[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25525-25528]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10302]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Requirements and Registration for the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety
Data Utilization Student Challenge

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data
Utilization Student Challenge. The purpose of the Challenge is to
facilitate the development of mobile Web sites and applications to make
FMCSA's motorcoach safety data more accessible and user-friendly. The
Challenge is open to students currently enrolled at a fully-accredited
higher education institution, or who plan to enroll in the fall of 2012
or the winter of 2013. The eligibility requirements and rules can be
found below.

DATES: Submission period: Start: April 30, 2012 12:00 p.m. EDT, end:
August 1, 2012 11:59 p.m. EDT. Judging period: Start: August 2, 2012
12:00 a.m. EDT, end: September 15, 2012 11:59 p.m. EDT. Winner(s)
announced: September 20, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sinrud, Office of Research
and Information Technology, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, or email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    Award Approving Official: Dr. Kelly Leone, Associate Administrator
for Research and Information Technology, FMCSA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Agency believes that developers, small businesses, and the
general public would make better use of FMCSA-collected data if it were
available in a more versatile and user-friendly format. To that end,
FMCSA announces the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization Student
Challenge, pursuant to the America COMPETES Act (15 U.S.C. 3719), to
engage student developers to create methods for the traveling public to
more meaningfully make use of motorcoach safety data. Up to two winning
student-developed applications or Web sites for mobile devices will be
showcased at a U.S. DOT or industry event. FMCSA will release
motorcoach safety data in the form of Application Programming
Interfaces (APIs) to facilitate participation.
    The goal of the Challenge is to make FMCSA's motorcoach safety data
easier to understand and to promote wider use among consumers,
stakeholders, and policy-makers across the country. Through increased
accessibility and use, the Agency seeks to help the traveling public
make more informed decisions when choosing motorcoach carriers.

II. Subject of Challenge Competition

    The goal of the U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization Student
Challenge is to showcase the potential benefits of online or mobile
applications that present motorcoach safety data to the public in an
innovative way resulting in improved traveler safety.

III. Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition

    To be eligible to enter and win this Challenge, an individual or
group of individuals must meet all eligibility requirements listed in
the Official Rules (provided below) and have registered to participate
in the competition through Challenge.gov. In addition, all entries must
meet Submission Requirements listed in the Official Rules.

IV. Registration Process for Participants

    Contestants must register for the contest on the Challenge.gov Web
site by creating an account. Registrants will receive an email to
verify their account and may then enter their submissions via the
``Enter a Submission'' tab. More information governing submissions and
their content can be found in the Official Rules, which are provided
below.

V. Winner Recognition/Award

    Up to two winning entries will be recognized. Depending on the
number of entries, the U.S. DOT may also identify submissions as
honorable mentions through the U.S. DOT FMCSA Web site. The winner(s)
will be recognized at a U.S. DOT or industry event to be determined.
Authorized travel expenses will be paid for up to two members of each
team being recognized to attend the event.

VI. Basis Upon Which Winner Will Be Selected

    Challenge submissions will be scored in each of four criteria, as
listed below:
    1. Creativity and aesthetics of data utilization.

    2. Success in translating multiple data sets into relevant
information.
    3. Relevance to the goal area of crafting a marketplace that better
accesses and utilizes motorcoach safety data.
    4. Demonstrated value in assisting people or entities who use the
data to make decisions.
    The product submissions will be judged by a qualified panel of
FMCSA employees selected by the U.S. DOT at its sole discretion.

VII. Official Rules

    Introduction: The U.S. DOT Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization
Student Challenge (the ``Challenge'') is an initiative of the U.S. DOT
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Challenge is
intended to showcase the potential benefits of online or mobile
applications that present motorcoach safety data to the public in an
innovative way resulting in improved traveler safety. Products may be
submitted by individual students or teams of individual students
(collectively, ``Contestants'').
    Any elements of the Challenge described in the ``details'' section
of this Challenge posting on challenge.gov are wholly incorporated as
part of the rules of this contest.
    Eligibility: In order to be eligible to enter and win the
Challenge, individuals or groups of individuals must meet all of the
following requirements:
    1. Must be at least 18 years old and a citizen or permanent
resident of the United States; holders of student visas that do not
otherwise have permanent residency are not eligible to compete.
    2. Must be currently enrolled at a higher education institution
defined as an accredited public or private university or college
(including community, junior, or vocational college) or plan to enroll
in either the Fall of 2012 or Winter of 2013.
    3. Must not be a Federal employee (including U.S. DOT employees)
acting within the scope of his/her employment or working on his/her
applications or submissions during assigned duty hours.
    4. Must not be a Federal contractor(s) or use Federal funds from a
contract to develop COMPETES Act Challenge applications or to fund
efforts in support of a COMPETES Act Challenge submission.
    5. Must have complied with all the Submission Requirements listed
below.
    In addition, each individual member in a team must be independently
eligible to win. All winners or all members of the winning team must be
able to certify that they have not been convicted of a violation of
Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or
gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code or a
violation of the civil False Claims Act. An individual may join more
than one team. An individual or group of individuals 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 available to all individuals and
entities participating in the competition on an equitable basis.
    The Challenge is subject to all applicable federal laws and
regulations. Participation constitutes Contestant's full and
unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and administrative
decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the
Challenge. Eligibility to be recognized as a winner is contingent upon
fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
    Challenge Submission Period: The Challenge Submission Period begins
on April 30, 2012, at 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and ends on
August 1, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
    How to Enter and Submission Requirements: Interested persons should
read the Official Rules before entering the Competition. All
Contestants must submit their product through the Challenge.gov portal.
Please note, in order to submit a product, Contestants will first need
to register and create an account with Challenge.gov.
    Submission Format: There are two basic steps for entry:
    1. Create an interesting online or mobile application product
(product) and accompanying summary: Select a topic that addresses the
goal area of Motorcoach Safety Data Utilization and create an
interesting product that demonstrates an innovative method of using
FMCSA data to inform the general public about motorcoach safety. Access
to FMCSA data is described below under Data Sources. Entries must
include the use of all 5 Behavior Analysis and Safety Information
Categories (BASICs) described below. Data from additional government
and/or other appropriate sources may be used in creating the product.
You must identify specific data sources used. Entries may not rank
motorcoach companies using any number, letter, color or icon system.
Develop a summary of the product that explains your topic, how the
entry improves a decision based on the general public's understanding
of your topic, and what conclusions can be drawn from the application.
The summary must not exceed 650 words.
    2. Submit your entry: Prior to submitting a product, register on
Challenge.gov. Registration is free. From the Competition Web page on
Challenge.gov, use the ``Enter a Submission'' tab to submit the
description of the online or mobile application, and provide a link to
a fully functioning application hosted outside of Challenge.gov.
Submissions may be updated by the submitter until the Challenge
Submission Period ends.
    After submission, all products may be screened by FMCSA for
malicious code or other security issues. Screened submissions will be
posted on the Challenge.gov competition Web page on a rolling basis.
Products failing to meet Submission Requirements or other Submission
screenings will be deemed ineligible to win. Posting a product to the
Competition Web site does not constitute FMCSA's determination of
Contestant or the online or mobile app's eligibility.
    An entry into the Challenge consists of your product and
accompanying summary to the U.S. DOT (together, the ``Entry
Materials''). All Entry Materials must be in English. All requested
information must be provided for your entry to be valid.
    Submission Content: Using data sets including those provided by the
U.S. DOT, create a product that provides information to motorcoach
travelers and addresses one or more of FMCSA's core priorities.
    1. Raise the bar for motorcoach carriers to enter the industry
    2. Maintain high safety standards to remain in the motorcoach
industry
    3. Remove high-risk motorcoach operators from our roads and
highways
    Data Sources: FMCSA is providing access through Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) to data from its License and Insurance
(L&I) system and the Motor Carrier Management Information System
(MCMIS). The FMCSA API is available at https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/developer.
    The L&I system is a client-server and web-based application used to
enter and display licensing and insurance information regarding
authorized for-hire motor carriers, freight forwarders, and property
brokers. It is the authoritative source for FMCSA licensing and
insurance data. The MCMIS includes data from FMCSA's Safety Management
System (SMS). The data provided in SMS uses all safety violations
discovered at roadside, weights each one based on its crash risk,

and measures safety performance in different unsafe behavioral areas
called Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). Access
to the five publicly available BASICs is available through this
challenge. They are:
    1. Unsafe Driving
    2. Fatigued Driving
    3. Driver Fitness
    4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol
    5. Vehicle Maintenance
    Alternative/Additional Data Sources: In addition to the provided
data sources, you may also use other data sources such as:
    1. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA)
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database: http://www.nhtsa.gov/FARS.
    2. U.S. Census database: http://www.census.gov/.
    3. State and local department of transportation data.
    4. Mapping information.
    5. Other publicly-available and verifiable data sources as
appropriate.
    Any data sources outside of the provided FMCSA APIs, including
those listed above, must be disclosed in your 650 word description of
your product.
    Submission Requirements: In order for an entry to be eligible to be
recognized as a winner of this Competition, the entry must meet the
following requirements:
    1. General--Contestants must host their own online or mobile
application during the submission and judging process and ensure FMCSA
has continued access to the online or mobile product throughout the
judging process.
    2. Availability--Contestants must make their submissions available
free to the public during the Competition and for at least one year
after. In addition, each Contestant grants to the U.S. DOT and others
acting on behalf of the U.S. DOT (including FMCSA), a royalty-free,
non-exclusive, unlimited worldwide license to use, copy for use,
perform publicly, and display publicly all parts of the Submission for
the purposes of the Challenge. This license includes posting or linking
to the Submission on the official U.S. DOT Web site and making it
available for use by the public for an unlimited timeframe.
    3. Acceptable Platforms--The application must be designed for the
Web, a personal computer, a mobile handheld device, console, or any
platform broadly accessible on the open internet.
    4. Data--The online or mobile application must utilize, at a
minimum, the Federal government data provided in the API. Information
available from any publicly available Federal source or other data
source (e.g. industry or map data) may be used though not all data
fields or information available in these additional resources must be
included. Contestants agree not to use the data or information obtained
through participation in the Challenge for purposes of invasion of
privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private
facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory),
defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity,
infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property
rights, property damage, or causing personal injury or death.
    5. Accessibility--The app must be accessible to a wide range of
users, including users with disabilities (see Federal standards under
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?fuseAction=stdsdoc).
    6. Deadlines and Modifications--All Competition submissions must be
submitted through the Challenge.gov portal by August 1, 2012 at 11:59
p.m. EDT. After the Challenge submission period closes on August 1,
2012, a submitted app must remain unchanged and unaltered until after
the judging period.
    7. Intellectual Property--The Submission must not infringe any
copyright or any other rights of any third party.
    8. No U.S. DOT logo--The online or mobile application must not use
U.S. DOT's logo or official seal in the Submission, and must not claim
U.S. DOT endorsement. The recognition of a winning entry in this
Competition does not constitute an endorsement of a specific product by
U.S. DOT or the Federal government.
    9. Functionality/Accuracy--A Submission may be disqualified if the
application fails to function as described in the description provided
by the Contestant, or if the application provides inaccurate
information.
    10. Security--Submissions must be free of malware. Contestant
agrees that FMCSA may screen the application to determine whether
malware or other security threats may be present. FMCSA may disqualify
the online or mobile application if, in FMCSA's judgment, the entry may
damage government or others' equipment or operating environment.
    11. Standards of Conduct--All Competition submissions must also
adhere to the Challenge.gov Standards of Conduct at http://challenge.gov/terms#standards.
    Judging: Prior to judging, all submitted products will be screened
for Contestant eligibility, completeness of submission and malicious
code. The members of the Judging panel will be selected by FMCSA at its
sole discretion and will be comprised of up to ten federal employees.
Judges will be screened by FMCSA to ensure they do not: (1) Have
personal or financial interests in any Contestant; or (2) have a
familial relationship with a Contestant. The panel will judge the Entry
Materials (product and summary text) on the judging criteria identified
below in order to select the awardees. Judges have the right to
withdraw without advance notice in the event of circumstances beyond
their control.
    Challenge submissions will be scored in each of four criteria, as
listed below:
    1. Creativity and aesthetics of application. Like artwork, products
should be designed to capture the attention of the user through
creative use of visuals, layout, and animations (if applicable). How
original and attractive is the product?
    2. Success in translating data sets into relevant information. One
aspect of the application is its potential to synthesize multiple,
large datasets to deliver relevant and actionable information to the
user in an innovative compelling way. How well does the product
accomplish this? Does the product accomplish the goal while including
data from each of the 5 BASICs?
    3. Relevance to the goal area of crafting a marketplace that can
better access and utilize motorcoach safety data. Does the author's
submission contribute to crafting a marketplace that can better access
and utilize available bus safety data? Does the product accomplish the
goal without creating a ranking system?
    4. Demonstrated value in assisting decision makers. Does the
information presented in the product and summary shed new light on a
transportation issue that would otherwise not been known?
    All Decisions by the U.S. DOT are Final and Binding in All Matters
Related to the Challenge.
    Verification of Potential Winners:
    Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and
conditions of these Official Rules and winning is contingent upon
fulfilling all requirements. The potential winners will be notified by
email, telephone, or mail after the date of the judging. The potential
winners will be required to sign and return to U.S. DOT, within ten
(10) days of the date notice is sent, an Affidavit of Eligibility
(certifying that they meet all of Challenge's eligibility requirements)
and a Liability/Publicity Release in order to claim any recognition. In
the event that a potential

winner of a Challenge is disqualified for any reason, U.S. DOT may
award the applicable recognition to an alternate winner from the
remaining eligible entries.
    Awards: Up to two entries will be recognized as winners. Depending
on the number of entries, the U.S. DOT may also give honorable mention
recognition to several submissions through the U.S. DOT FMCSA Web site.
    Following the announcement of the award(s), up to two winning
awardees will be recognized at a U.S. DOT or industry event to be
determined. Authorized travel expenses will be paid for an individual
contestant who wins or up to two members of each winning team to attend
the event. If a winning team consists of more than two individuals, the
team must designate the two individuals who will represent the team at
the event. The individuals designated to attend the event must be
included in the entry package. Travelers will need to provide receipts
to document travel expenses and the travel expenses will be reimbursed
according to Federal Government travel rules and regulations, including
41 CFR 300-3.1 (Invitational Travel). Maximum reimbursement rates for
are published by the General Services Administration at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100120; these limits apply to the
invitational travel granted to the winners of this Challenge. Travel
will only be purchased, reimbursed or otherwise covered through this
Challenge from origins or to destinations within the United States and
U.S. Territories. No cash equivalent or substitute compensation will be
made in place of the authorized travel expenses.
    Entry Conditions and Release: By entering, each Contestant agrees
to: (a) Comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the
decisions of the U.S. DOT and/or the Challenge judges which are binding
and final in all matters relating to this Challenge; (b) release and
hold harmless the U.S. DOT and any other organizations responsible for
sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the
Challenge, and all of their respective past and present officers,
directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the
``Released Parties'') from and against any and all claims, expenses,
and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of
any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion
of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of
private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory),
defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity,
infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property
rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or
relating to a Contestant's entry, creation of an entry or submission of
an entry, participation in the Challenge, acceptance or use or misuse
of any travel or activity related thereto and/or the broadcast,
transmission, performance, exploitation or use of entry; and (c)
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the U.S. DOT against any and all
claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys'
fees) arising out of or relating to a Contestant's participation in the
Challenge and/or Contestant's acceptance, use or misuse of recognition
or travel expenses.
    Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Challenge
constitutes Contestant's consent to U.S. DOT's and its agents' use of
Contestant's name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, and/or
hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide,
without further payment or consideration.
    General Conditions: The U.S. DOT reserves the right to cancel,
suspend and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, if any fraud,
technical failures or any other factor beyond the U.S. DOT's reasonable
control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Challenge,
or any other reason as determined by the U.S. DOT in its sole
discretion. The U.S. DOT reserves the right in its sole discretion to
disqualify any individual or Contestant it finds to be tampering with
the entry process or the operation of the Challenge or to be acting in
violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an
unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to
deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be
a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be
made, the U.S. DOT reserves the right to seek damages from any such
person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The U.S. DOT's failure
to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a
waiver of that provision.
    Limitations of Liability: The Contestant shall be liable for, and
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Federal government against, all
action or claims, including but not limited to those for loss of or
damage to property (such as damage that may results from a virus,
malware, etc. to DOT computer systems or those of the end-users of the
software and/or applications), resulting from the fault, negligence, or
wrongful act or omission of the Contestant.
    However, based on the subject matter of the Competition, the type
of work that it will possibly require, and the likelihood of any claims
for death, bodily injury, or property damage, or loss potentially
resulting from contest participation, Contestants are not required to
obtain liability insurance or demonstrate fiscal responsibility in
order to participate in this Competition.
    The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) Any incorrect or
inaccurate information, whether caused by Contestants, printing errors
or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized
in the Challenge; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but
not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone
lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human
intervention in any part of the entry process or the Challenge; (4)
technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the
Challenge or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to
persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in
whole or in part, from Contestant's participation in the Challenge or
receipt of recognition or travel funds. If for any reason a
Contestant's entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost,
or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, Contestant's sole remedy is
another entry in the Challenge. No more than the stated number of
winners will be recognized.
    Original Work, Plagiarism, and Copyright: Contestant or teams
warrants that he, she, or they are the sole author(s) and owner(s) of
the Submission, and that the Submission is wholly original with the
Contestant or team, and that it does not infringe any copyright or any
other rights of any third party of which Contestant or team members is
aware. The U.S. DOT reserves the right to not accept any entry which it
believes infringes on the intellectual property rights of others.
    Privacy: Any personal information provided to the U.S. DOT by
submitting an entry to this Challenge is used only to communicate on
matters regarding the submission and/or the Challenge. Information is
not collected for commercial marketing.

    Issued on: April 24, 2012.
Kelly Leone,
Associate Administrator, Research and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2012-10302 Filed 4-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P