Solicitation of Nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award; Reopening and Extension of Period for Submission of Nominations

AGENCY:

Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor.

ACTION:

Reopening and Extension of period for submission of nominations.

SUMMARY:

This document re-opens and extends the period for submission of nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. This action is taken to permit increased participation by interested stakeholders.

DATES:

Nomination packages must be submitted to the Office of Disability Employment Policy by May 28, 2004. Any application received after 4:45 p.m. e.d.s.t. on May 28, 2004 will not be considered unless it was received before the award is made and:

1. It was sent by registered or certified mail no later than the 3rd calendar day before May 28, 2004;

2. It is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the U.S. Department of Labor at the address indicated; or

3. It was sent by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service—Post Office to Addressee, not later than 5 p.m. at the place of mailing two (2) working days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, prior to May 28, 2004.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the date of mailing of a late application sent by registered or certified mail is the U.S. Postal Service postmark on the envelope or wrapper and on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If the postmark is not legible, an application received after the above closing time and date will be processed as if mailed late. “Postmark” means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed impression (not a postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable without further action as having been applied and affixed by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service on the date of mailing. Therefore, applicants should request that the postal clerk place a legible hand cancellation “bull's-eye” postmark on both the receipt and the envelope or wrapper.

The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the U.S. Department of Labor is the date/time stamp of the Office of Disability Employment Policy on the application wrapper or other documentary evidence or receipt maintained by that office.

Applications sent by other delivery services, such as Federal Express, UPS, etc., will also be accepted; however, the applicant bears the responsibility of timely submission.

ADDRESSES:

Nomination packages must be submitted to the Office of Disability Employment Policy, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-1303, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone 202 693-7880; TTY 202 693-7881.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dina Dorich of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, telephone (202) 693-7880; TTY (202) 693-7881 (these are not toll-free numbers), prior to the closing deadline.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In the Federal Register of February 27, 2004 (69 FR 9504), the Office of Disability Employment Policy published a Solicitation of Nominations for the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. Nomination packages were to be submitted to the Office of Disability Employment Policy by May 21, 2004.

Because of the continuing interest in this solicitation, the agency believes that it is desirable to re-open and extend the period for submission of nominations. Therefore, the period for submission of nominations is extended until May 28, 2004.