80_FR_56041 80 FR 55861 - Bridging the Word Gap Competition Challenge

80 FR 55861 - Bridging the Word Gap Competition Challenge

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 180 (September 17, 2015)

Page Range55861-55864
FR Document2015-23358

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), announces the funding opportunity for the Bridging the Word Gap Incentive Prize Challenge. MCHB is sponsoring the Word Gap Challenge (Challenge) to spur innovative solutions to promote the early language environment and address the ``word gap,'' the large difference in exposure to language for children from low-income families as compared to children from higher-income families. This Challenge will reward the development and testing of scalable innovations that drive behavior change among parents and caregivers. The goal of the Challenge is to develop a low-cost, scalable technologically-based intervention that drives parents and caregivers to talk and engage in more back-and-forth interactions with their young children (ages 0-4). This Challenge, structured in three phases, with a narrowing of applicants through each phase to result in one final winner, will reach a diverse population of innovators and solvers, including coders, public health experts, individuals affiliated with academic institutions, research and development communities in the private sector, and others. All submissions will be evaluated; separate prizes will be awarded for each of the three phases below. Phase 1: Design Phase 2: Development and Small Scale Testing Phase 3: Scaling The statutory authority for this challenge competition is Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (COMPETES Act, Pub. L. 111-358). Estimated dates for each phase are as follows: Phase 1: Effective on September 30, 2015 Phase 1 Submission ends: December 31, 2015, 11:59 p.m. ET Phase 1 Judging Period: January 1-January 31, 2016 Phase 1 Winners Announced: February 10, 2016 Phase 2 Begins: February 11, 2016 Phase 2 Submission Period Ends: July 11, 2016 Phase 2 Judging Period: July 12-August 12, 2016 Phase 2 Winners Announced: August 20, 2016 Phase 3 Begins: August 21, 2016 Phase 3 Submission Period Ends: February 21, 2017 Phase 3 Winner Announced: March 1, 2017

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 180 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55861-55864]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23358]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Bridging the Word Gap Competition Challenge

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA, Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), announces the funding 
opportunity for the Bridging the Word Gap Incentive Prize Challenge.
    MCHB is sponsoring the Word Gap Challenge (Challenge) to spur 
innovative solutions to promote the early language environment and 
address the ``word gap,'' the large difference in exposure to language 
for children from low-income families as compared to children from 
higher-income families. This Challenge will reward the development and 
testing of scalable innovations that drive behavior change among 
parents and caregivers.
    The goal of the Challenge is to develop a low-cost, scalable 
technologically-based intervention that drives parents and caregivers 
to talk and engage in more back-and-forth interactions with their young 
children (ages 0-4).
    This Challenge, structured in three phases, with a narrowing of 
applicants through each phase to result in one final winner, will reach 
a diverse population of innovators and solvers, including coders, 
public health experts, individuals affiliated with academic 
institutions, research and development communities in the private 
sector, and others.
    All submissions will be evaluated; separate prizes will be awarded 
for each of the three phases below.
Phase 1: Design
Phase 2: Development and Small Scale Testing
Phase 3: Scaling
    The statutory authority for this challenge competition is Section 
105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (COMPETES Act, 
Pub. L. 111-358).
    Estimated dates for each phase are as follows:
Phase 1: Effective on September 30, 2015
Phase 1 Submission ends: December 31, 2015, 11:59 p.m. ET
Phase 1 Judging Period: January 1-January 31, 2016

[[Page 55862]]

Phase 1 Winners Announced: February 10, 2016
Phase 2 Begins: February 11, 2016
Phase 2 Submission Period Ends: July 11, 2016
Phase 2 Judging Period: July 12-August 12, 2016
Phase 2 Winners Announced: August 20, 2016
Phase 3 Begins: August 21, 2016
Phase 3 Submission Period Ends: February 21, 2017
Phase 3 Winner Announced: March 1, 2017

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessie Buerlein, MSW, 301-443-8931, or 
James Resnick, 301-443-3222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Subject of Challenge Competition

    There is evidence that socioeconomic status (SES) is a strong 
indicator of school achievement, and that children from lower SES 
backgrounds exhibit a delay in early literacy skills, a slower 
vocabulary acquisition rate, and lower school readiness rates.\1\ Once 
American children enter kindergarten, there is a significant, prevalent 
gap between children from higher versus lower SES backgrounds in 
average oral language skills,\2\ referred to as the ``word gap.'' There 
is also growing evidence that early language exposure for children may 
not only have a significant influence on language development and 
school achievement, but on the overall trajectory of children's lives, 
including later academic and occupation success.\3\ Existing literature 
reveals several key themes in addressing the language gap, including 
the significant role of the caregiver in the home, and the 
effectiveness of engaging parents in language interventions.\4\ A 
significant influence on children's language development is the context 
of parenting and parent responsiveness to children's early language 
acquisition.\5\ Research in this area shows that both the quality and 
quantity of speech spoken at home during daily interactions influences 
the relationship between SES and child language skills at school 
entry.\6\ However, research also shows that interventions engaging 
parents and increasing their knowledge of child development and the 
importance of child-directed talk may be an effective route to 
preventing and addressing the SES language gap.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S., Cunha, F., & 
Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the early language gap: A plan for 
scaling up. (A White Paper prepared for the White House meeting on 
``Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).''
    \2\ Rowe, M.L., Suskind, D., & Hoff, E. (2013) Early language 
gaps: Sources and solutions. (A White Paper prepared for the White 
House meeting on ``Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).''
    \3\ Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S., Cunha, F., & 
Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the early language gap: A plan for 
scaling up. (A White Paper prepared for the White House meeting on 
``Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).''
    \4\ Roberts, M.Y., & Kaiser, A.P. (2011). The effectiveness of 
parent-implemented language interventions: A meta-analysis. American 
Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20, 180-199.
    \5\ Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S., Cunha, F., & 
Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the early language gap: A plan for 
scaling up. (A White Paper prepared for the White House meeting on 
``Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).''
    \6\ Hoff, E. (2009) Do vocabulary differences explain 
achievement gaps and can vocabulary-targeted interventions close 
them? (Prepared for the National Research Council workshop on the 
Role of Language in Education.)
    \7\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The research base has improved markedly over the last two decades, 
making a strong case that addressing the word gap is a critical social 
challenge that may help promote equitable opportunity for all children. 
The frequency and quality of child-directed talk and back and forth 
interactions between children and their parents have consequences for 
what is learned and is associated with significant disparities in 
vocabulary size, school readiness, and long-term educational outcomes.
    Technologies now exist to support low-cost, broadly scalable 
approaches to helping parents and caregivers focus on the early 
language environment, and the technical expertise exists to address the 
issue in creative ways. This challenge aims to cultivate an environment 
to attract a broad array of innovators from outside disciplines to 
propose inventive, creative, and effective ideas to address the word 
gap by encouraging higher frequency and higher quality interaction 
between parents/caregivers and children. This is an opportunity for 
applicants to get national visibility, by the leading experts and 
organizations in the field, for new ideas on solving this problem of 
national importance. This is also an opportunity for applicants to 
access testing environments and design expertise as they move forward 
through the Challenge phases.
    When developing submissions, participants should consider the 
context of the user. The submission should be easily utilized by those 
of diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and literacy level backgrounds, 
including parents and children who are dual language speakers.

Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition

    To be eligible to win a prize under this challenge, an individual 
or entity--
    (1) Shall have registered to participate in the competition under 
the rules promulgated by the Health Resources and Services 
Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    (2) Shall have complied with all the requirements under this 
section.
    (3) In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the 
case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
    (4) May not be a federal entity or federal employee acting within 
the scope of their employment.
    (5) Shall not be an HHS employee working on their applications or 
submissions during assigned duty hours.
    (6) May not be employees of HRSA or any other company, 
organization, or individual involved with the design, production, 
execution, judging, or distribution of the Challenge and their 
immediate family (i.e., spouse, parents and step-parents, siblings and 
step-siblings, and children and step-children) and household members 
(i.e., people who share the same residence at least 3 months out of the 
year).
    (7) In the case of a federal grantee, may not use federal funds to 
develop COMPETES Act challenge applications unless consistent with the 
purpose of their grant award.
    (8) In the case of a federal contractor, may not use federal funds 
from a contract to develop COMPETES Act challenge applications or to 
fund efforts in support of a COMPETES Act challenge submission.
    (9) Shall not be deemed ineligible because the individual or entity 
used federal facilities or consulted with federal employees during a 
competition if the facilities and employees are made equitably 
available to all individuals and entities participating in the 
competition.
    (10) Must agree to assume any and all risks and waive claims 
against the federal government 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 my participation in this prize contest, 
whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or 
otherwise.
    (11) Must also agree to indemnify the federal government against 
third party claims for damages arising from or related to competition 
activities.
    (12) Shall not be currently on the Excluded Parties List (https://www.epls.gov/).

[[Page 55863]]

Submission Requirements

    The Challenge has three phases.

Phase 1--Design

    The first stage of the prize competition aims to attract a large 
set of ideas and innovators. The target product of the first stage will 
be the conceptualization of the most promising innovations to help 
support parental and caregiver behavior change around the early 
language environment. The submissions should aim to demonstrate that 
the proposed intervention will be accessible across diverse backgrounds 
and easily implemented by users.
    The Phase 1 Submission shall include:
    1. A comprehensive description of the proposed intervention in 5 
pages or less, including:
    a. A one-paragraph executive summary that clearly states the 
question to be solved;
    b. Background information linking the evidence to support the 
intervention;
    c. A descriptive analysis of how the applicant arrived at their 
idea;
    d. Descriptions of the methods and technologies involved in 
implementation of the intervention; and
    2. An assessment describing the applicant's ability to execute the 
proposed solution in Phase 2 and 3.

Phase 2--Development and Small Scale Testing

    The winners of Phase 1 of the prize competition will then advance 
to a second stage focused on prototyping the intervention, and testing 
the effectiveness of the intervention. Using support from the Phase 1 
prize funding, intervention developers will test the efficacy of their 
models to show that the proposed intervention demonstrates an impact on 
the outcomes of interest for children and families. The applicants 
should demonstrate both the evidence base for the intervention and its 
usability. Mentors will be made available to help solvers design 
appropriate testing methodologies and learn more about the evidence 
base.

Phase 3--Scaling

    The winners of Phase 2 will move to the final phase of the Word Gap 
Incentive Prize, which will involve testing the most promising models 
at greater scale through rollout at the program or community level. 
This will test the scalability of the device at low-cost, the 
feasibility of implementation, and the impact on the intended outcomes. 
Applicants will be assisted in matching their submission with a 
community or program.

Registration Process for Participants

    Participants can find out more information at https://www.challenge.gov/list/.

Prizes

     Total: Up to $300,000 in Prizes
    [cir] Phase 1: 7-10 winners, up to $10,000 each
    [cir] Phase 2: 3-5 winners; up to $25,000 each
    [cir] Phase 3: 1 winner; up to $100,000

Payment of the Prizes

    Prize will be paid by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Basis for Winner Selection

    The challenge entries will be de-identified and then will be judged 
by a review panel composed of HHS employees and experts in compliance 
with the requirements of the COMPETES Act and the Department of Health 
and Human Services judging guidelines: http://www.hhs.gov/idealab/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/HHS-COMPETITION-JUDGING-GUIDELINES.pdf. The 
review panel will make selections based upon the following criteria:

Phase 1

    In Phase 1, proposed interventions to be judged on the following 
criteria:
Accessibility
     Is the proposed intervention able to be easily utilized by 
parents of diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds? Is it 
functional across disciplines/users?
Measurability
     How easily will the proposed intervention be evaluated in 
order to determine its efficacy (in both lab testing and in the real 
world)? Is the proposed intervention measurable among various 
audiences?
Sustainability
     Is the proposed intervention ``sticky?'' Does it fit into 
daily life? Is it fun to use?
Impact
     Does the applicant present a theory or explanation of how 
the proposed intervention would inspire behavior change?

Phase 2

    In Phase 2, interventions will be judged on the following criteria:
Impact
     How did the intervention impact target outcomes for 
parents/caregivers and children? What did the data show?
Evidence base
     Is the intervention grounded in existing science related 
to the word gap, behavior change, etc.?
Sustainability
     Was the intervention ``sticky'' among users? Did users 
want to continuously engage with the program?
Implementation
     How feasible is the intervention? How much support for 
implementation will the intervention require (estimated financial and 
time commitment)?

Phase 3

    In Phase 3, interventions will be judged on the following criteria:
Impact
     How effective was the intervention when implemented at 
scale? Did the impacts on parents/caregivers from Phase 2 remain 
consistent?
Implementation
     How feasible was the intervention on a larger scale? How 
much support for implementation did the model require (financial and 
time commitment)? How challenging was the actual program 
implementation?
Scalability
     How costly was the intervention in a real-world setting? 
How likely are cost efficiencies for program delivery at greater scale? 
Can the device be used in existing platforms?
    In order for an entry to be eligible to win this Challenge, it must 
meet the following requirement:

Additional Information

    General Conditions: HRSA reserves the right to cancel, suspend, 
and/or modify the contest, or any part of it, for any reason, at HRSA's 
sole discretion.
    The interventions submitted across all phases should not use the 
HHS or HRSA logos or official seals in the submission, and must not 
claim endorsement.

Intellectual Property

     Each entrant retains full ownership and title in and to 
their submission. Entrants expressly reserve all intellectual property 
rights not expressly granted under the challenge agreement.
     By participating in the challenge, each entrant hereby 
irrevocably grants to HRSA a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, 
worldwide license and right to reproduce, publically perform, 
publically display, and use the submission for internal HHS business 
and to the extent necessary to

[[Page 55864]]

administer the challenge, and to publically perform and publically 
display the submission, including, without limitation, for advertising 
and promotional purposes relating to the challenge.
     Record Retention and FOIA: All materials submitted to HRSA 
as part of a submission become HRSA records and cannot be returned. Any 
confidential commercial information contained in a submission should be 
designated at the time of submission. Submitters will be notified of 
any Freedom of Information Act requests for their submissions in 
accordance with 45 CFR 5.65.

    Dated: September 14, 2015.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-23358 Filed 9-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P



                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 180 / Thursday, September 17, 2015 / Notices                                                             55861

                                              Obesity Collaborative Improvement and                       safety, and well-being of the MCH                                 collaboration with ASPHN, to complete
                                              Innovation Network (CoIIN) to spread                        population, which includes all U.S.                               the final phases of the evaluation
                                              evidence-based practices, and to                            women, infants, children, youth and                               component for the previously initiated
                                              translate knowledge into practice by the                    their families, including fathers and                             Pediatric Obesity CoIIN. The goal of this
                                              University of Washington, the awardee                       children with special health care needs                           CoIIN project is to apply quality
                                              who serves as the Centers of Excellence                     (CSHCN). It does so by training current                           improvement methodologies through a
                                              in MCH, during the budget period of                         and future workforce in applied                                   CoIIN framework to support state Title
                                              June 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016.                         research and state-of-the-art public                              V agencies and others leverage for state
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                  health management, planning, and                                  MCH program capacity to reduce
                                              Intended Recipient of the Award:                            leadership principles to promote                                  childhood obesity rates on a population
                                              University of Washington                                    healthier children, families, and                                 level. Specifically, state teams are
                                              Amount of Each Non-Competitive                              communities and in the identification                             working to affect systems changes
                                              Award: $40,000                                              and solution of current MCH problems                              through the adoption of policies and
                                              Period of Supplemental Funding: 6/1/                        while anticipating the challenges of the                          practices in early care and education
                                              2015—5/31/2016                                              future. It assures a prominent focus on                           settings that support healthy weight
                                              CFDA Number: 93.110                                         MCH content and competencies such as                              behaviors and are using the CoIIN
                                                Authority: Social Security Act as                         inter-professional practice, systems                              model to gather best practices, promote
                                              amended, Title V, Section 501(a)(2) (42                     integration, and quality improvement                              evidence-based strategies, and increase
                                              U.S.C. 701(a)(2))                                           within schools of public health.                                  nutrition resources provided to young
                                                 Justification: The purpose of the                           In the summer of 2014, MCHB                                    children and their families. A rigorous
                                              Centers of Excellence in MCH program                        initiated a CoIIN on Pediatric Obesity in                         evaluation of this CoIIN is a critical and
                                              is for the training of graduate and post-                   collaboration with the University of                              essential component in order to spread
                                              graduate public health professionals in                     Washington and the Association of State                           evidence-based practices—including
                                              an interdisciplinary MCH setting. The                       Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN).                              qualitative and quantitative process and
                                              Centers of Excellence in MCH program                        The work on this project (by the                                  outcome measures—and translate
                                              supports HRSA’s Maternal and Child                          University of Washington) was funded                              knowledge into practice.
                                              Health Bureau’s (MCHB) mission to                           through an administrative supplement                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              provide national leadership and to                          in fiscal year (FY) 2014 to a previous                            Denise Sofka, RD, MPH, Division of
                                              work, in partnership with states,                           grant, and the amount provided only                               Maternal and Child Health Workforce
                                              communities, public-private partners,                       allowed the grantee and its                                       Development, Maternal and Child
                                              and families to strengthen the MCH                          subcontractor to engage a limited                                 Health Bureau, Health Resources and
                                              infrastructure and build the knowledge                      number of steps in the CoIIN process.                             Services Administration, 5600 Fishers
                                              and human resources in order to assure                         This supplement will allow the                                 Lane, Room 18W55, Rockville,
                                              continued improvement in the health,                        University of Washington, in                                      Maryland 20857; DSofka@hrsa.gov.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              FY 2015
                                                                                                                                                                                              FY 2015         estimated
                                                      Grantee/organization name                                    Grant number                                     State                    authorized     supplemental
                                                                                                                                                                                            funding level      funding

                                              University of Washington ........................   T76MC00011 .........................................    WA .........................        $350,000        $40,000



                                                Dated: September 11, 2015.                                opportunity for the Bridging the Word                             coders, public health experts,
                                              James Macrae,                                               Gap Incentive Prize Challenge.                                    individuals affiliated with academic
                                              Acting Administrator.                                         MCHB is sponsoring the Word Gap                                 institutions, research and development
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–23356 Filed 9–16–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          Challenge (Challenge) to spur                                     communities in the private sector, and
                                                                                                          innovative solutions to promote the                               others.
                                              BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
                                                                                                          early language environment and address                              All submissions will be evaluated;
                                                                                                          the ‘‘word gap,’’ the large difference in                         separate prizes will be awarded for each
                                                                                                          exposure to language for children from                            of the three phases below.
                                              DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                                                                          low-income families as compared to                                Phase 1: Design
                                              HUMAN SERVICES
                                                                                                          children from higher-income families.                             Phase 2: Development and Small Scale
                                              Health Resources and Services                               This Challenge will reward the                                      Testing
                                              Administration                                              development and testing of scalable                               Phase 3: Scaling
                                                                                                          innovations that drive behavior change
                                                                                                                                                                              The statutory authority for this
                                              Bridging the Word Gap Competition                           among parents and caregivers.
                                                                                                            The goal of the Challenge is to                                 challenge competition is Section 105 of
                                              Challenge                                                                                                                     the America COMPETES
                                                                                                          develop a low-cost, scalable
                                                                                                          technologically-based intervention that                           Reauthorization Act of 2010
                                              AGENCY: Health Resources and Services                                                                                         (COMPETES Act, Pub. L. 111–358).
                                              Administration (HRSA, Department of                         drives parents and caregivers to talk and
                                                                                                          engage in more back-and-forth                                       Estimated dates for each phase are as
                                              Health and Human Services (HHS).                                                                                              follows:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          interactions with their young children
                                              ACTION:   Notice.                                           (ages 0–4).                                                       Phase 1: Effective on September 30,
                                                                                                            This Challenge, structured in three                               2015
                                              SUMMARY:  The Health Resources and                          phases, with a narrowing of applicants                            Phase 1 Submission ends: December 31,
                                              Services Administration (HRSA),                             through each phase to result in one final                           2015, 11:59 p.m. ET
                                              Maternal and Child Health Bureau                            winner, will reach a diverse population                           Phase 1 Judging Period: January 1–
                                              (MCHB), announces the funding                               of innovators and solvers, including                                January 31, 2016


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014    17:30 Sep 16, 2015   Jkt 235001    PO 00000     Frm 00036     Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703      E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM             17SEN1


                                              55862                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 180 / Thursday, September 17, 2015 / Notices

                                              Phase 1 Winners Announced: February                     this area shows that both the quality and              promulgated by the Health Resources
                                                10, 2016                                              quantity of speech spoken at home                      and Services Administration and the
                                              Phase 2 Begins: February 11, 2016                       during daily interactions influences the               U.S. Department of Health and Human
                                              Phase 2 Submission Period Ends: July                    relationship between SES and child                     Services.
                                                11, 2016                                              language skills at school entry.6                         (2) Shall have complied with all the
                                              Phase 2 Judging Period: July 12–August                  However, research also shows that                      requirements under this section.
                                                12, 2016                                              interventions engaging parents and                        (3) In the case of a private entity, shall
                                              Phase 2 Winners Announced: August                       increasing their knowledge of child                    be incorporated in and maintain a
                                                20, 2016                                              development and the importance of                      primary place of business in the United
                                              Phase 3 Begins: August 21, 2016                         child-directed talk may be an effective                States, and in the case of an individual,
                                              Phase 3 Submission Period Ends:                         route to preventing and addressing the                 whether participating singly or in a
                                                February 21, 2017                                     SES language gap.7                                     group, shall be a citizen or permanent
                                              Phase 3 Winner Announced: March 1,                         The research base has improved                      resident of the United States.
                                                2017                                                  markedly over the last two decades,                       (4) May not be a federal entity or
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        making a strong case that addressing the               federal employee acting within the
                                              Jessie Buerlein, MSW, 301–443–8931, or                  word gap is a critical social challenge                scope of their employment.
                                              James Resnick, 301–443–3222.                            that may help promote equitable                           (5) Shall not be an HHS employee
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              opportunity for all children. The                      working on their applications or
                                                                                                      frequency and quality of child-directed                submissions during assigned duty
                                              Subject of Challenge Competition                                                                               hours.
                                                                                                      talk and back and forth interactions
                                                 There is evidence that socioeconomic                 between children and their parents have                   (6) May not be employees of HRSA or
                                              status (SES) is a strong indicator of                   consequences for what is learned and is                any other company, organization, or
                                              school achievement, and that children                   associated with significant disparities in             individual involved with the design,
                                              from lower SES backgrounds exhibit a                    vocabulary size, school readiness, and                 production, execution, judging, or
                                              delay in early literacy skills, a slower                long-term educational outcomes.                        distribution of the Challenge and their
                                              vocabulary acquisition rate, and lower                     Technologies now exist to support                   immediate family (i.e., spouse, parents
                                              school readiness rates.1 Once American                  low-cost, broadly scalable approaches to               and step-parents, siblings and step-
                                              children enter kindergarten, there is a                 helping parents and caregivers focus on                siblings, and children and step-
                                              significant, prevalent gap between                      the early language environment, and the                children) and household members (i.e.,
                                              children from higher versus lower SES                   technical expertise exists to address the              people who share the same residence at
                                              backgrounds in average oral language                    issue in creative ways. This challenge                 least 3 months out of the year).
                                              skills,2 referred to as the ‘‘word gap.’’               aims to cultivate an environment to                       (7) In the case of a federal grantee,
                                              There is also growing evidence that                     attract a broad array of innovators from               may not use federal funds to develop
                                              early language exposure for children                    outside disciplines to propose                         COMPETES Act challenge applications
                                              may not only have a significant                         inventive, creative, and effective ideas               unless consistent with the purpose of
                                              influence on language development and                   to address the word gap by encouraging                 their grant award.
                                              school achievement, but on the overall                  higher frequency and higher quality                       (8) In the case of a federal contractor,
                                              trajectory of children’s lives, including               interaction between parents/caregivers                 may not use federal funds from a
                                              later academic and occupation success.3                 and children. This is an opportunity for               contract to develop COMPETES Act
                                              Existing literature reveals several key                 applicants to get national visibility, by              challenge applications or to fund efforts
                                              themes in addressing the language gap,                  the leading experts and organizations in               in support of a COMPETES Act
                                              including the significant role of the                   the field, for new ideas on solving this               challenge submission.
                                              caregiver in the home, and the                          problem of national importance. This is                   (9) Shall not be deemed ineligible
                                              effectiveness of engaging parents in                    also an opportunity for applicants to                  because the individual or entity used
                                              language interventions.4 A significant                  access testing environments and design                 federal facilities or consulted with
                                              influence on children’s language                        expertise as they move forward through                 federal employees during a competition
                                              development is the context of parenting                 the Challenge phases.                                  if the facilities and employees are made
                                              and parent responsiveness to children’s                    When developing submissions,                        equitably available to all individuals
                                              early language acquisition.5 Research in                participants should consider the context               and entities participating in the
                                                                                                      of the user. The submission should be                  competition.
                                                 1 Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S.,
                                                                                                      easily utilized by those of diverse                       (10) Must agree to assume any and all
                                              Cunha, F., & Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the                                                              risks and waive claims against the
                                              early language gap: A plan for scaling up. (A White
                                                                                                      cultural, socioeconomic, and literacy
                                              Paper prepared for the White House meeting on           level backgrounds, including parents                   federal government and its related
                                              ‘‘Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).’’              and children who are dual language                     entities, except in the case of willful
                                                 2 Rowe, M.L., Suskind, D., & Hoff, E. (2013) Early
                                                                                                      speakers.                                              misconduct, for any injury, death,
                                              language gaps: Sources and solutions. (A White                                                                 damage, or loss of property, revenue, or
                                              Paper prepared for the White House meeting on           Eligibility Rules for Participating in the             profits, whether direct, indirect, or
                                              ‘‘Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).’’              Competition
                                                 3 Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S.,                                                           consequential, arising from my
                                              Cunha, F., & Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the         To be eligible to win a prize under                  participation in this prize contest,
                                              early language gap: A plan for scaling up. (A White     this challenge, an individual or entity—               whether the injury, death, damage, or
                                              Paper prepared for the White House meeting on             (1) Shall have registered to participate             loss arises through negligence or
                                              ‘‘Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).’’
                                                 4 Roberts, M.Y., & Kaiser, A.P. (2011). The
                                                                                                      in the competition under the rules                     otherwise.
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                                              effectiveness of parent-implemented language                                                                      (11) Must also agree to indemnify the
                                              interventions: A meta-analysis. American Journal of                                                            federal government against third party
                                              Speech-Language Pathology, 20, 180–199.                   6 Hoff, E. (2009) Do vocabulary differences
                                                                                                                                                             claims for damages arising from or
                                                 5 Suskind D., Kuhl, P., Leffel, K.R., Landry, S.,    explain achievement gaps and can vocabulary-
                                                                                                      targeted interventions close them? (Prepared for the
                                                                                                                                                             related to competition activities.
                                              Cunha, F., & Necherman, K.M. (2013). Bridging the
                                              early language gap: A plan for scaling up. (A White     National Research Council workshop on the Role of         (12) Shall not be currently on the
                                              Paper prepared for the White House meeting on           Language in Education.)                                Excluded Parties List (https://
                                              ‘‘Bridging the Thirty-Million-Word Gap).’’                7 Ibid.                                              www.epls.gov/).


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 180 / Thursday, September 17, 2015 / Notices                                           55863

                                              Submission Requirements                                 Registration Process for Participants                 Evidence base
                                                 The Challenge has three phases.                        Participants can find out more                        • Is the intervention grounded in
                                                                                                      information at https://                               existing science related to the word gap,
                                              Phase 1—Design                                          www.challenge.gov/list/.                              behavior change, etc.?
                                                The first stage of the prize
                                                                                                      Prizes                                                Sustainability
                                              competition aims to attract a large set of
                                              ideas and innovators. The target product                  • Total: Up to $300,000 in Prizes                     • Was the intervention ‘‘sticky’’
                                              of the first stage will be the                            Æ Phase 1: 7–10 winners, up to                      among users? Did users want to
                                              conceptualization of the most promising                 $10,000 each                                          continuously engage with the program?
                                              innovations to help support parental                      Æ Phase 2: 3–5 winners; up to
                                                                                                      $25,000 each                                          Implementation
                                              and caregiver behavior change around
                                              the early language environment. The                       Æ Phase 3: 1 winner; up to $100,000                    • How feasible is the intervention?
                                              submissions should aim to demonstrate                   Payment of the Prizes                                 How much support for implementation
                                              that the proposed intervention will be                                                                        will the intervention require (estimated
                                                                                                        Prize will be paid by HRSA’s                        financial and time commitment)?
                                              accessible across diverse backgrounds                   Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
                                              and easily implemented by users.                                                                              Phase 3
                                                The Phase 1 Submission shall                          Basis for Winner Selection
                                              include:                                                                                                        In Phase 3, interventions will be
                                                                                                        The challenge entries will be de-                   judged on the following criteria:
                                                1. A comprehensive description of the                 identified and then will be judged by a
                                              proposed intervention in 5 pages or less,               review panel composed of HHS                          Impact
                                              including:                                              employees and experts in compliance                     • How effective was the intervention
                                                a. A one-paragraph executive                          with the requirements of the                          when implemented at scale? Did the
                                              summary that clearly states the question                COMPETES Act and the Department of                    impacts on parents/caregivers from
                                              to be solved;                                           Health and Human Services judging                     Phase 2 remain consistent?
                                                b. Background information linking the                 guidelines: http://www.hhs.gov/idealab/
                                              evidence to support the intervention;                   wp-content/uploads/2014/04/HHS-                       Implementation
                                                c. A descriptive analysis of how the                  COMPETITION-JUDGING-                                     • How feasible was the intervention
                                              applicant arrived at their idea;                        GUIDELINES.pdf. The review panel will                 on a larger scale? How much support for
                                                d. Descriptions of the methods and                    make selections based upon the                        implementation did the model require
                                              technologies involved in                                following criteria:                                   (financial and time commitment)? How
                                              implementation of the intervention; and                                                                       challenging was the actual program
                                                2. An assessment describing the                       Phase 1
                                                                                                                                                            implementation?
                                              applicant’s ability to execute the                        In Phase 1, proposed interventions to
                                              proposed solution in Phase 2 and 3.                     be judged on the following criteria:                  Scalability
                                              Phase 2—Development and Small Scale                     Accessibility                                            • How costly was the intervention in
                                              Testing                                                                                                       a real-world setting? How likely are cost
                                                                                                        • Is the proposed intervention able to              efficiencies for program delivery at
                                                 The winners of Phase 1 of the prize                  be easily utilized by parents of diverse              greater scale? Can the device be used in
                                              competition will then advance to a                      economic, social, and cultural                        existing platforms?
                                              second stage focused on prototyping the                 backgrounds? Is it functional across                     In order for an entry to be eligible to
                                              intervention, and testing the                           disciplines/users?                                    win this Challenge, it must meet the
                                              effectiveness of the intervention. Using                Measurability                                         following requirement:
                                              support from the Phase 1 prize funding,
                                              intervention developers will test the                     • How easily will the proposed                      Additional Information
                                              efficacy of their models to show that the               intervention be evaluated in order to                   General Conditions: HRSA reserves
                                              proposed intervention demonstrates an                   determine its efficacy (in both lab                   the right to cancel, suspend, and/or
                                              impact on the outcomes of interest for                  testing and in the real world)? Is the                modify the contest, or any part of it, for
                                              children and families. The applicants                   proposed intervention measurable                      any reason, at HRSA’s sole discretion.
                                              should demonstrate both the evidence                    among various audiences?                                The interventions submitted across all
                                              base for the intervention and its                       Sustainability                                        phases should not use the HHS or HRSA
                                              usability. Mentors will be made                            • Is the proposed intervention                     logos or official seals in the submission,
                                              available to help solvers design                                                                              and must not claim endorsement.
                                                                                                      ‘‘sticky?’’ Does it fit into daily life? Is it
                                              appropriate testing methodologies and                   fun to use?
                                              learn more about the evidence base.                                                                           Intellectual Property
                                                                                                      Impact                                                   • Each entrant retains full ownership
                                              Phase 3—Scaling                                                                                               and title in and to their submission.
                                                                                                        • Does the applicant present a theory
                                                The winners of Phase 2 will move to                   or explanation of how the proposed                    Entrants expressly reserve all
                                              the final phase of the Word Gap                         intervention would inspire behavior                   intellectual property rights not
                                              Incentive Prize, which will involve                     change?                                               expressly granted under the challenge
                                              testing the most promising models at                                                                          agreement.
                                              greater scale through rollout at the                    Phase 2                                                  • By participating in the challenge,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              program or community level. This will                     In Phase 2, interventions will be                   each entrant hereby irrevocably grants
                                              test the scalability of the device at low-              judged on the following criteria:                     to HRSA a limited, non-exclusive,
                                              cost, the feasibility of implementation,                                                                      royalty-free, worldwide license and
                                              and the impact on the intended                          Impact                                                right to reproduce, publically perform,
                                              outcomes. Applicants will be assisted in                  • How did the intervention impact                   publically display, and use the
                                              matching their submission with a                        target outcomes for parents/caregivers                submission for internal HHS business
                                              community or program.                                   and children? What did the data show?                 and to the extent necessary to


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                                              55864                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 180 / Thursday, September 17, 2015 / Notices

                                              administer the challenge, and to                          Place: St. Gregory Hotel, 2033 M Street               Time: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
                                              publically perform and publically                       NW., Washington, DC 20036.                              Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              display the submission, including,                        Contact Person: Michael L. Bloom, Ph.D.,            applications.
                                                                                                      Scientific Review Officer, Center for                   Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701
                                              without limitation, for advertising and
                                                                                                      Scientific Review, National Institutes of             Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892,
                                              promotional purposes relating to the                    Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6187,              (Telephone Conference Call).
                                              challenge.                                              MSC 7804, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–451–                  Contact Person: Mushtaq A. Khan, DVM,
                                                 • Record Retention and FOIA: All                     0132, bloomm2@mail.nih.gov.                           Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for
                                              materials submitted to HRSA as part of                    Name of Committee: Brain Disorders and              Scientific Review, National Institutes of
                                              a submission become HRSA records and                    Clinical Neuroscience Integrated Review               Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 2176,
                                              cannot be returned. Any confidential                    Group; Chronic Dysfunction and Integrative            MSC 7818, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
                                              commercial information contained in a                   Neurodegeneration Study Section.                      1778, khanm@csr.nih.gov.
                                              submission should be designated at the                    Date: October 15, 2015–October 16, 2016.              Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
                                              time of submission. Submitters will be                    Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.                        Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR Panel:
                                              notified of any Freedom of Information                    Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                SBIR/STTR Serious STEM Games.
                                              Act requests for their submissions in                   applications.                                           Date: October 19, 2015.
                                                                                                        Place: Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront               Time: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
                                              accordance with 45 CFR 5.65.                            Hotel, 71 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601.            Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                                Dated: September 14, 2015.                              Contact Person: Alexei Kondratyev, Ph.D.,           applications.
                                              James Macrae,                                           Scientific Review Officer, Center for                   Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701
                                              Acting Administrator.                                   Scientific Review, National Institutes of             Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
                                                                                                      Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5200,                Contact Person: Sergei Ruvinov, Ph.D.,
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–23358 Filed 9–16–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                      MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–                Scientific Review Officer, Center for
                                              BILLING CODE 4165–15–P                                  1785, kondratyevad@csr.nih.gov.                       Scientific Review, National Institutes of
                                                                                                        Name of Committee: Brain Disorders and              Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4158,
                                                                                                      Clinical Neuroscience Integrated Review               MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
                                              DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                Group; Brain Injury and Neurovascular                 1180, ruvinser@csr.nih.gov.
                                              HUMAN SERVICES                                          Pathologies Study Section.                              Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
                                                                                                        Date: October 15–16, 2015.                          Review Special Emphasis Panel; Enabling
                                              National Institutes of Health                             Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.                        Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies.
                                                                                                        Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                  Date: October 20, 2015.
                                              Center for Scientific Review; Notice of                 applications.                                           Time: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
                                              Closed Meetings                                           Place: Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront               Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                                                                                      Hotel, 71 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601.          applications.
                                                Pursuant to section 10(d) of the                        Contact Person: Alexander Yakovlev,                   Place: Residence Inn Washington, DC
                                              Federal Advisory Committee Act, as                      Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for          Downtown, 1199 Vermont Ave NW.,
                                              amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is                      Scientific Review, National Institutes of             Washington, DC 20005.
                                              hereby given of the following meetings.                 Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5206,                Contact Person: Kenneth Ryan, Ph.D.,
                                                The meetings will be closed to the                    MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–                Scientific Review Officer, Center for
                                              public in accordance with the                           1254, yakovleva@csr.nih.gov.                          Scientific Review, National Institutes of
                                              provisions set forth in sections                          Name of Committee: Oncology 1—Basic                 Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3218,
                                              552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,              Translational Integrated Review Group;                MSC 7717, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
                                                                                                      Tumor Cell Biology Study Section.                     0229, kenneth.ryan@nih.hhs.gov.
                                              as amended. The grant applications and
                                                                                                        Date: October 15–16, 2015.                            Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
                                              the discussions could disclose                            Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.                        Review Special Emphasis Panel; Urologic
                                              confidential trade secrets or commercial                  Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                and Urogynecologic Applications.
                                              property such as patentable material,                   applications.                                           Date: October 22, 2015.
                                              and personal information concerning                       Place: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767               Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                                              individuals associated with the grant                   King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.                      Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              applications, the disclosure of which                     Contact Person: Charles Morrow, MD,                 applications.
                                              would constitute a clearly unwarranted                  Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for            Place: Crowne Plaza Washington National
                                              invasion of personal privacy.                           Scientific Review, National Institutes of             Airport, 1489 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington,
                                                                                                      Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6202,              VA 22202.
                                                Name of Committee: Cardiovascular and                 MSC 7804, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–408–                  Contact Person: Ryan G. Morris, Ph.D.,
                                              Respiratory Sciences Integrated Review                  9850, morrowcs@csr.nih.gov.                           Scientific Review Officer, Center for
                                              Group; Electrical Signaling, Ion Transport,
                                              and Arrhythmias Study Section.                            Name of Committee: Molecular, Cellular              Scientific Review, National Institutes of
                                                Date: October 8, 2015.                                and Developmental Neuroscience Integrated             Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4205,
                                                Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.                          Review Group; Biophysics of Neural Systems            MSC 7814, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
                                                Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                  Study Section.                                        1501, morrisr@csr.nih.gov.
                                              applications.                                             Date: October 15–16, 2015.                            Name of Committee: Center for Scientific
                                                Place: The Dupont Hotel, 1500 New                       Time: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.                        Review Special Emphasis Panel; Fellowship:
                                              Hampshire Avenue NW., Washington, DC                      Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                Immunology.
                                              20036.                                                  applications.                                           Date: October 22–23, 2015.
                                                Contact Person: Chee Lim, Ph.D., Scientific             Place: Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street NW.,                Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
                                              Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review,           Washington, DC 20001.                                   Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge             Contact Person: Geoffrey G. Schofield,              applications.
                                              Drive, Room 4128, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–              Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for            Place: Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase
                                              435–1850, limc4@csr.nih.gov.                            Scientific Review, National Institutes of             Pavilion, 4300 Military Road NW.,
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                                                Name of Committee: Oncology 1-Basic                   Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4040–A,            Washington, DC 20015.
                                              Translational Integrated Review Group;                  MSC 7850, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–                  Contact Person: Alok Mulky, Ph.D.,
                                              Cancer Genetics Study Section.                          1235, geoffreys@csr.nih.gov.                          Scientific Review Officer, Center for
                                                Date: October 14, 2015.                                 Name of Committee: Center for Scientific            Scientific Review (CSR), National Institutes
                                                Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.                          Review Special Emphasis Panel; Member                 of Health (NIH), 6701 Rockledge Dr, Room
                                                Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                  Conflict: Liver Pathobiology and Toxicology.          4203, Bethesda, MD 20817, (301) 435–3566,
                                              applications.                                             Date: October 15, 2015.                             alok.mulky@nih.gov.



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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:33:59
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:33:59
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
ContactJessie Buerlein, MSW, 301-443-8931, or James Resnick, 301-443-3222.
FR Citation80 FR 55861 

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