81 FR 51456 - Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the “MRC Serves” Video Challenge

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 150 (August 4, 2016)

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program housed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the launch of the ``MRC Serves'' Video Challenge. The MRC is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. MRC volunteers have medical, public health, other backgrounds and have responded to natural disasters, public health and other emergencies, while also supporting community health activities. The MRC Program is looking for innovative and cost effective ways to promote these activities and demonstrate how MRC units and their volunteers make their communities healthier, prepared, and more resilient. Today there are nearly 200,000 volunteers, in almost 1,000 MRC units nationwide, who give their skills and time year around to support their communities and serve as ambassadors for the MRC to their friends, families, neighbors, and co- workers. The MRC Program would like to engage MRC volunteers to also be national ambassadors by creating short promotional videos that will be used by the MRC Program to highlight how serving as MRC volunteers makes communities healthier, more prepared, and more resilient.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51456-51459]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18427]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the ``MRC 
Serves'' Video Challenge

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program housed under the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) 
within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
announces the launch of the ``MRC Serves'' Video Challenge. The MRC is 
a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the 
health and safety of their communities. MRC volunteers have medical, 
public health, other backgrounds and have responded to natural 
disasters, public health and other emergencies, while also supporting 
community health activities. The MRC Program is looking for

[[Page 51457]]

innovative and cost effective ways to promote these activities and 
demonstrate how MRC units and their volunteers make their communities 
healthier, prepared, and more resilient. Today there are nearly 200,000 
volunteers, in almost 1,000 MRC units nationwide, who give their skills 
and time year around to support their communities and serve as 
ambassadors for the MRC to their friends, families, neighbors, and co-
workers. The MRC Program would like to engage MRC volunteers to also be 
national ambassadors by creating short promotional videos that will be 
used by the MRC Program to highlight how serving as MRC volunteers 
makes communities healthier, more prepared, and more resilient.

DATES: Challenge begins on August 1, 2016, and ends on September 2, 
2016 at 11 p.m. EDT. ASPR staff will judge eligible submissions and 
select semifinalists September 6-7, 2016. Judging of semifinalist 
videos will take place from September 8-26, 2016. The winners will be 
notified and announced no later than September 30, 2016. Timeline 
changes will be announced on https://mrc.hhs.gov as well as on the MRC 
Program's listservs and social media.

ADDRESSES: Contestants must be a member of a local Medical Reserve 
Corps unit. Videos must be submitted between August 1, 2016 and 
September 2, 2016. Contestants may be individuals or groups. A 
contestant can submit a video for each question for up to three total 
videos. Make sure to only answer one question per video. To register 
for the Challenge, each contestant will need to create a free account 
at http://www.challenge.gov. Groups must submit an entry through a 
single designated individual or entity within the group. Contestants 
must follow submission rules found at https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/mrc-serves.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please submit an inquiry via 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MRC units consist of volunteers from all 
walks of life. We want to highlight the reasons that MRC volunteers 
join and continue to volunteer with the question, why I volunteer with 
the MRC? By answering the questions--How does MRC make my community 
healthier? and How does MRC make my community more prepared and 
resilient?--the goal is to highlight specific examples of how MRC units 
and their volunteers are making a difference. Contestants are 
encouraged to be creative when addressing these questions and sharing 
their story. The video can include other visuals such as footage or 
pictures of a MRC activity or event (see Contest Guidelines section for 
restrictions). Contestants are encouraged to wear MRC gear such as 
shirts and hats. Videos can also be submitted as a group with fellow 
MRC volunteers.
    The challenge is authorized by Public Law 111-358, the America 
Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in 
Technology, Education and Science Reauthorization Act of 2010 (COMPETES 
Act).
    Eligible Entities: This video contest is open to MRC volunteers and 
MRC units. Contestants may be individuals, public or private entities 
that are MRC units, or groups. An individual, whether participating 
individually or in a group, must be a citizen or permanent resident of 
the U.S. If the contestant is less than 18 at the time of entry, the 
entrant must have a completed Parental/Guardian Consent Form. In the 
case of a private entity, the entity must be incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the U.S. Federal entities are 
not eligible; federal employees acting within the scope of their 
employment are not eligible. ASPR employees are not eligible. Federal 
grantees may not use federal funds to develop an application unless 
consistent with the purpose of their grant award and specifically 
requested to do so due to competition design and as announced in the 
Federal Register. Federal contractors may not use federal funds from a 
contract to develop applications or to fund efforts in support of a 
challenge submission. The contest is subject to all applicable federal 
laws and regulations. Participation constitutes contestant's full and 
unconditional agreement to these official rules, which are final and 
binding in all matters related to the contest. Eligibility for a prize 
award is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. 
An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the 
individual or entity used federal facilities or consulted with federal 
employees during a competition if the facilities and employees are made 
available to all individuals and entities participating on an equitable 
basis.
    Contest Guidelines: Only complete entries that follow application 
instructions will be reviewed. ASPR reserves the right to disqualify 
participants in instances where misconduct is identified. We expect 
participants will treat each other and their communities with respect. 
We will not accept submissions that contain vulgar language, personal 
attacks, or offensive terms that target individuals or groups. We will 
not accept submissions that promote services or products. Submissions 
that make unsupported claims will not be accepted. Other rules include:
     Contestants must be a member of a local Medical Reserve 
Corps unit;
     Contestants must submit their video by September 2, 2016, 
at 11 p.m. EDT;
     All videos must be submitted through the Challenge Web 
site at https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/mrc-serves;
     A video must be 60-90 seconds and must answer only one of 
these three questions:
    1. Why I/we volunteer with the MRC?;
    2. How does the MRC make my community healthier?;
    3. How does the MRC make my community more prepared and resilient?;
     The video should be an MPEG-4 video file with an aspect 
ratio of 16 x 9;
     The trademarked MRC logo or the words Medical Reserve 
Corps/MRC should be clearly visible and accurately displayed in the 
video; view the MRC Identity Guide for guidance on correct logo use at 
https://mrc.hhs.gov/;
     Contestants may submit their entry as an individual or 
part of a group;
     Submissions by groups should be submitted only once by one 
member of the group (one prize will be awarded for each winning entry);
     Contestants must upload their video to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com) and add the link to their video on the ``Submit 
Solutions'' form, along with a description and transcript of the video;
     Each video must contain closed captioning;
     Only use royalty free music and/or images. No copyrighted 
images, footage, or music;
     Do not promote any company, service, or product in the 
video;
     Do not include any personal identifiable information in 
the video such as unit badges;
     Helpful links and information:
    [cir] YouTube: How to upload https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=en&;rd=1.
    [cir] YouTube: How to add closed captions https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=en&;rd=1.
     If under 18, a contestant must have their adult parent or 
legal guardian complete the Parental/Guardian Consent Form at http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/Documents/parental-consent-form.pdf. This form must be submitted with your entry.

[[Page 51458]]

     Contestants must have the necessary documented permissions 
for individuals heard and/or seen on the submitted video. Please have 
individuals who are identifiable in the video complete a release form.
     The documented permission of the adult parent or guardian 
of each person under the age of 18 seen or heard in the video is also 
required.
     Any individual contestant or group entry with a member on 
the Excluded Parties List (https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/Public_-_Identifying_Excluded_Entities.pdf) will not be eligible for prizes.
     The video must be an original creation. Contestants must 
not infringe upon any copyright or any other rights of any third party.
     By submitting a video to this contest, contestants grant a 
royalty-free license to ASPR to copy, distribute, modify, display and 
perform publicly and otherwise use, and authorize others to use, your 
video for any educational purpose throughout the world and in any 
media.
     By submitting a video to this contest, contestants agree 
that the MRC and ASPR may make your video available to the public from 
their Web sites (https://mrc.hhs.gov and http://www.phe.gov) and to 
distribute it to organizations interested in showing it for educational 
purposes. That includes, but is not limited to, internet sites, 
conferences and events, and television and other media outlets.
     Contestants must agree that if your video is selected as a 
winner that you are willing to submit a digital file of the video for 
the above mentioned purposes.
     Contestants must agree to follow applicable local, state, 
and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
     ASPR reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to 
cancel, suspend, or otherwise modify the challenge, or not award prizes 
if no entries are deemed worthy.
     Contestants must comply with these terms and conditions of 
these rules.
    Submission Topic: All video submissions should answer one of three 
questions: ``Why I/we volunteer with the MRC?'', ``How does the MRC 
make my community healthier?'', ``How does the MRC make my community 
more prepared and resilient?''.
    Judges and Winner Selection: Submissions will be judged by a panel 
of MRC and other ASPR staff, qualified by training and experience, to 
evaluate submissions on the identified criteria and select the 
semifinalists. Judges will rate the semi-finalists based upon the 
judging criteria. Judges will be fair and impartial, may not have a 
personal or financial interest in, or be an employee, officer, 
director, or agent of, any entity that is a registered participant in 
the competition, and may not have a familial or financial relationship 
with an individual who is a registered contestant. ASPR staff will 
select the final winners by calculating the final scores.
    Judging Criteria: Submissions will be scored by the challenge 
reviewers using the following criteria:
     Clear and consistent message/Overall impact (35 percent): 
Is the story clear, educational, inspiring, and persuasive? Does it 
motivate others to serve as MRC volunteers? Is it clear how the MRC 
impacts their community?
     Creativity and originality (25 percent): How creatively 
does the video answer the challenge question? How original is the idea?
     Production quality (25 percent): Does the video 
effectively use lighting, sound, and editing to tell the story? Is the 
dialogue clear and easy to understand? Do visual effects (if any) 
contribute to the message or detract from it?
     MRC Identity (15 percent): Does the video do a good job of 
promoting the MRC brand by showing the trademarked logo or names 
Medical Reserve Corps and MRC?
    Winners and Recognition: There will be one winner selected for each 
category for a total of up to three winners. If you are selected as a 
winner, you will need to submit your digital video file to the MRC 
Program. The winners will be announced no later than September 30, 
2016, on the MRC Program's listservs, Web site, and social media 
channels. Winning videos will be recognized on the MRC Program's Web 
site and social media and may also be posted to the ASPR Web site and 
social media. Winners will be invited to attend the 2017 Preparedness 
Summit where they will be recognized by MRC Program leadership and have 
their travel, lodging, and expenses covered. For group submissions that 
win, an invitation will be extended to one representative from the 
group who will be eligible to receive travel, lodging, and costs to 
attend the 2017 Preparedness Summit.
    Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the challenge 
constitutes the winner's consent to use the winner's name, likeness, 
photograph, voice, opinions, and/or hometown and state information by 
ASPR and the MRC Program in any media without further payment or 
consideration.
    Intellectual Property: By submitting an entry to the challenge, 
each contestant/submitter warrants that he or she is the sole author 
and owner of any copyrightable works that the entry comprises (or has 
obtained sufficient rights in any copyrightable works owned by third 
parties to satisfy its obligations set forth herein), that the works 
are wholly original with the contestant/submitter, and that the entry 
does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party 
of which contestant/submitter is aware.
    To receive an award, contestant/submitter will not be required to 
transfer their intellectual property rights to ASPR or the MRC Program. 
Each contestant/submitter retains title to their entry, and expressly 
reserves all intellectual property rights (e.g., copyrights and rights 
to inventions and patents that cover them) in their entry. By 
participating in the challenge, each contestant/submitter grants to the 
federal government a nonexclusive, non-transferrable, irrevocable, 
paid-up license to practice or have practiced for or on behalf of the 
U.S. any invention throughout the world owned or controlled by the 
contestant/submitter that covers the entry, and grants to the U.S. 
government and others acting on behalf of the U.S. government, a 
royalty-free, irrevocable, non-exclusive worldwide license to use, 
reproduce, and display publicly all parts of the entry for the purposes 
of the challenge. This license includes, without limitation, posting or 
linking to the entry on the ASPR, MRC, and official Challenge Web 
sites. Contestants/submitters are free to discuss their entry and the 
ideas or technologies that it contains with other parties, encouraged 
to share ideas/technologies publicly, and free to contract with any 
third parties, as long as they do not sign any agreement or undertake 
any obligation that conflicts with the challenge rules set forth 
herein.
    Liability: By participating in this challenge, each contestant/
submitter agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against 
the federal government and its related entities (as defined in the 
America COMPETES Act), the challenge's expert advisors and judges, 
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 participation in this 
challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through 
negligence or otherwise. By participating in this challenge, each 
contestant/submitter agrees to indemnify the federal government

[[Page 51459]]

against third party claims for damages arising from or related to 
challenge activities.
    Insurance: Based on the subject matter of the challenge, the type 
of work that it will possibly require, as well as an analysis of the 
likelihood of any claims for death, bodily injury, or property damage, 
or loss potentially resulting from competition participation, 
contestants are not required to obtain liability insurance or 
demonstrate financial responsibility in order to participate in this 
challenge.
    Warranties: By submitting an entry to the challenge, each 
contestant/submitter represents and warrants that all information 
provided in the entry and as a result of the challenge registration 
process is true and complete, that contestant/submitter has the right 
and authority to submit such entry on the contestant's/submitter's own 
behalf or on behalf of the persons and entities specified within the 
entry, and that the entry:
     Is your original work, or is submitted by permission with 
full and proper credit given within your entry;
     Does not contain confidential information or trade secrets 
(yours or anyone else's);
     Does not knowingly violate or infringe upon the patent 
rights, industrial design rights, copyrights, trademarks, rights in 
technical data, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual 
property or other rights of any person or entity;
     Does not contain malicious code, such as viruses, malware, 
timebombs, cancelbots, worms, Trojan horses, or other potentially 
harmful programs or other material or information.
    General Conditions: ASPR reserves the right to cancel, suspend, 
and/or modify this challenge at any time. In the event the challenge is 
modified, contestants/submitters registered in the challenge will be 
notified by email and provided with a copy of the amended challenge 
rules and a listing of the changes that were made. Any contestant/
submitter who continues to participate in the challenge following 
receipt of such a notice of amendment(s) will be deemed to have 
accepted any such amendment(s). If a contestant/submitter does not wish 
to continue to participate in the challenge pursuant to the Official 
Rules, as amended, such contestant/submitter may terminate 
participation in the challenge by not submitting additional entries or 
withdrawing their submission. ASPR reserves the right to not award 
prizes if no entries are deemed worthy. Only complete entries that 
follow application instructions will be reviewed and eligible to win. 
ASPR reserves the right to disqualify any challenge participants in 
instances where misconduct is identified or other contest guidelines 
are not met.

    Dated: July 28, 2016.
Nicole Lurie,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
[FR Doc. 2016-18427 Filed 8-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P