SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG)

R 051439Z JUL 11 ALCOAST 322/11 COMDTNOTE 1650 SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG) MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 122124Z JAN 11/ALCOAST 013/11 1. REF A ANNOUNCED SUSPENSION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS PROGRAM WHILE UNDER REVIEW BY DOD. ALTHOUGH A FINAL DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE, DOD IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 2011 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2011 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG) MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD, AND THIS ALCOAST SOLICITS NOMINEES FOR THE AWARD. NOMINATION PACKAGES, WITH COMMAND COVER MEMO, SHALL BE FORWARDED AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS ONLY TO THE POC LISTED IN PARA 6 NLT 26 JULY 2011. TWO CG EMPLOYEES, ONE MILITARY AND ONE CIVILIAN, WILL BE SELECTED AS THE WINNERS. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS AWARD IS FROM AUGUST 2009 THROUGH JUNE 2011. 2. BACKGROUND. BIG IS A NATIONAL GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE WELL BEING, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL SECTORS. BIG PROMOTES EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE, EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS. THE BIG AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE DOD FORUM SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN BOSTON, MA ON TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2011. 3. AWARDS CRITERIA. NOMINATIONS MUST DESCRIBE HOW NOMINEES DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: A. DEMONSTRATED SUPPORT FOR THE FULL INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WITHIN THE COAST GUARD OR FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. B. PROMOTED THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, HUMAN RELATIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS. C. CREATED OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE MENTORSHIP OR DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCEMENT OR RETENTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH MERIT PRINCIPLES. D. ELIMINATED BARRIERS THAT HINDERED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OR PROMOTED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVOCATED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. E. CONTRIBUTED TO THE SELECTION, PROMOTION OR RETENTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SENIOR GRADE LEVEL POSITIONS AND UNDER-REPRESENTED OCCUPATIONS. F. DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER THAT DISTINGUISHED THE INDIVIDUAL AS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, ROLE MODEL, OR MENTOR IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE COAST GUARD OR FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. G. INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE PARTICIPATION OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND ENHANCED THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. H. INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM COAST GUARD/DOD PROGRAMS INVOLVING CONTRACTS AND GRANTS, STUDENT AND FACULTY EMPLOYMENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS. I. MADE PERSONAL SACRIFICES BY HIS/HER ACTIONS THAT RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. J. DISTINGUISHED HERSELF/HIMSELF AS A LEADER AND MENTOR FOR FEMALE AND MINORITY YOUTH, ESPECIALLY PROMOTING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL CAREER FIELDS. 4. CRITERIA: NOMINATION PACKAGES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN MS WORD WITH 12-PITCH FONT, SINGLE-SPACED WITH ONE-INCH LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS FOR ITEMS A THRU C BELOW. SCANNED OR PDF DOCUMENTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE FOR ITEMS A THRU C: A. ONE-PAGE NARRATIVE DESCRIBING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WARRANTING THIS RECOGNITION. B. CITATION, NOT TO EXCEED 12 LINES, HIGHLIGHTING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 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 OF THE NOMINEE. E. COMMAND COVER MEMO FORWARDING THE PACKAGE. 5. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL CONVENE A PANEL TO SELECT ONE MILITARY MEMBER AND ONE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AS THE CG HONOREES. THE AWARD RECIPIENTS COMMAND WILL BE NOTIFIED, FOLLOWED BY AN ALCOAST ANNOUNCING AWARD RECIPIENTS. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL FUND TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR AWARD RECIPIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AWARD CEREMONY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIG ORGANIZATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.BIGNET.ORG. 6. POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. NICHOLE MILLINE (202) 372-4504 NICHOLE.S.MILLINE(AT)USCG.MIL. 7. CAPT P. E. BOINAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE, SENDS. 8. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.