The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competition for the Protection of Endangered Species 2023 seeks solutions that increase egg, larval, & hatchling survival of ground-nesting or aquatic endangered species, with minimal negative impacts.
Donor Name: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Competition
Deadline: 06/27/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $100,000
Details:
The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the Protection of Endangered Species was established to encourage technological innovation with the potential to advance the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to the protecting of endangered species and to award one or more prizes annually for a technological advancement that promotes wildlife conservation. S
The forces driving this higher extinction rate include:
- Habitat loss.
- Over-exploitation of wildlife for commercial purposes.
- The introduction of harmful exotic (nonnative) organisms.
- Environmental pollution.
- The spread of diseases.
These pose severe threats to their Nation’s biological heritage and their connection to it.
Challenge types
- Scientific
- Ideas
- Technology demonstration and hardware
- Innovation
Funding Information
The total prize purse from the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competition for Protection of Endangered Species is up to $100,000 for winning technology innovation(s). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may recognize additional participants with non-monetary, honorable mention awards.
Eligibility Criteria
Any individuals, legal entities, or their family members involved with the design, production, execution, distribution or evaluation of any of the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions, or individuals determined to have a conflict of interest, are not eligible to submit as potential solvers in these Prize Competitions. A potential or actual conflict of interest exists when commitments and obligations are likely to be compromised by other material interests, or relationships (especially economic), particularly if those interests or commitments are not disclosed.
- To be able to win a cash prize purse, a solver must
- Agree to the rules of the Prize Competition
- In the case of a private entity, be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States or its Territories, or in the case of an individual, be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
- Not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment; and
- Not use Federal facilities or consult with Federal employees during the Prize Competition unless the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals and entities participating in the competition on an equitable basis.
- Meritorious, non-cash prizes may be awarded. To be eligible for non-cash, meritorious prizes a solver must
- Agree to the rules of the Prize Competition; and
- Agree to be recognized in publications issued by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcing the results of the Prize Competition, such as press releases, website, social media, etc.
- The following solvers are not eligible to win any prize regardless of whether they meet the cash prize purse or meritorious prize eligibility criteria set forth above:
- Federal entities or Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible to win a prize.
- An individual or entity that is determined to be on the GSA Excluded Parties List is ineligible to participate, receive a monetary or non-monetary prize and will not be selected as a Prize Competition winner.
- If you/entity/team/organization are a resident or entity designated by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, you are not eligible
- Employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, current or past members of the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Advisory Council or Boards, and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates, and immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such employees, are not eligible.
- Any solver that employs an evaluator (e.g., Judge) on the Judging Panel or otherwise has a material business relationship or affiliation with any Judge.
- Any solver who is a member of any Judge’s immediate family or household.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, participating organizations, and any advertising agency, contractor, or other individual or organization involved with the design, production, promotion, execution, or distribution of the Prize Competition, and all employees, and all members of the immediate family or household of any such individual or organization.
- Any solver that uses Federal funds to develop the written proposed solution for the Prize Competition (“Proposed Solution”) now or anytime in the past, unless such use is consistent with the grant award, or other applicable Federal funds awarding document. Solvers that have been funded by the Federal Government in the past to work within the technical domain of the Prize Competition are eligible, provided that they did not develop their specific submission with Federal funds. Submissions that propose to improve or adapt existing federally-funded technologies for the solution sought in this Prize Competition are also eligible. Solvers are also encouraged to consult with their employer’s Ethics Officer for additional guidance and considerations.
- Winning technology innovations are not eligible to be submitted nor to compete in any future Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions. This includes any innovations that builds upon a previous winning technology innovation.
Judging Criteria
Basis Upon Which a Winner Will be Selected: Submissions, that have the potential to advance the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provide solutions that are Genius– new or significantly improve a current model or concept– will be evaluated based upon the following Judging Criteria.
Criteria are maybe divided into critical and supplementary. Failure to address all the critical criteria will result in ineligibility. Supplementary criteria, when included, provide an opportunity for submissions to receive additional points from judges if the proposal adequately addresses those criteria. Failure to address supplementary criteria alone, will not result in disqualification.
The critical criteria includes:
- Goal- The solution targets terrestrial ground nesting species or egg producing aquatic species (bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate), and species must be listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act
- Impact- The solution provides metrics that are measurable and would demonstrate success, specifically around an increase in endangered species recruitment.
- Achievable- Adoption of the solution is achievable and cost efficient for the end user (effort, safety, cost, staffing, time, equipment).
- Target Species and Habitat Impacts- The solution describes any anticipated impacts to target or non-targe species and their habitats.
The supplementary criteria includes:
- Deployment Scale- The technology innovation can be applied to multiple species or taxa and multiple habitats over a wide geographic area. (10 pts)
This competition is not looking for solutions that focus on:
- Target species relocation
- Predator relocation and or lethal control
- Startup captive breeding or head-start programs
- Population monitoring technology
For more information, visit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.