a description of 
success of a previous or similar project and/or documentation of 
impact. You may also submit supporting letters, which may be from 
subject matter experts or industry, which may address the technical 
merit of the concept, originality, impact, practicality, measurability 
and/or applicability. DOT may request additional information, including 
supporting documentation, more detailed contact information, releases 
of liability, and statements of authenticity to guarantee the 
originality of the work. Failure to respond in a timely manner may 
result in disqualification.

Initial Screening

    The Office of International Transportation and Trade will initially 
review applications to determine that all required submission elements 
are included and to determine compliance with eligibility requirements.

Evaluation

    After Initial Screening, the Office of International Transportation 
and Trade, with input from the relevant Operating Administrations, will 
judge entries based on the factors described below: Technical merit, 
originality, impact, practicality, measurability, and applicability. 
All factors are important and will be given consideration.
    The Office of International Transportation and Trade will present 
the most highly qualified entries to Assistant Secretary for Aviation 
and International Affairs, who will make recommendations to the 
Secretary of Transportation.
    The Secretary will make the final selection.
    The Department reserves the right to not award the prize if the 
selecting officials believe that no submission demonstrates sufficient 
potential for sufficient transformative impact.

Technical Merit

     Has the submission presented a clear understanding of the 
issue of human trafficking in the transportation industry?
     Has the submission developed a logical and workable 
solution and approach to addressing the problem?
     What are the most unique merits of this concept?
     Were survivors of human trafficking consulted on the 
merits of the project?
     Has the submission clearly described the breadth of impact 
of the project?

Originality

     Is this concept new or a variation of an existing idea, 
and in what way(s)?
     How is this work unique?

Impact

     To what extent will this project make a significant impact 
and/or contribution to the fight against human trafficking in the 
transportation industry?
     Which aspects of the issue of human trafficking is the 
submission attempting to address?

Practicality

     Who directly benefits from this work?
     Can this program or activity be implemented in a way that 
requires a finite amount of resources? Specifically, does the 
submission have high or low fixed costs, low or no marginal costs, and 
a clear path to implementation and scale beyond an initial investment?
     What are the anticipated resources and costs to be 
incurred by executing this concept?

Measurability

     How has this individual/group measured the impact of the 
project?
     To what extent does the project result in measurable 
improvements?

Applicability

     Can this effort be scaled?
     Is this work specific to one region, various regions, or 
to the entire nation?

Award

    One winning entry is expected to be announced and will receive a 
cash prize of up to $50,000. A plaque with the winner(s) name and date 
of award will be on display at the Department of Transportation, and a 
display copy of the plaque(s) will be sent to the winner's 
headquarters. At the discretion of the Secretary, up to two additional 
plaques may be awarded to recognize the second and third place 
entrants. At the option of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT will 
pay for invitational travel expenses to Washington, DC for up to two 
individuals or representatives of the winning organization should 
selectees be invited to present their project/s for DOT officials.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719 (America COMPETES Act).

    Issued on: December 12, 2019.
Joel Szabat,
Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-27231 Filed 12-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P