This blog is a repost from the Department of Homeland Security DHS (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), an announcement of a prize competition seeking submissions to help improve public safety operations.
Developing sensors and communications devices that can track first responders in a variety of indoor environments remains a critical need that previous research and development efforts have not been able to address. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s First Responders Group is seeking personalized, modular and scalable approaches to track the next generation of first responders indoors using current and emerging technologies, sensors, and techniques.
AWARD: Award(s) will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)’s First Responders Group in accordance with the submission and judging criteria outlined in the Federal Register Notice for this competition. The total payout of $25,000 includes a first place prize of $20,000 and a second place prize of $5,000.
SUBMISSION PERIOD: Submissions to this prize competition must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on April 2, 2015. Late submissions will not be considered. To register or participate in this prize competition go to Challenge.gov and select “Where Am I, Where Is My Team?”
ELIGIBILITY: Pursuant to the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010, 15 U.S.C. 3719, awards for this prize competition may only be given to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S., or an entity that is incorporated in and whose primary place of business is in the U.S., subject to verification by the sponsor before prizes are awarded. Further restrictions apply – see additional details contained in the Federal Register Notice and register to participate in this prize competition at Challenge.gov. Problem solvers, hereafter “Solvers,” interested in participating in this competition must do so via the competition website and complete all user agreements.
JUDGING: After the close of the prize competition, the DHS S&T First Responders Group will empanel judges and review submissions that meet the criteria contained on the S&T competition website and as outlined in the Federal Register Notice for this competition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to DHS. Rather, by submitting a proposal, the Solver grants a royalty-free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in the submitted proposal. A Solver retains all ownership in intellectual property rights, if any, in the ideas, concepts, inventions, data, and other materials submitted in the prize competition. By entering the prize competition, each Solver agrees to grant to the United States Government a Limited Purpose Research and Development License that is royalty free and non-exclusive for a period of four years from the date of submission. The Limited Purpose Research and Development license authorizes the United States Government to conduct research and development, or authorize others to do so on behalf of the United States Government. The Limited Purpose License does not include rights to commercialize the intellectual property in the Proposed Solution.” Please refer to the Federal Register Notice.
Consult the prize competition website for this specific prize competition at: Challenge.gov.
