SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG)

R 051439Z JUL 11ALCOAST 322/11COMDTNOTE 1650SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG)MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDA. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 122124Z JAN 11/ALCOAST 013/111. REF A ANNOUNCED SUSPENSION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS PROGRAMWHILE UNDER REVIEW BY DOD. ALTHOUGH A FINAL DECISION HAS NOT BEENMADE, DOD IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 2011 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG) MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD, AND THISALCOAST SOLICITS NOMINEES FOR THE AWARD. NOMINATION PACKAGES, WITHCOMMAND COVER MEMO, SHALL BE FORWARDED AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS ONLY TOTHE POC LISTED IN PARA 6 NLT 26 JULY 2011. TWO CG EMPLOYEES, ONEMILITARY AND ONE CIVILIAN, WILL BE SELECTED AS THE WINNERS. THEPERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS AWARD IS FROM AUGUST 2009 THROUGH JUNE2011.2. BACKGROUND. BIG IS A NATIONAL GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION THATPROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE WELL BEING, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY ANDMUNICIPAL SECTORS. BIG PROMOTES EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICANLIFE, EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLAMERICANS. THE BIG AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE DOD FORUMSCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN BOSTON, MA ON TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2011.3. AWARDS CRITERIA. NOMINATIONS MUST DESCRIBE HOW NOMINEESDISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: A. DEMONSTRATED SUPPORT FOR THE FULL INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION OFAFRICAN AMERICANS WITHIN THE COAST GUARD OR FEDERAL CIVILIANWORKFORCE. B. PROMOTED THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS,EQUALOPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, HUMAN RELATIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICEPROGRAMS. C. CREATED OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THEMENTORSHIP OR DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCEMENT OR RETENTION OF AFRICANAMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH MERIT PRINCIPLES. D. ELIMINATED BARRIERS THAT HINDERED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OR PROMOTEDPROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVOCATED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF AFRICANAMERICANS. E. CONTRIBUTED TO THE SELECTION, PROMOTION OR RETENTION OF AFRICANAMERICANS IN SENIOR GRADE LEVEL POSITIONS AND UNDER-REPRESENTEDOCCUPATIONS. F. DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER THAT DISTINGUISHED THEINDIVIDUAL AS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, ROLE MODEL, OR MENTOR INPROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THECOAST GUARD OR FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. G. INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE PARTICIPATION OF HISTORICALLY BLACKCOLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND ENHANCEDTHE CAPACITY BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THESEINSTITUTIONS. H. INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLYBLACKCOLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM COASTGUARD/DOD PROGRAMS INVOLVING CONTRACTS AND GRANTS, STUDENT ANDFACULTY EMPLOYMENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RESERVE OFFICERTRAINING CORPS. I. MADE PERSONAL SACRIFICES BY HIS/HER ACTIONS THAT RESULTED INSIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OFAFRICAN AMERICANS. J. DISTINGUISHED HERSELF/HIMSELF AS A LEADER AND MENTOR FOR FEMALEAND MINORITY YOUTH, ESPECIALLY PROMOTING THEIR PARTICIPATION INSCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICAL EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL CAREER FIELDS.4. CRITERIA: NOMINATION PACKAGES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN MSWORD WITH 12-PITCH FONT, SINGLE-SPACED WITH ONE-INCH LEFT AND RIGHTMARGINS FOR ITEMS A THRU C BELOW. SCANNED OR PDF DOCUMENTS AREUNACCEPTABLE FOR ITEMS A THRU C: A. ONE-PAGE NARRATIVE DESCRIBING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WARRANTINGTHIS RECOGNITION. B. CITATION, NOT TO EXCEED 12 LINES, HIGHLIGHTING THEACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE NOMINEE. C. ONE-PAGE BIOGRAPHY OF THE NOMINEE (A RESUME WILL NOT SUFFICE). D. A DIGITAL (.JPG FORMAT) HEAD AND SHOULDER COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OFTHE NOMINEE. E. COMMAND COVER MEMO FORWARDING THE PACKAGE.5. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL CONVENE A PANEL TO SELECT ONE MILITARYMEMBER AND ONE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AS THE CG HONOREES. THE AWARDRECIPIENTS COMMAND WILL BE NOTIFIED, FOLLOWED BY AN ALCOASTANNOUNCING AWARD RECIPIENTS. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL FUND TRAVEL ANDLODGING EXPENSES FOR AWARD RECIPIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AWARDCEREMONY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIG ORGANIZATION CAN BEFOUND AT WWW.BIGNET.ORG.6. POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. NICHOLE MILLINE (202) 372-4504NICHOLE.S.MILLINE(AT)USCG.MIL.7. CAPT P. E. BOINAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE,SENDS.8. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.