Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the National Radiological and Nuclear Detection Challenge, 26795-26798 [2013-10928]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2013 / Notices
License Agreement which will
supersede and replace the Start-up
Exclusive Evaluation Option License
Agreement, with no greater field of use
and territory than granted in the Startup Exclusive Evaluation Option License
Agreement.
DATES: Only written comments and/or
applications for a license which are
received by the NIH Office of
Technology Transfer on or before May
23, 2013 will be considered.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the
patent application(s), inquiries,
comments and other materials relating
to the contemplated Start-Up Exclusive
Evaluation Option License Agreement
should be directed to: Tara L. Kirby,
Ph.D., Senior Licensing and Patenting
Manager, Office of Technology Transfer,
National Institutes of Health, 6011
Executive Boulevard, Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852–3804; Telephone:
(301) 435–4426; Facsimile: (301) 402–
0220; Email: tarak@mail.nih.gov. A
signed confidentiality nondisclosure
agreement will be required to receive
copies of any patent applications that
have not been published or issued by
the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or the World Intellectual Property
Organization.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
invention consists of biological
pacemakers engineered to treat
arrhythmia by generating a normal heart
rhythm. These pacemakers include viral
vectors suitable for gene therapy that
incorporate Ca2+-activated adenylyl
cyclase, as well as cardiac cells or
cardiac-like cells derived from
embryonic stem cells or mesenchymal
stem cells, which are suitable for cellbased therapy.
In contrast to implantable artificial
pacemakers, these biological
pacemakers are not externally powered,
are not subject to interference from
other devices, and have a lower risk of
infection. They would be particularly
appropriate for patients who are not
candidates for artificial pacemakers,
such as children or those who have had
an implantable pacemaker removed due
to complications or other problems.
The prospective Start-Up Exclusive
Evaluation Option License Agreement is
being considered under the small
business initiative launched on October
1, 2011 and will comply with the terms
and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37
CFR 404.7. The prospective Start-Up
Exclusive Evaluation Option License
Agreement and a subsequent Start-Up
Exclusive Patent License Agreement
may be granted unless the NIH receives
written evidence and argument, within
fifteen (15) days from the date of this
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published notice that establishes, that
the grant of the contemplated Start-Up
Exclusive Evaluation Option License
Agreement would not be consistent with
the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and
37 CFR 404.7.
Complete applications for a license in
the prospective field of use that are filed
in response to this notice will be treated
as objections to the grant of the
contemplated Start-Up Exclusive
Evaluation Option License Agreement.
Comments and objections submitted to
this notice will not be made available
for public inspection and, to the extent
permitted by law, will not be released
under the Freedom of Information Act,
5 U.S.C. 552.
Dated: May 2, 2013.
Richard U. Rodriguez,
Director, Division of Technology Development
and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2013–10859 Filed 5–7–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Announcement of Requirements and
Registration for the National
Radiological and Nuclear Detection
Challenge
Domestic Nuclear Detection
Office, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
DNDO announces the
National Radiological and Nuclear
Detection (Rad/Nuc) Challenge, a
participation challenge being conducted
under the America Competes
Reauthorization Act, for state, local, and
tribal law enforcement, other first
responders, public safety officials, and
Civil Support Team members.
DATES: The Rad/Nuc Challenge will be
held from August 20 through August 22,
2013.
ADDRESSES: The Rad/Nuc Challenge will
be hosted at the I.G. Brown Air National
Guard Training and Education Center,
Alcoa, Tennessee, near Knoxville.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Timothy Smith, (202) 254–7297,
Radnucchallenge@hq.dhs.gov. To
register for and find additional
information about the Rad/Nuc
challenge, visit https://
www.radnucchallenge.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
General
The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office (DNDO), announces the
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26795
National Radiological and Nuclear
Detection (Rad/Nuc) Challenge, a
participation challenge authorized
under 15 U.S.C. 3719(c)(3), for state,
local, and tribal law enforcement, other
first responders, public safety officials,
and Civil Support Team members. The
purpose of the Rad/Nuc Challenge is to
increase proficiency, improve Concepts
of Operations, and promote proper use
of Radiation and Nuclear Detection
(RND) equipment by state and local
agencies in support of the domestic
RND mission to prevent the illicit use
and/or movement of radioactive
materials within the United States.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge will consist
of a competitive RND search exercise
held over a three-day period. The
competition is designed to develop and
recognize enhanced RND search skills,
train on the use of various pieces of
RND equipment, and influence vendors
and developers to adapt and improve
RND equipment capability and
suitability for field use.
The event will be hosted at the I.G.
Brown Air National Guard Training and
Education Center located in Alcoa,
Tennessee, near Knoxville. Equipment
specific and RND search refresher
training will be provided for all
competitors on the first day of the event
prior to the start of the competition.
I. Subject of Challenge Competition
The purpose of the Rad/Nuc
Challenge is to further DNDO’s vision of
a Nation ready to detect and interdict
terrorist radiological and/or nuclear
threats by the effective and efficient
integration of capabilities and resources
of the Global Nuclear Detection
Architecture (GNDA). Specifically, the
Rad/Nuc Challenge will serve to
coordinate implementation of the
domestic portion of the GNDA,
strengthen its operational relationships,
and improve detection capabilities
across the GNDA. The Rad/Nuc
Challenge will provide a mechanism to
improve radiation detection capabilities
of Federal, state, local, and tribal
stakeholders through competitive
exercise, increased awareness and
cooperation, and first-hand interaction
with RND equipment vendors and
developers. The Rad/Nuc Challenge will
exploit the proven success and costeffectiveness of trade shows and
challenge competitions to advance
capabilities in the RND field.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge is an RND
proficiency competition. Even though it
is designed to incorporate specific RND
job skills or tasks, it may be necessary
to deviate from, or be innovative in the
application of, certain existing protocols
and procedures in order to obtain the
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26796
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2013 / Notices
isotopes common to typical detection
instrument libraries, but may include
isotopes that are not in some libraries.
A list of actual sources that may be
encountered during the event will be
communicated to registered competitors
prior to the competition. Source
strengths will be sufficient such that
most competitors should be able to
detect and identify the sources using a
typical personal radiation detector
(PRD) and/or a radioisotope
identification device (RIID).
All competitors will have the
opportunity to participate in a practice
round and the first elimination round.
Competitor RND search completion
times in each elimination round,
including any time penalties incurred,
will be used to determine which
competitors advance. A maximum time
limit will be set. Competitors who do
not finish within the time limit will
receive the maximum time plus
applicable penalties.
Competitors will be required to use
commercially available RND equipment
to detect, localize, and identify radiation
sources. Competitors may also be
required to determine and indicate
relative radiation source strengths.
Competitors are encouraged to use their
own RND equipment. However, a
limited amount of RND equipment will
be available for use by competitors at
the event.
Time penalties will be assessed for
radiation detection, localization,
identification, and relative source
strength inaccuracies. Competitors will
be required to balance accuracy and
speed to obtain the best possible time
and win the competition.
Below we describe the Maze and
Container Search components of the
exercise in greater detail.
The sources will vary in size and by
isotope within a single lane, but only
one primary isotope will be in any box.
Each lane will have an identical mix of
sources. Each competitor will have a
marking mechanism to clearly identify
the boxes containing sources. These
markers will be clearly visible to the
referees and spectators. Background
measurements will be taken before the
event to identify any Naturally
Occurring Radioactive Materials
(NORM) or spectators/participants with
medical isotopes in the area which
might affect the competition.
hidden inside shipping containers.
Single or multiple sources may be
placed at various heights above the
ground, but along the centerline of the
containers. Each competitor will
compete in their own lane on either side
of the container row. (See Figure 2 for
a possible layout arrangement.)
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B. The Container Search
The Container Search requires each
competitor to detect and locate sources
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A. The Maze
The Maze requires locating radiation
sources hidden among a number of
identical tables. The tables in each lane
will be arranged in identical patterns. A
pre-determined number of radiological
sources will be placed in boxes in each
of the lanes. Each competitor or team
will compete in their own lane. (See
Figure 1 for a possible layout
arrangement.)
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best overall result and win the
competition.
Two components, the Maze and the
Container Search, make up the Rad/Nuc
Challenge competitive exercise. This
RND exercise will be organized in
flights and heats of competitors. Flights
will be composed of multiple heats.
Each heat may include four or more
competitors, with each competitor
occupying one lane on the RND search
course. Sources may be changed and/or
repositioned between flights and/or
heats to allow competitors to view the
competition of other flights and heats.
All competitors within a given flight
will be sequestered and called to the
course when their heat is ready to start.
Advancing through each round of the
competition will be based on a
competitor’s detection and
identification accuracy and RND search
course completion time. Time penalties
may be incurred for radiation source
detection and identification errors.
Competitor times will be measured at
least to the 0.1 of a second by an
automated timing system.
Radiological sources employed for the
Rad/Nuc Challenge will include
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2013 / Notices
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II. Eligibility To Participate in the
Competition
Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 3719, American
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010, Public Law 111–358, the Rad/Nuc
Challenge is open only to (i) Individuals
who are at least 18 years of age and
citizens or permanent residents of the
United States as of the time of entry,
and (ii) teams of eligible individuals,
where each team member meets the
eligibility requirements for individual
contestants.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge is also
limited to Civil Support Team members,
state, local and tribal law enforcement,
other first responders, and public safety
officials. Other individuals, including
Federal employees or contractors whose
work deals directly with radiological
and nuclear detection or detection
equipment, may be eligible to be noncompetitive participants in the Rad/Nuc
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Challenge. This means that unless
otherwise ineligible, such individuals
may participate, but will not be eligible
for an award, and will not compete
directly against the registered state,
local and tribal law enforcement, other
first responders, public safety officials,
and Civil Support Team competitors for
non-monetary awards in the competitive
exercise.
The following individuals and/or
teams are not eligible, regardless of
whether or not they meet the criteria set
forth above: (i) The sponsoring agency,
contractor, or other organization
involved with the design, production,
promotion, execution, or distribution of
the competition (collectively
‘‘Promotion Entities’’); all employees,
representatives, and agents of such
entities, and immediate family or
household members of any such
employee, representative, or agent; (ii)
any individual and/or team involved
with the design, production, promotion,
execution, or distribution of the
competition and each member of any
such individual’s immediate family or
household; (iii) any individual and/or
team that employs any judge or that
otherwise has a material business
relationship or affiliation with any
judge; (iv) any Federal entity or Federal
employee acting within the scope of
their employment, or as may otherwise
be prohibited by Federal law; and (v)
any individual and/or team that used
Federal facilities or consulted with
Federal employees to develop their
solution, unless the facilities and
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employees were made available to all
participants on an equitable basis.
III. Registration for Competitors and
Attendees
All Rad/Nuc Challenge competitors
and attendees will be required to
register at www.radnucchallenge.org.
The Web site will be open for
registration on May 8, 2013.
Competitors and attendees are
encouraged to visit the Web site
periodically for updates on the event
and to register for other Rad/Nuc
Challenge events such as training,
technical briefings, and special
exhibitions which may have limited
space available. These events will be
made available on a first-come, firstserved basis.
In order to encourage broad
participation and early registration,
DNDO will offer a travel reimbursement
for the first 250 registered state, local
and tribal law enforcement, other first
responders, public safety officials, and
Civil Support Team competitors. To
encourage broad agency participation,
there will be a limit to the number of
competitors from a single agency that
will be eligible for travel
reimbursement. Once travel obligations
are made for the first 250 registered
state, local and tribal law enforcement,
other first responders, public safety
officials, and Civil Support Team
competitors, the travel reimbursement
will no longer be available and a notice
will be posted on the Rad/Nuc
Challenge Web site.
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The containers will be placed in rows
end-to-end, spaced so that access is
possible between containers to allow
entry for source placement and position
changes. The side of each container will
have a grid for competitors to use to
indicate the source’s location. Sources
positioned at the centerline of
containers will be of sufficient strength
to be detected by most competitors
using a typical PRD or RIID. Background
measurements will be taken before the
event to identify any NORM or
spectators/participants with medical
isotopes in the area which might affect
the competition.
26797
26798
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2013 / Notices
All Rad/Nuc Challenge noncompetitor attendees, including
exhibitors, briefers, and observers, will
be required to register and may be
required to pay a nominal fee.
Exhibitors may also be required to pay
an additional fee to cover facility and
other expenses related to the exhibition.
The total number of attendees may be
limited by the venue or exhibit area
constraints so early registration is
strongly encouraged.
IV. Basis on Which Winners Will Be
Selected
Advancement beyond the first round
of each event is based on the
competitor’s RND proficiency based on
their overall score. A competitor’s score
will be determined by the RND search
course completion time as measured by
an automated timing system. Penalties
may be assessed by adding time to the
competitor’s raw completion time for
not locating all sources, incorrectly
identifying sources, reporting sources
not present, inaccurately localizing
sources, and failing to navigate the RND
search course properly. Competitors
with the best overall score based on
speed and accuracy will be declared the
winners of each heat and, ultimately,
through elimination rounds, winner of
the Rad/Nuc Challenge.
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V. Prize
Winner(s) of the Rad/Nuc Challenge
will be recognized for RND performance
excellence and expertise through nonmonetary awards. The winners of each
component of the competitive exercise
and the overall winner will receive a
trophy and certificate of achievement.
The winners’ name, agency, equipment
used, and winning score for each event
will also be posted on the Rad/Nuc
Challenge Web site.
VI. Additional Information
The Rad/Nuc Challenge will also
provide access to exhibits featuring state
of the art technologies supporting the
RND mission, advanced technology
demonstrations that showcase capability
enhancing technologies under
development, and an information
exchange forum consisting of RND
mission related briefings, panel
discussions, and workshops. These
forums will solicit user input on RND
equipment operational requirements,
and share RND mission best practices
and lessons learned.
Exhibition space will be available to
all Rad/Nuc Challenge participants,
including vendors, academia, national
laboratories, and government agencies
to showcase advanced capabilities, RND
and other mission related equipment,
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17:56 May 07, 2013
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and innovations in the RND mission
area. Availability is on a first come, first
serve basis. User fees may apply.
For registration and other
information, see the event Web site at
www.radnucchallenge.org or contact
Timothy Smith, DHS, DNDO, by email
at radnucchallenge@hq.dhs.gov.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719.
Rafael Borras,
Under Secretary for Management.
[FR Doc. 2013–10928 Filed 5–7–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9D–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[USCG–2013–0222]
Information Collection Request to
Office of Management and Budget
Coast Guard, DHS.
Sixty-day notice requesting
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an
Information Collection Request (ICR) to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an
approval for the following collection of
information: 1625–NEW, U.S. Coast
Guard Non-Appropriated Fund
Employment Application. Our ICR
describes the information we seek to
collect from the public. Before
submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast
Guard is inviting comments as
described below.
DATES: Comments must reach the Coast
Guard on or before July 8, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Coast Guard docket
number [USCG–2013–0222] to the
Docket Management Facility (DMF) at
the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT). To avoid duplicate submissions,
please use only one of the following
means:
(1) Online: https://
www.regulations.gov.
(2) Mail: DMF (M–30), DOT, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
(3) Hand delivery: Same as mail
address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number
is 202–366–9329.
(4) Fax: 202–493–2251. To ensure
your comments are received in a timely
SUMMARY:
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manner, mark the fax, to attention Desk
Officer for the Coast Guard.
The DMF maintains the public docket
for this Notice. Comments and material
received from the public, as well as
documents mentioned in this Notice as
being available in the docket, will
become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at
room W12–140 on the West Building
Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. You may also
find the docket on the Internet at
https://www.regulations.gov.
A copy of the ICR is available through
the docket on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov. Additionally,
copies are available from: Commandant
(CG–611), ATTN Paperwork Reduction
Act Manager, US Coast Guard, 2100
2ND ST SW STOP 7101, Washington DC
20593–7101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Anthony Smith, Office of Information
Management, telephone 202–475–3532,
or fax 202–475–3929, for questions on
these documents. Contact Ms. Barbara
Hairson, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, 202–366–9826, for
questions on the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for
Comments
This Notice relies on the authority of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995;
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended. An
ICR is an application to OIRA seeking
the approval, extension, or renewal of a
Coast Guard collection of information
(Collection). The ICR contains
information describing the Collection’s
purpose, the Collection’s likely burden
on the affected public, an explanation of
the necessity of the Collection, and
other important information describing
the Collection. There is one ICR for each
Collection.
The Coast Guard invites comments on
whether this ICR should be granted
based on the Collection being necessary
for the proper performance of
Departmental functions. In particular,
the Coast Guard would appreciate
comments addressing: (1) The practical
utility of the Collection; (2) the accuracy
of the estimated burden of the
Collection; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of
information subject to the Collection;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the Collection on respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. In response to
your comments, we may revise this ICR
E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26795-26798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10928]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the National
Radiological and Nuclear Detection Challenge
AGENCY: Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: DNDO announces the National Radiological and Nuclear Detection
(Rad/Nuc) Challenge, a participation challenge being conducted under
the America Competes Reauthorization Act, for state, local, and tribal
law enforcement, other first responders, public safety officials, and
Civil Support Team members.
DATES: The Rad/Nuc Challenge will be held from August 20 through August
22, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The Rad/Nuc Challenge will be hosted at the I.G. Brown Air
National Guard Training and Education Center, Alcoa, Tennessee, near
Knoxville.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Smith, (202) 254-7297,
Radnucchallenge@hq.dhs.gov. To register for and find additional
information about the Rad/Nuc challenge, visit https://www.radnucchallenge.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office (DNDO), announces the National Radiological and
Nuclear Detection (Rad/Nuc) Challenge, a participation challenge
authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3719(c)(3), for state, local, and tribal law
enforcement, other first responders, public safety officials, and Civil
Support Team members. The purpose of the Rad/Nuc Challenge is to
increase proficiency, improve Concepts of Operations, and promote
proper use of Radiation and Nuclear Detection (RND) equipment by state
and local agencies in support of the domestic RND mission to prevent
the illicit use and/or movement of radioactive materials within the
United States.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge will consist of a competitive RND search
exercise held over a three-day period. The competition is designed to
develop and recognize enhanced RND search skills, train on the use of
various pieces of RND equipment, and influence vendors and developers
to adapt and improve RND equipment capability and suitability for field
use.
The event will be hosted at the I.G. Brown Air National Guard
Training and Education Center located in Alcoa, Tennessee, near
Knoxville. Equipment specific and RND search refresher training will be
provided for all competitors on the first day of the event prior to the
start of the competition.
I. Subject of Challenge Competition
The purpose of the Rad/Nuc Challenge is to further DNDO's vision of
a Nation ready to detect and interdict terrorist radiological and/or
nuclear threats by the effective and efficient integration of
capabilities and resources of the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture
(GNDA). Specifically, the Rad/Nuc Challenge will serve to coordinate
implementation of the domestic portion of the GNDA, strengthen its
operational relationships, and improve detection capabilities across
the GNDA. The Rad/Nuc Challenge will provide a mechanism to improve
radiation detection capabilities of Federal, state, local, and tribal
stakeholders through competitive exercise, increased awareness and
cooperation, and first-hand interaction with RND equipment vendors and
developers. The Rad/Nuc Challenge will exploit the proven success and
cost-effectiveness of trade shows and challenge competitions to advance
capabilities in the RND field.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge is an RND proficiency competition. Even
though it is designed to incorporate specific RND job skills or tasks,
it may be necessary to deviate from, or be innovative in the
application of, certain existing protocols and procedures in order to
obtain the
[[Page 26796]]
best overall result and win the competition.
Two components, the Maze and the Container Search, make up the Rad/
Nuc Challenge competitive exercise. This RND exercise will be organized
in flights and heats of competitors. Flights will be composed of
multiple heats. Each heat may include four or more competitors, with
each competitor occupying one lane on the RND search course. Sources
may be changed and/or repositioned between flights and/or heats to
allow competitors to view the competition of other flights and heats.
All competitors within a given flight will be sequestered and called to
the course when their heat is ready to start. Advancing through each
round of the competition will be based on a competitor's detection and
identification accuracy and RND search course completion time. Time
penalties may be incurred for radiation source detection and
identification errors. Competitor times will be measured at least to
the 0.1 of a second by an automated timing system.
Radiological sources employed for the Rad/Nuc Challenge will
include isotopes common to typical detection instrument libraries, but
may include isotopes that are not in some libraries. A list of actual
sources that may be encountered during the event will be communicated
to registered competitors prior to the competition. Source strengths
will be sufficient such that most competitors should be able to detect
and identify the sources using a typical personal radiation detector
(PRD) and/or a radioisotope identification device (RIID).
All competitors will have the opportunity to participate in a
practice round and the first elimination round. Competitor RND search
completion times in each elimination round, including any time
penalties incurred, will be used to determine which competitors
advance. A maximum time limit will be set. Competitors who do not
finish within the time limit will receive the maximum time plus
applicable penalties.
Competitors will be required to use commercially available RND
equipment to detect, localize, and identify radiation sources.
Competitors may also be required to determine and indicate relative
radiation source strengths. Competitors are encouraged to use their own
RND equipment. However, a limited amount of RND equipment will be
available for use by competitors at the event.
Time penalties will be assessed for radiation detection,
localization, identification, and relative source strength
inaccuracies. Competitors will be required to balance accuracy and
speed to obtain the best possible time and win the competition.
Below we describe the Maze and Container Search components of the
exercise in greater detail.
A. The Maze
The Maze requires locating radiation sources hidden among a number
of identical tables. The tables in each lane will be arranged in
identical patterns. A pre-determined number of radiological sources
will be placed in boxes in each of the lanes. Each competitor or team
will compete in their own lane. (See Figure 1 for a possible layout
arrangement.)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08MY13.000
The sources will vary in size and by isotope within a single lane,
but only one primary isotope will be in any box. Each lane will have an
identical mix of sources. Each competitor will have a marking mechanism
to clearly identify the boxes containing sources. These markers will be
clearly visible to the referees and spectators. Background measurements
will be taken before the event to identify any Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials (NORM) or spectators/participants with medical
isotopes in the area which might affect the competition.
B. The Container Search
The Container Search requires each competitor to detect and locate
sources hidden inside shipping containers. Single or multiple sources
may be placed at various heights above the ground, but along the
centerline of the containers. Each competitor will compete in their own
lane on either side of the container row. (See Figure 2 for a possible
layout arrangement.)
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The containers will be placed in rows end-to-end, spaced so that
access is possible between containers to allow entry for source
placement and position changes. The side of each container will have a
grid for competitors to use to indicate the source's location. Sources
positioned at the centerline of containers will be of sufficient
strength to be detected by most competitors using a typical PRD or
RIID. Background measurements will be taken before the event to
identify any NORM or spectators/participants with medical isotopes in
the area which might affect the competition.
II. Eligibility To Participate in the Competition
Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 3719, American COMPETES Reauthorization Act
of 2010, Public Law 111-358, the Rad/Nuc Challenge is open only to (i)
Individuals who are at least 18 years of age and citizens or permanent
residents of the United States as of the time of entry, and (ii) teams
of eligible individuals, where each team member meets the eligibility
requirements for individual contestants.
The Rad/Nuc Challenge is also limited to Civil Support Team
members, state, local and tribal law enforcement, other first
responders, and public safety officials. Other individuals, including
Federal employees or contractors whose work deals directly with
radiological and nuclear detection or detection equipment, may be
eligible to be non-competitive participants in the Rad/Nuc Challenge.
This means that unless otherwise ineligible, such individuals may
participate, but will not be eligible for an award, and will not
compete directly against the registered state, local and tribal law
enforcement, other first responders, public safety officials, and Civil
Support Team competitors for non-monetary awards in the competitive
exercise.
The following individuals and/or teams are not eligible, regardless
of whether or not they meet the criteria set forth above: (i) The
sponsoring agency, contractor, or other organization involved with the
design, production, promotion, execution, or distribution of the
competition (collectively ``Promotion Entities''); all employees,
representatives, and agents of such entities, and immediate family or
household members of any such employee, representative, or agent; (ii)
any individual and/or team involved with the design, production,
promotion, execution, or distribution of the competition and each
member of any such individual's immediate family or household; (iii)
any individual and/or team that employs any judge or that otherwise has
a material business relationship or affiliation with any judge; (iv)
any Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their
employment, or as may otherwise be prohibited by Federal law; and (v)
any individual and/or team that used Federal facilities or consulted
with Federal employees to develop their solution, unless the facilities
and employees were made available to all participants on an equitable
basis.
III. Registration for Competitors and Attendees
All Rad/Nuc Challenge competitors and attendees will be required to
register at www.radnucchallenge.org. The Web site will be open for
registration on May 8, 2013. Competitors and attendees are encouraged
to visit the Web site periodically for updates on the event and to
register for other Rad/Nuc Challenge events such as training, technical
briefings, and special exhibitions which may have limited space
available. These events will be made available on a first-come, first-
served basis.
In order to encourage broad participation and early registration,
DNDO will offer a travel reimbursement for the first 250 registered
state, local and tribal law enforcement, other first responders, public
safety officials, and Civil Support Team competitors. To encourage
broad agency participation, there will be a limit to the number of
competitors from a single agency that will be eligible for travel
reimbursement. Once travel obligations are made for the first 250
registered state, local and tribal law enforcement, other first
responders, public safety officials, and Civil Support Team
competitors, the travel reimbursement will no longer be available and a
notice will be posted on the Rad/Nuc Challenge Web site.
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All Rad/Nuc Challenge non-competitor attendees, including
exhibitors, briefers, and observers, will be required to register and
may be required to pay a nominal fee. Exhibitors may also be required
to pay an additional fee to cover facility and other expenses related
to the exhibition. The total number of attendees may be limited by the
venue or exhibit area constraints so early registration is strongly
encouraged.
IV. Basis on Which Winners Will Be Selected
Advancement beyond the first round of each event is based on the
competitor's RND proficiency based on their overall score. A
competitor's score will be determined by the RND search course
completion time as measured by an automated timing system. Penalties
may be assessed by adding time to the competitor's raw completion time
for not locating all sources, incorrectly identifying sources,
reporting sources not present, inaccurately localizing sources, and
failing to navigate the RND search course properly. Competitors with
the best overall score based on speed and accuracy will be declared the
winners of each heat and, ultimately, through elimination rounds,
winner of the Rad/Nuc Challenge.
V. Prize
Winner(s) of the Rad/Nuc Challenge will be recognized for RND
performance excellence and expertise through non-monetary awards. The
winners of each component of the competitive exercise and the overall
winner will receive a trophy and certificate of achievement. The
winners' name, agency, equipment used, and winning score for each event
will also be posted on the Rad/Nuc Challenge Web site.
VI. Additional Information
The Rad/Nuc Challenge will also provide access to exhibits
featuring state of the art technologies supporting the RND mission,
advanced technology demonstrations that showcase capability enhancing
technologies under development, and an information exchange forum
consisting of RND mission related briefings, panel discussions, and
workshops. These forums will solicit user input on RND equipment
operational requirements, and share RND mission best practices and
lessons learned.
Exhibition space will be available to all Rad/Nuc Challenge
participants, including vendors, academia, national laboratories, and
government agencies to showcase advanced capabilities, RND and other
mission related equipment, and innovations in the RND mission area.
Availability is on a first come, first serve basis. User fees may
apply.
For registration and other information, see the event Web site at
www.radnucchallenge.org or contact Timothy Smith, DHS, DNDO, by email
at radnucchallenge@hq.dhs.gov.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719.
Rafael Borras,
Under Secretary for Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-10928 Filed 5-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9D-P
