{
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    "type" : "single",
    "title" : "Federal Government Challenges and Contests |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Federal Government Challenges and Contests",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/11/01/federal-government-challenges-and-contests/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"Federal Government Challenges and Contests","summary" : "What is a Challenge? In a challenge, a “seeker” challenges “solvers” to identify a solution to a particular problem, or rewards contestants for accomplishing a goal. The solutions may be: ideas, designs, logos, videos, finished products, digital games, or mobile applications. There are many challenge success stories in government: Challenges Conducted in 2011 Under America COMPETES Act","date" : "2013-11-01T13:10:14-04:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","authors" : {"ktrebon" : "Karen Trebon"},"topics" : {
        
            "challenges-and-prize-competitions" : "Challenges and prize competitions",
            "innovation" : "Innovation"
            },"branch" : "bc-archive-content-3",
      "filename" :"2013-11-01-federal-government-challenges-and-contests.md",
      
      "filepath" :"news/2013/11/2013-11-01-federal-government-challenges-and-contests.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2013/11/2013-11-01-federal-government-challenges-and-contests.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2013/11/2013-11-01-federal-government-challenges-and-contests.md","slug" : "federal-government-challenges-and-contests","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/11/01/federal-government-challenges-and-contests/","content" :"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1.5em;\"\u003eWhat is a Challenge?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"content-area\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv id=\"node-6352\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n      In a challenge, a \u0026#8220;seeker\u0026#8221; challenges \u0026#8220;solvers\u0026#8221; to identify a solution to a particular problem, or rewards contestants for accomplishing a goal. The solutions may be: ideas, designs, logos, videos, finished products, digital games, or mobile applications.\n    \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cpre\u003e\u003ccode\u003e\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  There are many challenge success stories in government:\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/competes_report_on_prizes_final.pdf\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Challenges Conducted in 2011 Under America COMPETES Act Authority\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt; (PDF, 486 KB, 53 pages, March 2012)\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/competes_prizesreport_dec-2013.pdf\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Challenges Conducted in 2012 Under America COMPETES Act Authority\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt; (PDF, 1,257 KB, 95 pages, December 2013)\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Challenges can offer incentive prizes that are either monetary or non-monetary. Examples of non-monetary prizes can include:\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    A meeting with an important official;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    The opportunity to attend, or speak at, a conference;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Recognition on your agency\u0026amp;#8217;s website, or at an awards ceremony\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  ​\u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/sinDetails.do?scheduleNumber=541\u0026amp;specialItemNumber=541+4G\u0026amp;executeQuery=YES\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Challenge platforms\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt; are the online tools that provide a forum for the seeker to post the problem, or call-to-action, and invite a community of solvers to suggest, collaborate on, and judge solutions.\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;h2\u0026gt;\n  Why It\u0026amp;#8217;s Important\n\u0026lt;/h2\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Challenges, prizes, and other incentive-based strategies can be used by federal agencies to find innovative or cost-effective solutions.\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Challenges allow the public and the government to co-create. They allow government to tap into the collective knowledge and resources of the public, and help the public more easily contribute their expertise to find better solutions.\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Among the benefits outlined in \u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2010/m10-11.pdf\u0026quot;\u0026gt;OMB\u0026amp;#8217;s 2010 memo\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt; (PDF, 94 KB, 12 pages, March 2010), challenges:\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Establish an important goal without having to choose the approach or the team that is most likely to succeed;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Pay only for results;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Highlight excellence in a particular domain of human endeavor to motivate, inspire, and guide others;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Increase the number and diversity of the individuals, organizations, and teams addressing a particular problem; or promote the challenge to national or international significance;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Improve the skills of the participants in the competition;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Stimulate private sector investment that is many times greater than the cash value of the prize;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Further a federal agency\u0026amp;#8217;s mission by attracting more interest and attention to a defined program, activity, or issue of concern; and\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    Capture the public\u0026amp;#8217;s imagination and change the public perception of what is possible.\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;h3\u0026gt;\n  Next Step\n\u0026lt;/h3\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Ready to get started?\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\n  Check out the details on these types of challenges:\n\u0026lt;/p\u0026gt;\n\n\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a title=\u0026quot;Ideation Challenges\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/11/14/ideation-challenges/\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Ideation Challenges\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a title=\u0026quot;Software and Apps Challenges\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/11/06/software-and-apps-challenges/\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Software and Apps Challenges\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a title=\u0026quot;Creative Challenge Contests\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/10/31/creative-challenge-contests/\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Creative Challenge Contests\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;li\u0026gt;\n    \u0026lt;a title=\u0026quot;Technology Demonstration and Market Stimulation Challenges\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2013/10/31/technology-demonstration-and-market-stimulation-challenges/\u0026quot;\u0026gt;Technology Demonstration and Market Stimulation Prizes\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt;\n  \u0026lt;/li\u0026gt;\n\u0026lt;/ul\u0026gt;\n\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/pre\u003e\n  \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}
  ]
}