[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25525-25528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10302]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Requirements and Registration for the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety 
Data Utilization Student Challenge

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data 
Utilization Student Challenge. The purpose of the Challenge is to 
facilitate the development of mobile Web sites and applications to make 
FMCSA's motorcoach safety data more accessible and user-friendly. The 
Challenge is open to students currently enrolled at a fully-accredited 
higher education institution, or who plan to enroll in the fall of 2012 
or the winter of 2013. The eligibility requirements and rules can be 
found below.

DATES: Submission period: Start: April 30, 2012 12:00 p.m. EDT, end: 
August 1, 2012 11:59 p.m. EDT. Judging period: Start: August 2, 2012 
12:00 a.m. EDT, end: September 15, 2012 11:59 p.m. EDT. Winner(s) 
announced: September 20, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sinrud, Office of Research 
and Information Technology, telephone (202) 366-3843, or email 
[email protected].
    Award Approving Official: Dr. Kelly Leone, Associate Administrator 
for Research and Information Technology, FMCSA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Agency believes that developers, small businesses, and the 
general public would make better use of FMCSA-collected data if it were 
available in a more versatile and user-friendly format. To that end, 
FMCSA announces the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization Student 
Challenge, pursuant to the America COMPETES Act (15 U.S.C. 3719), to 
engage student developers to create methods for the traveling public to 
more meaningfully make use of motorcoach safety data. Up to two winning 
student-developed applications or Web sites for mobile devices will be 
showcased at a U.S. DOT or industry event. FMCSA will release 
motorcoach safety data in the form of Application Programming 
Interfaces (APIs) to facilitate participation.
    The goal of the Challenge is to make FMCSA's motorcoach safety data 
easier to understand and to promote wider use among consumers, 
stakeholders, and policy-makers across the country. Through increased 
accessibility and use, the Agency seeks to help the traveling public 
make more informed decisions when choosing motorcoach carriers.

II. Subject of Challenge Competition

    The goal of the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization Student 
Challenge is to showcase the potential benefits of online or mobile 
applications that present motorcoach safety data to the public in an 
innovative way resulting in improved traveler safety.

III. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition

    To be eligible to enter and win this Challenge, an individual or 
group of individuals must meet all eligibility requirements listed in 
the Official Rules (provided below) and have registered to participate 
in the competition through Challenge.gov. In addition, all entries must 
meet Submission Requirements listed in the Official Rules.

IV. Registration Process for Participants

    Contestants must register for the contest on the Challenge.gov Web 
site by creating an account. Registrants will receive an email to 
verify their account and may then enter their submissions via the 
``Enter a Submission'' tab. More information governing submissions and 
their content can be found in the Official Rules, which are provided 
below.

V. Winner Recognition/Award

    Up to two winning entries will be recognized. Depending on the 
number of entries, the U.S. DOT may also identify submissions as 
honorable mentions through the U.S. DOT FMCSA Web site. The winner(s) 
will be recognized at a U.S. DOT or industry event to be determined. 
Authorized travel expenses will be paid for up to two members of each 
team being recognized to attend the event.

VI. Basis Upon Which Winner Will Be Selected

    Challenge submissions will be scored in each of four criteria, as 
listed below:
    1. Creativity and aesthetics of data utilization.

[[Page 25526]]

    2. Success in translating multiple data sets into relevant 
information.
    3. Relevance to the goal area of crafting a marketplace that better 
accesses and utilizes motorcoach safety data.
    4. Demonstrated value in assisting people or entities who use the 
data to make decisions.
    The product submissions will be judged by a qualified panel of 
FMCSA employees selected by the U.S. DOT at its sole discretion.

VII. Official Rules

    Introduction: The U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization 
Student Challenge (the ``Challenge'') is an initiative of the U.S. DOT 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Challenge is 
intended to showcase the potential benefits of online or mobile 
applications that present motorcoach safety data to the public in an 
innovative way resulting in improved traveler safety. Products may be 
submitted by individual students or teams of individual students 
(collectively, ``Contestants'').
    Any elements of the Challenge described in the ``details'' section 
of this Challenge posting on challenge.gov are wholly incorporated as 
part of the rules of this contest.
    Eligibility: In order to be eligible to enter and win the 
Challenge, individuals or groups of individuals must meet all of the 
following requirements:
    1. Must be at least 18 years old and a citizen or permanent 
resident of the United States; holders of student visas that do not 
otherwise have permanent residency are not eligible to compete.
    2. Must be currently enrolled at a higher education institution 
defined as an accredited public or private university or college 
(including community, junior, or vocational college) or plan to enroll 
in either the Fall of 2012 or Winter of 2013.
    3. Must not be a Federal employee (including U.S. DOT employees) 
acting within the scope of his/her employment or working on his/her 
applications or submissions during assigned duty hours.
    4. Must not be a Federal contractor(s) or use Federal funds from a 
contract to develop COMPETES Act Challenge applications or to fund 
efforts in support of a COMPETES Act Challenge submission.
    5. Must have complied with all the Submission Requirements listed 
below.
    In addition, each individual member in a team must be independently 
eligible to win. All winners or all members of the winning team must be 
able to certify that they have not been convicted of a violation of 
Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or 
gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code or a 
violation of the civil False Claims Act. An individual may join more 
than one team. An individual or group of individuals 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.
    The Challenge is subject to all applicable federal laws and 
regulations. Participation constitutes Contestant's full and 
unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and administrative 
decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the 
Challenge. Eligibility to be recognized as a winner is contingent upon 
fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
    Challenge Submission Period: The Challenge Submission Period begins 
on April 30, 2012, at 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and ends on 
August 1, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
    How to Enter and Submission Requirements: Interested persons should 
read the Official Rules before entering the Competition. All 
Contestants must submit their product through the Challenge.gov portal. 
Please note, in order to submit a product, Contestants will first need 
to register and create an account with Challenge.gov.
    Submission Format: There are two basic steps for entry:
    1. Create an interesting online or mobile application product 
(product) and accompanying summary: Select a topic that addresses the 
goal area of Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization and create an 
interesting product that demonstrates an innovative method of using 
FMCSA data to inform the general public about motorcoach safety. Access 
to FMCSA data is described below under Data Sources. Entries must 
include the use of all 5 Behavior Analysis and Safety Information 
Categories (BASICs) described below. Data from additional government 
and/or other appropriate sources may be used in creating the product. 
You must identify specific data sources used. Entries may not rank 
motorcoach companies using any number, letter, color or icon system. 
Develop a summary of the product that explains your topic, how the 
entry improves a decision based on the general public's understanding 
of your topic, and what conclusions can be drawn from the application. 
The summary must not exceed 650 words.
    2. Submit your entry: Prior to submitting a product, register on 
Challenge.gov. Registration is free. From the Competition Web page on 
Challenge.gov, use the ``Enter a Submission'' tab to submit the 
description of the online or mobile application, and provide a link to 
a fully functioning application hosted outside of Challenge.gov. 
Submissions may be updated by the submitter until the Challenge 
Submission Period ends.
    After submission, all products may be screened by FMCSA for 
malicious code or other security issues. Screened submissions will be 
posted on the Challenge.gov competition Web page on a rolling basis. 
Products failing to meet Submission Requirements or other Submission 
screenings will be deemed ineligible to win. Posting a product to the 
Competition Web site does not constitute FMCSA's determination of 
Contestant or the online or mobile app's eligibility.
    An entry into the Challenge consists of your product and 
accompanying summary to the U.S. DOT (together, the ``Entry 
Materials''). All Entry Materials must be in English. All requested 
information must be provided for your entry to be valid.
    Submission Content: Using data sets including those provided by the 
U.S. DOT, create a product that provides information to motorcoach 
travelers and addresses one or more of FMCSA's core priorities.
    1. Raise the bar for motorcoach carriers to enter the industry
    2. Maintain high safety standards to remain in the motorcoach 
industry
    3. Remove high-risk motorcoach operators from our roads and 
highways
    Data Sources: FMCSA is providing access through Application 
Programming Interfaces (APIs) to data from its License and Insurance 
(L&I) system and the Motor Carrier Management Information System 
(MCMIS). The FMCSA API is available at https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/developer.
    The L&I system is a client-server and web-based application used to 
enter and display licensing and insurance information regarding 
authorized for-hire motor carriers, freight forwarders, and property 
brokers. It is the authoritative source for FMCSA licensing and 
insurance data. The MCMIS includes data from FMCSA's Safety Management 
System (SMS). The data provided in SMS uses all safety violations 
discovered at roadside, weights each one based on its crash risk,

[[Page 25527]]

and measures safety performance in different unsafe behavioral areas 
called Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). Access 
to the five publicly available BASICs is available through this 
challenge. They are:
    1. Unsafe Driving
    2. Fatigued Driving
    3. Driver Fitness
    4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol
    5. Vehicle Maintenance
    Alternative/Additional Data Sources: In addition to the provided 
data sources, you may also use other data sources such as:
    1. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database: http://www.nhtsa.gov/FARS.
    2. U.S. Census database: http://www.census.gov/.
    3. State and local department of transportation data.
    4. Mapping information.
    5. Other publicly-available and verifiable data sources as 
appropriate.
    Any data sources outside of the provided FMCSA APIs, including 
those listed above, must be disclosed in your 650 word description of 
your product.
    Submission Requirements: In order for an entry to be eligible to be 
recognized as a winner of this Competition, the entry must meet the 
following requirements:
    1. General--Contestants must host their own online or mobile 
application during the submission and judging process and ensure FMCSA 
has continued access to the online or mobile product throughout the 
judging process.
    2. Availability--Contestants must make their submissions available 
free to the public during the Competition and for at least one year 
after. In addition, each Contestant grants to the U.S. DOT and others 
acting on behalf of the U.S. DOT (including FMCSA), a royalty-free, 
non-exclusive, unlimited worldwide license to use, copy for use, 
perform publicly, and display publicly all parts of the Submission for 
the purposes of the Challenge. This license includes posting or linking 
to the Submission on the official U.S. DOT Web site and making it 
available for use by the public for an unlimited timeframe.
    3. Acceptable Platforms--The application must be designed for the 
Web, a personal computer, a mobile handheld device, console, or any 
platform broadly accessible on the open internet.
    4. Data--The online or mobile application must utilize, at a 
minimum, the Federal government data provided in the API. Information 
available from any publicly available Federal source or other data 
source (e.g. industry or map data) may be used though not all data 
fields or information available in these additional resources must be 
included. Contestants agree not to use the data or information obtained 
through participation in the Challenge for purposes of invasion of 
privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private 
facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), 
defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, 
infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property 
rights, property damage, or causing personal injury or death.
    5. Accessibility--The app must be accessible to a wide range of 
users, including users with disabilities (see Federal standards under 
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?fuseAction=stdsdoc).
    6. Deadlines and Modifications--All Competition submissions must be 
submitted through the Challenge.gov portal by August 1, 2012 at 11:59 
p.m. EDT. After the Challenge submission period closes on August 1, 
2012, a submitted app must remain unchanged and unaltered until after 
the judging period.
    7. Intellectual Property--The Submission must not infringe any 
copyright or any other rights of any third party.
    8. No U.S. DOT logo--The online or mobile application must not use 
U.S. DOT's logo or official seal in the Submission, and must not claim 
U.S. DOT endorsement. The recognition of a winning entry in this 
Competition does not constitute an endorsement of a specific product by 
U.S. DOT or the Federal government.
    9. Functionality/Accuracy--A Submission may be disqualified if the 
application fails to function as described in the description provided 
by the Contestant, or if the application provides inaccurate 
information.
    10. Security--Submissions must be free of malware. Contestant 
agrees that FMCSA may screen the application to determine whether 
malware or other security threats may be present. FMCSA may disqualify 
the online or mobile application if, in FMCSA's judgment, the entry may 
damage government or others' equipment or operating environment.
    11. Standards of Conduct--All Competition submissions must also 
adhere to the Challenge.gov Standards of Conduct at http://challenge.gov/terms#standards.
    Judging: Prior to judging, all submitted products will be screened 
for Contestant eligibility, completeness of submission and malicious 
code. The members of the Judging panel will be selected by FMCSA at its 
sole discretion and will be comprised of up to ten federal employees. 
Judges will be screened by FMCSA to ensure they do not: (1) Have 
personal or financial interests in any Contestant; or (2) have a 
familial relationship with a Contestant. The panel will judge the Entry 
Materials (product and summary text) on the judging criteria identified 
below in order to select the awardees. Judges have the right to 
withdraw without advance notice in the event of circumstances beyond 
their control.
    Challenge submissions will be scored in each of four criteria, as 
listed below:
    1. Creativity and aesthetics of application. Like artwork, products 
should be designed to capture the attention of the user through 
creative use of visuals, layout, and animations (if applicable). How 
original and attractive is the product?
    2. Success in translating data sets into relevant information. One 
aspect of the application is its potential to synthesize multiple, 
large datasets to deliver relevant and actionable information to the 
user in an innovative compelling way. How well does the product 
accomplish this? Does the product accomplish the goal while including 
data from each of the 5 BASICs?
    3. Relevance to the goal area of crafting a marketplace that can 
better access and utilize motorcoach safety data. Does the author's 
submission contribute to crafting a marketplace that can better access 
and utilize available bus safety data? Does the product accomplish the 
goal without creating a ranking system?
    4. Demonstrated value in assisting decision makers. Does the 
information presented in the product and summary shed new light on a 
transportation issue that would otherwise not been known?
    All Decisions by the U.S. DOT are Final and Binding in All Matters 
Related to the Challenge.
    Verification of Potential Winners:
    Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and 
conditions of these Official Rules and winning is contingent upon 
fulfilling all requirements. The potential winners will be notified by 
email, telephone, or mail after the date of the judging. The potential 
winners will be required to sign and return to U.S. DOT, within ten 
(10) days of the date notice is sent, an Affidavit of Eligibility 
(certifying that they meet all of Challenge's eligibility requirements) 
and a Liability/Publicity Release in order to claim any recognition. In 
the event that a potential

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winner of a Challenge is disqualified for any reason, U.S. DOT may 
award the applicable recognition to an alternate winner from the 
remaining eligible entries.
    Awards: Up to two entries will be recognized as winners. Depending 
on the number of entries, the U.S. DOT may also give honorable mention 
recognition to several submissions through the U.S. DOT FMCSA Web site.
    Following the announcement of the award(s), up to two winning 
awardees will be recognized at a U.S. DOT or industry event to be 
determined. Authorized travel expenses will be paid for an individual 
contestant who wins or up to two members of each winning team to attend 
the event. If a winning team consists of more than two individuals, the 
team must designate the two individuals who will represent the team at 
the event. The individuals designated to attend the event must be 
included in the entry package. Travelers will need to provide receipts 
to document travel expenses and the travel expenses will be reimbursed 
according to Federal Government travel rules and regulations, including 
41 CFR 300-3.1 (Invitational Travel). Maximum reimbursement rates for 
are published by the General Services Administration at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100120; these limits apply to the 
invitational travel granted to the winners of this Challenge. Travel 
will only be purchased, reimbursed or otherwise covered through this 
Challenge from origins or to destinations within the United States and 
U.S. Territories. No cash equivalent or substitute compensation will be 
made in place of the authorized travel expenses.
    Entry Conditions and Release: By entering, each Contestant agrees 
to: (a) Comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the 
decisions of the U.S. DOT and/or the Challenge judges which are binding 
and final in all matters relating to this Challenge; (b) release and 
hold harmless the U.S. DOT and any other organizations responsible for 
sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the 
Challenge, and all of their respective past and present officers, 
directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the 
``Released Parties'') from and against any and all claims, expenses, 
and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of 
any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion 
of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of 
private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), 
defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, 
infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property 
rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or 
relating to a Contestant's entry, creation of an entry or submission of 
an entry, participation in the Challenge, acceptance or use or misuse 
of any travel or activity related thereto and/or the broadcast, 
transmission, performance, exploitation or use of entry; and (c) 
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the U.S. DOT against any and all 
claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys' 
fees) arising out of or relating to a Contestant's participation in the 
Challenge and/or Contestant's acceptance, use or misuse of recognition 
or travel expenses.
    Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Challenge 
constitutes Contestant's consent to U.S. DOT's and its agents' use of 
Contestant's name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or 
hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, 
without further payment or consideration.
    General Conditions: The U.S. DOT reserves the right to cancel, 
suspend and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, if any fraud, 
technical failures or any other factor beyond the U.S. DOT's reasonable 
control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Challenge, 
or any other reason as determined by the U.S. DOT in its sole 
discretion. The U.S. DOT reserves the right in its sole discretion to 
disqualify any individual or Contestant it finds to be tampering with 
the entry process or the operation of the Challenge or to be acting in 
violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an 
unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to 
deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be 
a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be 
made, the U.S. DOT reserves the right to seek damages from any such 
person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The U.S. DOT's failure 
to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a 
waiver of that provision.
    Limitations of Liability: The Contestant shall be liable for, and 
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Federal government against, all 
action or claims, including but not limited to those for loss of or 
damage to property (such as damage that may results from a virus, 
malware, etc. to DOT computer systems or those of the end-users of the 
software and/or applications), resulting from the fault, negligence, or 
wrongful act or omission of the Contestant.
    However, based on the subject matter of the Competition, the type 
of work that it will possibly require, and the likelihood of any claims 
for death, bodily injury, or property damage, or loss potentially 
resulting from contest participation, Contestants are not required to 
obtain liability insurance or demonstrate fiscal responsibility in 
order to participate in this Competition.
    The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) Any incorrect or 
inaccurate information, whether caused by Contestants, printing errors 
or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized 
in the Challenge; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but 
not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone 
lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human 
intervention in any part of the entry process or the Challenge; (4) 
technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the 
Challenge or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to 
persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in 
whole or in part, from Contestant's participation in the Challenge or 
receipt of recognition or travel funds. If for any reason a 
Contestant's entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, 
or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, Contestant's sole remedy is 
another entry in the Challenge. No more than the stated number of 
winners will be recognized.
    Original Work, Plagiarism, and Copyright: Contestant or teams 
warrants that he, she, or they are the sole author(s) and owner(s) of 
the Submission, and that the Submission is wholly original with the 
Contestant or team, and that it does not infringe any copyright or any 
other rights of any third party of which Contestant or team members is 
aware. The U.S. DOT reserves the right to not accept any entry which it 
believes infringes on the intellectual property rights of others.
    Privacy: Any personal information provided to the U.S. DOT by 
submitting an entry to this Challenge is used only to communicate on 
matters regarding the submission and/or the Challenge. Information is 
not collected for commercial marketing.

    Issued on: April 24, 2012.
Kelly Leone,
Associate Administrator, Research and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2012-10302 Filed 4-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P