81 FR 33204 - Announcement of Requirements and Registration for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Innovations in Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (I-FAST) Prize Competition
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 33204-33207 | |
| FR Document | 2016-12265 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 33204-33207] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-12265] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Announcement of Requirements and Registration for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Innovations in Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (I-FAST) Prize Competition Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719. AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is announcing the I-FAST prize competition (the ``I-FAST Competition'' or the ``Competition'') to develop and implement the Innovations in Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (I-FAST) Pilot Program. USDA NIFA will partner with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) to provide entrepreneurship training to USDA NIFA grantees under this I-FAST pilot program. The goals are to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from NIFA supported academic research. Selected USDA NIFA I-FAST project teams will have the opportunity to concurrently participate in the educational programs with NSF I-Corps awardees. Over a period of six months the USDA NIFA supported teams in the I-FAST program will learn what it will take to achieve an economic impact with their particular innovation. The final goal of the I-FAST Competition is to facilitate technology transfer of innovations that can make an impact in the marketplace and the global economy. DATES: Competition Submission Period--Pre-Application Phase: May 26, 2016 to July 22, 2016. Evaluation and Judging--Pre-Application Phase: July 25, 2016 to July 29, 2016. Competition Submission Period--Full Application Phase: August 8, 2016 to September 2, 2016. Evaluation and Judging--Full Application Phase: September 5, 2016 to September 9, 2016. Verification of Winners: September 16, 2016. Announcement of Winner(s): September 23, 2016. NSF I-Corps Training for Winner(s): Various dates in October and November 2016. Winning team(s) will need to be available to travel to and attend the Washington DC NSF I-Corps training sessions in October and November 2016. The Pre-Application Phase Competition Submission Period begins May 26, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. ET and ends July 22, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. ET. USDA NIFA's receiving computer set to Eastern Time is the official time keeping device for the Competition. The Full-Application Phase Competition Submission Period begins August 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. ET and ends September 2, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. ET. USDA NIFA's receiving computer set to Eastern Time is the official time keeping device for the Competition. Competition dates are subject to change. Entries submitted before or after the Competition Submission Period will not be reviewed or considered for award. For more details please visit the www.challenge.gov Web site. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Changes or updates to the Competition rules will be posted and can be viewed at www.nifa.usda.gov. Questions about the Competition can be directed to Scott Dockum at [email protected], or phone 202-720-6346. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subject of Challenge Competition The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. As part of this mission NIFA is charged with providing grant funding for research, education, and extension that address key problems of national, regional, and multi- state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. A majority of NIFA grant funding is provided to academic institutions to focus on developing research in the areas of farm efficiency and profitability, ranching, renewable energy, forestry (both urban and agroforestry), aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, food safety, biotechnology, and conventional breeding. USDA NIFA will partner with the NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) who will provide an Entrepreneurial Immersion course and training to USDA NIFA grantees through this I-FAST Competition. The goals of this Competition are to spur translation of fundamental research to the market place, to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, and to train NIFA-funded faculty, students and other researchers to understand innovation and entrepreneurship. The purpose of the I-FAST Competition is to identify NIFA-funded research teams who will receive additional support, in the form of mentoring, training and funding, to accelerate the translation of knowledge derived from fundamental research into emerging products and services that can attract subsequent third-party funding. NIFA-funded research teams will be required to participate in Entrepreneurial Immersion course provided by the NSF I-Corps program. Each team will that receives an I-FAST award is required to participate in the following NSF I-CORP activities: (1) Attendance by the entire team at an on-site three-day NSF I-CORP Entrepreneurial Immersion course; (2) Participation in five Webinars following the completion of the course; (3) Complete approximately 15 hours of prep per week for at least five weeks; (4) Attend two days of demonstrations at the end of the training; (5) Teams are expected to engage in at least 100 contacts with potential customers during the seven week period that I-Corps training takes place and (6) Provide a 5 page summary report back to USDA NIFA on the outcome of the training and milestones to be established for commercialization. The [[Page 33205]] major focus of I-FAST is for the selected teams (an I-FAST team includes the Principal Investigator, the Entrepreneurial Lead, and the Mentor) to participate in an Entrepreneurial Immersion course provided by the NSF I-Corps program. The NSF I-Corps is a program specifically designed to broaden the impact of select, basic-research projects by preparing scientists and engineers to focus beyond the laboratory. Leveraging experience and guidance from established entrepreneurs and a targeted curriculum within the NSF I-Corp program, USDA I-FAST teams will learn to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from USDA NIFA supported academic research. The I-FAST Competition will help create a stronger national ecosystem for innovation that couples scientific discovery with technology development to address agricultural and societal needs. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition The I-FAST Competition is open to teams (``Teams'' or ``Participants'') that are made up of individuals from academic/ university institutions that have received a prior award from NIFA (in a scientific or engineering field relevant to the proposed innovation) that is currently active or that has been active within five years from the date of the I-FAST Team's proposal submission. The lineage of the prior award extends to the PI, Co-PIs, Senior Personnel, Post Docs, Professional Staff or others who were supported under the NIFA award. The prior award could range from a modest single-investigator award to a large, distributed center and also includes awards involving students. To be eligible to win a prize under the Competition, Teams: (1) Shall have registered to participate in the Competition under the rules; (2) Shall have complied with all the requirements of the Competition rules; (3) May not include a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment; and (4) In the case of a private entity Team member, the member shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. In the case of an individual Team member, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Makeup of I-FAST Competition Teams: Each Team shall consist of three members: (1) Entrepreneurial Lead (EL). (2) I-FAST Team Mentor. (3) Principal Investigator (PI). I-FAST teams are made up of individuals from an academic/university institution except for the Mentor who may reside with an outside organization as described below. The Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) could be a postdoctoral scholar, graduate or other student with relevant knowledge of the technology located at the academic/university institution and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Entrepreneurial Lead should also be capable and have the will to support the transition of the technology, should the I-FAST Teams project demonstrate the potential for commercial viability. The EL will be responsible for: (1) Developing the team to include the mentor and PI, (2) leading the development of the pre-application and full application, (3) starting and completing the training activities in the Entrepreneurial Immersion course provided by the NSF I-Corps program, (4) communicating and coordinating with team members to achieve the goal of commercialization, (5) developing and monitoring team activity milestones from the Entrepreneurial Immersion course, (6) ensuring the team milestones are completed on time and (7) ensuring the team is in communication with the NIFA I-FAST Competition Director and the NSF I- Corps Program Director as needed. The I-FAST Teams Mentor will typically be an experienced or emerging entrepreneur with proximity to the Academic/University Institution and have experience in transitioning technology out of Academic labs. The EL will need to identify a Mentor that has business expertise in the proposed technology sector and has entrepreneurial experience. A Mentor will be someone with the right ``rolodex'' of contacts in the technology area of commercialization which are critical for ``getting the technology out of the lab''. The EL of the team should contact their University Technology Transfer Office for ideas of potential Mentors. The I-FAST Teams Mentor will be responsible for guiding the team forward using existing entrepreneurial experience and tracking the team's commercialization progress through regular communication with the EL, PI and the NIFA I-FAST competition director and the NSF I-Corps Program Director as needed. The Principal Investigator (PI) will have in-depth knowledge of the technology developed under the earlier USDA NIFA Grant and will be responsible for: (1) Coordinating with the university on the transfer of prize funds from NIFA if the team is selected, (2) tracking of the prize funding for team activities, (3) reporting to NIFA on disbursements and obligations of the prize funding, (4) guiding the EL and Mentor on technical aspects of the technology, (5) communicating as needed with the NIFA I-FAST Competition Director and the NSF I-Corps Program Director, (6) ensuring the EL meets the required milestones for the NSF I-CORP Course and (7) participating as a team member. The Principle Investigator that received the earlier NIFA grant for the technology is allowed to participate on the team, but cannot be the Entrepreneurial Lead. Amount of the Prize The USDA NIFA I-FAST Competition Prize Purse will be a maximum of $200,000, which will be divided to provide $50,000 each to a maximum of four (4) Teams. Prize Purse funds are required to be used by winning Teams to fully participate in the NSF I-Corps program curriculum. USDA NIFA reserves the right to award less than the maximum number of available prizes. Payment of the Prize Prizes awarded under this Competition will be paid by electronic funds transfer to the academic/university institution the Team(s) represent(s). Prize winners will be required to complete the required financial documents and forms to be supplied by NIFA to set up the electronic transfer. All Federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner(s). Submission Process for Participants The Competition will have a two-phase selection process. Teams initially will submit a pre-application. From the pre-applications, USDA NIFA will select Teams that will be invited to submit full applications. From the full applications, USDA NIFA will select the winning Team(s). Participants will register for the Competition and will submit the pre-application to the Competition via www.challenge.gov. Teams can enter the contest by submitting the pre-application through the ``Enter a Submission'' function on Challenge.gov, and then send the pre- application, with your name and contact info, to [email protected]. The pre-application shall contain the following information: Prepare a two-page Executive Summary that describes the following: (1) Composition of the Team and roles (EL, PI, Mentor) of the members proposing to undertake the commercialization feasibility research. [[Page 33206]] (2) Relevant current/previous NIFA awards. (3) Brief description of the potential commercial impact. (4) Brief description of the current commercialization plan. Teams that are selected to submit a full application will provide the full application via challenge.gov through the ``Enter a Submission'' function, and then send the application with your name and contact info, to [email protected]. The full application shall include the following project description information: 1. I-Corps Team (one page limit) a. Briefly describe the I-Corps team and provide rationale for its formation, focusing on members' entrepreneurial expertise and relevance to the innovation effort, and members' experience in collaborating on previous projects. 2. Lineage of the Proposed Innovation (one page limit) a. Provide a table of previous awards with managing program officer (if applicable) identified. b. Briefly describe how this research has led the Team to believe that a commercial opportunity exists for the effort moving forward. 3. Description of the Potential Commercial Impact (two page limit) a. Provide a brief profile of a typical customer of the proposed innovation. b. Describe the customer need that you believe will be met by the proposed innovation. c. Describe how the customer currently meets those needs. d. Your approach--What is the proposed innovation? How does it relate to the fundamental research already conducted under previous award(s)? e. How much do you think a customer would pay for your solution? 4. Brief description of the project plan (one page limit) a. Current Status--In what stage is the development: proof-of- principle, proof-of-concept, prototype (alpha, beta), etc. . . . b. Provide a brief description of the proof-of-concept or technology demonstration that will be provided at the end of the project. The total page limit for the project description full application is five (5) pages. From the Teams submitting full applications, a maximum of four Teams will be selected as winners to enter into the I-FAST Program. Judging The information on the Competition will be provided via www.challenges.gov. USDA NIFA will screen all entries for eligibility and completeness. Entries from Teams that do not meet the eligibility requirements and/or that fail to include required submission elements will not be evaluated or considered for award. Eligible and complete entries will be judged by a fair and impartial panel of individuals from USDA NIFA and NSF (the ``Judging Panel''). Pre-Application Evaluation: The Judging Panel will evaluate the pre-application to determine the following: (1) Did the technology proposed receive past NIFA funding? (2) Does the team have the required team members and are the roles of each team member clearly described? (3) Does the commercialization plan provide a good understanding of the team's knowledge of the current state of the art and how the technology could enter into a potential market? (4) Were the page limits met? Full-Application Evaluation: The Judging Panel will evaluate the Full-application to determine the following and approximately equal consideration will be given to each criterion except for item (3), which will receive twice the value of any of the other items: 1. I-Corps Team: Does the application clearly describe: The I-Corps team, the rationale for the team's formation, members' entrepreneurial expertise and relevance to the innovation effort, and members' experience in collaborating on previous projects? 2. Lineage of the Proposed Innovation: Does the application provide a table of previous awards with a managing program officer (if applicable) identified? Does the application clearly describe how this research has led the Team to believe that a commercial opportunity exists for the effort moving forward? 3. Description of the Potential Commercial Impact: Does the application clearly describe the profile of a typical customer of the proposed innovation? Does the application describe the customer needs to be met by the proposed innovation? Does the application describe how the customer currently meets those needs? Does the application clearly describe the proposed innovation and how it relates to the fundamental research already conducted under previous award(s)? Does the application describe how much a customer would pay for the solution? 4. Project plan: Does the project plan clearly describe the current status including the stage of development? Does the application provide a description of the proof-of-concept or technology demonstration that will be provided at the end of the project? 5. Page Limits: Did the application meet the required page limits? Additional Rules and Conditions A. General Conditions By entering the Competition, each Team guarantees that its entry complies with all applicable Federal and state laws and regulations. Each Team warrants that its entry is free of viruses, spyware, malware, and any other malicious, harmful, or destructive device. Teams submitting entries containing any such device will be held liable and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Entries containing any matter which, in the sole discretion of USDA NIFA, is indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, which demonstrates a lack of respect for public morals or conduct, which promotes discrimination in any form, which shows unlawful acts being performed, which is slanderous or libelous, or which adversely affects the reputations of USDA NIFA or NSF will not be accepted. If USDA NIFA, in its sole discretion, finds any entry to be unacceptable then such entry shall be deemed disqualified and will not be evaluated or considered for award. The winning Team(s) must comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding Prize Purse receipt and disbursement. USDA NIFA's failure to enforce any term of any applicable rule or condition shall not constitute a waiver of that term. B. Entry Conditions, Release & Liability By entering the Competition, each Team agrees to: (1) Comply with and be bound by all applicable rules and conditions, and the decisions of USDA NIFA, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Competition. (2) Release and hold harmless USDA NIFA and NSF and all their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives (collectively the ``Released Parties'') from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability arising out of or relating to the Team's entry or participating in the Competition and/or the Team's acceptance, use, or misuse of the Prize Purse or recognition. Provided, however, that Participants are not required to waive claims arising out of [[Page 33207]] the unauthorized use or disclosure by USDA NIFA or NSF of the intellectual property, trade secrets, or confidential business information of the Participant. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) Any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Teams, printing errors, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in the Competition; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to, malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process for the Competition; (4) technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the Competition or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Team's participation in the Competition or receipt or use or misuse of the Prize Purse. If for any reason a Team's entry is confirmed to have been deleted erroneously, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, Team's sole remedy is to submit another entry in the Competition. C. Termination and Disqualification USDA NIFA reserves the authority to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond USDA NIFA's reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by USDA NIFA in its sole discretion. USDA NIFA reserves the right to disqualify any Team it believes to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Competition or to be acting in violation of any applicable rule or condition. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, USDA NIFA reserves the authority to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. D. Verification of Potential Winner(s) All potential Competition winners are subject to verification by USDA NIFA whose decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the Competition. Potential winner(s) must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of the Competition rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The potential winner(s) will be notified by email and/or telephone. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or if the notification is returned as undeliverable, the potential winner forfeits. In the event that a potential winner, or an announced winner, is found to be ineligible or is disqualified for any reason, USDA NIFA may make award, instead, to the next runner up, as previously determined by the Judging Panel. Prior to awarding the Prize Purse, USDA NIFA will verify that the potential winner(s) is/are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from doing business with the U.S. Federal Government. Suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded parties will not be eligible to win the Competition. E. Intellectual Property By entering the Competition, each Team warrants that it is the author and/or authorized owner of its entry, and that the entry is wholly original with the Team (or is an improved version of an existing project plan the Team is legally authorized to enter into the Competition), and that the submitted entry does not infringe on any copyright, patent, or any other rights of any third party. Each Team agrees to hold the Released Parties harmless for any infringement of copyright, trademark, patent, and/or other real or intellectual property right that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Team's participation in the Competition. All legal rights in any materials produced or submitted in entering the Competition are retained by the Team and/or the legal holder of those rights. Entry into the Competition constitutes express authorization for USDA NIFA, NSF, and the Judging Panel to review and analyze any and all aspects of submitted entries, including any trade secret or proprietary information contained in or evident from review of the submitted entries. F. Privacy & Disclosure Under FOIA Personal and contact information is not collected for commercial or marketing purposes. Information submitted throughout the Competition will be used only to communicate with Teams regarding entries and/or the Competition. Teams' entries to the Competition may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA''). If a Team believes that all or part of its Competition entry is protected from release under FOIA (e.g., if the information falls under FOIA exemption #4 for ``trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person [that is] privileged or confidential'') the Team will be responsible for clearly marking the page(s)/section(s) of information it believes are protected. Done at Washington, DC, this 18th day of May, 2016. Kim L. Hicks, Branch Chief, Grants and Agreements Management Branch, USDA, ARS, FMAD. [FR Doc. 2016-12265 Filed 5-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
![33204 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Notices
Estimated Annual Number of are to identify valuable product Subject of Challenge Competition
Responses per Respondent: 1. opportunities that can emerge from The USDA National Institute of Food
Estimated Total Annual Burden on NIFA supported academic research. and Agriculture (NIFA) mission is to
Respondents: 1,105 hours. Selected USDA NIFA I–FAST project invest in and advance agricultural
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether teams will have the opportunity to research, education, and extension to
this collection of information is concurrently participate in the solve societal challenges. As part of this
necessary for the stated purposes and educational programs with NSF I-Corps mission NIFA is charged with providing
the proper performance of the functions awardees. Over a period of six months grant funding for research, education,
of the Agency, including whether the the USDA NIFA supported teams in the and extension that address key
information will have practical or I–FAST program will learn what it will problems of national, regional, and
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the take to achieve an economic impact multi-state importance in sustaining all
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the with their particular innovation. The components of agriculture. A majority of
collection of information, including the final goal of the I–FAST Competition is NIFA grant funding is provided to
validity of the methodology and to facilitate technology transfer of academic institutions to focus on
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance innovations that can make an impact in developing research in the areas of farm
the quality, utility, and clarity of the the marketplace and the global efficiency and profitability, ranching,
information to be collected; and (4) economy. renewable energy, forestry (both urban
ways to minimize the burden of the and agroforestry), aquaculture, rural
DATES: Competition Submission
collection of information on communities and entrepreneurship,
Period—Pre-Application Phase: May 26,
respondents, including the use of human nutrition, food safety,
2016 to July 22, 2016.
automated, electronic, mechanical, or biotechnology, and conventional
other technological collection Evaluation and Judging—Pre-
Application Phase: July 25, 2016 to July breeding.
techniques or other forms of information USDA NIFA will partner with the
technology. 29, 2016.
Competition Submission Period—Full NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) who
All comments received in response to will provide an Entrepreneurial
this notice, including names and Application Phase: August 8, 2016 to
September 2, 2016. Immersion course and training to USDA
addresses when provided, will be a NIFA grantees through this I–FAST
matter of public record. Comments will Evaluation and Judging—Full
Application Phase: September 5, 2016 Competition. The goals of this
be summarized and included in the Competition are to spur translation of
submission request toward Office of to September 9, 2016.
Verification of Winners: September fundamental research to the market
Management and Budget approval. place, to encourage collaboration
16, 2016.
Dated: May 19, 2016. between academia and industry, and to
Announcement of Winner(s):
Leslie A.C. Weldon, September 23, 2016. train NIFA-funded faculty, students and
Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems. NSF I-Corps Training for Winner(s): other researchers to understand
[FR Doc. 2016–12314 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am] Various dates in October and November innovation and entrepreneurship.
The purpose of the I–FAST
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 2016. Winning team(s) will need to be
Competition is to identify NIFA-funded
available to travel to and attend the
research teams who will receive
Washington DC NSF I-Corps training
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE additional support, in the form of
sessions in October and November 2016.
mentoring, training and funding, to
The Pre-Application Phase Competition
National Institute of Food and accelerate the translation of knowledge
Submission Period begins May 26, 2016
Agriculture derived from fundamental research into
at 10:00 a.m. ET and ends July 22, 2016
emerging products and services that can
Announcement of Requirements and at 12:00 a.m. ET. USDA NIFA’s
attract subsequent third-party funding.
Registration for U.S. Department of receiving computer set to Eastern Time
NIFA-funded research teams will be
Agriculture (USDA) Innovations in is the official time keeping device for
required to participate in
Food and Agricultural Science and the Competition.
Entrepreneurial Immersion course
Technology (I–FAST) Prize The Full-Application Phase
provided by the NSF I-Corps program.
Competition Competition Submission Period begins
Each team will that receives an I–FAST
August 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. ET and
award is required to participate in the
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719. ends September 2, 2016 at 12:00 a.m.
following NSF I–CORP activities: (1)
ET. USDA NIFA’s receiving computer
AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Attendance by the entire team at an on-
set to Eastern Time is the official time
Agriculture, USDA. site three-day NSF I–CORP
keeping device for the Competition.
ACTION: Notice. Entrepreneurial Immersion course; (2)
Competition dates are subject to
Participation in five Webinars following
change. Entries submitted before or after
SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food the completion of the course; (3)
the Competition Submission Period will
and Agriculture (NIFA) is announcing Complete approximately 15 hours of
not be reviewed or considered for
the I–FAST prize competition (the ‘‘I– prep per week for at least five weeks; (4)
award. For more details please visit the
FAST Competition’’ or the Attend two days of demonstrations at
www.challenge.gov Web site.
‘‘Competition’’) to develop and the end of the training; (5) Teams are
implement the Innovations in Food and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: expected to engage in at least 100
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Agricultural Science and Technology (I– Changes or updates to the Competition contacts with potential customers
FAST) Pilot Program. USDA NIFA will rules will be posted and can be viewed during the seven week period that I-
partner with the National Science at www.nifa.usda.gov. Questions about Corps training takes place and (6)
Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I- the Competition can be directed to Scott Provide a 5 page summary report back
Corps) to provide entrepreneurship Dockum at sdockum@nifa.usda.gov, or to USDA NIFA on the outcome of the
training to USDA NIFA grantees under phone 202–720–6346. training and milestones to be
this I–FAST pilot program. The goals SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: established for commercialization. The
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Notices 33207
the unauthorized use or disclosure by telephone. If a potential winner cannot person [that is] privileged or
USDA NIFA or NSF of the intellectual be contacted, or if the notification is confidential’’) the Team will be
property, trade secrets, or confidential returned as undeliverable, the potential responsible for clearly marking the
business information of the Participant. winner forfeits. In the event that a page(s)/section(s) of information it
The Released Parties are not potential winner, or an announced believes are protected.
responsible for: (1) Any incorrect or winner, is found to be ineligible or is Done at Washington, DC, this 18th day of
inaccurate information, whether caused disqualified for any reason, USDA NIFA May, 2016.
by Teams, printing errors, or by any of may make award, instead, to the next Kim L. Hicks,
the equipment or programming runner up, as previously determined by Branch Chief, Grants and Agreements
associated with or used in the the Judging Panel. Management Branch, USDA, ARS, FMAD.
Competition; (2) technical failures of Prior to awarding the Prize Purse, [FR Doc. 2016–12265 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am]
any kind, including, but not limited to, USDA NIFA will verify that the
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
malfunctions, interruptions, or potential winner(s) is/are not
disconnections in phone lines or suspended, debarred, or otherwise
network hardware or software; (3) excluded from doing business with the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
unauthorized human intervention in U.S. Federal Government. Suspended,
any part of the entry process for the debarred, or otherwise excluded parties Rural Utilities Service
Competition; (4) technical or human will not be eligible to win the
error that may occur in the Competition. Information Collection Activity;
administration of the Competition or the Comment Request
E. Intellectual Property
processing of entries; or (5) any injury Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
or damage to persons or property that By entering the Competition, each
Team warrants that it is the author and/ Notice and request for
ACTION:
may be caused, directly or indirectly, in
or authorized owner of its entry, and comments.
whole or in part, from Team’s
participation in the Competition or that the entry is wholly original with the SUMMARY: In accordance with the
receipt or use or misuse of the Prize Team (or is an improved version of an Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
Purse. If for any reason a Team’s entry existing project plan the Team is legally U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), the
is confirmed to have been deleted authorized to enter into the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
erroneously, lost, or otherwise Competition), and that the submitted comments on this information
destroyed or corrupted, Team’s sole entry does not infringe on any collection for which approval from the
remedy is to submit another entry in the copyright, patent, or any other rights of Office of Management and Budget
Competition. any third party. Each Team agrees to (OMB) will be requested.
hold the Released Parties harmless for
C. Termination and Disqualification DATES: Comments on this notice must be
any infringement of copyright,
received by July 25, 2016.
USDA NIFA reserves the authority to trademark, patent, and/or other real or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
cancel, suspend, and/or modify the intellectual property right that may be
caused, directly or indirectly, in whole Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
Competition, or any part of it, if any
or in part, from Team’s participation in Program Development and Regulatory
fraud, technical failures, or any other
the Competition. Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400
factor beyond USDA NIFA’s reasonable
All legal rights in any materials Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522,
control impairs the integrity or proper
produced or submitted in entering the Room 5159, South Building,
functioning of the Competition, as
Competition are retained by the Team Washington, DC 20250–1522.
determined by USDA NIFA in its sole
and/or the legal holder of those rights. Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Email:
discretion.
USDA NIFA reserves the right to Entry into the Competition constitutes thomas.dickson@wdc.usda.gov.
disqualify any Team it believes to be express authorization for USDA NIFA, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
tampering with the entry process or the NSF, and the Judging Panel to review of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
operation of the Competition or to be and analyze any and all aspects of regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
acting in violation of any applicable rule submitted entries, including any trade implementing provisions of the
or condition. secret or proprietary information Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
Any attempt by any person to contained in or evident from review of L. 104–13) requires that interested
undermine the legitimate operation of the submitted entries. members of the public and affected
the Competition may be a violation of agencies have an opportunity to
F. Privacy & Disclosure Under FOIA comment on information collection and
criminal and civil law, and, should such
an attempt be made, USDA NIFA Personal and contact information is recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
reserves the authority to seek damages not collected for commercial or 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
from any such person to the fullest marketing purposes. Information information collection that the Agency
extent permitted by law. submitted throughout the Competition is submitting to OMB for extension.
will be used only to communicate with Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
D. Verification of Potential Winner(s) Teams regarding entries and/or the the proposed collection of information
All potential Competition winners are Competition. is necessary for the proper performance
subject to verification by USDA NIFA Teams’ entries to the Competition of the functions of the Agency,
whose decisions are final and binding in may be subject to disclosure under the including whether the information will
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
all matters related to the Competition. Freedom of Information Act (‘‘FOIA’’). If have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
Potential winner(s) must continue to a Team believes that all or part of its the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
comply with all terms and conditions of Competition entry is protected from the proposed collection of information
the Competition rules, and winning is release under FOIA (e.g., if the including the validity of the
contingent upon fulfilling all information falls under FOIA exemption methodology and assumptions used; (c)
requirements. The potential winner(s) #4 for ‘‘trade secrets and commercial or ways to enhance the quality, utility and
will be notified by email and/or financial information obtained from a clarity of the information to be
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| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Competition Submission Period--Pre-Application Phase: May 26, 2016 to July 22, 2016. | |
| Contact | Changes or updates to the Competition rules will be posted and can be viewed at www.nifa.usda.gov. Questions about the Competition can be directed to Scott Dockum at [email protected], or phone 202-720-6346. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 33204 |
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