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Challenge Manager User Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for challenge manager use of Challenge.Gov. Navigate through the right side menu to select an area to learn more.

Create Challenge

Create a challenge tile that will appear on Challenge.Gov and link to your challenge details page. During setup you will have options for: challenge publication date & time; single or multiple phase challenges; collection of submissions via Challenge.Gov or an external challenge site; default or custom challenge URL.

Listing your challenge on Challenge.Gov and providing key challenge details within your challenge profile allows your agency to comply with the announcement requirement under the COMPETES Act to provide the following information on a publicly accessible Government website: (1) the subject of the competition, (2) the rules for being eligible to participate in the competition, (3) the process for participants to register for the competition, (4) the amount of the prize, and (5) the basis on which a winner will be selected.

Additional information can be found here:

Setup Instructions

  1. From the Challenge Manager Dashboard, click Create a new challenge.
  2. Follow on-screen prompts and enter the challenge details starting with General Info. (See the Challenge Template for additional information regarding each of the data fields.) For long text fields there is a text editor that allows you to adjust the font size and format, create bulleted and numbered lists, indent text, and add hyperlinks.
  3. After completing a section, click Next on the bottom right of the page. A progress bar appears at the top of the page showing your progress. Click Save at any point to save your work and finish at a later time.
  4. Once all sections have been completed, review your challenge details.
    • If edits are needed, click Edit to the right of the desired section which returns you to that area of the challenge builder. Once your edits have been made, return to step 3 above.
    • Click Preview Challenge in New Tab in the bottom right to view the challenge as it will appear on Challenge.Gov. The preview page will contain a link to share with other team members for internal agency review.
  5. Once agency approvals have been received (e.g. content review, PRA approval, legal), click Submit for Approval on the bottom right. Allow up to 2 business days for your request to be processed by the Challenge.Gov support team. After the review, the team will either Approve for posting or Recommend Edits. See below for additional information regarding the Challenge.Gov support team review.
    • If Approved, your challenge will automatically go live on the Publish Date entered when creating your challenge.
    • If Edits Requested, you will receive an email notification detailing the recommendations. (Refer to the Edit your challenge for instructions for updating your challenge content and resubmitting for review.)

Challenge.Gov Support Team Challenge Review

Allow a minimum of 2 business days for your request to be processed by the Challenge.Gov support team. Additional time may be needed if you are collecting personally identifiable information (PII) as part of your challenge submission.

The Challenge.Gov support team will review your challenge for general content clarity, inclusion of relevant Challenge details in required fields, visibility of graphics, and significant spelling and grammatical errors. In addition the team will ensure that information requested from submitters does not violate the Challenge.Gov privacy policy and Terms of Use.

Challenges collecting submissions via Challenge.Gov will also be reviewed to ensure information requested from submitters does not violate Challenge.Gov’s security parameters with regard to the collection of PII. Examples of such PII include, but are not limited to: Name, Job Title, Affiliation(s)/Employer(s), Work/Personal Email address, Phone Number.

If requesting PII as part of your challenge submission:

  • Obtain agency Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), if necessary, and security team approval prior to submitting your challenge for Challenge.gov support team review.
  • Explicitly state the type(s) of information requested in the submission instructions.
  • Only collect information that is needed as part of the competition and selection process. Information needed for prize distribution should not be collected via Challenge.Gov.
  • Use a fillable pdf form marked with any needed Controlled Unclassified Information markings.
  • Include appropriate language in the submission instructions reminding solvers not to submit any additional PII, especially sensitive PII such as social security number, personal health, and financial information.

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