[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4326-4327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1846]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Requirements and Registration for ``Health 
Innovations in Commuting Challenge''

AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this challenge is to highlight the role of 
health data during commutes and how it may play a critical role in 
improving the health of commuters. The ``Health Innovations in 
Commuting Challenge'' invites innovators to submit their best ideas and 
models for improving the health of American commuters through better 
collection, exchange, and analysis of health data.
    The statutory authority for this challenge competition is Section 
105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
358).

DATES: Effective on January 23, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Wong, (202) 720-2866; Wil Yu, 
(202) 690-5920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Subject of Challenge Competition: Commuting is an essential and 
growing component of daily life for most American workers, making up 
about 20% of all trips taken--a significant percentage of the lives of 
one of the most critical segments of the American economy. Among the 
140 million workers in America, 86.1% commuted in a car, truck, or van 
in 2009; 76.1%

[[Page 4327]]

drove to work alone. The amount of time taken up by commuters in the 
U.S. is significant as workers took an average of 25.1 minutes to get 
to work; more than 3.2 million U.S. workers commute for more than 90 
minutes. While commuting has been studied with regards to differences 
in gender, social status, ethnicity, and geographic location, 
relatively little is known about the health of workers during commutes 
beyond population studies on general health impact. Commuting has been 
shown to correlate with a variety of health factors, as long commutes 
are associated with health problems such as high cholesterol, recurring 
neck and back pain, and higher stress levels. The ``Health Innovations 
in Commuting Challenge'' is the first of a series of challenges 
dedicated to encouraging innovations that support improving the health 
of American commuters.
    Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition:
    To be eligible to win a prize under this challenge, an individual 
or entity:
    (1) Shall have registered to participate in the competition under 
the rules promulgated by Office of the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology;
    (2) Shall have complied with all the requirements under this 
section;
    (3) In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the 
case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and
    (4) May not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within 
the scope of their employment.
    An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the 
individual or entity used Federal facilities or consulted with Federal 
employees during a competition if the facilities and employees are made 
available to all individuals and entities participating in the 
competition on an equitable basis.
    Registered participants shall be required to agree to 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 a competition, whether the injury, death, damage, or 
loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
    All participants are required to provide written consent to the 
rules upon or before submitting an entry.
    Dates:
     Submission Period Begins: 12:01a.m., EDT, January 23, 
2012.
     Submission Period Ends: 11:59 p.m., EDT, March 5, 2012.
    Registration Process for Participants:
    To register for this challenge participants should:
     Access the www.challenge.gov Web site and search for the 
``Health Innovations in Commuting Challenge''.
     Access the ONC Investing in Innovation (i2) Challenge Web 
site at:
    [cir] http://www.health2challenge.org/category/onc/.
    [cir] A registration link for the challenge can be found on the 
landing page under the challenge description.
    Amount of the Prize:
     Winner will present the submission on an ONC-hosted 
webinar and will have opportunities for future collaboration with 
industry leaders.
    Basis upon Which Winner Will be Selected:
    The judging panel will make selections based upon the following 
criteria:
    1. Novelty of proposals for commuter health data collection, 
dissemination, and analysis to drive improvement in health outcomes.
    2. Identification and utility of potential future partnerships to 
further innovative development.
    3. Understanding of effects of automobile commutes on health 
outcomes.
    Additional Information:
    Ownership of intellectual property is determined by the following:
     Each entrant retains title and full ownership in and to 
their submission. Entrants expressly reserve all intellectual property 
rights not expressly granted under the challenge agreement.
     By participating in the challenge, each entrant hereby 
irrevocably grants to Sponsor and Administrator a limited, non-
exclusive, royalty free, worldwide, license and right to reproduce, 
publically perform, publically display, and use the Submission to the 
extent necessary to administer the challenge, and to publically perform 
and publically display the Submission, including, without limitation, 
for advertising and promotional purposes relating to the challenge.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719.

    Dated: January 23, 2012.
Farzad Mostashari,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2012-1846 Filed 1-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-45-P