Agencies are beginning to use a new government platform to administer online contests to help further agency missions.
Challenge.gov – launched in a partnership with ChallengePost – is part of a wider White House initiative aimed at harnessing public innovation. The website is free to use and GSA has already resolved any legal and policy requirements for agencies to launch contests.
So far about 20 agencies have posted around 40 challenges, for example:
* The Department of Health and Human Services launched a contest to get software developers to come up with applications that can display health datasets in visually innovative ways and also develop mobile applications pertaining to the healthcare quality. It’s offering $2,500 in cash and an official endorsement.
* An EPA "green power partnership" consists of a yearlong campaign to get cities, towns, villages and tribes to use more renewable energy as a percentage of their energy consumption. Winners will receive special recognition.
* The Department of Agriculture has launched a challenge to develop new healthy recipes for school lunches and it includes $12,000 in prizes.