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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27833-27835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11465]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Requirements for Recognizing the Aviation and Aerospace 
Innovation in Science and Engineering Award

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

ACTION: Notice of the announcement of Requirements for the Secretary of 
Transportation's RAISE (Recognizing

[[Page 27834]]

Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering) Award.

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    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 3719 (America COMPETES Act).
    Award Approving Official: Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to a recommendation by the DOT's Future of Aviation 
Advisory Committee, the Secretary of Transportation is announcing an 
award to recognize students who develop unique scientific and 
engineering innovations in aerospace. With this award, the Secretary of 
Transportation intends to create an incentive for participants at high 
schools, colleges, and universities to develop innovative solutions to 
aviation and aerospace issues, and to share those innovations with the 
broader community.

DATES: Effective on April, 2012 to October, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Watts, Ph.D., Federal 
Aviation Administration, (609) 485-5043 or James Brough, Federal 
Aviation Administration, (781) 238-7027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subject of Challenge Competition: The RAISE 
Award will recognize innovative scientific and engineering achievements 
that will have a significant impact on the future of aerospace or 
aviation. The award is open to students at the high school, 
undergraduate, and graduate levels. Following an open solicitation, the 
Award Review Board Chair will submit nominations to the Secretary of 
Transportation for final consideration.
    Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition:

Selection Criteria

    1. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must 
have been enrolled for at least two semesters at a high school (or 
equivalent approved home school program), college, or university to be 
eligible to receive the award.
    2. Students may participate as individuals or in groups. Each 
member of the group must meet the above criteria.
    Further, to be eligible to win the award under this announcement, 
every candidate--
    1. Shall first submit a project in the competition under the rules 
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation;
    2. Shall agree to execute indemnifications and waivers of claims 
against the federal government as provided in the registration 
materials;
    3. May not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within 
the scope of employment; and
    4. May not be an employee of the Department of Transportation or 
the Federal Aviation Administration.
    A candidate shall not be deemed ineligible because the 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.
    Rules for Participants:
    Rules for this competition will be available for download at 
www.challenge.gov. There is no charge to enter. A submission package 
will consist of the following sections in this order:
    1. Nomination letter from at least one teacher, advisor, faculty 
member, and others as appropriate. The nomination letter(s) must 
communicate the following accomplishments in two areas:

Technical Merit of the Concept

    Evidence of technical merit based upon teacher (parent or legal 
guardian in the case of home schooled applicants), advisor, or faculty 
nomination and evaluation of the submitted proposal, written paper, 
and/or reports.

Professionalism and Leadership

    Evidence of professionalism and leadership can be in the form of, 
but not limited to:
    (1) Membership and offices held in various groups
    (2) Presentations made to various groups, meetings, and at symposia
    (3) Leadership in student professional activities
    (4) Community outreach activities
    2. An overall summary of the innovation, not to exceed one page, 
which includes a statement of the impact that the innovation will have 
on the field of aviation or aerospace;
    3. A copy of the student's academic transcript or certified grade 
report (as applicable);
    4. A copy of the paper(s) and related materials describing the 
innovative concept written by the student(s) being nominated (no page 
limit).
    All materials should be forwarded with a cover letter to the 
attention of: Patricia Watts, Ph.D., Centers of Excellence Program 
Director, Federal Aviation Administration, L-28, FAA William J. Hughes 
Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405.
    Hardcopy is preferred; however, the package also may be transmitted 
by email to Patricia.Watts@FAA.gov. All entries must be received by 
11:59 p.m. Pacific standard time on July 27, 2012. Award administrators 
assume no responsibility for lost or untimely submissions for any 
reason.
    Award:
    The winner will be announced in October. A trophy with the winner's 
name and date of award will be displayed at the Department of 
Transportation and a display copy of the trophy will be sent to the 
winner's school/college/university. An additional trophy will be 
awarded to the individual or team.
    Basis Upon Which the Winner Will Be Selected:
    All submissions will be initially reviewed by the FAA Center for 
Excellence (COE) Program Director upon receipt to determine if the 
submissions meet the eligibility requirements. Registration packages 
meeting the eligibility requirements will be judged by advisory panels 
consisting of academic experts, government officials including FAA, 
DOT, and others. The advisory panels will select the most highly 
qualified submissions and present them to the Secretary of the 
Department of Transportation, who will select the winning entrant.
    Submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
    Originality:
     Is this concept new or a variation of an existing idea, 
and in what way(s)?
     How is this work unique?
     Was the concept developed independently or in cooperation 
with others?
    Impact:
     To what extent has this contribution:
    [cir] Made a fundamental change?
    [cir] Made a major contribution to the future of the aviation 
environment?
    Practicality:
     Who directly benefits from this work?
     Can this program or activity be implemented in a practical 
fashion?
     What are the costs anticipated to be incurred and saved by 
executing this concept?
    Measurability:
     How has this individual/group measured the impact on the 
aviation environment?
     To what extent does the innovation result in measurable 
improvements?
    Applicability:
     Can this effort be scaled?
     Is this work specific to one region, various regions, or 
to the entire nation?
     How does this activity lead to future changes in aviation?
    Technical Merit:

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     Has the submission presented a clear understanding of the 
associated problems?
     Has the submission developed a logical and workable 
solution and approach to solving the problem/s?
     What are the most significant aspects of this concept?
     Has the submission clearly demonstrated the breadth of 
impact of the innovation?
    All factors are important and will be given consideration, but the 
advisory panels will give the ``technical merit'' factor the most 
weight in the screening process. The Secretary of Transportation 
retains sole discretion to select the winning entrant.
    Additional Information:
    Federal grantees may not use Federal funds to develop COMPETES Act 
challenge applications unless such use is consistent with the purpose 
of their grant award.
    Federal contractors may not use Federal funds from a contract to 
develop COMPETES Act challenge applications or to fund efforts in 
support of a COMPETES Act challenge submission.

    Issued On: April 30, 2012.
Susan L. Kurland,
Assistant Secretary of Aviation and International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-11465 Filed 5-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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