Blockchain Challenge

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.

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 an investigator team.

Interested parties should submit a White Paper no longer than 10 pages describing the proposed subject. Investigators or co-investigators may only participate in one Submission. Up to 15 of these Submissions will be selected as winners. The selection of a White Paper may also 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 Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, as well as for Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR), the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI), delivery system reform, and other healthcare delivery needs, as well as provide recommendations for Blockchain’s implementation. In addition to a monetary award, winners may also have the opportunity to present their White Papers at an industry-wide “Blockchain & Healthcare Workshop” co- hosted by ONC and NIST.

Challenge Timeline

• Submission period begins: July 7, 2016
• Submission period ends: August 8, 2016
• Evaluation begins: August 9, 2016
• Evaluation ends: August 19, 2016
• Winners notified: August 22, 2016
• Winners Announced: August 29, 2016
• Winner Presentation: September 26-27, 2016

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 website or during a public presentation.

The white paper must:

• Be no longer than ten (10) pages;
• Address whether there is a place in health IT and/or healthcare related research for the technology;
• Describe the value of Blockchain to the healthcare system;
• Identify potential gaps in standards created and/or resolved by the use of Blockchain;
• Discuss the effectiveness of Blockchain 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; and
• Discuss how Blockchain links to the stated objectives in the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, PCOR, PMI, delivery system reform, and other national healthcare delivery priorities.

How to Enter:

Challenge participants will submit their entries via the Submission form accessed here.

Participants must first Register for the challenge. You will create a User Name and Password, which will allow access to follow the challenge and submit your entry.

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 (ONC).
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 (ONC).
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.
9. An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the 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.
10. Submissions must not display HHS’ or ONC’s logos or official seals and must not claim endorsement.
11. Accuracy – A white paper Submission may be disqualified if it provides inaccurate or incomplete information.

The judging panel will rate each Submission based upon:

• Potential of the overall concept to help foster transformative change in the culture of health IT,
• Viability of the proposed recommendations,
• Innovativeness of the approach,
• Potential for achieving the objectives of ONC.

By entering the Challenge, each applicant represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

1. Participant is the sole author, creator, and owner of the Submission;
2. The Submission is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim;
3. 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 sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any Submission that, in their discretion, deems to violate these Official Rules, Terms & Conditions.