[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16895-16898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6830]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Announcement of Competition Under the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2011: Project REACH Homelessness Mobile App 
Contest

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: To provide software which can operate on smart phones and 
tablet devices that can simplify access to resources available to the 
homeless and the caregivers and caseworkers who serve them, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces a prize competition under 
Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2011, Public 
Law 111-358 (2011) (the ``Act'').

DATES: Competition begins 12 p.m. March 22, 2012. Entries will be 
accepted until 11 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, July 27, 2012. The Grand 
Prize Winner will be announced on or before November 9, 2012, at 11 
p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Webb at the Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20420, at (202) 632-9550. (Note: This is not a toll-free 
number.) See also, Section 11, below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    As a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions and 
founder of the non-profit Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ) Soul Foundation, Jon Bon 
Jovi approached the former White House Chief Technology Officer to ask 
about ways that volunteers could find shelters in the neighborhood of 
the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant in Monmouth County, New 
Jersey that is sponsored by his foundation. He was subsequently 
referred to the VA Chief Technology Officer and the Director of the VA 
Innovation Initiative (VAi2), who began to explore solutions. They 
recognized that this was not just a local problem and that finding a 
solution that would allow service providers to refer their clients to 
other resources (including food, shelter, and clinical services) could 
substantially advance Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's goal of ending 
Veteran homelessness by 2015. Because JBJ Soul Kitchen has been 
intimately involved in the development to the project, because they do 
not have any pecuniary interest whatsoever in the outcome, nor will 
they gain from this voluntary affiliation, and because they serve 
Veterans as part of their ``neighbor in need'' population, we decided 
that it was an ideal venue for contestants to demonstrate their entries 
as a defined beta test site. VAi2 recognized that working closely with 
this private organization, rather than solely focusing on VA 
facilities, would benefit Veterans because homeless Veterans do not and 
should not exclusively use VA facilities; encouraging JBJ Soul 
Kitchen's close participation helps to emphasize the need to include 
private providers and would encourage software developers to include 
these organizations within their developed entries.
    The Project Real-time Electronic Access for Caregivers and the 
Homeless (REACH) contest is being sponsored by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs through the VA Innovation Initiative, in support of 
the Administration's goal to end Veteran homelessness by 2015. This is 
an apps-development challenge to help the people who help the homeless 
more easily find essential services. It is

[[Page 16896]]

designed to tap the enormous talent and deep compassion of the nation's 
developer community. Winners of this contest will deliver a free, easy-
to-use, and broadly accessible web and smartphone application that 
provides locality-based information about shelters, clinics, and food 
banks. This contest has the potential to advance the mission of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs by providing technological support to 
those who help homeless Veterans. While emphasizing Veterans, however, 
VA believes all persons experiencing homelessness or providing care to 
the homeless would benefit from an application that provides better 
access and information to healthcare, employment, and counseling 
services.
    Finalists will develop applications which provide users with easy 
access to resources near JBJ Soul Kitchen (Red Bank, NJ). This contest 
is designed to expand the help that this provider of services to the 
homeless--and other similar organizations across the country--can offer 
by providing easy access to up-to-date information about local 
resources. Finalists in this competition must at a minimum provide 
real- or near real-time information about bed availability among area 
homeless shelters near JBJ Soul Kitchen.
    The ultimate goal of this contest is to create a national platform 
that can be adapted to any location in America to support those who 
help the homeless rapidly identify points of service, including food, 
shelter and medical clinics.

Contest Requirements and Rules

    1. Subject of the contest. The goal of the contest is to create a 
free, easy-to-use, and broadly accessible web- and smartphone app to 
provide locality-based services available to the homeless, including 
shelters, health clinics, and food banks.
    2. Amount of the prize. VA will award up to $10,000 to as many as 
five finalists. VA will award an additional Grand Prize of up to 
$25,000 to one of those finalists. The $10,000 prizes will be awarded 
in one lump sum. The $25,000 prize will also be awarded in one lump 
sum.
    3. Basis on which finalists will be selected. Finalists will be the 
first five (5) entrants who:
    a. Create a functional mobile application to offer to homeless 
advocates and shelter coordinators that meets the following 
requirements:
     Runs on at least one of the following browsers: Explorer, 
Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.
     Runs on at least one of the following smartphone 
platforms: iPhone or Android. (Note, however, that the Grand Prize 
winner must support both the iPhone and Android platforms.).
     Demonstrates at least 99% uptime.
     Creates a mechanism that allows for simple aggregation of 
near or real time bed availability at shelters local to JBJ Soul 
Kitchen, which is located at: 207 Monmouth St., Red Bank, New Jersey 
07701.
     Provides information about local VA health services.
     Provides information about local employment services and 
job opportunities.
     Provides information about crisis hotline services.
     Provides local legal assistance resources.
     ``Local'' is defined as geographically within Monmouth 
County, New Jersey.
    b. Submit a complete entry within the submission period beginning 
12 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012, and ending 11 p.m. July 27, 2012, 
unless extended by formal announcement.
     To be complete, an entry must be submitted to: 
www.reachthehomeless.challenge.gov and include a working link to a Web 
site from which judges can download the application that meets the 
criteria in 3.a. or includes a mobile device with the app pre-loaded. 
If the entry includes a pre-loaded mobile device, instead of a link to 
a site at which the app can be downloaded, a submission must be made to 
www.reachthehomeless.challenge.gov on the day that device is 
transmitted to the VAi2 team.
     The entry date is the date the VA receives a complete 
application. If the contestant chooses to supply a mobile device with 
their app pre-loaded, the www.reachthehomeless.challenge.gov submission 
is tentative until receipt of the device with the pre-loaded 
application. If the transmission date and online submission dates 
differ, the transmission date will be used as the entry date for the 
purposes of this contest.
     See the submission rules (Section 9) for more information 
about submission requirements.
    4. Beta test phase. To compete for the Grand Prize, finalists will 
participate in a beta test phase.
    a. The beta test phase will consist of live trials with the staff 
of the JBJ Soul Kitchen shelter located at 207 Monmouth St., Red Bank, 
New Jersey 07701.
    b. The beta test phase will include two rounds, beginning on August 
30, 2012, and concluding November 3, 2012.
     Within each round, finalists will be assigned at random a 
three-day period (e.g., Thursday, Friday, Saturday) to have users at 
the shelter pilot the application and provide feedback.
    c. Finalists will be expected to deliver at least one (1) working 
device with the application pre-loaded and any instructions for use to 
the pilot site prior to their beta test periods.
    d. Finalists are encouraged but not required to travel to Soul 
Kitchen during their beta test periods.
    e. Finalists are encouraged but not required to perform usability 
testing at other locations, in addition to their assigned beta test 
periods at Soul Kitchen.
    f. Changes to the beta test schedule or pilot site will be 
communicated via formal announcement.
    5. Basis on which the Grand Prize will be awarded. The Grand Prize 
winner will be selected from among the five finalists following a beta 
test phase. The Grand Prize will be awarded to the entrant that 
receives the highest score from the Competition panel of judges during 
the final presentation following the beta test phase. The successful 
finalist will:
    a. Provide an application that supports both iPhone and Android 
platforms.
    b. Provide a web link from which judges can download this 
application to a mobile device. Documentation provided as part of the 
entry must include any important additional information, such as system 
requirements.
     Unlike the previous round of competition, delivering a 
mobile device or devices with the application preloaded will not 
satisfy this requirement.
    c. Provide users with real- or near real-time information about the 
services listed above in 3.a.
    d. Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the judges that the 
application excels in areas of performance speed, ease of use, 
comprehensive service delivery to support those who help the homeless, 
and feature extensions not explicitly contemplated on the contest Web 
site. Selection of the winner is in the sole discretion of the judges.
    6. Alternate basis for selecting five finalists. If the competition 
judges decide that fewer than five entrants have met the submission 
criteria by July 27, 2012, VA may select fewer than five finalists.
    a. In the event of a tie for the fifth position based on submission 
time, the competition judges will review the tying applications to 
determine if they meet the requirements listed in 3a. If both

[[Page 16897]]

applications are found to meet the eligibility criteria, the contest 
will expand to accommodate a sixth finalist. The fifth and sixth 
finalist will each receive a $10,000 prize. They will each, however, 
only get one round of beta testing days, instead of two, to be decided 
at random.
     In the unlikely event that more than two competitors tie 
and all entrants meet the selection criteria, the judges will select 
two finalists at random. The selected finalists will each receive a 
$10,000 prize and one round of beta testing, to be decided at random.
    7. Decisions to not award. If the competition judges find that no 
entrants have met the selection criteria for the five finalists, then 
no finalists will be selected and no award will be granted. If the 
competition judges find that none of the finalists have met the 
criteria for the Grand Prize Winner, then no Grand Prize award will be 
awarded.
    8. Contest period. The contest period will proceed according to the 
following schedule, unless modified or extended by a formal 
announcement.
    a. The contest will begin accepting submissions at 12 p.m., March 
22, 2012.
    b. Judges will begin reviewing submissions on or about April 30, 
2012.
    c. The deadline for submissions is 11 p.m., July 27, 2012.
    d. Finalists will be announced on or about August 24, 2012.
    e. The beta test phase will begin on or about August 30, 2012.
    f. The beta test phase will conclude on or about November 3, 2012.
    g. Judges will begin reviewing the final applications on or about 
November 5, 2012.
    h. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on or about November 9, 
2012.
    9. Submissions. To participate in this competition, contestants 
must submit an entry to www.reachthehomeless.challenge.gov, which 
includes:
    a. A narrative describing the participant's homelessness 
application. The narrative will be in a format compatible with 
Microsoft Word 2007, not exceeding five 8 [frac12] x 11'' pages in 
length using Arial or Calibri 11 point font and one-inch margins.
    b. Information necessary to contact the participant in the event 
the participant is an apparent winner or there are questions about the 
information submitted, including name, street address, email address 
and telephone number.
    c. An explanation of how judges can test the application. 
Submissions may take one of two forms:
     A link in the submission email to the appropriate site 
from which the judges could download the application. The narrative 
should list any additional requirements for downloading, such as a 
password, device type, or operating system version; or
     A mobile device with the app pre-loaded. The narrative 
must include any additional requirements for using the device, such as 
a passcode. The device must be transmitted by overnight delivery via 
United Parcel Service, United States Postal Service, FedEx, or similar 
service to the following address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Attn: 
Jonah Czerwinski, 810 Vermont Ave NW., Mail Code 00 Suite 1015C, 
Washington DC 20420.
    The device will be returned to the contestant after final judging 
and no later than December 31, 2012.
    10. Eligibility to participate in the competition. To be eligible 
to win a prize in this competition, an individual or entity:
    a. Must create an account on the www.challenge.gov web site by 
supplying name and email address. Creating an account will constitute 
``registration to participate in the competition'' as provided in the 
Act.
    b. In the case of an individual, must be a citizen or permanent 
resident of the United States; and if an entity, must be incorporated 
in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States.
    c. Must have complied with all requirements of this Notice and all 
requirements established by Section 105 of the America COMPETES Act of 
2011, Public Law 111-358.
    d. May not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within 
the scope of his or her employment.
    e. Must agree to assume any and all risks and waive any claims 
against the Federal government and its related entities, except in 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 this competition, 
whether the injury, death, damage or loss arises through negligence or 
otherwise. Provided, however, that participants will not be required to 
waive claims against VA arising out of the unauthorized use of or 
disclosure by the agency of the intellectual property, trade secrets or 
confidential information of the participant.
     Participants shall be responsible for obtaining their own 
insurance to cover claims by any third party for death, bodily injury, 
or property damage, or loss resulting from an activity carried out in 
connection with or participation in the competition.
    f. VA will use the information submitted in the entry to contact 
the finalists and apparent Grand Prize winner. If VA is unsuccessful in 
contacting the apparent winner after a minimum of 10 attempts over the 
course of a 10-day period, it may disqualify the participant and either 
(1) award the prize to another participant or (2) terminate this 
competition without awarding any prize.
    g. Prior to final designation as a finalist in this competition, 
finalists will be required to submit the below documentation:
     If an individual, that the person is a citizen or 
permanent resident of the United States; and if an entity, that is it 
incorporated in and maintains a place of business in the United States;
     Financial account information sufficient to support 
electronic transfer of the prize amount consistent with VA fiscal 
policy and the issuance of an IRS Form 1099. The information submitted 
will be used for these purposes only.
    11. Procedures for obtaining additional information:
    a. During the period of this competition, VA will operate and 
maintain a moderated blog at www.reachthehomeless.challenge.gov to 
which participants may submit questions and receive official guidance 
from VA.
    b. VA may choose not to respond to any question or comment or to 
delete questions or comments which it determines are not relevant to 
the competition.
    c. All participants are bound by official guidance on the blog if 
posted prior to submission of a participant's entry.
    12. Judges and judging procedures:
    a. Subject to the requirements of Public Law 111-358, Sec 24(k), 
the Director, VA Innovations Initiative, acting on behalf and with the 
authority of the Secretary of VA, will appoint one or more qualified 
individuals to act as judges of the Homelessness Mobile App contest and 
may appoint himself as a judge. Judges may include individuals from 
outside VA, including from the private sector and individuals nominated 
by the Competition.
    b. A judge may not have a personal or financial interest in, or be 
an employee, officer, director, or agent of any entity that is a 
registered entrant in the Contest, and may not have a familial or 
financial relationship with an individual who is a registered entrant.
    c. Specific tasks related to the judging process may be delegated 
to VA employees or employees of a collaborating Federal agency.

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    d. Judges shall have the authority to disregard any minor error in 
any entry that does not create any substantial benefit or detriment to 
any entrant.
    e. If a judge is disqualified or unable to fulfill his or her 
duties, VAi2 reserves the right to substitute another official as 
judge.
     VA may select different judges for the finalist selection 
panel and the Grand Prize award panel.
    f. The competition judges may use any technical means they 
determine suitable to test the functionality and usability of the 
entrant's homelessness application.
    g. Decisions of the judges are final.
    13. Intellectual Property: Participants in the competition will 
retain ownership of their applications, and any intellectual property 
developed under this competition. The Federal Government may negotiate 
a license for the use of intellectual property developed by a 
participant.
    a. The winner of the competition will make its application 
available and free to download from appropriate application 
marketplace(s) by a date to be decided by the VAi2 team on or about the 
time the Grand Prize winner is announced.
    b. VA may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, choose to 
negotiate with any non-winning entrant for a license to use any 
intellectual property developed by a participant for this competition.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John R. 
Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on March 16, 2012, for publication.

    Dated: March 16, 2012.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General 
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-6830 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P