Webinar: Challenges and Competitions

Date: July 27, 2011
Speakers:
Wilma Tilson (ASPE) - Panel moderator & HHS Challenge Ambassador
Brandon Kessler (ChallengePost) & Karen Trebon (GSA) - to provide an overview of challenge.gov
Wil Yu (ONC) - to discuss ONC's i2 project
Abdul Shaikh (NIH/NCI) - discussing implementing a challenge through a case study
Elizabeth Kittrie (ASPE) - discussing the HHS Challenges Toolkit and resources for challenge managers
Diane Canzano (OGC) - fielding questions related to the legal interpretations in the guidance on Challenges and Competitions
If you have questions regarding this webinar or the HHS Center for New Media Webinar series, email newmedia@hhs.gov.
Transcript

Please stand by for realtime captions. 

I just want to let everyone know we will be getting started shortly and I will put the phone on mute for now and we will get started right around 2:00 PM. 

Hello, welcome to the monthly HHS webinar. We have an exciting show. I actually have to do some housekeeping items first. This is a Read -- Read with HHS Center for New Media. The housekeeping item that I want to let you know: We have everybody's phone on mute. 

We are not going to be able to hear you. I'll ever in your go to meeting box on the right-hand side there is a question box. It will drop down and you can ask questions there. 

We will be receiving those along the way and answering them at the appropriate time. So we will answer your questions as we get them. 

We have is recorded. We are trying to make this available online. So far we have put much failed. We want everyone to know that our number one goal is to make this online on hhs.gov where slide would be available. I am going to kick this off to Wilma who is the HHS challenger ambassador. That his wishes known and because she does awesome work there. I'm going to leave it to her now to present to the panel and work is through the day. 

Thank you Reed. My name is  Wilma and I'm a senior analyst -- but more partly I am also the HHS challenge ambassador. In that role I , point person for agencies who are seeking to develop challenges to answer questions, provide guided and help them address key issues they may have and developing challenges. 

The purpose of today's webinar is to talk about challenges and competition and how this tool can be used to foster innovation. Today we have five innovators -- we have Brandon who is the of challenge post, Karen who is the deputy program manager and who will provide the overview of the challenge not website -- challenge .gov website , and will prove is the specialist at ONC and Abdu from NIH and NCI that he will discuss implementing challenges using a challenge sheet of the case study and we have a list of the -- Elizabeth from -- who will discuss resources from challenge management. 

We also have a very special guest, Diane, who will help field questions regarding to lingual interpretations and guide us on challenges and competition. Before we get started I want to provide a brief overview of historical context and what our challenges and competition , for those who may be new to this area. 

On January 21, 2009 , president Obama directed and open government directive requiring that -- department to take specific action with principles of transparency, participation and collaboration for our federal government. This directive was issued on December 8. This directive was issued on December 8, 2009 and required agencies to develop an open government plan. On April 7, 2010, secretary -- issue that HHS open government plans for opening transparency, cooperation and participation. 

The HHS an innovation Council was established and the representation was from all offices that fight -- you are the chief technology officers for HHS. The sub committee for competitions was to promote policies, sharing best practices across the agencies, and participation and practice of challenge and competition across federal agencies. 

On December 2010, Congress passed the America competes act which was signed into law January 1, 2011 . it modifies -- and the innovation package of 1980, to specify that each head of an agency may carry out a program and to award private repetitively and stimulate innovation that has the potential to advance the mission of the respective agency. 

It also provides detail on agencies for hopes and challenges here at the America competes act is a huge amount of because all that we have been doing in challenges and competitions under various authority for many years, this will actually give -- specific authority -- [ Indiscernible - low volume ] 

So what is a challenge ? A government challenge takes place when an agency challenges the public to innovate a problem. Challenges are a great way to engage the public to direct the mission, create awareness, and encourage civic engagement. We take many forms -- the government can challenge -- submit a healthy recipe for kids, an idea for storage of photos or videos, improve a product or process, solve a problem, or provide best practices in a particular area. 

There are six general types of competitions as you can see on this slide. It identifies excellence and wins Nobel Prize awards -- which highlights the range of best practices and ideas and opportunities and -- identifies excellence and mobilizing capital. Network with the goal is to celebrate -- in particular communities and different partners that address specific problems within the community . participation where the goal is education and behavior change. These are things like the hundred pound challenge, the president acted like award -- active life award [ Indiscernible - low volume ] -- 

So types of challenges that HHS and in terms of challenges, HHS has sponsored challenges and connotations and a wide Bridie of areas such as improvement efforts, health data applications, and communications, and many agencies put challenges nonmonetary incentives such as moving a senior staff number or receiving end -- an award at the public recognition ceremony. 

Most HHS challenges today are of the opposite. Type -- this is a very type. They promote awareness and information dissemination or advocate for -- there are also some smaller scales used to challenge competitions through grants that are conducted by the grantees themselves. 

All current and previous challenges posted by HHS are acceptable to the website by challenge .gov which we will talk about in this section . I just wanted to give her reason why we use these challenges. These government agencies can easily create and watch a challenge. This is the objective is relative [ Indiscernible - low volume ] and they can do something easily within the federal government. 

They can also gain better solutions and pay only for result by rewarding winners as opposed to pay for demonstration projects where we hope to gain -- government agencies are able to reach a large and diverse groups of people, often bringing nontraditional partners, problem solving to the table. Am changes -- challenges stimulate private investment, in the past challenge may develop a prototype for the technology and they may want to invest and develop the winning application further. 

They can stimulate current sector collaboration and non-traditional readerships across the federal government and at the community level. Government agencies tend refer both internally and externally these types of challenges. 

On the public side of things, I could rest and they can address and submit challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration within communities. They can provide input for issues across the federal government, participate in collection process and winners of public voting and identify new technologies and practices, programs or disseminate or replication -- and also win recognition -- 

So we are going to move forward to the next presenter. This is Karen from GSA. Karen are your board -- are you on board ? 

[ Indiscernible - low volume ] 

Karen, we are getting to you. 

Hello ? 

There she is. 

Do you need to share my screen or anything ? Know, we have you. --

No, we have you. 

I'm going to do a quick dip into challenge. Challenge has been the home to 100 a challenges since it was launched eight months ago. We have 36 point agencies and bureaus that have taken advantage of this free platform. We have had a really great month. We had 10 new challenges in July. Our norm is about seven month -- so we the going gangbusters. 

Be built to challenge .gov as a mandate came from and OMB -- 

You can listed on challenge.gov and list off to the site where people actually enter. The public can of course, as well as that, submit solutions, participate in discussions, and a they can support the challenges which is kind of like on Facebook. 

You can share challenges with your friends via social Neil -- social media or e-mail. And you can recognize rises -- prices. 

In the OMB memo I mentioned GSA, was also given best practices of assignment. We would probably Sturm at the White House office of science and technology policy to run the challenges, and community practice and we have about 529 people on that at this point. See them at me know if you would like to join. 

We have best practices at one of our websites called out to.gov -- how to.gov. A GS we parted with an outside organization on some interviews with agencies who have run challenges, and so will present those those interviews. 

Keep in mind that all the challenges that have ever been on challenge... remind -- challenged.gov remain on the site. Although previous ones for open government offices will stay on the site. So this is a great resource and archive from the past. I am available for consultation of meetings and so is my coworker Tami. 

We are developing a toolkit for how to.gov that will provide warm vast practices online for HHS and other agencies. It will follow a plan, implement improve format. On a couple of slides I have given you an idea of where we are going with that. It would have steps in the process and also original content and links. 

We are basing this on what we have heard talking to other agencies over the past year , and what we are we -- reading. It is not a formal academic process . it is very -- oriented. We hope it will need a lot of people's needs. 

I'm going to go ahead and slip -- skip to the slide about other action GSA is taking. We are always thinking about how to make challenged.gov better. I have listed some ideas that we have, and of course nothing is set in stone as far as timing is concerned. Just wanted to let you know that we are open to user feedback and we have these abilities for testing and we are always thinking about how to make the site that are. 

We also set up a contact pull. We were asked to do that in the America competes act. I have provided a link to it and it is special item number 540 14G and this is on marketing schedule. We are working to stand a pull of companies on that vehicle on our Federal acquisition service and they will help provide consultation to any vendors who want to get on the schedule and have any kind of questions or problems. So if you know any vendors who need help, let me know. 

And I have provided my contact information on the last slide as well as the contact information for my a worker Tami. You can follow us on twitter at challenge go -- challenge. 

Brandon, I think your next up. 

Yes, we will switch to your live feed in a minute. 

Excellent. 

Okay you have control. 

Can you see my screen ? 

Yes. 

I am CEO and founder of challenge posed --. We challenge power.gov and have powered over 200 challenges not just for the federal government over cities, states, and corporations. On about how do we provide services by either customizing the plot word or create and market this challenges.I want to show you challenge.gov  and I am also happy to answer any questions anytime. So here is challenge.gov , as Karen said it shows challenges. We have five featured challenges on the homepage. On the right users can find challenges by category or by the department and agency. 

You can see the recent challenges here. It tells you how many days are left in submissions, etc.. 

You can see the recent challenges here. It tells you how many days are left in submissions, etc. 

This is healthy living and innovation awards which Wilma has had a big role in running. Here's an example of what a user would see as a standard challenge. You can have any images or videos is a welcome. You can click through to different images if you have uploaded one. 

Here are the supporters of the challenge. It is much like following a challenge on twitter. They supported and get updates and recruit friends. I want to to stress the importance of marketing challenge. This platform is built with that in mind as well. Here are some of his supporters. There were over 2000 individuals not supported this challenge. 

This challenge and it up with 110,000 unique users every week. You have a detailed description of the challenge and how to enter your perfect date. These are all structured information so it is not just a static listing of text. For example January 18, 2011 to March 1 is a real date. The system knows what it comes time for this submission. And, people get alerted, it tells you what you need to do. The same for the judging.. 

If there is public voting, it will turn on at the right time and turn off and allow the public to do things at different times and places throughout the competition. So you do not have to build that's because it has been built to optimize the management of the competition. You can list your judges and need that, prices and criteria. 

Each of these criteria are entered of structured information as well. So when somebody is going to enter the challenge, and they click I want to enter this challenge, they will see this criteria and to help them when they're filling up their submission. 

The same with the prices. These are structured information on the winners profiles. 

You can have discussions, this is built into this product which is free. People can ask questions and you can answer them and people who create challenges automatically at subscribed to these discussions so they get alerted to them and know it is time to reply. Here are the winning eight submissions. 

A blog is also optional. You can have blog comments if you like. Here are the rules. As you see on the right, there is share functionality and people can login with Facebook connect which makes it easier . 

I will show you how people find challenges followed by a really quick demonstration of how easy it is to create a challenge. 

Here is the finding challenges. Users can sort by the newest, I challenges of time left, I how big prices are -- prizes are and how popular they are. 

I want to show you how easy it is to create a challenge. One thing is you're not sad or have to use that look. You can customize the look like we have done with these recipes for healthy kids on behalf of the first lady. Here are the followers. If you look at the recipes, this is a custom view and here are some of the winners. If you click submission, you can see there is new analysis here, and different serving sizes here. I apologize if I am speaking fast but I don't want to take everybody's time. If you're looking for customize look, maybe there is a lot of money and big initiative find your challenge, and you don't want to look like the others. You can do that as well in addition to the other. 

So let's post a challenge and I will show you how easy it is. You can login with Facebook cannot to -- cannot -- cannot -- connect. This is all past 508 accessibility and also security standards. So it is totally secure. By posting a challenge on challenge.gov, you are not required  to do the PRA stuff as long as you're not asking for specific information. So additional information is the default. It also makes it easier for a paperwork standpoint-- standpoint to put challenges through challenge.gov . 

I have administrator status so click on my dashboard and we are going to click post a challenge. 

Here is posting a challenge. I will go back to something I neglected to show you which is how to request access if you're interested ? You put post a challenge and then click apply for access. There is a video that shows you about it. When you apply for access , the admins in your agency will get notified with your phone number and information, and they will be able to approve or reject you as an admin for a challenge creator.

We can go into those at the different time if you want to know the difference weird let's get back to posting a challenge and how easy it is. 

The basic information, you will give it a title, so we will say HHS test challenge. You want to give it a tagline, so we will say creating better solutions. I'm going to go faster. The category could be help -- health and education. 

The organization is going to be help and human services -- health and human services. Your partner is your sponsor. And are you going to allow people to post submissions on this right or is this just going to be a listing and you are hosted elsewhere ? If you hosted on the site, it gives you all the tools to review submissions, communicate with the entrance, them credit for winning and for them to have profiles. So that is free. You also get access to reach all the other people that have submitted challenges that you're not required to. 

So we will say that. Describe your challenge here. You have full editing capacity . you can embed a video like you saw with the healthy living and innovations awards. You can attach images and tell people how to enter and the rules. 

We're going to click the -- skip this and click on prizes. We will call it  grand prizes and collect $10,000  and one winner. We will say it is $10,000 cash. Misinformation gets saved in the system -- this information gets saved in the system. 

We will just do one more which is an honorable mention of $500. And we will say there are five of those. And then you save it. And if you want honorable mentions to appear first you can drag it back. Same thing with judges. I am not going to take you through the whole thing, but you can add a judge, judging criteria and turn on public voting. We highly recommend this because people compete against each other and tell all their friends . so from a marketing perspective it makes sense to have at least one public voting prize. 

It will create awareness around what you are doing which is really important. We will skip to submissions. So this is what the people who may enter your competition will see. You will enter your instructions here, -- not just what they will see that what they are able to do. If you want them to enter images, let's say it is an image challenge or you just like images because we think people care about them , we can try that on. People can upload a video and you can require it or not require it. The same with a file. If you want them to upload files and we accept all kinds of files. And at a website link, it you can turn on or off. And the last thing no show you our dates. Simply add the start and end date. 

The judging. And winners announcement and if we had turned on voting earlier, we would see that as well . then you click preview your challenge. Creating a challenge could not be simpler the hard part is figuring out what you want your challenge to the period is where you can turn on your blog, discussions, analytics and lastly, moderators be --. Use of people that can review your challenge is. 

Thank you very much. 

Did you Brandon. We actually have some questions -- thank you Brandon, we actually have some questions. We will tackle some now and then received with well -- Will. 

The first question is do you have to use the GSA contract vehicle or our agency vehicles acceptable -- or are agency vehicles acceptable [ laughter ] 

Those are acceptable, we just wanted a contract mechanism available. 

Every challenge that is when the HHS or sponsor should be posted on challenge.gov  even if the is not the platform it is run on. 

I think they're talking about the contract mechanism, notactual challenge.gov . But if you need help managing the contract itselfand it is doing all the stuff on challenge.gov , then you need a contract vehicle. You can either use GSA or whatever contract vehicle you have available. GSA Is just making some contractors available. I hope that answers that person's question. If not please send us another comment. 

A second question is is this for all the presenters and me we have a copy of your slide ? 

We will post this on new media.HHS.of --.gov website. A question for Karen. When will the 250 available ? 

I think it will be -- when will the toolkit be available ? 

By the end of August. And it will be on one of our other website called how to thought of -- howto.gov. 

A great -- great. The next question is what was the url contract again ? Or can you send the slide out ? 

We will have the slides posted. But Karen can you say that website again. 

Yes if you go to -- 

Somebody's e-mail a showing, John your e-mail is being displayed on the website right now . 

Thank you we are fixing that rate now . 

This is Karen and if you go to gsa.gov and click on e Library and type 5414g in the search box and it will take you to the special item number that we set up for challenge and competition services. 

Great. Thank you. What approval process do we have to go through in order to post a challenge ? Who decides what's an acceptable challenge is ? 

>>on a tackle that question  ? 

I can get a superficial answer and they be that should be a good transition onto the next one. When you go to challenge.gov,  and you hit apply, a couple of people within HHS will get it. Right now that is myself and Greg Downing who is the executive director of innovations at HHS. He also helps run the HHS innovations Council. The admissions Council takes it upon itself to lead the challenges effort. So Greg is the one who officially tells you yes you can post. 

For the formal full clearance, if it does not go through the HHS innovations Council, you need to work with your own OTC and everyone else appropriately for your specific challenge. The innovations Council is available for consultation and is happy to help support you along the way. And certainly help you prevent recreating wheels.

And also, I am here to answer any questions and as you think about developing the challenge, I encourage you to use myself to talk to Greg, and to use the innovations Council before you get to the point where you're trying to publish something. We can offer you right in -- guidance. And also going to the website and reviewing the guidelines for developing a challenge, so you're clear about what you can and cannot do. 

The challenges that are over 500,000, those challenges have to go through secretary all approvals . we do have a -- form on our website for the process you would follow were a large challenge. 

Rate. And Elizabeth will talk -- great, and Elizabeth will talk about that later. But next we have Will. 

Hello everyone it is a pleasure to be here Will. My name is and I help lead innovation off -- efforts for Helpit. I work closely with Mike and Adam who is helping to project manage many of the aspects of the -- [ Indiscernible - papers rustling ] 

The platform we are using to conduct prizes and challenges, I have given my e-mail addresss as part of his presentation, to anyone who wants to contact me for clarity and detail of the program please fill free to reach out and we will be as responsive as possible. 


So what is I2, it is technically they assistantaround the prizes and challenges effort . We were very fortunate to have the -- pass in 2010, but we we realized that to the internal infrastructure, the apparatus necessary to conduct accessible challenges and to achieve the goals and promises of open innovation were not in place. So we reached out to -- and were able to put a procurement on the street that we could help us out to conduct the prices and challenge -- prices and challenge effort we wanted to do at HHS. 

The purpose of the technical assistance is to look at the challenges and various processes necessary to carry them out from end to end. What we see as a crucial step from our field research challenges, is to develop an innovation network. This will support competitions. 

This means fostering various communities and developers. Having the medication network to rapidly publicize and generate a great deal of extra the interest in challenges. And provide an easy-to-use web platform that augment the capabilities of challenge the have -- challenge.gov. We see this as the essential component of this program , but recognize that the public communicate and ask as many -- access as many different websites such as twitter and Facebook. We want to reach out to those folks very rapidly. 

Moving on to the next slide, the goals of the I2  --

I think you have to control the slides -- and it will fix itself on the back and -- and --. 

Moving on to the goalsof the I2 .form -- platform, is to look at the agency's mission and attract more interest and attention to a program activities or an issue of concern. The promise of having solutions leverage via the challenge is very compelling. It resonates in a very broad and wide level. But we want to see communication and community building effort highlighted as well. 

To demonstrate excellence in a particular domain. Of human endeavor and to inspire and motivate others to participate. 

What we see as the promiseof I2 , is to engage populations who have never really participated in the process before. To get them participating and developing and to participate in a process that policymakers have determined is essential to be successful of existing programs. In our case it is to promote widespread -- help IT and support healthcare and transformation. 

Surmounting the ability to stimulate private investment that is many times greater than the original value of the award. You really see the challenge effort as a catalyst driving all of these things. With this solution, while very important, the almost secondary -- it is almost secondary to the entire process. The I2 program also takes into account  the government and internal infrastructure that is necessary for agencies to conduct challenges. 

And the next slide I will talk about the government structure. We really have to back committees and expert panels to help advise both 'ONC as well as a contractor that will be facilitating the typical assistant. 

We were fortunate enough to put him it -- procurement on the street and have cooperation between capital consulting Corporation or CCC and appoint a well respected leaders. 

So ONC as a steering committee to advise us on our challenge effort. It helps serve as a governing body for this project and support widespread operation with other federal agencies. 

Moving onto the next slide, we have a technical expert panel, external advisors that advise the contractor on the appropriate measures that should be undertaken with regard to challenge effort. We recognize that no individual or group that will be able to appropriately excavate all the nuances associated with challenge effort. 

So we convened a group to advise ONC and to the experts panel and advise the contractor as a means to edge our that's and pulled expertise to advise us. Our expert panel advises the contractor as a sole Asian and so we do not run -- 

So that in a nutshellis the I2 program . Later on Abdul we'll talk about her first challenge which was launched with NCiI and is very excited and has to deal with cancer data. Without I will end this and anyone who has questions -- with that I will end this and if you have any questions, the free to reach out. 

Okay and now we will get started with Abdul who will provide us with some information and discussion on how to actually , and a challenge -- how to actually implement a challenge. Can you hear us Abdul ? 

Okay, thank you. I am very excited to be here to share our challenge effort including our recent challenge with ONC. Can we go to the next slide please. I want to give a little bit of background to give the audience an idea of the context that led to the idea of jumping into the challenge. Here at NCI I am the program director of Cancer control and population sciences. Part of our goals and the division is very broad. Generally, we are looking at how to reduce the risk, incidence and death from cancer. And also to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors in essence, this is a cancer controlled continuing. -- Continuum. 

We conduct research in a broad number of fields including genetic, epidemiology, behavior, implied research and surveillance research. We also look at how we can apply these to cancer survivorship. 

In the passing of years, and I'm sure it is no surprise to my colleagues at HHS, we are struggling with this challenge of data overload in science and medicine. This slide highlights a couple of special issues, but what we are trying to figure out is how we can start making use of the data and using technologies and infrastructure efforts by ONC and others. 

So, a brief sample of one effort. This is a proof of concept called the topside grid that we played around with addressing the challenge of sharing data and operation of science and communication of data for various overs including scientists and researchers. We have also been very pleased to interact with folks at other agencies such as NSF and the case to center for Ehealth and Northwestern and \RPI. 

We found a real gap in the science we are supporting, because of the recent studies showing by Laura, on iPhone apps , most apps do not support or translate to evidence-based that we already know can help with [ Indiscernible - low volume ] 

So there is a gap in terms of how this evidence-based for behavior change or preventative health and cancer and cancer prevention cannot be translated into the resources that people are using. Particular -- particularly with this new media technology. 

This slide is meant to give you a timeline. When we saw that the government -- came out and was launched last year we were very excited, because it builds on the idea of -- data and how do we make use of it for innovation, how do we reach out and be more transparent in what we are doing and IH at HHS. This led to the launch of our next -- next challenge. 

We offered travel as an award, and the response to the challenge [ Indiscernible - low volume ] led to some really neat application. Including one using localized data on cancer and how to develop a purple second target journalists and media folks so they can access population data sources that are evidence based in a way that is very easy for non-technical folks to do so. 

Another application when her belt and interfaces for visualizing data. 

So, with the American competes act and the launch of challenge.gov , we used those challenges last September as templates to launch our first challenge. It is very helpful to look at other challenges and see how they are structuring their effort. OSC Recently launched their I2  effort which Will just talked about and this is a great way for us to partner with our fellow agency in this effort. 

So, here is our current challenge. It is titlist calling data from cancer controlled innovation to impact. You can look it up on challenge.gov , but we tried to address this broad challenge we had of cancer control continuum in terms of trying to figure out how to use data to address the need for decision support tools, for communication between patients and providers, at risk -- 

There are a lot of places here where X. terminal research is -- and we wanted to reach out to innovators and technology. The developers that Will has said, mechanisms like I2 can help enable that contact. I am really excited to reach out to this community again  [ Indiscernible - low volume ] 

We also chose to go with -- the reason is because we want to have our final is and winners exposed to leaders in health, technology and the private sector community so they can -- get winning apps after this challenge is over. You don't just want challenges -- but also touches on the notion of how we like to see apps come in but have the potential to integrate and some white -- in various platforms. 

Are thinking is we want to tie the challenge entrants to our small business innovation research program. This is an existing mechanism in HHS and then IH where we can [ Indiscernible - low volume ] and translation of scientific -- in the community. 

In the path forward, we are excited and launched last week a wonderful initial response. We are working with ONC and our partners that help -- and triple C. we are also looking to develop our funding opportunities that will tie into this effort, the challenge effort. Lastly, I want to recognize this has been a group effort across the agencies I have mentioned, as well as our project team here with contributions from a number of folks. Thank you. 

Thank you. Next up we have a list of the who is going to walk us through some of the guidelines and available resources for implementing challenges. 

My name is Elizabeth and I work closely with Todd our chief technology officer at the innovation Council on promoting innovation activities in HHS. We are excited about the American competes legislation and the opportunity to challenge mechanism offers to HHS agencies it innovation Council has been tapped with coordinating policy develop around implementation of this -- we were asked by the innovation Council cochair is to develop a toolkit that program managers around HHS can use in structuring their challenges. 

The toolkit that was developed is available on the website at HHS.gov/opr\en. I put this site up on the site. It is available for HHS employees and our stakeholders. 

Because the American competes a petition is new and we have little experience with challenges, toolkit and website were developed and are version 1.0. We expect information thing on the website will grow and improve as the department aims more experience with the new chairman tool -- procurement tool. 

The purpose of our website is to provide basic information to HHS employees and our stakeholders about challenges and competition. To try to fill in some of the policy gaps that are in it to HHS implementation of challenges and to provide a center repository where challenge managers can find information related to the new authority. 

We developed this website with input from and GSA Ott and is an additive website and not competitive of what GSA has argued put up. 

Are intent in building the website and various documents is not to create a top down approach to the implementation challenges, to develop a general framework with legal I post in which challenge managers can operate. We are aware that several operating -- create their own challenges and we encourage that. Using the website and tools will provide a starting point and a general framework within which to operate. 

If I could is what you'd are some of the features of the website and then I will talk about the guidance system itself. First of all, we try to provide an overview of challenges and competition and provide basic background information of the legislation and policy initiatives leading up to it. 

We also feature a 20 minute video that we created in collaboration with Duane about the power challenges and their application to health and human services and the video features -- as well . 

The website draws attention to the HHS sponsored challenges on challenge.gov . I think we have 23 challenges which you will find by clicking on this link. We also feature a winners Gallery. The purpose of the winners Gallery is to link to prior winners of HHS challenges and is meant to help you understand some of the cool things that challenges have developed. 

Next section of the website contains resources. So we have, first of all a link to the relevant authorities and that is the American competes legislation. We have links to the relative OMB GSA and and are going asked questions. As more are available we will post them so it is easy one-stop shopping. 

We have a number of agencies -- HHS guidelines and documents that I will talk about momentarily. We have a link to the challenge platform , which would include the challenge-- challenge.gov  platform that Karen and Brandon talked about. 

We also have links to some of the proprietary vendors that people may want to use for running challenges. We provide links to some networks that manage art challenges at HHS. One is the federal wide Lister for those engaged in challenges and prices. And the-- prizes. And the other is a collaborative tool like wiki  it is a place where people can have conversations off-line and not publicly viewable. 

Finally, we have select additional resources that challenge managers may wish to consult or use in promoting challenge -- challenges within their organization. 

I thought it would I prefer talk about him of the HHS specific guidance is that we posted on the website. Currently we are there -- there are seven guidances with three more coming soon. They were developed in operation with key parts of the office of the secretary. That includes the office of General Counsel, the secretary of administration, the secretary for the or financial resources and public affairs. 

One of the guidance factors that we have available on the website is the deluge -- delegation of authority in April 2011, secretaries William delegated the authority invested in her to administer one prizes prices -- to the head of the agencies and carried it to the  innovation Council. It has authority to administer competitions and can be currently subjugated -- sub delegated to the challenge managers. 

The second HHS document that is on the website are the judging petition guidelines. So the competing factor requires that each federal agency developed its own right line for the selection and appointment of judges. This document on the web provides a broad framework within which agencies and challenge managers can operate. It provides general guidelines on the qualification and status of judges, for example judges appointed from private sector and special government employees. 

It provides guidance on the selection of judges and the judging process and also contains links to some of the forms that judges have to fill out and training they need to take, things like ethics and financial disclosure and a mandatory certificate of nondisclosure, conflicts of interest, and rules of conduct. 

The third HHS guidance that it -- is available as the Federal Register guidance. They compete act requires that agencies publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the requirement and registration for challenges and competition. This document provides instruction on proper formatting for the Federal Register and overview of the mandatory elements required by the compete act and suggested language for the eligibility requirements and also
appoint challenge managers to other relevant guidances for issues that may have bearing on the content of the Federal Register notice, such as influential property rights and -- 

So the next -- the fourth HHS guidance document is the approval process of prizes  more than 500,000. 

I am told we have to wrap up. So let me briefly say, we have three other guidances, we have HHS specific items document on liability and insurance requirements that are described in the compete act. We have a question and answer on managing -- property rights and a guidance document on the annual template supporting requirements. So basically OST have to provide a report to Congress each year, and we need to provide information to them so we provide 
the reporting template and challenge managers have to fill that out within five days of awarding the prize. We also have three more guidance document will be coming onto the website, one has to do with the 508 requirements and people work reduction act and when the that implicated. And the final thing, which will be approved this afternoon is a financial management policy guidance as well as payment forms. 

Great, thank you Elizabeth. We have about five minutes left, and I wanted to leave some time for questions and answers here that there are a couple of questions think you. -- In queue. 

We have a question right now can federal a -- in place apply for challenges that are not posted by their own entities ? 

Diane, generally you can participate in a competition not posted or sponsored by their own Institute, however cannot be within the scope of your employment. If you look at the app or the site -- basically, you can apply for those that are not part of your daily work -- [ Indiscernible - low volume ] and nothing related to federal work that you do. 

The legal frame is within the scope of your employment. Let's keep it at that. As we get more experience under the compete act that will be redefined. 

Right. Any other questions ?

What technical assistance is available to people at other agencies who want to write challenges. Not sure were -- we should talk with -- [ Indiscernible - low volume ] 

I think we have been having discussions with outside groups giving them guidance and things that we are doing here and providing our expertise in that way. You can reach out to myself, Greg Downing or Elizabeth and we can set up some discussions on what we have been doing here at HHS VSA. In terms of contract vehicles and stuff like that, I think it's probably the best person to talk to to get information about how to do this within your a busy -- and your agency -- within your agency. 

I was just going to say, el -- I echo Wilma. We are available to talk to education or any other agency. 

Any other questions ? 

I just had a question for GS -- GSA. Is this 508 compliant ? 

Yes it is and there is a link to that in your toolkit. 

We will have to work on that and posting our -- maybe Diane or Elizabeth can answer this question. How do we start up to pay out an award ? 

That is an issue that is being considered by our office. 

We are still working on that issue. 

There is a financial policy document that is going to be issued later today. It is a finalization, but we do have forms being created and and obligating form that you will have to sign. It will all be available once it is finalized on the website. 

Even though we have not worked all the kinks , it should not keep you from thinking about it or getting started with it. We have a group of folks who are tackling daily issues as they come up. This is all work in progress, but it is a great innovative tool for everybody to use. 

Another question. -- Any other questions ? Are NIH grant runs competition great what guidelines should they follow ? 

There are some competitions happening after the grantees level. We have not done many guidelines around that area, but it is a topic we will begin talking about. At the very least, I think we can share whatever guidelines we have here within HHS and [ Indiscernible - low volume ] we can talk about it more and have more information on the site about that. 

I believe the financial management document will also address that there will be some guidance on that. 

So we're out to 3:00 right now and I think everybody for participating I want to give a closing statement is a any institutions including upper mids are looking outside the organization for ideas and solutions to problems and challenges in competitions are often used to open innovation. Whether you are seeking to solve a conflict or data problem for determine new ways to address disease, the challenge platform could be used to foster innovation . I hope -- I hope you learned a lot from the session and I prechewed to go to HHS .govopen and click on challenges and competitions and feel free to contact me. I am in HHS global if you have questions about starting challenges and we will be sure to post all of this information. Thank you again and get going on developing your challenges and competitions at -- ! 

Thank you. 

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Webinar: Challenges and Competitions

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