81 FR 44639 - Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; Announcement of Requirements and Registration for “Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and Health-related Research”

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 131 (July 8, 2016)

The ``Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and Health-related Research.'' Ideation Challenge solicits white papers on the topic of Blockchain Technology and the potential use for Healthcare. Winners will be invited to present their submission at an upcoming industry-wide workshop co-hosted with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The statutory authority for this Challenge is Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-358).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44639-44640]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16133]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology; Announcement of Requirements and Registration for 
``Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and Health-related 
Research''

AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology, HHS.
    Award Approving Official: Karen DeSalvo, National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The ``Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and 
Health-related Research.'' Ideation Challenge solicits white papers on 
the topic of Blockchain Technology and the potential use for 
Healthcare. Winners will be invited to present their submission at an 
upcoming industry-wide workshop co-hosted with the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology (NIST). The statutory authority for this 
Challenge is Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 (Pub. L. 111-358).

DATES: 
     Submission period begins: June 20.
     Submission period ends: July 29.
     Evaluation begins: August 1.
     Evaluation ends: August 16.
     Winners notified: August 17.
     Winners Announced: August 20.
     Winner Presentation: September 26th-27th.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie Bucci, [email protected] 
(preferred), (202) 690-0213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Subject of Challenge

    A blockchain is a data structure that can be timed-stamped and 
signed using a private key to prevent tampering. There are generally 
three types of blockchain: Public, private and consortium. Potential 
uses include:
     Digitally sign information,
     Computable enforcement of policies and contracts (smart 
contracts),
     Management of Internet of Things devices,
     Distributed encrypted storage, and
     Distributed trust.
    Proponents of blockchain suggest that it could be used to address 
concerns regarding the privacy, security and the scalability of health 
records. Critics ascertain that it would take enormous processing power 
and specialized equipment that far exceeds the benefits. Although most 
would acknowledge blockchain's potential it is still evolving and 
maturing, especially with respect to its applicability to the health 
care.
    This Ideation Challenge solicits White Papers on the topic of 
Blockchain Technology and the Potential for Its Use in Health IT and/or 
Healthcare Related Research Data.
    This nationwide call may be addressed by an individual investigator 
or a investigator team. Interested parties should submit a White Paper 
no longer than 10 pages describing the proposed subject. Investigators 
or co-investigators may participate in no more than three submissions. 
A limited number of these submissions will be selected. The selection 
of a White Paper will result in an invitation to present at an upcoming 
industry-wide workshop on September 26th-27th at NIST Headquarters in 
Gaithersburg, MD.

Objective

    The goal of this Ideation Challenge is to solicit White Papers that 
investigate the relationship between blockchain technology and its use 
in Health IT and/or Health Related research. The paper should discuss 
the cryptography and underlying fundamentals of blockchain technology, 
examine how the use of blockchain can advance industry interoperability 
needs expressed in the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, patient 
centered outcomes research (PCOR), precision medicine, and other health 
care delivery needs, as well as provide recommendations for 
blockchain's implementation.
    In lieu of a monetary award, challenge winners will be provided the 
opportunity to present their White Papers at an industry-wide 
``Blockchain & Healthcare Workshop'' co-hosted by ONC and NIST.

Submission Requirements

    Include a White Paper, not longer than ten (10) pages in length, 
that:
     Educates its audience on the technology; and
     Can be used to determine whether there is a place in 
Health IT and/or Healthcare related Research for the technology.
     The paper should:
    [cir] Describe the value of blockchain to the health-care system;
    [cir] Identify potential gaps;
    [cir] Discuss the effectiveness of the solution and the solutions 
ability to function in the ``real world.'' This discussion may include 
information regarding meeting privacy and security standards, 
implementation and potential performance issues, and cost implications. 
Risk analysis and mitigation would be appropriate to include here as 
well.
    [cir] Discuss the solution's link to the stated objectives in the 
Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, PCOR, precision medicine and other 
national health care delivery priorities.

How To Enter

    Challenge participants will have five (5) weeks from the date of 
the posting of this Notice. Those submissions must comply with the 
requirements provided above. Up to eight submissions may be selected as 
winners. The names of the winners will be posted on the Challenge.gov 
Web site, as well as the names of any participants receiving an 
honorary mention. Honorary mentions may be given to highly ranked 
submissions.

Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Challenge

    To be eligible to win a prize under this Challenge, an individual 
or entity:
    1. Shall have registered to participate in the Challenge under the 
rules promulgated by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology.
    2. Shall have complied with all the stated requirements of the 
Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and Health-related 
Research Challenge.
    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. Shall not be an employee of the Office of the National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
    7. Federal grantees may not use Federal funds to develop COMPETES 
Act challenge applications unless consistent with the purpose of their 
grant award.
    8. Federal contractors 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.
    An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the

[[Page 44640]]

individual or entity used Federal facilities or consulted with Federal 
employees during a Challenge if the facilities and employees are made 
available to all individuals and entities participating in the 
Challenge on an equitable basis.

General Submission Requirements

    In order for a Submission to be eligible to win this Challenge, it 
must meet the following requirements:
    1. No HHS or ONC logo--The Solution must not use HHS' or ONC's 
logos or official seals and must not claim endorsement.
    2. Functionality/Accuracy--A Solution may be disqualified if it 
fails to function as expressed in the description provided by the 
participant, or if it provides inaccurate or incomplete information.

Registration Process for Participants

    To register for this Challenge, participants can access http://www.challenge.gov and search for ``Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in 
Healthcare and Health-related Research.''

Prize

    Winners will be provided the following:
     Opportunity to present their paper at a Blockchain & 
Healthcare Workshop Hosted at NIST
     Paid travel to the Workshop;
     Paid room and board for the Workshop; and
     Paid Per Diem.

Payment of the Prize

    Prize will be paid by contractor.

Basis Upon Which Winner Will Be Selected

    The evaluation process will begin by removing those that are not 
responsive to this Challenge or not in compliance with all rules for 
eligibility. Judges will examine all responsive and compliant 
submissions, and rate the entries. Judges will determine the most 
meritorious submissions, based on these ratings and select up to eight 
(8) finalists. Honorable Mentions may be included and announced, along 
with the winners on Challenge.gov.
    The judging panel will rate each submission based upon the 
effectiveness of the overall concept to help foster transformative 
change in the HealthIT culture, the viability of the proposed 
recommendations, the innovativeness of the approach, and its potential 
for achieving the objectives of ONC.
    Up to eight (8) submissions will be selected as winners. Winners 
will be awarded with the opportunity to present their White Paper at a 
two-day Blockchain & Healthcare Workshop. In lieu of a monetary prize, 
finalists will be provided with full expenses for travel to the 
Workshop, which will be held at the NIST Headquarters in Gaithersburg, 
MD.
    At the end of the submission period, Submissions will be posted on 
the challenge Web site and will be reviewed, graded, and voted on by a 
steering committee.

Additional Information

    General Conditions: ONC reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/
or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at ONC's 
sole discretion.
    Intellectual Property: Each participant retains title and full 
ownership in and to their Submission. Participants expressly reserve 
all intellectual property rights not expressly granted under the 
challenge agreement. By participating in the Challenge, each entrant 
hereby irrevocably grants to the Government a limited, non-exclusive, 
royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license and right to reproduce, 
publically perform, publically display, and use the Submission to the 
extent necessary to administer the challenge, and to publically perform 
and publically display the Submission, including, without limitation, 
for advertising and promotional purposes relating to the Challenge. 
This may also include displaying the results of the Challenge on a 
public Web site or during a public presentation.

Representation, Warranties and Indemnification

    By entering the Challenge, each applicant represents, warrants and 
covenants as follows:
    (a) Participant is the sole author, creator, and owner of the 
Submission;
    (b) The Submission is not the subject of any actual or threatened 
litigation or claim;
    (c) The Submission does not and will not violate or infringe upon 
the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or 
other legal rights of any third party;
    Participants must indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Federal 
Government from and against all third party claims, actions, or 
proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, 
costs, and expenses relating to or arising from participant's 
Submission or any breach or alleged breach of any of the 
representations, warranties, and covenants of participant hereunder. 
The Federal Agency sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any 
Submission that, in their discretion, deems to violate these Official 
Rules, Terms & Conditions.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719.

Karen DeSalvo,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2016-16133 Filed 7-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-45-P