1. Challenge Submission Period
- Challenge Submission Period begins: April 12, 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (“ET”)
- Challenge Submission Period ends: August 31, 2011, at 11:59 PM ET
2. How to Enter and Submission Requirements
How to Enter:
During the open Challenge Submission Period, visit Challenge.gov, search for the NLM Show Off Your Apps: Innovative Uses of NLM Information Challenge and click the “Post a Submission” tab to complete all of the required information fields to submit your entry. Entrants can log in with current Challenge.gov accounts or register for a new account. Registration is free.
Submission Requirements:
- To be eligible to win this Challenge, Entrants must provide access to the software application, a detailed description of the software application, instructions on how to install and operate the software application, and system requirements required to run the application (collectively, “Submission”).
- The software application may be designed for the Web, a personal computer, a mobile handheld device, console, or any platform broadly accessible on the open Internet.
- Software applications must utilize NLM data from any publically available NLM data set or NLM API (application programming interface) and need not include all data fields available in a particular resource. A non-exhaustive list of NLM Databases and Electronic resources can be browsed at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/. A list of available NLM APIs is available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/api/index.html.
- Software applications should meet objectives for federal compliance guidelines for information technology (see Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for more information: http://www.section508.gov/).
- All Submissions must be available for evaluation by August 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM ET for judging purposes.
- Once a Submission is made, the Entrant cannot make any changes or alterations to any part of the Submission.
- Submission must not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party.
- A Submission may be disqualified if the software application does not function properly or does not function as expressed in the description provided by the user.
- Only winning Submissions will be available on the NLM Website for use by the public. All Entrants will retain all intellectual property ownership in their Submissions except the winning Entrants agree that their Submission will be available on the NLM Website for the free use and download by the public for a period starting with the announcement of the winners through December 31, 2011.
3. Eligibility of Entrants
The Challenge is open to individuals or teams of individuals who are all at least 18 years old at the time of entry. An individual may be a member of more than one team. The Challenge is also open to organizations. The Challenge is limited to organizations/individuals that are either 1) an American domestic corporation or other legal entity that also maintains its primary place of business in the United States, or 2) in the case of individuals, U.S. citizens or permanent residents. NIH and NLM employees, contractors, and their immediate families are not eligible.
4. Judges and Winner Selection
All Submissions will be judged by a qualified panel selected by the NLM. The panel will evaluate and select winning Submissions based on the following judging criteria:
- Quality and Accuracy (data are presented accurately)
- Impact on Potential Users (data presented clearly to target audience)
- Usability (operation of program requires minimal training and has the potential for repeated, regular use)
- Innovative Design (creativity and originality of concept)
- Platform Neutrality (operates on major Web browsers, systems, or mobile devices)
- Extensibility (potential for further development)
- Alignment with Section 508 Accessibility Guidelines (see standards at: http://www.section508.gov/)
5. Winners and Recognition
Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements of these Official Rules. The Challenge will have no more than five winning Entrants. The name, city, state, and links to software applications of winning Entrants will be posted by October 5, 2011 on the Challenge.gov and the NLM Web Sites. Winning Entrants will also be honored at an NLM awards presentation in Bethesda, MD on November 2, 2011. The Prize will be authorized travel expenses for winning Entrants to attend the awards presentation not to exceed $2,500. In the case of a winning team, the maximum travel reimbursement is $2,500 per team, regardless of how many individuals are on the team. Winners will need to provide receipts to document travel expenses and the travel expenses will be reimbursed according to Federal Government travel rules and regulations.
6. Entry Conditions
By entering, each Entrant agrees to comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the NLM and/or the Challenge judges, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Challenge.
7. Publicity
Except where prohibited, participation in the Challenge constitutes consent by the Entrants to allow the NLM and its collaborators or contractors to the use of winner's name, likeness, photograph, and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
8. General Conditions
The NLM reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, as determined by the NLM in its sole discretion.
9. Privacy
If you choose to provide the Sponsor and Administrator with personal information by registering or filling out the submission form through the Challenge.gov Web site, that information is used to respond to you in matters regarding your submission and/or the Challenge only. Information is not collected for commercial marketing. Please read the Challenge.gov Privacy Policy for complete information.
Sponsor: National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
Administrator: Challenge.gov Web site, administered by the U.S. General Services Administration, in partnership with Challenge Post.