Announcement of “America's Seed Fund” Logo Design Competition for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs, 25763-25765 [2015-10428]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Notices change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC and on DTCC’s Web site (https://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rulefilings.aspx). All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–DTC– 2015–004 and should be submitted on or before May 26, 2015. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.11 Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–10401 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Announcement of ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’ Logo Design Competition for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces the ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’ Logo Design Competition, pursuant to the America Competes Act, to encourage artists and designers to create a thoughtful and imaginative visual representation of the government’s largest innovation effort focused on research-driven, innovative and cutting-edge small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. DATES: The submission period for entries begins 12:00 p.m. EDT, May 4, 2015 or when this notice is published if a later date and ends May 29, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The winning contestant asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: 11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 May 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 will be announced and the winning design will be unveiled during a White House ceremony on June 15, 2015. The winning contestant will be notified in advance of the public announcement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nagesh Rao, Chief Technologist, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205–7576, sbirlogochallenge@sba.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Competition Details: 1. Subject of Competition: The SBA is seeking a new design to be used as the official logo of the SBIR/STTR Programs and the recently redesigned Web site https://www.sbir.gov/. The SBIR/STTR Programs are extremely competitive and encourage small businesses to engage in federally funded research and development (R&D) through eleven Federal agencies with R&D needs. SBIR/ STTR awards enable small businesses to explore their technological potential, stimulate innovation to meet federal R&D needs, and potentially profit from private-sector commercialization of developed technologies. Since inception in 1982, 150,000 awards totaling $40 billion have been awarded to the small firms that participate. The programs touch, catalyze and seed the creation of STEM driven innovations in industries critical to the nation’s long term competitiveness and growth—from nanotech to robotics to mobile communications to genetic therapies to clean energy to advanced weapons to space exploration. Many of today’s technology giants—or their underlying technological components—received seed funding through SBIR or STTR awards via the eleven participating Federal agencies; the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Transportation. (Visit the sbir.gov Web site at https:// www.sbir.gov/ for more information.) The new logo will serve as the official logo for the SBIR/STTR Programs to be used for promotional and educational information, including but not limited to, the Programs’ Web site, SBA’s Web site, participating Federal agency Web sites, conferences, events, television, print, and other media outlets. The winning logo is intended to premiere at the 2015 Tibbetts Awards ceremony on June 15, 2015, and be highlighted at the National SBIR Conference, June 15–17, 2015. PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25763 2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition: To be eligible to win a prize under this Logo Design Competition, you— (a) Must register to participate in the competition under the link designated for that purpose by SBA on challenge.gov; (b) Must comply with all the requirements under this notice and the America Competes Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–358); (c) Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States before the submission period ends; (d) May not be a Federal employee acting within the scope of your employment; and, (e) May not be an entity with an outstanding, unresolved financial obligation to, or that is currently suspended or debarred by, the Federal government. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate. If you are a Federal grantee, you may not use Federal funds to develop applications for this competition unless such use is consistent with the purpose of your grant award. If you are a Federal contractor, you may not use Federal funds from a contract to develop or fund efforts in support of applications for this competition. You may use Federal facilities or consult with Federal employees during the competition if the facilities and employees are made available to all contestants participating in the competition on an equitable basis. 3. Registration Process for Participants: Design competition participants must submit their ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’ Logo Designs online using the link designated for that purpose on challenge.gov, either by filtering search criteria to ‘‘Small Business Administration’’ or going to https://www.sbir.gov/, where the link will be posted. SBA will accept logo design competition submissions only through challenge.gov. Things to keep in mind as you design your ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’ Logo: (a) Translating the common programmatic elements of the SBIR and STTR programs—to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy . . . one small business at a time. (For more information about the SBIR and STTR Programs, visit the Web site at https://www.sbir.gov/.); (b) Reflecting the importance of the SBIR/STTR Programs in an insightful and ultimately innovative manner; and, E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 25764 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Notices (c) Evoking through imagery thoughts related to words such as—Innovation, Inventions, High-Tech, Cutting Edge, Technology, Startups, Seed Money, STEM driven, Angel Funding, Seeding Ideas, Business Plans, Forward-Looking, Venture Capital, Widely Applicable, High-Growth Entrepreneurship, National Competitiveness, and Next Generation Solutions. When uploading your ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’ Logo design, in the ‘‘Submission Text’’ field please also include a brief description about your logo entry and thought process behind the design—how it relates to the SBIR/ STTR Programs as ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’. 4. Prizes for Winners: The winning contestant’s design will become the official logo for the SBIR/STTR Programs, the Programs’ Web site at sbir.gov, and any official SBA, SBIR Program and/or STTR Program purpose. The winning contestant will be invited to an unveiling of the winning logo design during a White House ceremony honoring the 2015 Tibbetts Award and SBIR Hall of Fame winners in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2015. The winning contestant will receive a congratulatory letter with winning design logo from SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. The winning contestant and winning logo design will also be recognized during the National SBIR Conference, June 15–17, 2015, in National Harbor, MD. Any and all associated travel costs will be the sole responsibility of the winning contestant. 5. Selection of Winners: SBA will select a judging panel that will consist of SBA officials, Program Managers of the SBIR/STTR participating Federal agencies, and at least one official from the National Endowment for the Arts. Judges will be fair and impartial. A judge may not have a familial or financial relationship with an individual who is a registered contestant in the competition. Judges will fully comply with all applicable government ethics requirements for Federal employees. Judges will use the following criteria to judge the submitted designs: (a) Design relates to the SBIR/STTR Programs as ‘‘America’s Seed Fund’’. The subjects and ideas of small business, innovation, technological advancement, commercialization, and research and development need to be conveyed in the design of the logo. This may be done through a realistic or abstract design. (b) Creativity and originality. Is the visual quality of the design at once informative and representative of VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 May 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 imagery connected to the SBIR/STTR Programs? (c) Design can be easily replicated. Can this design be replicated successfully, without excessive cost, for many media formats? The judging panel will evaluate the submissions and select up to ten logos to recommend to the SBA Administrator, who will choose the final winning design from all submissions, including the up to ten logos recommended to the SBA Administrator by the judging panel. All judging will take place between approximately May 19, 2015, and approximately May 29, 2015. SBA will publicly announce the winner and unveil the winning logo on June 15, 2015. For questions or further information, please see the contact information listed above. 6. Applicable Law: This design competition is being conducted by SBA pursuant to the America Competes Act (15 U.S.C. 3719) and is subject to all applicable federal laws and regulations. By participating in this design competition, each contestant gives its full and unconditional agreement to the Official Rules and the related administrative decisions described in this notice, which are final and binding in all matters related to the design competition. A contestant’s eligibility for a prize award is contingent upon their fulfilling all requirements identified in this notice. Publication of this notice is not an obligation of funds on the part of SBA. SBA reserves the right to modify or cancel this design competition, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the award of prizes. 7. Conflicts of Interest: No individual acting as a judge at any stage of this design competition may have personal or financial interests in, or be an employee, officer, director, or agent of any contestant or have a familial or financial relationship with a contestant. 8. Intellectual Property Rights: (a) By submitting a design to this competition, you represent and warrant that you are the sole author and owner of the submitted design. Designs must be your original work, and must not violate or infringe the rights of other parties, including but not limited to privacy, publicity, or intellectual property rights, or material that constitutes copyright or license infringement. Your design may not contain any material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, or in any way disparaging. Your design cannot have been submitted previously in another promotion or contest of any kind. PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (b) You understand and agree that if your entry is selected as the winning design, it may be modified or altered by SBA, in its sole discretion, as deemed appropriate or necessary to execute, produce, or distribute the winning design in its final logo format. (c) The winning contestant will, in consideration of the prize to be awarded, grant to SBA an irrevocable, royalty-free, exclusive worldwide license to reproduce, distribute, copy, display, create derivative works, and publicly post, link to, and share, the winning design or parts thereof, for the purpose of the design competition and for any official SBA, SBIR Program and/ or STTR Program purpose. 9. Publicity Rights: By registering and entering a submission, each contestant consents to SBA’s and its agents’ use, in perpetuity, of its name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or hometown and state information for promotional or informational purposes through any form of media, worldwide, without payment or consideration. 10. Liability and Insurance Requirements: (a) By registering and entering a submission, each contestant agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and its related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their participation in this competition, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise. (b) By participating in this competition, you agree to indemnify the Federal government against third party claims for damages arising from or related to competition activities. (c) By registering and entering a submission, each contestant further represents and warrants that it possesses sufficient liability insurance or financial resources to cover claims by a third party for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from any activity it carries out in connection with its participation in this competition, or claims by the Federal Government for damage or loss to Government property resulting from such an activity. Challenge winners should be prepared to demonstrate proof of insurance or financial responsibility in the event SBA deems it necessary. 11. Record Retention and Disclosure: All submissions and related materials provided to SBA in the course of this Competition automatically become SBA records and cannot be returned. E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Notices Award Approving Official: Javier Saade, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416. Authority: Pub. L. 111–358 (2011). Dated: April 29, 2015. Javier Saade, Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation. [FR Doc. 2015–10428 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 a.m.] BILLING CODE 8025–01–P SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under OMB Review Small Business Administration. 30-Day notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is publishing this notice to comply with requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), which requires agencies to submit proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements to OMB for review and approval, and to publish a notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the agency has made such a submission. This notice also allows an additional 30 days for public comments. DATES: Submit comments on or before June 4, 2015. ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the information collection by name and/ or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Agency Clearance Officer, Curtis Rich, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20416; and SBA Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curtis Rich, Agency Clearance Officer, (202) 205–7030 curtis.rich@sba.gov. Copies: A copy of the Form OMB 83–1, supporting statement, and other documents submitted to OMB for review may be obtained from the Agency Clearance Officer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Small Business Administration Form 700 provides a record of interviews conducted by SBA personnel with small business owners, homeowners and renters (disaster victims) who seek financial assistance to help in the recovery from physical or economic disasters. The basic information asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 May 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 collected helps the Agency to make preliminary eligibility assessment. Solicitation of Public Comments Comments may be submitted on (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information. Summary of Information Collections (1) Title: Disaster Home/Business Loan Inquiry Record. Description of Respondents: Disaster Recovery Victims. Form Number: SBA Form 700. Estimated Annual Respondents: 2,831. Estimated Annual Responses: 2,831. Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 747. Curtis B. Rich, Management Analyst. [FR Doc. 2015–10427 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8025–01–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 9125] 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Exchange Alumni Virtual Program Notice of request for public comment. ACTION: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB. DATE(S): The Department will accept comments from the public up to July 6, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Web: Persons with access to the Internet may comment on this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the document by entering Docket Number: ‘‘DOS–2015–0020’’ in the Search field. Then click the ‘‘Comment Now’’ button and complete the comment form. • Email: alumni@state.gov. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25765 • Regular Mail: Send written comments to: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; U.S. Department of State; SA–5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522. You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and supporting documents, to Megan Huber, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; U.S. Department of State; SA–5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522, who may be reached on 202–632–9487 or at alumni@ state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Title of Information Collection: Exchange Alumni Virtual Program. • OMB Control Number: None. • Type of Request: New Collection. • Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Alumni Affairs Division, ECA/P/A. • Form Number: DS–7010. • Respondents: Exchange program alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. • Estimated Number of Respondents: 100. • Estimated Number of Responses: 100. • Average Time per Response: Approximately 30 minutes per response. • Total Estimated Burden Time: 50 hours. • Frequency: On Occasion. • Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to: • Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department. • Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. • Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your personal information, will be available for public review. E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25763-25765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10428]


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

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Announcement of ``America's Seed Fund'' Logo Design Competition 
for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business 
Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces the 
``America's Seed Fund'' Logo Design Competition, pursuant to the 
America Competes Act, to encourage artists and designers to create a 
thoughtful and imaginative visual representation of the government's 
largest innovation effort focused on research-driven, innovative and 
cutting-edge small businesses through the Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.

DATES: The submission period for entries begins 12:00 p.m. EDT, May 4, 
2015 or when this notice is published if a later date and ends May 29, 
2015 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The winning contestant will be announced and 
the winning design will be unveiled during a White House ceremony on 
June 15, 2015. The winning contestant will be notified in advance of 
the public announcement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nagesh Rao, Chief Technologist, Office 
of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 
Third Street SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-7576, 
sbirlogochallenge@sba.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Competition Details:
    1. Subject of Competition: The SBA is seeking a new design to be 
used as the official logo of the SBIR/STTR Programs and the recently 
redesigned Web site https://www.sbir.gov/. The SBIR/STTR Programs are 
extremely competitive and encourage small businesses to engage in 
federally funded research and development (R&D) through eleven Federal 
agencies with R&D needs. SBIR/STTR awards enable small businesses to 
explore their technological potential, stimulate innovation to meet 
federal R&D needs, and potentially profit from private-sector 
commercialization of developed technologies. Since inception in 1982, 
150,000 awards totaling $40 billion have been awarded to the small 
firms that participate. The programs touch, catalyze and seed the 
creation of STEM driven innovations in industries critical to the 
nation's long term competitiveness and growth--from nanotech to 
robotics to mobile communications to genetic therapies to clean energy 
to advanced weapons to space exploration. Many of today's technology 
giants--or their underlying technological components--received seed 
funding through SBIR or STTR awards via the eleven participating 
Federal agencies; the Environmental Protection Agency, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation 
and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, 
Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and 
Transportation. (Visit the sbir.gov Web site at https://www.sbir.gov/ 
for more information.) The new logo will serve as the official logo for 
the SBIR/STTR Programs to be used for promotional and educational 
information, including but not limited to, the Programs' Web site, 
SBA's Web site, participating Federal agency Web sites, conferences, 
events, television, print, and other media outlets. The winning logo is 
intended to premiere at the 2015 Tibbetts Awards ceremony on June 15, 
2015, and be highlighted at the National SBIR Conference, June 15-17, 
2015.
    2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition: To be 
eligible to win a prize under this Logo Design Competition, you--
    (a) Must register to participate in the competition under the link 
designated for that purpose by SBA on challenge.gov;
    (b) Must comply with all the requirements under this notice and the 
America Competes Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-358);
    (c) Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States 
before the submission period ends;
    (d) May not be a Federal employee acting within the scope of your 
employment; and,
    (e) May not be an entity with an outstanding, unresolved financial 
obligation to, or that is currently suspended or debarred by, the 
Federal government.
    If you are under 18 years of age, you must have the permission of a 
parent or legal guardian to participate. If you are a Federal grantee, 
you may not use Federal funds to develop applications for this 
competition unless such use is consistent with the purpose of your 
grant award. If you are a Federal contractor, you may not use Federal 
funds from a contract to develop or fund efforts in support of 
applications for this competition. You may use Federal facilities or 
consult with Federal employees during the competition if the facilities 
and employees are made available to all contestants participating in 
the competition on an equitable basis.
    3. Registration Process for Participants: Design competition 
participants must submit their ``America's Seed Fund'' Logo Designs 
online using the link designated for that purpose on challenge.gov, 
either by filtering search criteria to ``Small Business 
Administration'' or going to https://www.sbir.gov/, where the link will 
be posted. SBA will accept logo design competition submissions only 
through challenge.gov.
    Things to keep in mind as you design your ``America's Seed Fund'' 
Logo:
    (a) Translating the common programmatic elements of the SBIR and 
STTR programs--to support scientific excellence and technological 
innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical 
American priorities to build a strong national economy . . . one small 
business at a time. (For more information about the SBIR and STTR 
Programs, visit the Web site at https://www.sbir.gov/.);
    (b) Reflecting the importance of the SBIR/STTR Programs in an 
insightful and ultimately innovative manner; and,

[[Page 25764]]

    (c) Evoking through imagery thoughts related to words such as--
Innovation, Inventions, High-Tech, Cutting Edge, Technology, Startups, 
Seed Money, STEM driven, Angel Funding, Seeding Ideas, Business Plans, 
Forward-Looking, Venture Capital, Widely Applicable, High-Growth 
Entrepreneurship, National Competitiveness, and Next Generation 
Solutions.
    When uploading your ``America's Seed Fund'' Logo design, in the 
``Submission Text'' field please also include a brief description about 
your logo entry and thought process behind the design--how it relates 
to the SBIR/STTR Programs as ``America's Seed Fund''.
    4. Prizes for Winners: The winning contestant's design will become 
the official logo for the SBIR/STTR Programs, the Programs' Web site at 
sbir.gov, and any official SBA, SBIR Program and/or STTR Program 
purpose. The winning contestant will be invited to an unveiling of the 
winning logo design during a White House ceremony honoring the 2015 
Tibbetts Award and SBIR Hall of Fame winners in Washington, DC, on June 
15, 2015. The winning contestant will receive a congratulatory letter 
with winning design logo from SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. 
The winning contestant and winning logo design will also be recognized 
during the National SBIR Conference, June 15-17, 2015, in National 
Harbor, MD. Any and all associated travel costs will be the sole 
responsibility of the winning contestant.
    5. Selection of Winners: SBA will select a judging panel that will 
consist of SBA officials, Program Managers of the SBIR/STTR 
participating Federal agencies, and at least one official from the 
National Endowment for the Arts. Judges will be fair and impartial. A 
judge may not have a familial or financial relationship with an 
individual who is a registered contestant in the competition. Judges 
will fully comply with all applicable government ethics requirements 
for Federal employees.
    Judges will use the following criteria to judge the submitted 
designs:
    (a) Design relates to the SBIR/STTR Programs as ``America's Seed 
Fund''. The subjects and ideas of small business, innovation, 
technological advancement, commercialization, and research and 
development need to be conveyed in the design of the logo. This may be 
done through a realistic or abstract design.
    (b) Creativity and originality. Is the visual quality of the design 
at once informative and representative of imagery connected to the 
SBIR/STTR Programs?
    (c) Design can be easily replicated. Can this design be replicated 
successfully, without excessive cost, for many media formats?
    The judging panel will evaluate the submissions and select up to 
ten logos to recommend to the SBA Administrator, who will choose the 
final winning design from all submissions, including the up to ten 
logos recommended to the SBA Administrator by the judging panel. All 
judging will take place between approximately May 19, 2015, and 
approximately May 29, 2015. SBA will publicly announce the winner and 
unveil the winning logo on June 15, 2015. For questions or further 
information, please see the contact information listed above.
    6. Applicable Law: This design competition is being conducted by 
SBA pursuant to the America Competes Act (15 U.S.C. 3719) and is 
subject to all applicable federal laws and regulations. By 
participating in this design competition, each contestant gives its 
full and unconditional agreement to the Official Rules and the related 
administrative decisions described in this notice, which are final and 
binding in all matters related to the design competition. A 
contestant's eligibility for a prize award is contingent upon their 
fulfilling all requirements identified in this notice. Publication of 
this notice is not an obligation of funds on the part of SBA. SBA 
reserves the right to modify or cancel this design competition, in 
whole or in part, at any time prior to the award of prizes.
    7. Conflicts of Interest: No individual acting as a judge at any 
stage of this design competition may have personal or financial 
interests in, or be an employee, officer, director, or agent of any 
contestant or have a familial or financial relationship with a 
contestant.
    8. Intellectual Property Rights:
    (a) By submitting a design to this competition, you represent and 
warrant that you are the sole author and owner of the submitted design. 
Designs must be your original work, and must not violate or infringe 
the rights of other parties, including but not limited to privacy, 
publicity, or intellectual property rights, or material that 
constitutes copyright or license infringement. Your design may not 
contain any material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, 
defamatory, or in any way disparaging. Your design cannot have been 
submitted previously in another promotion or contest of any kind.
    (b) You understand and agree that if your entry is selected as the 
winning design, it may be modified or altered by SBA, in its sole 
discretion, as deemed appropriate or necessary to execute, produce, or 
distribute the winning design in its final logo format.
    (c) The winning contestant will, in consideration of the prize to 
be awarded, grant to SBA an irrevocable, royalty-free, exclusive 
worldwide license to reproduce, distribute, copy, display, create 
derivative works, and publicly post, link to, and share, the winning 
design or parts thereof, for the purpose of the design competition and 
for any official SBA, SBIR Program and/or STTR Program purpose.
    9. Publicity Rights: By registering and entering a submission, each 
contestant consents to SBA's and its agents' use, in perpetuity, of its 
name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or hometown and state 
information for promotional or informational purposes through any form 
of media, worldwide, without payment or consideration.
    10. Liability and Insurance Requirements: (a) By registering and 
entering a submission, each contestant agrees to assume any and all 
risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and its related 
entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, 
death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether 
direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their participation in 
this competition, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises 
through negligence or otherwise.
    (b) By participating in this competition, you agree to indemnify 
the Federal government against third party claims for damages arising 
from or related to competition activities.
    (c) By registering and entering a submission, each contestant 
further represents and warrants that it possesses sufficient liability 
insurance or financial resources to cover claims by a third party for 
death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from any 
activity it carries out in connection with its participation in this 
competition, or claims by the Federal Government for damage or loss to 
Government property resulting from such an activity. Challenge winners 
should be prepared to demonstrate proof of insurance or financial 
responsibility in the event SBA deems it necessary.
    11. Record Retention and Disclosure: All submissions and related 
materials provided to SBA in the course of this Competition 
automatically become SBA records and cannot be returned.

[[Page 25765]]

    Award Approving Official: Javier Saade, Associate Administrator, 
Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business 
Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416.

    Authority: Pub. L. 111-358 (2011).

    Dated: April 29, 2015.
Javier Saade,
Associate Administrator, Office of Investment and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 2015-10428 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 a.m.]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.