83 FR 27823 - Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge Solver Solicitation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 115 (June 14, 2018)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is launching the Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge to incentivize the use of safety data in the development of innovative analytical visualization tools that will reveal insights into serious crashes and improve understanding of transportation safety. The Challenge serves as a platform to capture the imaginations of technology and data firms, transportation stakeholders, and state and local agencies to unlock their creativity, and empower them to develop innovative new data visualization tools that can help improve road and rail user safety, to benefit all transportation users. The Challenge is open to individuals and teams (Solvers) from the business and research communities, including technology companies, analytics firms, transportation carriers, industry associations, research institutions, universities, mapping and visualization providers. Solvers will compete for cash prizes that will be awarded throughout the multi-stage Challenge. The Challenge prize purse is $350,000, with four semi-finalists competing for a portion of the $100,000 interim prize and two final-stage Solvers competing for a portion of the $250,000 final prize.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27823-27828]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12795]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

[DOT-OST-2018-0081]


Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge Solver Solicitation

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is launching the 
Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge to incentivize the use of 
safety data in the development of innovative analytical visualization 
tools that will reveal insights into serious crashes and improve 
understanding of transportation safety. The Challenge serves as a 
platform to capture the imaginations of technology and data firms, 
transportation stakeholders, and state and local agencies to unlock 
their creativity, and empower them to develop innovative new data 
visualization tools that can help improve road and rail user safety, to 
benefit all transportation users.
    The Challenge is open to individuals and teams (Solvers) from the 
business and research communities, including technology companies, 
analytics firms, transportation carriers, industry associations, 
research institutions, universities, mapping and visualization 
providers. Solvers will compete for cash prizes that will be awarded 
throughout the multi-stage Challenge. The Challenge prize purse is 
$350,000, with four semi-finalists competing for a portion of the 
$100,000 interim prize and two final-stage Solvers competing for a 
portion of the $250,000 final prize.

DATES: The Challenge will begin on June 14, 2018. After the launch, 
USDOT will accept Stage I submissions up to 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 31, 
2018. A panel of judges will review team submissions and announce Stage 
I finalists in August 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, and to register 
your intent to compete individually or as part of a team, visit 
www.transportation.gov/Solve4Safety, email [email protected] or 
contact Ed Strocko at 202-366-8189.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Problem

    In 2017, motor vehicle traffic crashes resulted in an estimated 
37,150 fatalities.\1\ Comprehensively, crashes are a societal harm that 
cost the Nation over $800 billion annually in lives lost or injured, as 
well as lost work productivity and property damage.\2\ When the cost of 
serious crashes is put into context, the weight of this issue becomes 
much more grave and the need for an innovative, non-traditional 
approach becomes apparent. Safety is USDOT's number one priority, and 
we are committed to reducing the incidence of serious and fatal 
injuries on our roadways.
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    \1\ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812542.
    \2\ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812451.
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    The USDOT's transportation safety programs have decades of research 
and design behind them and have proven effective in reducing injuries 
and fatalities by 40% between 1990 and 2011. In recent years, these 
advances have leveled off, and new insights and strategies are required 
to make further advances.
    Traditional factors do not fully explain the causes of the recent 
significant increase in traffic fatalities. Increases in driving are 
one factor; however, the rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle 
miles traveled (VMT) also increased from 1.08 fatalities per 100 
million VMT in 2014 to an estimated 1.17 in 2017.\1\ Economic 
conditions, gasoline prices, weather and other factors are also 
correlated with increased traffic fatalities.
    USDOT seeks to reverse the current trend, rapidly detect changes 
that indicate unsafe conditions, and reduce transportation-related 
fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system. The 
Department is pursuing data-informed decision-making to help 
strategically prioritize and address transportation safety risks. One 
pillar of this approach is data visualization. USDOT seeks clear, 
compelling data visualization tools that make data analysis and 
insights accessible to policy-makers, transportation providers and the 
public who make safety choices every day.

[[Page 27824]]

Challenge

    Currently transportation decision makers have a limited number of 
analytical visualization tools available that reveal insights, and even 
fewer focused on safety and prevention of serious crashes. A new 
opportunity lies in the rapid growth and advancement in technology and 
analytics markets combined with the volume and variety of 
transportation and other data now collected by the public and private 
sectors.
    For this reason, Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge is 
looking for the best innovators from the business and research 
communities, including technology companies, analytics firms, 
transportation carriers, industry associations, research institutions, 
universities, mapping and visualization providers, to tackle this 
challenge. Analytical visualization tools can cast new light on the 
data to reveal insights not seen though tabular analysis. The Challenge 
has been created to advance the use of safety data visualizations for 
answering analytical questions related to surface transportation system 
safety.
    In this challenge, Solvers will compete for cash prizes by 
developing innovative analytical visualization tools to gain insights 
into fatalities and serious injuries on the U.S. road and rail systems 
that policymakers, providers, and operators can use to inform the 
development of safety solutions.
    Challenge Solvers will choose to develop one of two types of 
analytical visualization tools:

    Discover Insights Tools which analyze data to reveal patterns 
and trends, and use compelling visualizations to explain what is 
happening, understand the meaning behind the data, and draw 
conclusions. These tools often combine disparate data sets and allow 
a user to ask a question and search for answers visually.
    Simulation Tools which assist in decision-making by visualizing 
data, mathematical, and statistical models to identify issues, 
determine correlations, and assign probabilities with a degree of 
accuracy. Developed using existing models and data, including those 
provided by USDOT and Innovation Agents, this type of tool will 
allow users to visualize the outputs of model simulations and 
scenarios, highlighting the different conditions and the results of 
sensitivity and parametric analysis to visually assist in decision-
making.

    USDOT is looking for Solvers to bring novel concepts and 
perspectives to existing models and data to develop analytical 
visualization tools that provide life-saving insights and solutions for 
transportation safety. Solvers should use innovation and creativity to 
further define the tools. Tools can range from dashboards using 
disparate data sets, to spatial analysis via maps, virtual or augmented 
reality scenarios, image and image analysis, social media mining and 
beyond. The tools can be powered by models and data provided by USDOT, 
Challenge Innovation Agents and/or resources to which Solvers have 
access to through their organizations, partners, and other sources. See 
www.transportation.gov/solve4safety for a sample list of datasets and 
tools.
    Challenge Solvers will develop analytical visualization tools to 
complement existing USDOT projects while addressing one or more of the 
following safety focus areas:

    1. Vulnerable System Users--these include non-motorized road 
users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorcyclists 
and persons with disabilities or reduced mobility and orientation, 
such as those with declining vision and hearing. Ongoing work at 
USDOT has identified those who are more at risk on the road system, 
but beyond the police reports and behavior research, pieces of the 
story that can improve how we protect these users are still missing. 
Example questions Solvers might address:
     Between 2013 and 2016 there was a 25-percent increase 
in pedestrians killed in traffic crashes.\3\ A disproportionate 
share of these pedestrian fatalities involved males, occurred in 
urban locations, and took place after dark. How can data 
visualization tools support decision-makers in learning from the 
relationships among various contributory crash risk factors that are 
specific to their communities?
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    \3\ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812246.
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     A Crash Modification Factor (CMF) is a multiplicative 
factor that indicates the proportion of crashes that would be 
expected after implementing a countermeasure. Examples of 
countermeasures include installing a traffic signal, increasing the 
width of road edge lines, and installing a median barrier. We have 
proven that different countermeasures work, and we know the CMFs for 
each countermeasure, but how could we help decision makers choose 
among appropriate countermeasures?
    2. Conflict Points Impacts--these are locations where user paths 
intersect, including road intersections and rail grade crossings. 
Conflict points are categorized as crossing, merging (or joining) 
and diverging (or separating). We're investigating which conflict 
points correlate most with motor vehicle crashes, but we don't fully 
understand the difference between near-misses and impacts at these 
points. Example questions Solvers might address:
     Much of the nation is built around the railroad system. 
By developing around this infrastructure, we have unintentionally 
created conflict points that users are drawn to, often putting 
communities at greatest risk. How can data visualization tools 
better support urban planners identifying which grade crossings are 
more prone to accidents and the best risk reduction strategies to 
employ?
     In the United States, over the last several years an 
average of one-quarter of traffic fatalities and roughly half of all 
traffic injuries are attributed to intersections.\4\ Strategies to 
address roadway intersection safety are diverse: They are often 
engineering-based, including geometric design and application of 
traffic control devices (such as signs, markings and signals) and 
with a foundation in human factors. Quite often, it is a combination 
of these strategies that is needed to truly solve a problem. How can 
we visually compare the safety impacts of traditional signals, 
roundabouts, and protected left turns?
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    \4\ https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/.
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    3. High Risk Factors--these include young drivers, impaired 
drivers, drowsy drivers, older drivers, and speeding drivers. We've 
identified high risk factors, but we don't have complete insights on 
the role of spatial and temporal exposures. Example questions 
Solvers might address:
     There is a misalignment between human behavior and 
judgment, and roadway and vehicle design. New, young drivers have a 
higher crash risk than any other age group. How can data 
visualization tools support and educate people to improve their 
driving behaviors?
     In 2015, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted 
for 29 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities. How 
can data visualization tools support first responders' on-site 
interventions?
    Challenge Solvers will also focus their analytical visualization 
tools by designing them for use by one of the following audiences:
    Policy makers and influencers--these are people in Federal, 
State, and local government agencies, associations, and industry 
bodies. They attempt to reduce transportation-related fatalities and 
serious injuries by analyzing safety data to identify safety risks 
and recommending a series of strategies, incentives or disincentives 
using personnel, funding, or laws and regulations to address them.
    Providers/Operators--these are people in business and government 
who build and operate the transportation system. These include 
vehicle and equipment manufacturers, trucking and rail companies, 
state and local departments of transportation, law enforcement, and 
emergency services. They attempt to influence the reduction of 
transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries by analyzing 
safety data and designing equipment and facilities, performing 
system diagnostics, evaluating safety effectiveness, and developing 
operations, countermeasures and techniques to reduce fatalities and 
serious injuries for users of the transportation system.
    Public--these are people who use the transportation system or 
live in the United States. These include motor vehicle drivers, 
motor vehicle passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians. They have an 
interest in protecting themselves and others in the community who 
use the transportation system.

    All ideas will compete against the full pool of entries regardless 
of the type of

[[Page 27825]]

tool, safety focus area or audience being proposed.
    The Challenge invites creative minds from across the Nation to 
reveal these missing links. The business and research communities have 
the unique set of skills and creativity to step up and revolutionize 
transportation safety. The transportation safety community has welcomed 
innovation, but will benefit further from the perspective and skills of 
other subject areas. To foster new, novel, and innovative analytical 
visualization tools, USDOT is looking for Solvers and data from a 
variety of sectors. The USDOT encourages the participation of Solvers 
from outside the traditional transportation safety arena who will bring 
innovative methods, procedures, techniques, and strategies when 
developing solutions. The USDOT also has an interest in stimulating the 
integration of new or private sector data sources into the Solvers' 
analytical visualization tools.
    The USDOT Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge can act as an 
engine in driving serious crash reduction. By incentivizing innovation, 
USDOT will attract the best Solvers from around the nation to come up 
with new tools for visualizing the risks of serious crashes. As with 
other government competitions, the USDOT Solving for Safety 
Visualization Challenge aims to create a vibrant community of thinkers 
and doers who drive revolutionary innovation.
    Technology has already changed how most of us get around. Let's 
leverage it to change how we view transportation safety.

Stages and Prizes

    The Challenge consists of three stages. Individuals/teams (Solvers) 
will compete for an overall prize purse of $350,000. Four semi-
finalists will compete for a portion of the $100,000 interim prize and 
two final stage Solvers will compete for a portion of the $250,000 
final prize.

    Stage I, Ideations: In Stage I, all Solvers participating in the 
Challenge will develop ideas for an analytical visualization tool. 
Four Stage I semi-finalists will be invited to Stage II as semi-
finalists to develop their ideations into proofs of concept and 
compete for a cash prize. If a selectee declines to participate in 
the next stage, an alternate may be selected.
    Stage II, Concepts: In Stage II, the four semi-finalists from 
Stage I will develop their ideations into proofs of concept (i.e., 
detailed system designs and prototypes) for an analytical 
visualization tool. The four semi-finalists will compete for part of 
a $100,000 prize purse for their proofs of concept. Based on review 
of the Stage II submissions by the judges, two of the four semi-
finalists will also advance to Stage III as finalists. An additional 
semi-finalist may also receive an honorable mention, but not advance 
to Stage III. If a selectee declines to participate in the next 
stage, an alternate may be selected.
    Stage III, Tools: In Stage III, the two finalists from 
Stage II will further develop their proofs of concept into full 
working analytical visualization tools. The two finalists will 
compete for a $250,000 prize purse, with each receiving a minimum of 
$50,000. The Stage III prize purse will be awarded to the winners 
based on the judges' review of the Stage III submissions.

Eligible Challenge Participants

    Eligible Solvers are individuals or teams from the business and 
research communities in the United States or US territory. This 
includes but is not limited to organizations such as: technology 
companies, analytics firms, transportation carriers, industry 
associations, research institutions, universities, mapping and 
visualization providers. Teams are encouraged to organize themselves in 
a manner that best fits meeting the Challenge.

Challenge Authority

    USDOT will be carrying out this challenge prize competition under 
the authority of 15 U.S.C. 3719.

Challenge Innovation Agents

    Challenge Innovation Agents are companies and organizations 
interested in providing real-world knowledge, guidance, insight, 
issues, and data to Solvers, especially those new to the transportation 
safety space. USDOT will provide a public listing of all organizations 
and companies who identify as Challenge Innovation Agents. This listing 
will provide a brief description and contact information for each 
Innovation Agent to assist Solvers that are interested in talking to or 
partnering with Innovation Agents for the Challenge. USDOT will list 
two types of Challenge Innovation Agents: Technical Assistance and 
Data.
    Technical Assistance (T.A.) Innovation Agents can provide 
interested Solvers with knowledge, guidance, insight and issues related 
to transportation safety. T.A. Innovation Agents may be able to provide 
technical assistance related to key safety issues impacting their 
members or employees, transportation safety techniques, transportation 
system characteristics, users and operations, approaches from other 
industries and sectors.
    Data Innovation Agents can provide interested Solvers with access 
to data or analytic techniques that can be used in the analytical 
visualization tools. Use of a wide variety of disparate data is 
encouraged to gain insights into reducing fatalities and serious 
injuries on the U.S. road and rail systems.
    Challenge Innovation Agents will have the opportunity to explain 
their expertise and capacity to interested Solvers who will be 
designing tools that can prove useful in furthering the Innovation 
Agents or other user's efforts to reduce fatalities and serious 
injuries. Innovation Agents providing data access will benefit from 
national recognition and highlight of their data asset, and the 
exploration and testing of their data by Solvers for use by the 
transportation safety community.
    Solvers are encouraged to seek support from Innovation Agents to 
strengthen their individual/team expertise. Innovation Agents may 
register their support throughout the Challenge by signing up at 
www.transportation.gov/Solve4Safety. A list of current Innovation 
Agents will be updated on the official Challenge website. The Challenge 
will host a webinar to facilitate Solver-Innovation Agent relationship 
building.

Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition

    To be eligible to win a prize under this Challenge, an individual 
or entity--
    (1) Shall register to participate in the Competition under the 
rules promulgated by the USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics;
    (2) Shall comply with all the requirements under this announcement 
and any subsequently announced rules for the competition;
    (3) In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the United States or US 
territory, 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 or US territory;
    (4) Shall not be a USDOT employee; and
    (5) Shall not be another federal entity or federal employee acting 
within the scope of their employment (all non-USDOT federal employees 
must consult with their agency Ethics Official to determine whether the 
federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit the acceptance of a cash 
prize stemming from a federally sponsored prize competition);
In addition, these two restrictions apply to recipients of other 
federal funds:
    (1) Federal grantees may not use federal funds to develop 
submissions unless consistent with the purpose of their grant award; 
and
    (2) Federal contractors may not use federal funds from a contract 
to develop prize competition applications or to

[[Page 27826]]

fund efforts in support of a prize competition submission;
    An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the 
individual or entity used federal facilities or consulted with federal 
employees or USDOT Challenge Innovation Agents during a competition if 
the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals and 
entities participating in the competition on an equitable basis.
    Participants must also agree to assume 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 competition, 
whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or 
otherwise.
    Participants must also agree to indemnify the Federal Government 
against third party claims for damages arising from or related to 
Challenge activities.
    If any potential finalist is found to be ineligible, has not 
complied with the Official Rules, Terms and Conditions, or declines the 
cash prize for any reason prior to award, an alternate finalist may be 
selected. If any potential winner is found to be ineligible, has not 
complied with the Official Rules, Terms & Conditions, or declines the 
cash prize for any reason prior to award, an alternate winner may be 
selected. Please refer to the Official Rules, Terms & Conditions for 
further details.
    Cash prizes awarded under this challenge will be paid to the 
individual or Team Lead directly by USDOT through electronic funds 
transfer. Finalists and winner(s) will be responsible for any 
applicable local, state, and federal taxes and reporting that may be 
required under applicable tax laws.

Solution Submission Materials

Stage I, Ideation

    To be eligible to win a prize under this stage, an individual or 
entity must submit:

    1. A cover page with the following information:
     Team name, participant names, organization (s), and 
primary point of contact
     Challenge tracks they are solving for:
     Tools:
    [cir] Discover Insights Tool
    [cir] Simulation Tool
     Safety Focus Areas:
    [cir] Vulnerable System Users
    [cir] Conflict Points
    [cir] High Risk Factors
     Tool End-User:
    [cir] Policymakers
    [cir] Providers/Operators
    [cir] Public
     Submission title. Proposed name for your concept.
     Submission description. What is the headline for your 
idea? Briefly describe your idea, concept and approach. (15 words)

2. Written Summary of the Solution Idea

    This includes a detailed description of the proposed solution 
idea. Summary should discuss in detail the functionality and 
capabilities of the analytical visualization tool. The Solver must 
describe, in a high level of technical detail, how the proposed 
solution will meet each of the Solution Requirements and the Judging 
Criteria for this stage. The Summary must not exceed the character 
length of the online submission form. The Solver should understand 
that their submittal will be reviewed by technical experts in 
transportation safety analysis, data, IT and visualization. If the 
level of detail is deemed insufficient by the experts, the proposed 
solution will not be regarded as feasible.
    All written work shall be phrased in layperson English language. 
Geospatial, visualization, statistical and technical terminology, 
including program coding language, shall not be used without 
providing an explanation of terms.
    Solvers should respond to the judging criteria specified in the 
Judging Criteria Section.

3. Information on Qualifications of Your Team

    Please include a r[eacute]sum[eacute] or bio of key 
individual(s) who would be responsible for developing the idea into 
a proof of concept with a detailed system design and prototype.
    If you plan to work with a Technical Assistance or Data 
Innovation Agent, please indicate which Innovation Agent(s) you are 
or will be working with and their role in tool development.

4. Appendices

    (a) Video of Submission Idea
    [cir] Provide a link to a 30 second video of solution idea.
    (b) Additional Assets
    [cir] If available, upload or link to additional research 
abstracts, presentations, data visualizations, or other supporting 
visual information that may help us better understand your concept. 
Accepted upload file formats include: .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, 
.pdf, .jpg, .png (50 MB max).


    Note:  Stage II and Stage III descriptions are preliminary and 
will be developed further. Additional details and submission 
requirements for Stage II and Stage III will be provided to Solvers 
advancing to these stages and posted on the Challenge website.

Stage II, Concepts

    To be eligible to win a prize under this stage, an individual or 
entity must be invited to submit a proof of concept with a detailed 
system design and prototype. Applicants must provide the following as 
part of the application process.
    (1) Written summary of the proof of concept with a detailed system 
design and prototype
    Solvers should respond to the judging criteria specified in the 
Judging Criteria Section.
    (2) A prototype with a working interactive model of the analytical 
visualization tool
    The prototype must provide an idea of the proposed design, 
navigation and layout of the tool. It must demonstrate the 
functionality and verify that the analytical visualization tool idea 
and concept can be achieved in full development.
    (3) A ten-minute live, In-person or virtual demo of the prototype

Stage III, Tools

    To be eligible to win a prize under this stage, an individual or 
entity must be invited to submit a full working tool. Applicants must 
provide the following as part of the application process.
    (1) Perform a thirty-minute live in-person or virtual demo of the 
working tool
    (2) Provide a written summary of the analytical visualization tool
    Solvers should respond to the judging criteria specified in the 
Judging Criteria Section.
    (3) Submit complete documentation of the tool
    (4) Submit all code and fully functioning software and analytical 
visualization tool to USDOT

Judging Criteria

Stage I--Ideation Judging Criteria

    These criteria area weighted equally. The evaluation panels will 
consider each proposal's alignment with each of these criteria and make 
recommendations to the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. 
The Under Secretary selects as semi-finalists those proposals that best 
advance the purposes of this competition, as described in this notice.

Criteria Applying To All Tools

     Benefits. Defines a target user or demonstrates the 
potential for users, should the tool be developed. Takes into 
consideration inputs from potential users. Details appeal and relevance 
to target user and describes method to measure benefits. Describes 
extent to which the tool expands upon existing safety understanding, 
generates actionable insights for its proposed target audience, and has 
the potential for dramatic impacts on transportation safety. Addresses 
the challenges facing

[[Page 27827]]

broad adoption, and how could they be overcome.
     Data. Identifies data requirements and appropriately 
handles uncertainty. Describes a new, original idea that integrates 
data in an unprecedented and novel way or enhances understanding of the 
data. Explains what risks or challenges exist for accessing and/or 
using the data, and how could they be overcome. Proposes using cost-
effective data. Details an appropriate use of the data for the 
analytical visualization tool in supporting insight discovery and for 
the message of the visualization.
     Technology. Discusses existing technologies and describes 
how the proposed tool differs from current technologies. Details the 
features of the tool and how they can be accessed and understood by the 
maximum possible number of users. Describes a wide range of 
accessibility and uptake for target users by using technology that can 
easily be deployed and maintained. Proposes using cost-effective 
technologies.
     Cost to Implement. Provides a clear schedule for project 
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Includes initial estimates 
of data input and operating costs and includes five-year maintenance 
estimates for implementing and potentially scaling the tool. Describes 
how the benefits of the proposed tool outweigh the costs of end-users 
obtaining the data, technology, skills and resources necessary to 
implement and sustain the tool.

Criteria Applying to Only Discover Insights Tool

     Insights. Provides an innovative plan and project 
narrative that describes how the proposed tool will reveal insights to 
a solution. Details the tool's unique differentiating factor for 
reducing serious crashes. Identifies and addresses one or more of the 
priority safety focus areas. Exemplifies potential for raising 
awareness about transportation safety and for possible solutions to 
transportation safety challenges.

Criteria Applying to Only Simulation Tool

     Simulation. Provides an innovative plan and project 
narrative that describes how the proposed tool will allow users to 
simulate different conditions from models. Describes the capacity to 
customize the tool based on different scenarios from models. Details 
the accuracy and precision the tool will perform at in visualizing a 
variety of scenarios from models. Identifies and addresses one or more 
of the priority safety focus areas. Exemplifies potential for raising 
awareness about transportation safety and for possible solutions to 
transportation safety challenges.

    Note: Stage II and Stage III judging criteria are preliminary. 
Final judging criteria for Stages II and III will be provided to 
Solvers advancing to these stages and posted on the Challenge 
website.

Stage II--Concepts Judging Criteria

     Technical Approach. Demonstrates a high-level of technical 
merit for the proposed approach to accessing and analyzing the data and 
designing the tool.
     Design and Desirability. Demonstrates how the interface 
and visualization meet the needs of users. Shows how it could simplify 
their work or inform their decisions and, how will it appeal to them 
based on intuitive design and ease of use.
     Analytical Depth. Considers a variety of data sources and 
application of an appropriate analysis technique.
     Technology Transfer Readiness Level and Feasibility. 
Demonstrates a reasonable path for implementation and production, and a 
clear method for validating data with a high degree of confidence 
backed by credible supporting evidence. Uses technology that USDOT or 
the public sector can easily deploy. Provides clear breakdown of data 
input costs and operating and maintenance costs.
     Scalability. Offers a plan as to how the system could be 
expanded to other geographic areas, to different safety data, or to 
other scenarios of concern for transportation safety. Demonstrates 
scalability of tool and data.
     Team. Demonstrates significant evolution and improvement 
of the initial Ideation through additional specifics and refinement of 
concept. Exemplifies the commitment and ability to bring the full 
working analytical visualization tool design to fruition.

Stage III--Tools Judging Criteria

     Quality of Methods. The degree to which the team has shown 
the research that they have undertaken to lead them to their technology 
idea, understood the category they have chosen and is a revolutionary 
way to analyze and visualize that data type.
     Sustainability. The extent to which the submission 
illustrates a plan to maintain consistent long-term access to the 
Analytical Visualization Tool for local-level or national-level 
decision-makers, and adequately addresses potential constraints and 
possible unintended consequences of the tool's use.
     Functionality and Technical Effectiveness. The ability of 
the final product to provide significant insights or visualize scenario 
analyses. The level of speed, sensitivity and precision (completeness 
and usefulness) of the results based on the safety problems posed in 
the Challenge.
     Expected Return on Investment. The benefits of the tool as 
compared to the data input and operating and maintenance costs for 
implementing and potentially scaling the tool.

Deadlines for Submitting Proposals

    USDOT will accept Stage I Ideation submissions that are received no 
later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2018.

Confidential and Business Information

    Responses to the Challenge solicitation and communication with 
USDOT are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If the 
application includes information that the applicant considers to be a 
trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information, the 
proposer should do the following: (1) Note on the front cover that the 
submission ``Contains Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) 
mark each affected page ``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote 
the CBI portions. USDOT protects such information from disclosure to 
the extent allowed under applicable law. In the event USDOT receives a 
FOIA request for the information, USDOT will follow the procedures 
described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that 
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will 
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA. USDOT may proactively publish any 
application information that is not marked as CBI.

Representation, Warranties, and Indemnification

    By entering the Challenge, each applicant represents, warrants and 
covenants as follows:
     Participant is the sole author, creator, and owner of the 
Submission;
     The Submission is not the subject of any actual or 
threatened litigation or claim;
     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;
     The Submission does not and will not contain any harmful 
computer code (sometimes referred to as ``malware,'' ``viruses,'' or 
``worms''); and
     The Submission, and contestants' use of the Submission, 
does not and will

[[Page 27828]]

not violate any applicable laws or regulations, including, without 
limitation, HIPAA, or applicable export control laws and regulations of 
the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
    Contestants 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. 
Contestants are financially responsible for claims made by a third 
party.
    USDOT reserves the right to disqualify any submission that it 
deems, in its discretion, to violate these Official Rules, Terms & 
Conditions.

Intellectual Property (IP) of Submissions

    As part of their acceptance of the Stage I prize, each semi-
finalist grants to USDOT and its designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, 
sub-licensable, transferable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, 
irrevocable right to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, create 
derivative works, publicly perform, publicly display, digitally 
perform, make, have made, distribute and import their Stage I 
submission and other data submitted, in any media now known or 
hereafter developed, for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or 
otherwise, without further approval by or payment to the semi-finalist, 
and represents that he/she/it has the unrestricted right to grant that 
license. Furthermore, the semi-finalist grants the government and its 
designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, sub-licensable, transferable, 
fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unlimited rights 
to the government or its designees to apply or utilize the submission, 
modified submission, or derivative work with other data not owned by 
the semi-finalist and that all resulting data output is available to 
the government for unlimited use.

    Note:  Stage II and Stage III intellectual property terms are 
preliminary. Final intellectual property terms for Stages II and III 
will be provided to Solvers advancing to these stages and posted on 
the Challenge website.

    As part of their acceptance of the Stage II cash prize, each 
Finalist grants to USDOT and its designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, 
sub-licensable, transferable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, 
irrevocable right to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, create 
derivative works, publicly perform, publicly display, digitally 
perform, make, have made, distribute and import their Stage II 
submission and other data submitted, in any media now known or 
hereafter developed, for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or 
otherwise, without further approval by or payment to the Finalist, and 
represents that he/she/it has the unrestricted right to grant that 
license. Furthermore, the Finalist grants the government and its 
designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, sub-licensable, transferable, 
fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unlimited rights 
to the government or its designees to apply or utilize the submission, 
modified submission, or derivative work with other data not owned by 
the Finalist and that all resulting data output is available to the 
government for unlimited use.
    As part of their acceptance of the Stage III cash prize, each 
Winner grants to USDOT and its designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, 
sub-licensable, transferable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, 
irrevocable right to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, create 
derivative works, publicly perform, publicly display, digitally 
perform, make, have made, distribute and import their Stage III 
submission and other data submitted, in any media now known or 
hereafter developed, for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or 
otherwise, without further approval by or payment to the Winner, and 
represents that he/she/it has the unrestricted right to grant that 
license. Furthermore, the Winner grants the government and its 
designees a worldwide, non-exclusive, sub-licensable, transferable, 
fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unlimited rights 
to the government or its designees to apply or utilize the submission, 
modified submission, or derivative work with other data not owned by 
the Finalist and that all resulting data output is available to the 
government for unlimited use.
    For more information, and to register your intent to compete as a 
Solver or to commit your support of the Challenge as an Innovation 
Agent, visit www.transportation.gov/Solve4Safety.

    Issued on: June 11, 2018.
Derek Kan,
USDOT Under Secretary for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-12795 Filed 6-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P