AGENCY
U.S. Department of Education.
CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is announcing the Rural Tech Project (Challenge), a new challenge supported with funds reserved under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) for purposes of technical assistance and capacity building to support Title IV, Part A. The Challenge invites rural high schools to bring innovative solutions to the implementation of distance learning-enabled, competency-based technology instruction to prepare students for postsecondary education and careers in the technology workforce of today and tomorrow.
The Challenge seeks solutions that use distance learning to provide rural communities access to competency-based education (CBE) programs in technology-related career pathways with a goal of increasing instructional capacity.
Rural communities often lack the instructional capacity to deliver high-quality career and technical education (CTE) in technology education pathways. Distance learning- enabled models can help address these capacity constraints by allowing education delivery with limited staff and minimal or no in-person interaction among instructors or peers, which provides for the potential to increase access to in-demand technology career pathways in rural communities. CBE models allow students to progress at their own pace through a sequence of personalized learning experiences, where students advance their education by demonstrating mastery of a subject or concept. Expanding these models to rural high school students, with a focus on technology pathways, would increase access to qualified educators and expand opportunities for students to earn industry certifications and credentials. The progress of the finalists and the models and practices emerging from the Challenge will be shared on the Challenge website.
DATES
We must receive your submission on or before 5:59:59 p.m., Washington, DC, time, on October 8, 2020.
The Department will determine timeframes for judging Phase 1 and Phase 2 submissions, as well as the date that finalists and winners will be announced. The Department will conduct an online information session during Phase 1 of the Challenge. The date of the online information session will be determined and announced by the Department, posted on https://www.RuralTechProject.com (Challenge Webpage), and sent to Challenge newsletter registrants by email. The dates for Challenge events will be determined and announced by the Department.
ADDRESSES
Submit entries for the Challenge on https://www.RuralTechProject.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Albert Palacios, U.S. Department of Education, 550 12th Street SW., Room 11082, Washington, DC 20202 or by email: albert.palacios@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf or a text telephone, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
DEFINITIONS
The Department is establishing the definitions of competency-based education, technology education, rural, and distance learning for the purposes of this Challenge.
“Competency-based education (CBE)” (also called proficiency-based or mastery-based learning) means a system of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting where students must demonstrate mastery of a subject or concept to move forward in their educational pathway; neither age nor seat time are factors for determining progression.
“Technology education” means computer science and IT instruction that connects students to a spectrum of careers requiring technological skills, including, but not limited to, roles outlined in the CTE Information Technology Career Cluster, and technology education pathways in other CTE career clusters such as the Health Informatics pathway in the Health Science Career Cluster.
“Rural” means a non-urban, non-suburban area that may meet one or more Federal definitions of “rural” based on population density, distance from suburban or urban hubs, or other criteria. Several Federal definitions of rural are provided in the Eligibility section of this announcement.
“Distance learning” means a system of education in which students are educated with minimal or no in-person interaction among instructors or peers. The term “distance learning” may refer to one or more specific models, including but not limited to, blended, flipped, or remote learning; these vary in the amount of in-person interaction required, where the learning of new information happens, and where the practicing of learned skills takes place.
“Career and technical education,” in accordance with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended, by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education of the 21st Century Act, means the practice of providing students with rigorous academic content and relevant technical knowledge and career skills, including modern technology skills, trade skills, and applied sciences, needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
I. Administration of the Challenge
The Challenge is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Education (Department). Luminary Labs, L.L.C. (Luminary Labs), has been contracted by the Department to assist and support the Department in organizing and managing this Challenge. Activities conducted by Luminary Labs may also include providing technical assistance to potential entrants, entrants, and schools selected to proceed as finalists to Phase 2 of the Challenge based on the criteria described in the Challenge Eligibility Criteria section of this notice.
II. Subject of Challenge Competition
Technology education is an essential component of developing a more competitive workforce. Growth industries, including consumer technology, mobile applications, aerospace, robotics, medical devices, sustainable development, and many more, all point to an increasing need for advanced technology skills. As these skills become critical components of an increasing number of jobs, education providers (or educational institutions) must adapt to prepare students for 21st century careers.
Distance learning models allow education delivery with minimal or no in-person interaction among instructors or peers and students supported through remote communications and connections with their teachers and peers. Through CBE models, students advance their education by demonstrating mastery of a subject or concept. In combination, CBE models and distance or blended delivery can be used to expand the pathways available to students, increase access to qualified educators, and expand opportunities for industry certifications and credentials.
The Challenge invites rural eligible entrants to innovate by creating new distance learning enabled, competency-based technology education programs. Through this initiative, schools can become better equipped to prepare students for in-demand career opportunities, both locally and nationally.
This Challenge seeks to reinforce and highlight how distance learning enabled, competency-based models and distance or blended delivery can be used to provide high-quality technology education.
The Challenge will be conducted in two phases:
(1) Phase 1 Open Submissions, including judging
(2) Phase 2 Community Implementation, including judging
The dates for each of the phases will be determined by the Department and announced on the Challenge webpage.
The two phases are described further below.
Phase 1 Open Submissions Description
During Phase 1, high schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) enter the Challenge by completing the submission process on the Challenge webpage. At least one online informational session will be held during Phase 1.
Judging: Entrants who fulfill the criteria described in the Eligibility section of this announcement and complete a submission that meets all entry requirements will be eligible for judging. Independent judges will review eligible Phase 1 submissions using the Finalist Selection Criteria, which are included in the Award Selection Criteria section of this notice and will recommend finalists to the Department. Up to five finalists will be selected from the group of eligible entrants and invited to participate in Phase 2.
Phase 2 Community Implementation Description
During Phase 2, finalists will receive curated and customized technical assistance to finalize their proposed program plans in preparation for implementation. With support from a local community engagement manager, finalists will launch programs for a first cohort of students. Finalists will collect data on the first cohorts’ performance metrics, identifying successes and opportunities for improvement. Finalists will evolve program designs and implement program changes while continuing to receive technical assistance. Finalists will also create sustainability plans. After the completion of Phase 2, finalists will document their outcomes and learning in a formal submission for evaluation by the Phase 2 judging panel. This submission must include a detailed description of how schools implemented competency-based technology education; the results and lessons learned from implementation; and effective practices for rural, competency-based technology education program design. The Phase 2 finalist submission must also document efforts to align programs to one or more technology career pathways.
Judging: Independent judges will review Phase 2 submissions using the Winner Selection Criteria, which are included in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement, and recommend to the Department which finalist should be selected as a grand prize winner based on the submission. Subject to approval by the Department, finalists may all be eligible to receive additional awards (to be determined at a later date).
Program Authority:
The goals, purposes, and activities related to the Challenge are authorized under Title IV, Part A of the ESEA. Title IV, Part A, or the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program, is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), LEAs, and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. The Challenge is intended to help build the capacity of LEAs to better serve rural communities with high-quality, distance learning-enabled, CBE technology instruction, through the development of innovative new and replicable models.
III. Eligibility
(a) An eligible entrant must be:
(1) A secondary school, high school, or LEA receiving ESEA funds that delivers education to students between grades 9 and 12; and
(2) Serving students from a rural community; an entrant may self-define their rural status based on an existing Federal definition. Commonly used Federal definitions include but are not limited to:
- An area that has fewer than 50,000 inhabitants and is not located adjacent to an urban area (according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
- A non-urban area, where an urban area is either an “Urbanized Area” with a population of 50,000 or more, or an “Urban Cluster” with a population of at least 2,500 and less than 50,000 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau).
- A secondary school or high school located in an area with a “rural” locale code (41, 42 or 43) (according to Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics).
- A place defined, identified, or otherwise recognized as rural by the State or a governmental agency of the State in which the area is located.
(b) For a submission to be considered for judging, entrants must:
(1) Register on the Challenge webpage (see Additional Terms that are part of the Official Rules, under the General Terms and Conditions in this announcement);
(2) Enter a submission on the Challenge webpage according to the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions in this announcement;
(3) Comply with all requirements on the Challenge webpage and this announcement;
(4) Provide affirmation upon submission to the Challenge that an entrant is eligible under paragraph (a) of this section. If selected as a finalist or winner, entrants must provide documentation to demonstrate their eligibility prior to the finalist or winner announcement;
(5) Submit signed letters or email documentation from the entrant’s superintendent or other key LEA leadership representative affirming the entrant’s permission to enter the Challenge; and
(6) Agree to:
(i) 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 the Challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arises through negligence or otherwise;
(ii) Indemnify the Federal government against third-party claims for damages arising from, or related to, Challenge activities, patents, copyrights, and trademark infringements; and
(iii) Comply with and abide by the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions in this announcement, and the decisions of the Department which shall be final and binding in all respects.
IV. Prizes
Any potential prizes awarded under this Challenge will be paid by electronic funds transfer. Award recipients will be responsible for any applicable local, state, and Federal taxes and reporting that may be required under applicable tax laws.
V. Challenge Eligibility Criteria
(a) To participate in the Challenge, an entrant must submit an eligible entry according to the Eligibility section of this announcement.
(b) An entrant must complete the entry requirements outlined in the Submission Information section of this announcement.
(c) Challenge participants will be chosen based on the extent to which their submission provides all of the required information in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and to which it is sufficient for the Department to determine their eligibility and intent to participate in the Challenge.
VI. Award Selection Criteria
Phase 1 Finalist Selection and Criteria
Up to 105 points may be assigned during the judging of Phase 1 submissions based on the criteria in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.
(a) Judges may assign up to 20 points for each selection criterion during the judging of Phase 1 submissions (for a total of up to 100 points) based on the following five selection criteria:
(1) Quality of methodology.The extent to which the proposed program design thoughtfully uses high-quality career and technical education, distance learning, and competency-based education concepts or methods that will enable students in rural communities to master skills in demand in technology-related career pathways and result in industry-recognized credentials.
(2) Quality of planning. The extent to which the plan for program implementation provides a sound and comprehensive approach to considerations such as budget, hardware and software requirements, infrastructure, staffing, training, sources of educational content, delivery methods, potential implementation challenges, and support for hands-on learning.
(3) Community support. The extent to which the entrant’s proposed approach accounts for unique community needs and demonstrates input and commitment from stakeholders critical to program success, such as educators, parents, school administrators, employers, and local community and/or government leaders.
(4) Continuous improvement. The extent to which the proposed program design presents a sound plan for evidence-based iteration and accounts for resources required to track outcomes and measure key metrics that support program improvement.
(5) Career relevance.The potential for the proposed program to impart technology skills to high school students that are highly relevant to identifiable local and/or national employer needs and that are transferable to a range of postsecondary and/or career pathways.
(b) Judges may assign up to five bonus points during the judging of Phase 1 submissions (in addition to a total score of up to 100 points under paragraph (a) of this section, for a total score of up to 105 points) based on the following selection criteria:
Addressing need. The extent to which the student population served by the eligible entrant is low-income, as defined by the percentage of students enrolled in free and reduced price lunch programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. § 1759), as amended through P.L. 116–6.
(c) The Department will review the recommendations of the judges and may consider additional characteristics when selecting finalists from the top scoring submissions to ensure diverse distribution of awards, including–
(1) School size (number of students);
(2) Percentage of students enrolled in free and reduced price lunch programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. § 1759), as amended through P.L. 116–6; and
(3) Geographic location and local population density.
Phase 2 Winner Selection and Criteria
Up to 100 points may be assigned during the judging of Phase 2 submissions based on the criteria described below.
Judges may assign up to 20 points for each selection criterion during the judging of finalist submissions (for a total of up to 100 points) based on the following five selection criteria:
(1) Quality of execution. The extent to which the finalist successfully implemented and documented an effective, distance learning-enabled, sustainable competency-based high-quality career and technical education program that helped students build technology skills relevant to careers and employers.
(2) Continuous improvement.The extent to which the finalist identified and documented challenges and potential solutions, used metrics and other inputs to flexibly adapt their approach, and continually improved community and academic outcomes.
(3) Community support. The extent to which the finalist meaningfully engaged all stakeholders critical to program success, accounted for unique community needs, and maximized student learning and access to career opportunities. Key stakeholders may include educators, students, parents, school administrators, employers, community, and government leaders.
(4) Student outcomes. The extent to which the program demonstrated the potential for strong outcomes, such as completion rates, transferable skill mastery, progress towards earning industry-recognized credentials, and career exposure.
(5) Career alignment. The extent to which the finalist engaged and aligned with employers to design and execute programs and partnerships that provided contextualized learning opportunities for students.
VII. Submission Information
- To participate in the Challenge, an entrant must–
(a) Register on the Challenge Webpage.
(b) Enter the required information on the Challenge Webpage submission form.
- Content and Form of Submission
To submit an entry to the Challenge, an entrant must complete the submission form on the Challenge Webpage.
- Phase 1 Submission Dates and Times
Phase 1 officially begins on June 30, 2020, with this announcement of the Challenge and continues until the Phase 1 deadline on October 8, 2020, at 5:59:59 p.m., Washington, DC, time. Luminary Labs is the official timekeeper for the Challenge.
Submissions must be received during Phase 1 to be eligible. To submit an entry, an entrant must go to the Challenge Webpage and complete all required fields of the submission form before the close of Phase 1. Each entrant must complete all of the required fields in the Phase 1 submission in accordance with the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions in this announcement. All entrants are required to provide consent to those Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions upon submitting an entry. Once submitted, a Phase 1 submission may not be altered. The Department reserves the right to disqualify any submission that the Department deems inappropriate.
Following Phase 1, up to five finalists will be invited to participate in Phase 2. Entrants must designate a primary contact to serve as the team lead. Each team lead must be employed by the submitting school or LEA and must be over 18 years of age. A school may collaborate with another school or schools; however, one team lead and lead school must be identified. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the entrant who actually submitted the submission cannot be resolved by the Department, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible.
The Department encourages entrants to submit entries as far in advance of the deadline as possible and suggests not later than one hour before the deadline to ensure the completed submission is received. If an entrant submits an entry after the deadline date because of a technical problem with the Challenge Webpage system, the entrant must immediately contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in this announcement, and provide an explanation of the technical problem experienced on the Challenge Webpage system. The Department will accept the entrant’s submission if the Department can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Challenge Webpage system and that the technical problem affected the entrant’s ability to submit an entry by 5:59:59 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the entry deadline date. The Department will contact the entrant after a determination is made on whether the entry will be accepted.
Note: These extensions apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Challenge Webpage system. The Department will not grant an entrant an extension if the entrant failed to submit an entry in the system by the submission deadline date and time, or if the technical problem experienced is unrelated to the Challenge Webpage system.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the submission process should contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in this announcement at least one week prior to the submission deadline. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the submission process, the entry remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this announcement.
VIII. Submission Review Information
Phase 1 Review and Selection Process
The Department, with the assistance and support of Luminary Labs, will review Phase 1 submissions to ensure that entrants meet the requirements described in the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions section of this announcement.
Independent Judging and Review Panel
Should the volume of submissions received in Phase 1 exceed the capacity of the independent judges to conduct a thorough evaluation of the submissions, an independent review panel with expertise relevant to the criteria described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement will conduct a preliminary review of the submissions received in Phase 1. In conducting the preliminary review, the independent review panel will assign scores to each submission received in Phase 1 according to the criteria described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement. During the preliminary review each criterion may be assigned up to 20 points for a total of up to 100 points in paragraph (a) and up to five bonus points in paragraph (b) for a combined total of up to 105 points.
The size of the independent review panel will be based on the number of entrants in Phase 1 and the quantity of submissions received. Each member of the independent review panel will score a maximum of 30 submissions, and all submissions will receive scores from three different independent review panelists.
The submissions with the 30 highest scores assigned by the independent review panel will then be scored by independent judges based on the quality of each entry according to the criteria described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement. Judges may assign up to 20 points for each criterion for a total of up to 100 points in paragraph (a) and up to five bonus points in paragraph (b) for a combined total of up to 105 points.
From the pool of submissions received in Phase 1, judges will recommend up to five entrants to be selected as finalists. The Department will review the recommendations of the judges and make final selection decisions as described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement.
Phase 2 Review and Selection Process
The Department, with the assistance and support of Luminary Labs, will review Phase 2 submissions to ensure that entrants meet the requirements described in the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions section of this announcement.
The submissions will be scored by independent judges based on the quality of each entry according to the criteria described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement. Judges may assign up to 20 points for each criterion for a total of up to 100 points.
From the pool of submissions received in Phase 2, judges will recommend finalists to be selected as winners. The Department will review the recommendations of the judges and make a final selection decision as described in the Award Selection Criteria section of this announcement.
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant acknowledges and agrees that such recommendations of the judges based on the criteria may differ and agrees to be bound by, and not to challenge, the final decisions of the Department.
IX. Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions
The Department reserves the right to suspend, postpone, cease, terminate, or otherwise modify this Challenge or any entrant’s participation in the Challenge, at any time at the Department’s sole discretion.
All entry information submitted on the Challenge Webpage and all materials, including any copy of the submission, become property of the Department and will not be acknowledged or returned by Luminary Labs or the Department. Proof of submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt of such entry. Furthermore, the Department and Luminary Labs shall have no liability for any submission that is lost, intercepted, or not received by the Department and/or Luminary Labs. The Department and Luminary Labs assume no liability or responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to, or alteration of, submissions.
Representations and Warranties/Indemnification
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant represents, warrants, and covenants as follows:
(a) The entrants are the sole authors, creators, and owners of the submission;
(b) The entrant’s submission—
(i) Is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim;
(ii) Does not, and will not, violate or infringe upon the privacy rights, publicity rights, or other legal rights of any third party;
(iii) Does not contain any harmful computer code (sometimes referred to as “malware,” “viruses,” or “worms”); and
(c) The submission, and entrants’ implementation of the submission, does not, and will not, violate any applicable laws or regulations of the United States.
Entrants will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department and Luminary Labs from and against all third party claims, actions, or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses relating to, or arising from, entrant’s submission or any breach or alleged breach of any of the representations, warranties, and covenants of entrant hereunder.
The Department reserves the right to disqualify any submission that the Department, in its discretion, deems to violate these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions in this announcement.
Submission License
Each entrant retains title to, and full ownership of, their submission. The entrant expressly reserves all legal rights not expressly granted under this agreement. By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby irrevocably grants a license to the Department and Luminary Labs to store and access submissions in perpetuity that may be reproduced, published, or distributed in the future.
Publicity Release
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby irrevocably grants to the Department and Luminary Labs the right to use such entrant’s name, likeness, image, and biographical information in any and all media for advertising and promotional purposes relating to the Challenge in perpetuity and otherwise as stated in the Submission License section of this announcement.
Disqualification
The Department reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Challenge, Challenge Webpage, or other Challenge-related Webpages; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions; to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge; or to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person; and, the Department reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Links to Third-Party Webpages
The Challenge Webpage may contain links to third-party Webpages that are not owned or controlled by Luminary Labs or the Department. Luminary Labs and the Department do not endorse or assume any responsibility for any such third-party sites. If an entrant accesses a third-party Webpage from the Challenge Webpage, the entrant does so at the entrant’s own risk and expressly relieves Luminary Labs and/or the Department from any and all liability arising from use of any third-party Webpage content.
Disclaimer
The Challenge Webpage contains information and resources from public and private organizations that may be useful to the reader. Inclusion of this information does not constitute an endorsement by the Department or Luminary Labs of any products or services offered or views expressed. Blog articles provide insights on the activities of schools, programs, grantees, and other education stakeholders to promote continuing discussion of educational innovation and reform. Blog articles do not endorse any educational product, service, curriculum, or pedagogy.
The Challenge Webpage also contains hyperlinks and URLs created and maintained by outside organizations, which are provided for the reader’s convenience. The Department and Luminary Labs are not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.
Notice to Challenge Entrants and Award Recipients
Attempts to notify entrants and award recipients will be made using the email address associated with the entrants’ submission. The Department and Luminary Labs are not responsible for email or other communication problems of any kind.
If, despite reasonable efforts, an entrant does not respond within three days of the first notification attempt regarding selection as an award recipient (or a shorter time as exigencies may require) or if the notification is returned as undeliverable to such entrant, that entrant may forfeit the entrant’s award and associated prizes, and an alternate award recipient may be selected.
If any potential award recipient is found to be ineligible, has not complied with these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions, or declines the applicable prize for any reason prior to award, such potential award recipient will be disqualified. An alternate award recipient may be selected, or the applicable award may go unawarded.
Dates/Deadlines
The Department reserves the right to modify any dates or deadlines set forth in these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions or otherwise governing the Challenge.
Challenge Termination
The Department reserves the right to suspend, postpone, cease, terminate, or otherwise modify this Challenge, or any entrant’s participation in the Challenge, at any time at the Department’s discretion.
General Liability Release
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby agrees that —
(a) The Department and Luminary Labs shall not be responsible or liable for any losses, damages, or injuries of any kind (including death) resulting from participation in the Challenge or any Challenge-related activity, or from entrants’ acceptance, receipt, possession, use, or misuse of any prize; and
(b) The entrant will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department and Luminary Labs from and against all third party claims, actions, or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses relating to, or arising from, the entrant’s participation in the Challenge.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Department and Luminary Labs are not responsible for incomplete, illegible, misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, postage-due, damaged, or stolen entries or prize notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible, or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet Service Providers, Webpages, or other connections; or for miscommunications, failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone, cable transmissions or other communications; or for any technical malfunctions, failures, difficulties, or other errors of any kind or nature; or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information.
These Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions cannot be modified except by the Department in its sole and absolute discretion. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
Exercise
The failure of the Department to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
Governing Law
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with U.S. Federal law as applied in the Federal courts of the District of Columbia if a complaint is filed by any party against the Department, and the laws of the State of New York as applied in the New York state courts in New York City if a complaint is filed by any party against Luminary Labs.
Privacy Policy
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby agrees that occasionally, the Department and Luminary Labs may also use the entrant’s information to contact the entrant about Federal Challenge and innovation related activities, and acknowledges that the entrant has read and accepted the privacy policy at: https://www.RuralTechProject.com/privacy.
Additional Terms That Are Part of the Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions
Please review the Luminary LightboxTM Terms of Service at https://www.LuminaryLightbox.com/terms for additional rules that apply to participation in the Challenge and more generally to use of the Challenge Webpage. Such Terms of Service are incorporated by reference into these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions. If there is a conflict between the Terms of Service and these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions, the latter terms shall control with respect to this Challenge only.
Participation in the Challenge constitutes an entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions. By entering, an entrant agrees that all decisions related to the Challenge that are made pursuant to these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions are final and binding, and that all such decisions are at the sole discretion of the Department and/or Luminary Labs.
Luminary Labs collects personal information from entrants to the Challenge. The information collected is subject to the privacy policy located here: https://www.LuminaryLightbox.com/privacy.
List of Finalists or Winners/Official Rules/Contact
To obtain a list of finalists or winners (after the conclusion of the Challenge) or a copy of these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions, send a self-addressed envelope with the proper postage affixed to: Luminary Labs, 61 Broadway Suite 2800. New York, NY 10006. Please specify “Awards List” or “Official Rules” and the name of the specific Challenge in this request.
Please contact the person listed in the For Further Information Contact section of this announcement, should you have any comments or questions about these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions.
Other Information
Accessible Format:
Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the submission package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact in this announcement.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is the document published on https://www.RuralTechProject.com/rules-terms-conditions.