Notice Inviting Proposals for Taking Ownership and Operation of the TEACH Campaign, 21873-21877 [2011-9485]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2011 / Notices Specifically, the Complainant, a blind vendor, challenged the SLA’s selection of a nonblind severely disabled vendor to operate the snack bar vending facility at Nesbett. In March 2006, the SLA issued a vacancy announcement for Nesbett. Both vendors applied for the Nesbett snack bar vending facility. At that time, the nonblind vendor had been operating the snack bar vending facility at Nesbett as a secondary vending site on a temporary basis, in addition to his primary vending site. Meanwhile, Complainant was operating a vending facility on Federal property as his primary location. During the selection interview process, the nonblind vendor indicated that he was willing to give up his current primary location and he intended, if selected, to operate the Nesbett snack bar vending facility as his primary site. At the same time, the Complainant indicated that he did not intend to relinquish his primary site, but would manage the Nesbett snack bar vending facility as a secondary vending facility site. After the interview and evaluation of the two vendors according to the SLA’s transfer and promotion policies and procedure, the selection committee chose the nonblind vendor for the Nesbett snack bar vending facility. Complainant then requested a full evidentiary hearing from the SLA on this matter, which was held. On May 29, 2008, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a decision ruling that (1) The Nesbett snack bar vending facility is not ‘‘other’’ property as defined by the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act; (2) The Alaska Chance Act granted blind persons and persons with severe disabilities a priority when seeking a license to operate vending facilities on certain properties, but the Chance Act gave blind persons a first priority or prior right over a nonblind disabled person to operate a vending facility on public property; (3) The SLA’s interpretation of its regulations that a vending license is site specific and a qualified vendor may only have one license to operate a facility is reasonable; and (4) The SLA was correct when it granted the nonblind vendor a license to operate the Nesbett snack bar vending facility as his primary site, when there was no blind vendor seeking to operate the Nesbett snack bar vending facility as a primary site. On July 7, 2008, the SLA issued a decision as final agency action adopting the ALJ’s decision. Subsequently, Complainant filed with the Department a request for Federal arbitration seeking an appeal of the State fair hearing decision. On July 31, 2009, the SLA sent VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:19 Apr 18, 2011 Jkt 223001 a letter to the Department stating that Complainant’s request was a ‘‘State-only matter’’ and it did not involve the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Program as the ALJ had ruled that the Nesbett snack bar vending facility was not ‘‘other property,’’ as defined under the Act and its implementing regulations. On August 24, 2009, the Department responded to the SLA’s letter stating that this is a Randolph-Sheppard matter under the Act and its implementing regulations and it is up to a Federal arbitration panel to decide on the issue of whether the Nesbett snack bar vending facility is or is not ‘‘other property.’’ A Federal arbitration panel was convened. Prior to the arbitration hearing, the SLA filed with the arbitration panel a Motion for Summary Disposition, arguing that the Nesbett snack bar vending facility was State property not subject to the Act and its implementing regulation. Therefore, the arbitration panel lacked jurisdiction to hear the complaint. By order dated April 9, 2010, the arbitration panel concluded that there was insufficient evidence before the panel to determine whether the Nesbett snack bar vending facility was ‘‘other property’’ under the Act, but that there were issues of material fact requiring a hearing and, therefore, the panel denied the SLA’s motion. The central issue before the arbitration panel was whether the Nesbett State courthouse snack bar vending facility qualified as ‘‘other property’’ within the meaning of the Act and its implementing regulations. Arbitration Panel Decision Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of the nonblind severely disabled vendor. After reviewing the entire record, the panel found that the evidence presented at the arbitration hearing demonstrated that the Nesbett State courthouse snack bar vending facility was not established or operated with any funds derived directly or indirectly from the operation of vending facilities on Federal property. Thus, the arbitration panel ruled that the Nesbett State courthouse was not ‘‘other property’’ subject to the Randolph-Sheppard Act and its implementing regulations and, therefore, the SLA’s decision did not violate the Act. Accordingly, the arbitration panel denied Complainant’s Federal arbitration appeal. The views and opinions expressed by the panel do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Department. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. Dated: April 14, 2011. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 2011–9477 Filed 4–18–11; 8:45 am] The panel heard testimony and concluded that Federal regulations implementing the Act defined ‘‘other property’’ as ‘‘property which is not Federal property and on which vending facilities are established or operated by the use of any funds derived in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the operation of vending facilities on any Federal property.’’ See 34 CFR 395.1(n). Then, the panel determined that in order for Complainant’s claim to prevail, he must prove that the Nesbett snack bar vending facility was established or operated with funds derived directly or indirectly from the operation of vending facilities on Federal property. If Complainant was able to meet that burden, the SLA would concede that the Act applied to the Nesbett snack bar vending facility and the Complainant would be entitled to the priority in operating the Nesbett snack bar vending facility over the claim PO 00000 21873 BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice Inviting Proposals for Taking Ownership and Operation of the TEACH Campaign Office of Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. ACTION: Notice inviting proposals for ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the maintenance and operation of the Web Portal. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) has set a goal for the United States to lead the world in completion of postsecondary education by 2020. The Department recognizes that the most significant inschool-factor in a student’s education is his or her teacher, and wants to SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 21874 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2011 / Notices encourage a large and diverse group of high-performing individuals to pursue a career in teaching. As one strategy to reach this goal, the Department launched the TEACH Campaign—a national teacher recruiting effort with the goal of contributing to a highperforming and more diverse teaching force by linking prospective teachers to opportunities for preparation, licensure, and employment. Through a contract, the Department launched the TEACH Campaign using traditional media, digital media, social networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities with potential and current teachers, and supported it with a Web-based portal (https://www.teach.gov, and associated social networking accounts with YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, collectively referred to as the ‘‘Web Portal’’) that is available for use by potential and currently employed teachers for free. The TEACH Campaign (i) targets individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, especially those who are potential high-performers and are among populations under-represented in the teaching profession or are individuals interested in teaching English learners, students with disabilities, or in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in underserved communities (the targeted populations), (ii) strives to enhance public perception of teachers, and (iii) develops support for new and already-practicing teachers. The TEACH Campaign, which is supported through the Web Portal, is based on a comprehensive strategic communications plan, which includes a clear and identifiable ‘‘brand,’’ celebrity and teacher public service announcements that are disseminated through multiple formats (e.g., traditional media, digital media, and social networks), and direct outreach and follow-up activities with potential teachers. The Web Portal is designed to improve the recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers. The Department plans to transfer ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, to an entity or to a group of entities that enter into an agreement to collaborate, form a consortium, or establish a partnership (entity) that works outside of the Federal Government and that would, with its own resources, execute and continuously improve an excellent and effective teacher recruiting effort, continuously improve a highly visible and useful Web Portal, and continue to make the Web Portal available at all VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:19 Apr 18, 2011 Jkt 223001 times to potential and currently employed teachers for free. Through this notice, we are inviting proposals from entities interested in owning and operating the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. DATES: To ensure that your proposal receives consideration, it must be received by the Department no later than May 19, 2011. The Department would like to announce the selected entity on or about June 20, 2011. Please inform us via e-mail by May 4, 2011, if you intend to submit a proposal. Notification of your intent to submit a proposal will help the Department prepare for the review process. Please note that you may still submit a proposal if you do not indicate that you intend to apply. Instructions for submitting a proposal are set forth in the Submission Requirements section later in this notice. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should e-mail TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s proposal remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. For further information, please send an email to: TEACHrfp@ed.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Background Through the fiscal year 2009 appropriation under the School Improvement Programs account, Congress authorized the Secretary of Education to carry out activities, such as the TEACH Campaign, to improve the recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers in order to improve educational outcomes. See Public Law 111–8, Division F, Title III, March 11, 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Act), Div. F, Title III, School Improvement Programs, Section 4, preceding Division A of the Act, and the House Manager’s Explanatory Statement, published in the Congressional Record on February 23, 2009, which provided the following: ‘‘In addition, up to $7,500,000 shall be available for the Secretary to use for teacher and principal quality initiatives designed to improve recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement, and transform education outcomes.’’ PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 To achieve the ultimate goal of once again leading the world in college completion by 2020, the Department, through a contract, designed and created the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. The recruiting effort and the Web Portal were designed to, among other things: (i) Increase interest in, and access to, the tools needed to prepare for and secure a position in the teaching profession, particularly among the targeted populations, (ii) enhance the public perception of teachers, and (iii) develop support for new and already practicing teachers. The Web Portal was launched on September 27, 2010, and continues to be available to potential and currently employed teachers for free. The Department believes that the effectiveness of the TEACH Campaign would be significantly enhanced—that is, would provide long-lasting benefits to the targeted populations and to the Nation—if an outside entity assumed responsibility for ownership and continued operation of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. The Department will provide the selected entity with information we gathered on the early use of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, including on the costs of operation and the audiences that have accessed the Web site, in order to help the entity effectively maintain, operate, and enhance the Web Portal and improve the recruiting effort. In addition, the Department will, through a transfer agreement signed by the Department and the selected entity, set forth the terms of the transfer of ownership of the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, to an entity outside of the Federal Government, and the operation of the TEACH Campaign and the Web Portal by that entity with the entity’s own resources. Some of the key provisions of the transfer agreement will be the following: Objective. The transfer agreement will require the selected entity to agree that the objective of the TEACH Campaign is to (i) recruit more than a million total new teachers, with an emphasis on recruiting members of the targeted populations, (ii) enhance public perception of teachers, and (iii) develop support for new and already-practicing teachers (the Objective). Privacy Policy. The transfer agreement will require, among other things, that the selected entity include on the Web Portal a privacy policy that protects the privacy of the users and limits the selected entity’s use of users’ data. Further, the transfer agreement will require that any data about users that the Department transfers to the selected E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2011 / Notices entity will be used only for the purpose of improving the recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers in order to improve educational outcomes and will not be used for another purpose without the consent of the user. Trademarks. The Department has created trademarks to identify and distinguish the TEACH Campaign (Trademarks). Pursuant to the transfer agreement, the Department will assign all rights in the Trademarks to the selected entity. Web Address. Because the Web Portal is currently registered as a ‘‘.gov’’ domain and ‘‘.gov’’ domains are only available to official government organizations, the selected entity must re-register the Web Portal with an alternate domain that is appropriate (e.g., .org, .com, or .edu). Responsibilities of the Selected Entity. The duties of the selected entity will include, at a minimum: (1) Making the Web Portal readily available at all times to potential and currently employed teachers for free. (2) Solving any implementation problems in order to keep the recruiting effort and the Web Portal operating in at least the same condition in which they are transferred to the entity. (3) Enhancing the overall quality of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, including but not limited to, enhancing the content made available through each, such as providing better information on how to become a teacher, on State certification processes, and on job listings. (4) Identifying new populations of potential teachers (e.g., members of the military, mid-career professionals, and recent retirees), while continuing to reach out to the targeted populations identified in this notice. (5) Continuing and enhancing outreach efforts designed to elevate the public perception of teaching and through traditional and digital marketing and outreach strategies. (6) Continuing and enhancing direct outreach and follow-up activities with the targeted populations through, for example, public events and other programming. (7) Building business partnerships and coalitions that will help develop the TEACH Campaign into a nationally prominent effort to bring a large number of high-performing individuals into the next generation of teachers, including individuals from the targeted populations. Based on these general expectations, an entity interested in acquiring ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:19 Apr 18, 2011 Jkt 223001 effort and the maintenance and operation of the Web Portal, should submit a proposal that addresses the following key factors, which are designed to enable an entity to demonstrate its ability to recruit teachers, its prior success in executing large projects, and its ability to effectively manage the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. Key Factors The entity’s proposal must include evidence that the entity will meet the following factors: (1) The entity’s ability to increase interest in, and access to, the teaching profession among the targeted populations. (2) The entity’s ability to achieve established goals, including prior success in executing large projects. (3) The entity’s planned use of a privacy policy that protects the privacy interests of the users of the Web Portal; limits the entity’s use of users’ data; and ensures that any data about users that the Department transfers to the selected entity will be used only for the purpose of achieving the Objective and will not be used for any other purpose without the consent of the user. (4) Demonstrated substantive interest in the goals of the TEACH Campaign and an expertise in recruitment. (5) Demonstrated capacity to complete a recruiting effort, or demonstrated willingness to enter into a partnership with an entity with such capacity. (6) Demonstrated organizational capacity to conduct direct outreach to, and follow-up efforts with, the targeted populations, or demonstrated willingness to enter into a partnership with an entity with such capacity. (7) Entity’s capacity to enter into partnerships with partners or potential partners, who can supplement and enhance the entity’s ability to establish a successful recruiting effort. (8) The technological infrastructure and other resources to operate and maintain effectively the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, and make it available to potential and currently employed teachers for free. (9) A proposed system for measuring the entity’s success in meeting the Objective. (10) Evidence of the entity’s fiscal and management capabilities. The Department will use the following criteria to evaluate how well the proposals submitted in response to this notice address these Key Factors. Note: The maximum total score any proposal can receive is 100 points. The PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21875 maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses below. Organizational Capacity (25 Points) (1) The extent to which the entity describes a comprehensive vision for an enduring recruiting and outreach effort that at a minimum meets the Objective. (2) The quality of the proposed project personnel, and the extent to which the personnel have the appropriate qualifications, competencies, and experience in the management of (i) a recruiting effort that includes traditional media, digital media, social networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities with prospective teachers, and (ii) the operation and maintenance of the Web Portal in a manner that achieves the Objective. (3) The extent to which the entity (i) has the technological and financial resources, and skills to maintain and operate the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, and ensure that the Web Portal is made available to potential and currently employed teachers for free, (ii) has the capacity to develop and execute a recruiting effort that includes traditional media, digital media, social networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities with prospective teachers and (iii) has the resources and capability to meet the Objective. (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability to enter into partnerships and coalitions that will help develop the project into a nationally prominent movement to recruit a large, high-performing and diverse group of individuals into the next generation of teachers. Management Plan (25 Points) (1) The extent to which the entity provides a comprehensive description of the proposed plan in a clear and sequential fashion for (i) accomplishing all of the responsibilities listed in the Responsibilities of the Selected Entity section of this notice, (ii) effectively managing the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, and (iii) enhancing and continuing operation of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. (2) The extent to which the entity’s proposed system for evaluating its success in meeting the Objective is likely to produce data that accurately measure its success in recruiting more than a million total new teachers, including teachers from the targeted populations. (3) The extent to which the entity’s privacy policy to protect the users of the Web Portal is effective, limits the entity’s use of users’ data, and ensures E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 21876 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2011 / Notices that any data about users that the Department transfers to the selected entity will be used only for the purpose of improving the recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers in order to improve educational outcomes and will not be used for any other purpose without the consent of the user. (4) The extent to which the time commitments of the entity’s staff are appropriate to operate and maintain the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, and an effective recruiting effort that includes traditional media, digital media, social networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities with prospective teachers. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Outreach Efforts (25 Points) (1) The quality of the entity’s marketing and outreach plan for the TEACH Campaign, which includes a description of the goals of raising the public perception of teachers and of the TEACH Campaign’s Objective. (2) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability and prior success in executing large efforts of this type. (3) The extent to which the entity demonstrates strong familiarity with and success in using traditional media, digital media, and social media campaigns and how it plans to maintain active communities via social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, email lists, and bulletin boards to encourage new users to engage with the TEACH Campaign and encourage return visits to the Web Portal. (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates a thorough understanding of the targeted populations of potential and current teachers. (5) The quality of the entity’s plan for continuing and enhancing direct outreach and follow-up activities with the targeted populations (through, for example, organizing public events and other programming). The Web Portal (25 Points) (1) The quality of the entity’s plan and vision for the enhancement and continued operation of the Web Portal. (2) The extent to which the entity demonstrates that it has the technological and financial resources and skills to maintain and operate the Web Portal, and to ensure that the Web portal is made available to potential and currently employed teachers for free in perpetuity. (3) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the capability to aggregate content and data regarding the full cycle of becoming a teacher (e.g., teacher preparation institutions, scholarships, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:19 Apr 18, 2011 Jkt 223001 State certification processes, and job listings) and publish and maintain upto-date and useful information for potential and current teachers. (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability to integrate the Web Portal into off-line (e.g., radio, print, and television) and on-line (e.g., search engine, video, and video games) advertising and promotion campaigns. (5) The extent to which the entity provides credible evidence that the management of personnel, partners and potential partners, physical resources, activities, and work production will result in a robust and high-quality Web Portal with a 99.99 percent ‘‘uptime rate’’ exclusive of published maintenance periods and inclusive of clear communication to users of what to expect in the event of technical difficulties. (6) The quality of the entity’s plan for monitoring and evaluating the intended use, effectiveness, and improvements of the Web Portal. and the Web Portal will revert back to the Department at no cost to the Department (Reversion). In the event of a Reversion, the Department can transfer ownership, operation, and interests in the TEACH Campaign, the Web Portal, and the Trademarks, to another entity in accordance with a notice published in the Federal Register. Interests of the Federal Government To protect the Department’s interests in the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, the selected entity must provide a written assurance executed by an appropriate officer that— (1) The entity acknowledges that the Department will assign to the selected entity ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal and all rights and interests it possesses in the data and content therein, as well as the Trademarks, including all rights and interests possessed therein. (2) The entity agrees to own and operate the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, consistent with its proposal and with the purposes and provisions of this notice. (3) The entity agrees, per calendar year, to submit three quarterly reports and an annual report regarding the operation, audience, and use of the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, in such detail as the Department specifies in the transfer agreement until the Department and the entity mutually agree in writing that the selected entity achieved the Objective. (4) The entity acknowledges that if it fails to comply with the transfer agreement at any time prior to achieving the Objective, all rights and interests in all data and content of the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, and any improvements thereto; all intellectual property rights, including the Trademarks; and all databases needed to operate the TEACH Campaign Availability of Funds The Department anticipates that there will not be any Federal funds available to support the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, once ownership and operation are transferred from the Federal Government to the selected entity. Upon the transfer, the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal will be the sole responsibility of the selected entity to bear all costs associated with ownership and operation thereof. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Termination of Certain Rights, Duties, and Obligations All duties, obligations, and restrictions of the selected entity, as specified in the transfer agreement, including, but not limited to, the selected entity’s obligation to provide quarterly and annual reports to the Department, and the Department’s right to repossess the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, will end upon the Department’s and the selected entity’s mutual written determination that the selected entity achieved the Objective. Other Required Information in Proposals Proposals submitted in response to this notice also must include the following information: (1) Name, address, and contact information for the entity submitting the proposal. (2) Mission statement of the entity. (3) The entity’s current Web site URL. (4) The most recent audited information (such as that contained in a consolidated financial statement) regarding the financial condition and other capabilities of the entity. (5) Description of existing programs owned and operated by the entity that could support the entity in achieving the goals of the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal. Submission Requirements: Interested entities must submit a proposal for owning and operating the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the maintenance and operation of the Web Portal, that addresses the factors and associated criteria outlined in this notice. E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2011 / Notices Proposals may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. We will not consider any proposal that does not comply with the deadline requirements. a. Electronic Submission of Proposals. If you choose to submit your proposal to us electronically, email your proposal to TEACHrfp@ed.gov. Please note the following: • You must complete the electronic submission of your proposal by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on May 19, 2011. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your proposal in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit your proposal in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including any narrative sections and all other attachments to your proposal as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Prior to submitting your electronic proposal, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records. • We may request that you provide us original signatures on other documents at a later date. Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting your proposal on the deadline date because TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your proposal electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if— • TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date; or • TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date. We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may e-mail TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable due to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the proposal deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all entities that informed the Department that they intended to submit a proposal. Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If TEACHrfp@ed.gov VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:19 Apr 18, 2011 Jkt 223001 is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to submit your proposal electronically, you may submit your proposal in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this notice. b. Submission of Paper Copies of Proposals by Mail. If you submit your proposal in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your proposal, on or before the proposal deadline date, to the Department at the following address: The TEACH Campaign, Office of Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202–5930. You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. (ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service. (iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier. (iv) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your proposal through the U.S. Postal Service, note that the Department does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (i) A private metered postmark. (ii) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your proposal is postmarked after the proposal deadline date, we will not consider your proposal. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. Submission of Paper Copies of Proposals by Hand Delivery. If you submit your proposal in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your proposal by hand, on or before the deadline date, to the Department at the following address: The TEACH Campaign, Office of Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202–5930. The Department accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21877 available via the Federal Digital System at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. Dated: April 14, 2011. James H. Shelton, III, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement. [FR Doc. 2011–9485 Filed 4–18–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Environmental Management Advisory Board Department of Energy. Notice of call for nominations for appointment to the Environmental Management Advisory Board. AGENCY: ACTION: This notice constitutes an open call to the public to submit nominations for membership on the Environmental Management Advisory Board. DATES: Nominations will be accepted through May 13, 2011. ADDRESSES: Environmental Management Advisory Board (EM–42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen G. Ellis, Designated Federal Officer, Environmental Management Advisory Board (EM–42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Phone (202) 586–5810; fax (202) 586–0293 or e-mail: kristen.ellis@em.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management is accepting nominations through May 13, 2011, to fill vacancies on its Environmental Management Advisory Board (EMAB or Board). Applicants with expertise in project management, acquisition management, human capital management, environmental management and engineering, or other related fields are preferred; this expertise may be drawn from service in the private sector, academia, research institutions, professional organizations, or local and state governments. The Board seeks to have a balanced membership so that a diversity of perspectives is represented on the issues that come before it. This membership SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21873-21877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9485]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice Inviting Proposals for Taking Ownership and Operation of 
the TEACH Campaign

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice inviting proposals for ownership and operation of the 
TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the maintenance and 
operation of the Web Portal.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) has set a goal 
for the United States to lead the world in completion of postsecondary 
education by 2020. The Department recognizes that the most significant 
in-school-factor in a student's education is his or her teacher, and 
wants to

[[Page 21874]]

encourage a large and diverse group of high-performing individuals to 
pursue a career in teaching. As one strategy to reach this goal, the 
Department launched the TEACH Campaign--a national teacher recruiting 
effort with the goal of contributing to a high-performing and more 
diverse teaching force by linking prospective teachers to opportunities 
for preparation, licensure, and employment. Through a contract, the 
Department launched the TEACH Campaign using traditional media, digital 
media, social networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities 
with potential and current teachers, and supported it with a Web-based 
portal (https://www.teach.gov, and associated social networking accounts 
with YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, collectively referred to as the 
``Web Portal'') that is available for use by potential and currently 
employed teachers for free. The TEACH Campaign (i) targets individuals 
between the ages of 18 and 25, especially those who are potential high-
performers and are among populations under-represented in the teaching 
profession or are individuals interested in teaching English learners, 
students with disabilities, or in the fields of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in underserved communities (the 
targeted populations), (ii) strives to enhance public perception of 
teachers, and (iii) develops support for new and already-practicing 
teachers. The TEACH Campaign, which is supported through the Web 
Portal, is based on a comprehensive strategic communications plan, 
which includes a clear and identifiable ``brand,'' celebrity and 
teacher public service announcements that are disseminated through 
multiple formats (e.g., traditional media, digital media, and social 
networks), and direct outreach and follow-up activities with potential 
teachers. The Web Portal is designed to improve the recruitment, 
training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers.
    The Department plans to transfer ownership and operation of the 
TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, to 
an entity or to a group of entities that enter into an agreement to 
collaborate, form a consortium, or establish a partnership (entity) 
that works outside of the Federal Government and that would, with its 
own resources, execute and continuously improve an excellent and 
effective teacher recruiting effort, continuously improve a highly 
visible and useful Web Portal, and continue to make the Web Portal 
available at all times to potential and currently employed teachers for 
free. Through this notice, we are inviting proposals from entities 
interested in owning and operating the TEACH Campaign, including the 
recruiting effort and the Web Portal.

DATES: To ensure that your proposal receives consideration, it must be 
received by the Department no later than May 19, 2011. The Department 
would like to announce the selected entity on or about June 20, 2011.
    Please inform us via e-mail by May 4, 2011, if you intend to submit 
a proposal. Notification of your intent to submit a proposal will help 
the Department prepare for the review process. Please note that you may 
still submit a proposal if you do not indicate that you intend to 
apply. Instructions for submitting a proposal are set forth in the 
Submission Requirements section later in this notice.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should e-mail 
TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's proposal remains subject to all 
other requirements and limitations in this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please send 
an e-mail to: TEACHrfp@ed.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Through the fiscal year 2009 appropriation under the School 
Improvement Programs account, Congress authorized the Secretary of 
Education to carry out activities, such as the TEACH Campaign, to 
improve the recruitment, training, mentoring, retention, and placement 
of teachers in order to improve educational outcomes. See Public Law 
111-8, Division F, Title III, March 11, 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act 
(Act), Div. F, Title III, School Improvement Programs, Section 4, 
preceding Division A of the Act, and the House Manager's Explanatory 
Statement, published in the Congressional Record on February 23, 2009, 
which provided the following: ``In addition, up to $7,500,000 shall be 
available for the Secretary to use for teacher and principal quality 
initiatives designed to improve recruitment, training, mentoring, 
retention, and placement, and transform education outcomes.''
    To achieve the ultimate goal of once again leading the world in 
college completion by 2020, the Department, through a contract, 
designed and created the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting 
effort and the Web Portal. The recruiting effort and the Web Portal 
were designed to, among other things: (i) Increase interest in, and 
access to, the tools needed to prepare for and secure a position in the 
teaching profession, particularly among the targeted populations, (ii) 
enhance the public perception of teachers, and (iii) develop support 
for new and already practicing teachers. The Web Portal was launched on 
September 27, 2010, and continues to be available to potential and 
currently employed teachers for free.
    The Department believes that the effectiveness of the TEACH 
Campaign would be significantly enhanced--that is, would provide long-
lasting benefits to the targeted populations and to the Nation--if an 
outside entity assumed responsibility for ownership and continued 
operation of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal. The Department 
will provide the selected entity with information we gathered on the 
early use of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal, including on the 
costs of operation and the audiences that have accessed the Web site, 
in order to help the entity effectively maintain, operate, and enhance 
the Web Portal and improve the recruiting effort. In addition, the 
Department will, through a transfer agreement signed by the Department 
and the selected entity, set forth the terms of the transfer of 
ownership of the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting effort and 
the Web Portal, to an entity outside of the Federal Government, and the 
operation of the TEACH Campaign and the Web Portal by that entity with 
the entity's own resources.
    Some of the key provisions of the transfer agreement will be the 
following:
    Objective. The transfer agreement will require the selected entity 
to agree that the objective of the TEACH Campaign is to (i) recruit 
more than a million total new teachers, with an emphasis on recruiting 
members of the targeted populations, (ii) enhance public perception of 
teachers, and (iii) develop support for new and already-practicing 
teachers (the Objective).
    Privacy Policy. The transfer agreement will require, among other 
things, that the selected entity include on the Web Portal a privacy 
policy that protects the privacy of the users and limits the selected 
entity's use of users' data. Further, the transfer agreement will 
require that any data about users that the Department transfers to the 
selected

[[Page 21875]]

entity will be used only for the purpose of improving the recruitment, 
training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers in order to 
improve educational outcomes and will not be used for another purpose 
without the consent of the user.
    Trademarks. The Department has created trademarks to identify and 
distinguish the TEACH Campaign (Trademarks). Pursuant to the 
transfer agreement, the Department will assign all rights in the 
Trademarks to the selected entity.
    Web Address. Because the Web Portal is currently registered as a 
``.gov'' domain and ``.gov'' domains are only available to official 
government organizations, the selected entity must re-register the Web 
Portal with an alternate domain that is appropriate (e.g., .org, .com, 
or .edu).
    Responsibilities of the Selected Entity. The duties of the selected 
entity will include, at a minimum:
    (1) Making the Web Portal readily available at all times to 
potential and currently employed teachers for free.
    (2) Solving any implementation problems in order to keep the 
recruiting effort and the Web Portal operating in at least the same 
condition in which they are transferred to the entity.
    (3) Enhancing the overall quality of the recruiting effort and the 
Web Portal, including but not limited to, enhancing the content made 
available through each, such as providing better information on how to 
become a teacher, on State certification processes, and on job 
listings.
    (4) Identifying new populations of potential teachers (e.g., 
members of the military, mid-career professionals, and recent 
retirees), while continuing to reach out to the targeted populations 
identified in this notice.
    (5) Continuing and enhancing outreach efforts designed to elevate 
the public perception of teaching and through traditional and digital 
marketing and outreach strategies.
    (6) Continuing and enhancing direct outreach and follow-up 
activities with the targeted populations through, for example, public 
events and other programming.
    (7) Building business partnerships and coalitions that will help 
develop the TEACH Campaign into a nationally prominent effort to bring 
a large number of high-performing individuals into the next generation 
of teachers, including individuals from the targeted populations.
    Based on these general expectations, an entity interested in 
acquiring ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, including the 
recruiting effort and the maintenance and operation of the Web Portal, 
should submit a proposal that addresses the following key factors, 
which are designed to enable an entity to demonstrate its ability to 
recruit teachers, its prior success in executing large projects, and 
its ability to effectively manage the TEACH Campaign, including the 
recruiting effort and the Web Portal.

Key Factors

    The entity's proposal must include evidence that the entity will 
meet the following factors:
    (1) The entity's ability to increase interest in, and access to, 
the teaching profession among the targeted populations.
    (2) The entity's ability to achieve established goals, including 
prior success in executing large projects.
    (3) The entity's planned use of a privacy policy that protects the 
privacy interests of the users of the Web Portal; limits the entity's 
use of users' data; and ensures that any data about users that the 
Department transfers to the selected entity will be used only for the 
purpose of achieving the Objective and will not be used for any other 
purpose without the consent of the user.
    (4) Demonstrated substantive interest in the goals of the TEACH 
Campaign and an expertise in recruitment.
    (5) Demonstrated capacity to complete a recruiting effort, or 
demonstrated willingness to enter into a partnership with an entity 
with such capacity.
    (6) Demonstrated organizational capacity to conduct direct outreach 
to, and follow-up efforts with, the targeted populations, or 
demonstrated willingness to enter into a partnership with an entity 
with such capacity.
    (7) Entity's capacity to enter into partnerships with partners or 
potential partners, who can supplement and enhance the entity's ability 
to establish a successful recruiting effort.
    (8) The technological infrastructure and other resources to operate 
and maintain effectively the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, 
and make it available to potential and currently employed teachers for 
free.
    (9) A proposed system for measuring the entity's success in meeting 
the Objective.
    (10) Evidence of the entity's fiscal and management capabilities.
    The Department will use the following criteria to evaluate how well 
the proposals submitted in response to this notice address these Key 
Factors.

    Note: The maximum total score any proposal can receive is 100 
points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses below.

Organizational Capacity (25 Points)

    (1) The extent to which the entity describes a comprehensive vision 
for an enduring recruiting and outreach effort that at a minimum meets 
the Objective.
    (2) The quality of the proposed project personnel, and the extent 
to which the personnel have the appropriate qualifications, 
competencies, and experience in the management of (i) a recruiting 
effort that includes traditional media, digital media, social 
networking, and direct outreach and follow-up activities with 
prospective teachers, and (ii) the operation and maintenance of the Web 
Portal in a manner that achieves the Objective.
    (3) The extent to which the entity (i) has the technological and 
financial resources, and skills to maintain and operate the TEACH 
Campaign, including the Web Portal, and ensure that the Web Portal is 
made available to potential and currently employed teachers for free, 
(ii) has the capacity to develop and execute a recruiting effort that 
includes traditional media, digital media, social networking, and 
direct outreach and follow-up activities with prospective teachers and 
(iii) has the resources and capability to meet the Objective.
    (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability to 
enter into partnerships and coalitions that will help develop the 
project into a nationally prominent movement to recruit a large, high-
performing and diverse group of individuals into the next generation of 
teachers.

Management Plan (25 Points)

    (1) The extent to which the entity provides a comprehensive 
description of the proposed plan in a clear and sequential fashion for 
(i) accomplishing all of the responsibilities listed in the 
Responsibilities of the Selected Entity section of this notice, (ii) 
effectively managing the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting 
effort and the Web Portal, and (iii) enhancing and continuing operation 
of the recruiting effort and the Web Portal.
    (2) The extent to which the entity's proposed system for evaluating 
its success in meeting the Objective is likely to produce data that 
accurately measure its success in recruiting more than a million total 
new teachers, including teachers from the targeted populations.
    (3) The extent to which the entity's privacy policy to protect the 
users of the Web Portal is effective, limits the entity's use of users' 
data, and ensures

[[Page 21876]]

that any data about users that the Department transfers to the selected 
entity will be used only for the purpose of improving the recruitment, 
training, mentoring, retention, and placement of teachers in order to 
improve educational outcomes and will not be used for any other purpose 
without the consent of the user.
    (4) The extent to which the time commitments of the entity's staff 
are appropriate to operate and maintain the TEACH Campaign, including 
the Web Portal, and an effective recruiting effort that includes 
traditional media, digital media, social networking, and direct 
outreach and follow-up activities with prospective teachers.

Outreach Efforts (25 Points)

    (1) The quality of the entity's marketing and outreach plan for the 
TEACH Campaign, which includes a description of the goals of raising 
the public perception of teachers and of the TEACH Campaign's 
Objective.
    (2) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability and 
prior success in executing large efforts of this type.
    (3) The extent to which the entity demonstrates strong familiarity 
with and success in using traditional media, digital media, and social 
media campaigns and how it plans to maintain active communities via 
social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, email lists, and 
bulletin boards to encourage new users to engage with the TEACH 
Campaign and encourage return visits to the Web Portal.
    (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates a thorough 
understanding of the targeted populations of potential and current 
teachers.
    (5) The quality of the entity's plan for continuing and enhancing 
direct outreach and follow-up activities with the targeted populations 
(through, for example, organizing public events and other programming).

The Web Portal (25 Points)

    (1) The quality of the entity's plan and vision for the enhancement 
and continued operation of the Web Portal.
    (2) The extent to which the entity demonstrates that it has the 
technological and financial resources and skills to maintain and 
operate the Web Portal, and to ensure that the Web portal is made 
available to potential and currently employed teachers for free in 
perpetuity.
    (3) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the capability to 
aggregate content and data regarding the full cycle of becoming a 
teacher (e.g., teacher preparation institutions, scholarships, State 
certification processes, and job listings) and publish and maintain up-
to-date and useful information for potential and current teachers.
    (4) The extent to which the entity demonstrates the ability to 
integrate the Web Portal into off-line (e.g., radio, print, and 
television) and on-line (e.g., search engine, video, and video games) 
advertising and promotion campaigns.
    (5) The extent to which the entity provides credible evidence that 
the management of personnel, partners and potential partners, physical 
resources, activities, and work production will result in a robust and 
high-quality Web Portal with a 99.99 percent ``uptime rate'' exclusive 
of published maintenance periods and inclusive of clear communication 
to users of what to expect in the event of technical difficulties.
    (6) The quality of the entity's plan for monitoring and evaluating 
the intended use, effectiveness, and improvements of the Web Portal.

Interests of the Federal Government

    To protect the Department's interests in the TEACH Campaign, 
including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, the selected entity must 
provide a written assurance executed by an appropriate officer that--
    (1) The entity acknowledges that the Department will assign to the 
selected entity ownership and operation of the TEACH Campaign, 
including the Web Portal and all rights and interests it possesses in 
the data and content therein, as well as the Trademarks, including all 
rights and interests possessed therein.
    (2) The entity agrees to own and operate the TEACH Campaign, 
including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, consistent with its 
proposal and with the purposes and provisions of this notice.
    (3) The entity agrees, per calendar year, to submit three quarterly 
reports and an annual report regarding the operation, audience, and use 
of the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, in such detail as the 
Department specifies in the transfer agreement until the Department and 
the entity mutually agree in writing that the selected entity achieved 
the Objective.
    (4) The entity acknowledges that if it fails to comply with the 
transfer agreement at any time prior to achieving the Objective, all 
rights and interests in all data and content of the TEACH Campaign, 
including the Web Portal, and any improvements thereto; all 
intellectual property rights, including the Trademarks; and all 
databases needed to operate the TEACH Campaign and the Web Portal will 
revert back to the Department at no cost to the Department (Reversion).
    In the event of a Reversion, the Department can transfer ownership, 
operation, and interests in the TEACH Campaign, the Web Portal, and the 
Trademarks, to another entity in accordance with a notice published in 
the Federal Register.

Termination of Certain Rights, Duties, and Obligations

    All duties, obligations, and restrictions of the selected entity, 
as specified in the transfer agreement, including, but not limited to, 
the selected entity's obligation to provide quarterly and annual 
reports to the Department, and the Department's right to repossess the 
TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal and the Trademarks, will end 
upon the Department's and the selected entity's mutual written 
determination that the selected entity achieved the Objective.

Availability of Funds

    The Department anticipates that there will not be any Federal funds 
available to support the TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal, once 
ownership and operation are transferred from the Federal Government to 
the selected entity. Upon the transfer, the TEACH Campaign, including 
the Web Portal will be the sole responsibility of the selected entity 
to bear all costs associated with ownership and operation thereof.

Other Required Information in Proposals

    Proposals submitted in response to this notice also must include 
the following information:
    (1) Name, address, and contact information for the entity 
submitting the proposal.
    (2) Mission statement of the entity.
    (3) The entity's current Web site URL.
    (4) The most recent audited information (such as that contained in 
a consolidated financial statement) regarding the financial condition 
and other capabilities of the entity.
    (5) Description of existing programs owned and operated by the 
entity that could support the entity in achieving the goals of the 
TEACH Campaign, including the Web Portal.
    Submission Requirements: Interested entities must submit a proposal 
for owning and operating the TEACH Campaign, including the recruiting 
effort and the maintenance and operation of the Web Portal, that 
addresses the factors and associated criteria outlined in this notice.

[[Page 21877]]

Proposals may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or 
hand delivery. We will not consider any proposal that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements.
    a. Electronic Submission of Proposals. If you choose to submit your 
proposal to us electronically, email your proposal to TEACHrfp@ed.gov. 
Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your 
proposal by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on May 19, 2011.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your proposal in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if 
you submit your proposal in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
any narrative sections and all other attachments to your proposal as 
files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a file 
type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not 
review that material.
     Prior to submitting your electronic proposal, you may wish 
to print a copy of it for your records.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other documents at a later date.
    Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If you 
are prevented from electronically submitting your proposal on the 
deadline date because TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable, we will grant 
you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your 
proposal electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant 
this extension if--
     TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable for 60 minutes or more 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on 
the deadline date; or
     TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable for any period of time 
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline 
date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may e-mail 
TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If TEACHrfp@ed.gov was unavailable due to technical 
problems with the system and, therefore, the proposal deadline is 
extended, an e-mail will be sent to all entities that informed the 
Department that they intended to submit a proposal.
    Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of TEACHrfp@ed.gov. If TEACHrfp@ed.gov is available, 
and, for any reason, you are unable to submit your proposal 
electronically, you may submit your proposal in paper format by mail or 
hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Copies of Proposals by Mail. If you submit 
your proposal in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service 
or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of 
your proposal, on or before the proposal deadline date, to the 
Department at the following address: The TEACH Campaign, Office of 
Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202-5930.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (iv) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your proposal through the U.S. Postal Service, note 
that the Department does not accept either of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (i) A private metered postmark.
    (ii) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your proposal is postmarked after the proposal deadline date, we 
will not consider your proposal.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Copies of Proposals by Hand Delivery. If you 
submit your proposal in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a 
courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your 
proposal by hand, on or before the deadline date, to the Department at 
the following address: The TEACH Campaign, Office of Innovation and 
Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-5930.
    The Department accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal 
holidays.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, 
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the 
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.

    Dated: April 14, 2011.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2011-9485 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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