Momentum for Challenges

1. U.S. General Services Administration. Federal Acquisition Service.Challenges and Challenge.govKaren TrebonDeputy Program ManagerGSA Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies May 2012

2. Momentum for Challenges • “The Federal government should…use high-risk, high-reward policy tools such as prizes and challenges to solve tough problems.” President Barack Obama, August 5, 2009, Strategy for American Innovation • March 8, 2010 OMB memo calls on all Agencies to increase their use of challenges • America COMPETES Act further strengthens

3. What is a challenge? • Also known as a contest, crowdsourcing • “Seeker" challenges "solver" to identify a solution to a problem or achieve a particular goal. • Contestants rewarded with monetary or non-monetary prizes

4. Why use challenges and prizes? • Citizen Engagement Expand talent pool, Reach out to “unusual suspects” • Leverage Prize Money Pay only if a successful entry/solution

5. Challenge.gov 141 challenges 37 different agencies Launched 9/7/10 with 35 challenges from 15 different agencies Built as a result of 3/8/10 memo from OMB’s Jeffrey Zients

6. Challenge.gov is free ! • Agencies can host challenges for: Scientific & technical solutions Web & mobile applications Designs Concept papers or algorithms Business plans Photos, videos, posters Games & interactive elements Use the platform to cross-promote and list challenges hosted on other websites • The public can: • Submit solutions • Participate in discussions • Find and “follow” challenges • Share challenges via Twitter, Facebook and email • Win recognition or prizes

7. America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 • Expands authority to conduct challenges. Allows agencies to: • Use agency funds for challenges and prize purses • Issue prizes up to $50 million • Partner with other agencies, private sector, non-profits • Use private funding • Use outside experts as judges

8. America COMPETES Requirements for Challenges • Agencies must “consult widely “ when selecting topics for Challenges • Agencies must “widely advertise” Challenges, publish notice in Federal Register • Agencies must develop guidelines to ensure fairness of judges • Agencies must ensure that prize money properly appropriated or committed in writing by private source.

9. Success Stories • http://go.usa.gov/5hV • Energy Department Lighting (L) Prize. replacement for conventional light bulb that will save American consumers and businesses money. consumes only about 17 percent of the energy used by most common incandescent lamps

10. Another success story relevant to GSA • The 2011 ENERGY STAR Battle of the Buildings • 245 participating teams • The University of Central Florida won this year’s competition by reducing the energy use of Parking Garage C on its main campus by more than 63%.   • All of the top 10 overall finishers achieved energy reductions greater than 30 percent in one year. • Together, competitors cut their energy costs by $5.2 million

11. How GSA OCSIT can help • Best practices on HowTo.gov http://www.howto.gov/social-media/challenges • Challenges Community of Practice LISTSERV with 550+ members. Contact Karen.Trebon@gsa.gov to join. • Challenge.gov is a great archive

12. Main takeaways… • Help is available • Start small and learn; then grow • Document your process • Measure impact

13. Demo Challenge.gov

14. Federal community can post Challenges

15. Public can browse by category, agency

16. Public can enter, follow, vote, share

17. Scroll down to see prizes and read more

18. Judges, criteria, and how to enter

19. My Contact Information at the Center for Excellence in Digital Government • 202-501-1802 • Karen.trebon@gsa.gov • www.facebook.com/ChallengeGov • Twitter ChallengeGov

20. U.S. General Services Administration. Federal Acquisition Service.Kevin Mitchell Contract Specialist GSA Federal Acquisition Service Advertising & Integrated Marketing Solutions BranchGreater Southwest Acquisition CenterMay 2012

21. GSA Schedule 541 as another Option If your Agency does not have the time or resources to perform a challenge or competition, the use of a Scheduled Contractor could be an option. Discussion Topics • FAR Subpart 8.4 Requirements • Services requiring a Statement of Work (SOW) • Schedule 541 abilities and awarded contractors

22. FAR Subpart 8.4—Federal Supply Schedules • FAR Part 8—Requires the customer to consider a schedule source of supply before creating their own contract • Customer benefits when using a Schedule 541 contract: • No need to Create their own Contract • No need to Post Requirement on FBO • Shall not seek further competition outside the schedule program • Do not need to make additional fair and reasonable price determination, responsibility determination or create a subcontracting plan • Acquisition cycle time and cost savings • Ability to add customer unique clauses • Best value order decision with flexible evaluation factors • Latest technology and services • Industry partner expertise • Quantity and Dollar volume discounts • Spot discounts and Sales • Blanket Purchase Agreements • Contractor Teaming Arrangements • FAR Compliance • Limited or sole source orders

23. FAR Subpart 8.4—Federal Supply Schedules • Ensure that you and your team understand this portion of the FAR and don’t confuse its processes with other FAR parts • FAR 8.4 provides a streamlined process for obtaining commercial supplies and services • Saves time and money for all parties • Allows the customer to avoid the lengthy process of procurement via open market (non schedule) means • MAS Contractors must provide their current pricelist to any ordering activity upon request • GSA Advantage On-Line shopping tool • GSA eBuy electronic Request for Quotation (RFQ) system • Customer must still conduct acquisition planning • Minimal documentation

24. Ordering Services that Require a SOW • SOW—who, what, when, where, how, why, etc. • Description of work to be performed • Location of work • Period of performance • Deliverable schedule • Applicable performance standards • Any special requirements—security clearance, travel, special knowledge, key personnel, etc. • Agency RFQs for services that require a SOW must include the SOW and the weighted evaluation criteria • Performance based solutions, to the maximum extent practicable, can also be requested—Customer seeks a solution based upon a desired outcome and purpose—contractor proposes how to accomplish it.

25. Ordering Services that Require a SOW Task Orders exceedingthe micro-purchase (>$3K) threshold, but less thanthe SAT (<$150K): • Customer must develop a SOW and evaluation factors • Provide an RFQ to atleast three MAS contractors (eBuy RFQ is preferred—Section 803 and 865 compliance). The RFQ must include the SOW, the weighted evaluation factors, and specify the type of order to be awarded, e.g. fixed-price, labor hour, T&M. • Evaluate all RFQ responses using the criteria provided • Consider the level of effort, labor category mix and determine that the total price is reasonable and the best overall value • Minimal documentation • Issue the order to the MAS contractor, service performed, inspection, acceptance, and payment.

26. Ordering Services that Require a SOW Task Orders exceedingthe SAT (>$150K): • Customer must develop an RFQ with a SOW and evaluation factors • Shall post the RFQ on eBuy and provide it to as many schedule contractors as practicable to ensure that at least three reasonable quotes will be received. • Evaluate all RFQ responses using the criteria provided • May seek price reductions • Consider the level of effort, labor category mix and determine that the total price is reasonable and the best overall value • Minimal documentation • Issue the order to the MAS contractor, service performed, inspection, acceptance, and payment.

27. Utilizing Schedule 541 and SIN 541-4G • Advertising and Integrated Marketing Solutions (AIMS) created SIN 541-4G to market and advertise for responses from the public to a challenge by a customer. The challenge may be to identify a solution to a particular problem or earn a reward for accomplishing a particular goal. Prizes or other incentives may be offered by federal agencies to find innovative or cost-effective solutions to improving open government. Solutions may be ideas, design, proofs of concept, or finished products. • To date multiple Contractors, both Small and other-than-small Businesses, have been awarded SIN 541-4G. These Contractors offer a variety of challenges and competitions to the contracting community, many of whom are industry leaders. For a list of awarded contractors, please visit the GSA eLibrary at: http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/sinDetails.do?executeQuery=YES&scheduleNumber=541&flag=&filter=&specialItemNumber=541+4G • All awarded contractors have been determined to be responsible with their prices considered fair and reasonable.

28. GSA Schedule 541 Contact Information… • Mark Sims – Branch Chief Mary Beth Hudson – Section Chief • 817-850-5534 817-850-8129 • Mark.Sims@gsa.gov Marybeth.Hudson@gsa.gov • Kevin Mitchell – Contract Specialist Cheryl Allen – Business Development Specialist • 817-850-8101 817-850-8120 • Kevin.Mitchell@gsa.gov Cheryl.Allen@gsa.gov • Advertising & Integrated Marketing Solutions (AIMS) - Schedule 541 Web Portal • http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21149