80 FR 44379 - Announcement of Requirements and Registration for a Prize Competition Seeking: New Concepts for Remote Fish Detection

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 143 (July 27, 2015)

The Bureau of Reclamation, in collaboration with other Federal agencies (U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) are announcing a prize competition looking for detailed concepts for the next generation of fish tracking methods, beyond what is available and in the literature today. Emphasis is on accurate tracking of many fish, ease of use, longevity, and low cost.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44379-44382]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18157]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR0810000, 15XR0680A1, RY.1541CH20.1430001]


Announcement of Requirements and Registration for a Prize 
Competition Seeking: New Concepts for Remote Fish Detection

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation, in collaboration with other Federal 
agencies (U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-National Marine 
Fisheries Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) are announcing a 
prize competition looking for detailed concepts for the next generation 
of fish tracking methods, beyond what is available and in the 
literature today. Emphasis is on accurate tracking of many fish, ease 
of use, longevity, and low cost.

DATES: Listed below are the specific dates pertaining to this prize 
competition:
    1. Submission period begins on July 27, 2015.
    2. Submission period ends on August 26, 2015.
    3. Judging period ends on October 26, 2015.
    4. Winners announced by November 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The New Concepts for Remote Fish Detection Prize Competition 
will be posted on the following crowd-sourcing platforms where Solvers 
can register for this prize competition:
    1. The Water Pavilion located at the InnoCentive Challenge Center: 
https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/browse.
    2. U.S. Federal Government Challenge Platform: www.Challenge.gov.
    3. The Nature Open Innovation Pavilion at http://www.nature.com/openinnovation/index.html.
    4. The Scientific American Citizen Science Center at http://www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/.
    InnoCentive, Inc. is administering this challenge under a challenge 
support services contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. These Web 
sites will re-direct the Solver community to the InnoCentive Challenge 
Center as the administrator for this prize competition. Additional 
details for this prize competition, including the Challenge Agreement 
specific for this prize competition, can be accessed through any of 
these prize competition web addresses. The Challenge Agreement contains 
more details of the prize competition rules and terms that Solvers must 
agree with to be eligible to compete.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Challenge Manager: Dr. Levi Brekke, 
Chief, Research and Development, Bureau of Reclamation, (303) 445-2494, 
[email protected]; Mr. Chuck Hennig, (303) 445-2134, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the 
following prize competition in compliance with 15 U.S. Code 3719, Prize 
Competitions. The ability to track individual or groups of fish is 
central to efforts to recover threatened and endangered fish species, 
and to reduce impacts to at-risk species. Reliable, affordable 
detection and tracking provides vital information about how many fish 
are present, where and why mortality occurs, and where and why species 
thrive. This enables fish recovery program managers to pursue targeted 
and more effective actions that can reduce mortality rates, improve 
habitat, and increase survival rates while continuing to meet the 
mission of the agency--delivery of water and power in the case of 
Reclamation. A successful solution will significantly reduce costs and 
dramatically increase the effectiveness and efficiency of various fish 
recovery efforts led by Federal, state, local, and/or other 
organizations.
    Challenge Summary: There are a number of methods in use today to 
track fish. Common electronic methods include use of acoustic tags, 
radio-telemetry tags, and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. 
Different technologies have pros and cons. Tags accurate over long 
distances are often costly and need to be surgically implanted in the 
fish. Low cost tags have long lifetimes, but work over short distances 
and signals are subject to electromagnetic interference, which may 
result in no or inaccurate detections. Since there is no universal or 
``best'' method, the option that best meets the specific needs of the 
fish tracking program objectives is typically selected (e.g. accuracy, 
lifetime of the study, working environments, species being tagged, 
number of and size of fish, available funding, etc.). Current methods 
rely on capture and handling of fish to implant or attach tags, with 
subsequent recaptures or resightings involving elaborate capture or 
corralling methods, which can be complex, costly, and stressful to the 
fish.
    The goal of this Challenge is to generate new concepts for tracking 
fish that advance technologies that meet fish recovery program 
management needs at a reasonable cost. A solution is being pursued 
through a prize competition because the Bureau of Reclamation and the 
collaborating Federal agencies view it beneficial to seek innovative 
solutions from those beyond the usual sources of potential solvers and 
experts that commonly work in the fish recovery management domain. We 
find ourselves often wondering if somebody, somewhere may know a better 
way of tracking and monitoring fish for our purposes than the methods 
we currently use. The prize competition approach enables us to reach a 
new source of potential Solvers to generate new and timely solutions 
that would not likely be accomplished by standard contractual methods.
    This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique 
features:
     There is a guaranteed award. The awards will be paid to 
the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Bureau of 
Reclamation (The Seeker). The total payout will be $20,000, with at 
least one award being no smaller than $5,000 and no award being smaller 
than $2,500.
     ALL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, IF ANY, IN THE IDEA OR 
CONCEPT DEMONSTRATED BY THE PROPOSED SOLUTION WILL REMAIN WITH THE 
SOLVER. UPON SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSED SOLUTION TO THIS CHALLENGE, EACH 
SOLVER AGREES TO GRANT TO THE SEEKER A ROYALTY-FREE, PERPETUAL, 
IRREVOCABLE, NON-EXCLUSIVE LICENSE TO USE BY OR ON-BEHALF OF THE U.S. 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL IN ANY 
FORUM, OR SUBSEQUENT

[[Page 44380]]

EFFORTS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE CONCEPT INTO A VIABLE SOLUTION AND TO 
ALLOW OTHERS TO DO SO. NOTWITHSTANDING GRANTING THE SEEKER A PERPETUAL, 
NON-EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FOR THE PROPOSED SOLUTION, THE SOLVER RETAINS 
OWNERSHIP OF THE IDEA OR CONCEPT DEMONSTRATED BY THE PROPOSED SOLUTION.
     The Seeker believes there might be a potential for future 
collaboration with awarded Solver(s), although such collaboration is 
not guaranteed. The Seeker may also encourage Solver(s) to further 
develop and test their winning submissions through subsequent round(s) 
of competition. Solvers should make it clear if they have the ability 
for subsequent design and development phases and would be willing to 
consider future collaborations and/or subsequent competitions.
    Background: The Bureau of Reclamation and other Federal and non-
Federal resource managers require the ability to identify and monitor 
fish and other aquatic animals. Fish, in particular, use different 
habitats, from small streams to deep fast-flowing rivers, and large 
lakes and oceans. A common challenge faced by fish recovery managers is 
the need to monitor movements of free-swimming individual fish without 
repeated capture and handling.
    Telemetry systems currently used to detect and/or track individual 
fish include PIT tag systems (or radio frequency identification) and 
two types of active (battery powered) systems: radio tag and acoustic 
tag.
     PIT tag systems are limited to detecting fish at short 
distances (generally <40 inches for 12 mm tags) and they require 
antennas that must withstand large hydraulic forces. These systems 
transmit and receive very rapidly (e.g. 10-25 milliseconds, depending 
on the system), which means that they are able to detect fish traveling 
quickly (i.e., >40 feet/second) through or over stationary antennas in 
dams, fish ladders, canals, and streams. PIT tags are relatively 
inexpensive (~ $2.00/fish) and can be inserted in fish as small as 2 
inches in length. Because PIT tags do not have a battery and are glass-
encapsulated, they can function and persist throughout the lifetime of 
long-lived fish (10-100 years or more).
     Radio and acoustic telemetry systems have the ability to 
detect fish over large distances (100 feet-1 mile), but transmitters 
are expensive (>$150 each) and most but not all require surgical 
procedures to implant. The battery within the telemetry system 
determines both their size and lifetime. Transmission rate is a 
function of technology--some acoustic tags transmit unique codes in 
<0.1 seconds, while others take close to 10 seconds. Radio tags 
typically transmit codes of 0.2 seconds duration. The duration of 
codes, combined with battery size and power output, limit the life 
expectancy of the tag. This, combined with the greater broadcast range, 
can make it difficult to observe rapid or fine-scale fish movements 
using these tags. In addition, radio and acoustic tags are generally 
limited by environmental conditions, e.g., water depth of tag location, 
salinity, ambient noise from entrained air bubbles, sediment in water, 
and other water quality conditions.
    Information is easily found on the internet concerning state of the 
art fish tagging techniques. A few references are provided in the prize 
competition posting for your information; however, please realize this 
is what is known today, and that the Seeker is looking for new ideas 
and mechanisms beyond the known literature.
    The Challenge: New technology is needed to enable resource managers 
to address important problems at a reasonable cost. Our Challenge is to 
find the next fish monitoring and tracking system. The Solver is not 
limited to the mechanical and physical systems described above. The 
answer could be biological, chemical, physical, mechanical, etc.
    A successful solution significantly reduces costs and dramatically 
increases the effectiveness and efficiency of fish detecting and 
tracking efforts. For the sake of clarity and simplicity, we will 
designate the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as the representative 
fish species for this Challenge. If the Solvers need to make 
assumptions about a generalized fish, they can use data for this 
particular representative fish, which can be found on the internet.
    The question is not, ``How do we track a single fish for its 
lifetime'', but ``How do we track thousands of individually 
identifiable fish for extended periods of time cheaply and 
effectively''. Note that there are many criteria that need to be 
considered for tracking fish such as:
     Lifetime of a tag or device (longer is better)
     Size and invasiveness (smaller is better)
     Detection distance (longer is better)
     Quality of detection (high accuracy and high speed is 
better)
     Cost (low is better)
    Solvers need not meet every technical requirement with one new 
concept. Concepts that meet some requirements, but not all, will still 
be eligible for competing for an award. New and novel approaches to the 
tracking of individual identifiable aquatic organisms will be given 
special consideration.
    Things to avoid:
    1. The Seeker is not interested in marginal improvements to current 
fish tagging techniques such as PIT tags, acoustic and radio tags as 
well as other known marking methods, but novel and major improvement in 
any of these would be of interest.
    2. The Seeker is not looking for a review article on fish tagging. 
Only new methods/techniques/technology will be considered that are not 
currently in use for fish tagging.
    Submissions should try to meet the following Technical 
Requirements:
    1. The best device/method/technique would be able to:
    a. Be used for freshwater fish as small as 4 inches in total length 
(if a physical tag is used, it must be less than 5% of the fish's body 
weight).
    b. Detect and identify individual fish from a minimum of 30 feet 
away from detector device throughout the entire water column (up to 30 
feet in depth or laterally).
    c. Detect and identify rapidly moving individual fish with 
detection efficiency >95%, even when in a school or assemblage of like 
or different species that may or may not be similarly tagged or marked.
    d. Be used on a large scale (e.g., if tags used, should be able to 
tag > 1,000 fish/day using two people) and scalable to use in a field 
setting where fish would be marked after capture from rafts, small 
boats, or from banks of water bodies in remote field locations.
    e. Reduce capturing or handling of fish to an original marking or 
tagging event.
    2. The system should not modify the behavior, physiology, genetic, 
phenotypic, growth, survival, or edibility of the fish of interest, or 
other fish and aquatic animals near the fish of interest.
    3. Detection devices should not be susceptible to normal 
electromagnetic interference, which would include overhead power lines, 
turbine motors such as those found at dams, water pumps, outboard and 
inboard motors, transformers, etc.
    4. The method must have performance characteristics as good as or 
better than existing 12-mm PIT tags and existing active acoustic and 
radio tags. These performance characteristics are:
    a. Shedding rates are < 5%.

[[Page 44381]]

    b. Durability is defined as capable of being dropped from a height 
of 4 feet and submersible to a water depth over 300 feet without 
damage.
    c. Longevity > 10 years while in service, but should be > 50 years.
    The following are not required for an award but would be ``nice to 
have''.
    5. The detection device should be portable (i.e., < 50 pounds) and 
capable to be operated by one person.
    6. Detection devices should not be susceptible to any 
electromagnetic interference.
    7. If tags are used (one device per fish), they should be capable 
of mass production to meet demand at a reasonable cost and show promise 
for future miniaturization.
    8. The method is capable of successfully identifying individual 
fish in both freshwater and seawater.
    9. The method is capable of detecting and identifying individual 
fish from a minimum of 100 feet away from the detector device 
throughout the entire water column (up to 100 feet in depth or 
laterally).
    10. The solution is capable of identifying fish as small as 2 
inches in total length, and if a physical tag is used, it should be no 
more than 2% of the fish's body weight.
    Project Deliverables: This is an Ideation Challenge that requires 
only a written proposal to be submitted. At least one solution will be 
deemed the winner.
    The submission should include:
    1. Detailed description of a fish tracking method that is unknown 
in the literature today. The method or system should minimize handling 
and recapture of fish.
    2. Rationale for why the processes/material can meet the Technical 
Requirements listed in the Challenge description. Note: A general 
concept is needed, but is not considered a solution by itself. The 
Solver must describe with a high level of technical detail how the 
system would meet or not meet each of the ``must have'' and ``nice to 
have'' attributes described above. The Solver should expect that their 
submittal will be reviewed by experts in the field of telemetry, 
biology, and multiple fields of engineering. Examples and literature 
references of where similar techniques are used will be helpful as 
evidence.
    3. A list of equipment and material required. Discussion should 
include lifetime of any equipment; size and invasiveness to the fish; 
detection speed, accuracy, and distance; and estimated costs.
    4. Details of any process associated with the tracking system 
(e.g., tagging fish, setting up detectors, etc.) and the time and 
effort required to accomplish tasks.
    5. The Solver needs to describe how deployable and workable the 
system would be under a wide variety of environmental conditions 
including water depths, turbidity, salinity, velocities, and turbulence 
such as those found in small to large streams in the western United 
States.
    Submitted proposals should not include any personal identifying 
information or any information the Solvers do not want to make public 
or consider as their Intellectual Property they do not want to share.
    Judging: After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will evaluate the 
submissions and make a decision with regards to the winning 
solution(s). All Solvers that submitted a proposal will be notified on 
the status of their submissions. However, no detailed evaluation of 
individual submissions will be provided. Decisions by the Seeker cannot 
be contested.
    Submitted solutions will be evaluated by a Judging Panel composed 
of scientists, engineers, and telemetry experts. The Judging Panel will 
also have consultation access to technical experts outside of their 
expertise, as determined necessary, to evaluate specific submissions. 
The Judging Panel will assess the merits of the solution by the degree 
that they meet the Technical Requirements listed in the Challenge 
description, by the potential utility (i.e., adaptability, scalability, 
readiness for development), and by originality (i.e., novel extension 
of current knowledge).
    Eligibility Rules: To be able to win a prize under this 
competition, an individual or entity must:
    1. Agree to the rules of the competition (15 U.S. Code Sec.  
3719(g)(1));
    2. Be an entity that is incorporated in and maintains a primary 
place of business in the United States, or (b) in the case of an 
individual, a citizen or permanent resident of the United States (15 
U.S. Code Sec.  3719(g)(3));
    3. Not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the 
scope of their employment; (15 U.S. Code Sec.  3719(g)(4));
    4. Assume risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and 
its related entities (15 U.S. Code Sec.  3719(i)(1)(B)); and,
    5. Not use Federal facilities, or consult with Federal employees 
during the competition unless the facilities and employees are made 
available to all individuals and entities participating in the 
competition on an equitable basis.
    The following individuals or entities are not eligible regardless 
of whether they meet the criteria set forth above:
    1. Any individual who employs an evaluator on the Judging Panel or 
otherwise has a material business relationship or affiliation with any 
Judge.
    2. Any individual who is a member of any Judge's immediate family 
or household.
    3. The Seeker, participating organizations, and any advertising 
agency, contractor or other individual or organization involved with 
the design, production, promotion, execution, or distribution of the 
prize competition; all employees, representatives and agents thereof; 
and all members of the immediate family or household of any such 
individual, employee, representative, or agent.
    4. Any individual or entity that uses Federal funds to develop the 
proposed solution now or any time in the past, unless such use is 
consistent with the grant award, or other applicable Federal funds 
awarding document. NOTE: Submissions that propose to improve or adapt 
existing federally funded technologies for the solution sought in this 
prize competition are eligible.
    Consultation: Fish recovery program managers and technical 
specialists from across the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological 
Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration-National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers were consulted in identifying and selecting the 
topic of this prize competition. Direct and indirect input from various 
stakeholders and partners associated with the fish recovery program 
efforts by these agencies were also considered. In addition, the Bureau 
of Reclamation maintains an open invitation to the public to suggest 
prize competition topics at www.usbr.gov/research/challenges.
    Public Disclosure: InnoCentive, Inc. is administering this 
challenge under a challenge support services contract with the Bureau 
of Reclamation. Participation is conditioned on providing the data 
required on InnoCentive's online registration form. Personal data will 
be processed in accordance with InnoCentive's Privacy Policy which can 
be located at http://www.innocentive.com/privacy.php. Before including 
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your proposal, you should be aware that the 
Seeker is under no obligation to withhold such information from public 
disclosure, and it may be made publicly available at any time. Neither 
InnoCentive nor the Seeker is responsible for human error, theft,

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destruction, or damage to proposed solutions, or other factors beyond 
its reasonable control. Solver assumes any and all risks and waives any 
and all claims against the Seeker and its related entities, except in 
the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss 
of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or 
consequential, arising from participation in this competition, whether 
the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or 
otherwise.

    Dated: June 10, 2015.
Levi Brekke,
Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-18157 Filed 7-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P