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ACL Social Care Referrals Challenge Competition Frequently

Asked Questions (FAQs)

Version 3 – November 2020

This document will be updated with responses to additional questions ACL receives. Questions are 

divided into categories: General, Technical, Team Formation/Stakeholders, Phase 1, and Phase 2. This

version of the FAQsincludes questions from the July 28th and October 15th webinars. For more

information, webinar recordings, and materials, please visit https://acl.gov/socialcarereferrals.

General Questions

1. Question: What is a Challenge?

Response: A Challenge (also referred to as "Prize Challenge," "Competition," "Prize

Competition," "Incentive Prize" or any combination thereof) allows the public to solve

problems presented by federal agencies and receive awards for the best solutions.

2. Question: What are the total prize amounts?

Response: The total prize award available is $500,000. The Challenge will occur in three 

competitive phases with cash prizes awarded in each phase, as described below.

Phase 1: Concept & Design Submission (July – December 2020)

· Form multi-stakeholder team, register and develop ideas and concept designs of the 

proposed solution that describe team member roles and include use cases and 

technical workflow diagrams

· Up to six prize winners at $30,000 each

Phase 2: Proof of Concept & Demonstration (January – June 2021)

· Winners from Phase 1 will develop proofs of concept and convene in-person or 

virtually to demonstrate proposed solutions

· Up to three prize winners at $60,000 each

Phase 3: Implementation & Testing (July – December 2021)

· Winners from Phase 2 will demonstrate real-world testing of the designed 

approach.

· One final prize winner at $140,000 or more, depending on number of Phase 1 and 

Phase 2 award winners

3. Question: Who is eligible for the Social Care Referrals Challenge?

Response: Individuals or entities may participate as part of one or more teams in this 

Challenge. Team formation is strongly encouraged. Teams are not limited in the number of

members. Each team must designate a captain who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and

is responsible for all Challenge correspondence. Please review additional terms and conditions here.

4. Question: Can individuals who are not U.S. Citizens, but have a company based in the U.S. 

participate?

Response: Yes, however the designated team captain must be a U.S. citizen. Please visit 

challenge.gov for more information.
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5. Question: How are the funds awarded?

Response: The funds for this Challenge will be awarded after the judging period of each phase

and is a direct payment to one individual (the designated lead or captain) on the team.

6. Question: Would an award go directly to the lead applicant, who would then decide how to share 

among team members/partners?

Response: Yes, that is correct. The prize money will be awarded to one individual (the designated 

team lead/captain). It is up to the team members to decide how the award is shared.

7. Question: How soon after each phase is completed do you anticipate awarding and distributing 

funds?

Response: We anticipate the judging and technical review process to take no more than one 

month. Therefore, we hope to announce and award funds within one month of the end of each

phase.

8. Question: What is the prize money/funding intended to cover?

Response: This is ultimately up to the team. Challenge competitions are unique in that there are 

no specific activities outlined—unlike a typical grant. It is up to the team lead and the team 

members to determine how to use prize money.

9. Question: How do I register for the Social Care Referrals Challenge? Is a Letter of Intent still required?

Response: Registration and the Phase 1 online application can be found at 

https://socialcare.innovationchallenge.com. A Letter of Intent is no longer required.

10. Question: Where do Isend questions about the Challenge?

Response: Questions concerning this Challenge should be emailed to 

SocialCareChallenge@acl.hhs.gov.

Technical Questions

11. Question: Must the submission be the creation of a new platform or can it be enhancing or 

modernizing an existing online platform? Could an applicant/coalition that has a pilot underway 

still apply?

Response: This Challenge promotes the enhancement of existing technology platforms or the 

creation of new. We recognize that there are many existing systems that are used by states, 

local CBOs, hospitals, etc. We encourage enhancements to systems or technology already 

developed, piloted, or in use.

12.Question: Is it possible that proposals can be successful and parsimonious or, in other words, can 

applicants focus on a specific piece of the puzzle and/or submit designs or processes and 

institutional arrangements rather than a “new technology” per se?

Response: Challenge competitions are unique as we have the opportunity to encourage 

discussion and collaboration on these ideas. We are aware that the problem may not be 

addressed at one time or through one solution. As we progress through the Challenge, we aim

to promote collaboration among participants by helping teams talk with each other and

continue the conversation beyond the competition. For example, an existing solution built from 

an HIE or existing referral platform that then adopts the Gravity Project standards and perhaps 

part of the open referral initiative for human services data specifications. We encourage this 

type of solution, which would take the platform to the next level with a new partner.
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13.Question: There is concern that the funding isn't enough to assemble a team that can achieve the 

various objectives (technical, legal, organizational, and ethical) that "closed-loop referrals" entail, 

so can we build off the capacity of an existing effort?

Response: Yes, we see this as an opportunity to modernize and improve existing technology 

solutions that the networks already use. We recognize that states and hospitals/health systems 

have already invested in technology platforms. The idea is to promote synergy between the two 

to ensure data and information can be easily shared and to reduce the burden of CBOs having to 

manage multiple platforms to send/receive referrals to connect people to critical resources.

14.Question: Will the submissions remain the property of the groups who submit? If selected or not 

selected?

Response: The Federal Government has the authority to promote the ideas, solutions, and lessons 

learned beyond this Challenge, but the ultimate goal is national attention to this topic and 

replicating the valued solutions. We would be willing to also promote the solutions of teams that

are not awarded.

As the federal agency, ACL has the right to request winners participate in a public announcement, 

though not necessarily to share the specific details of the solution. However, contestants in this 

Challenge competition must agree to be bound by the rules, accept that the decision of the judges 

are final and binding, and acknowledge that their submission may be the subject of a Freedom of 

Information Act (FOIA) request. Contestants are responsible for identifying and marking all 

business-confidential and proprietary information in their submission.

15.Question: Are there any other relevant standards that applicants should consider aside from Gravity

Project and bi-directional services and referrals?

Response: The IT 360X is another standard that uses CDA. However, when considering standards, 

please take into account both the terminology and technical workstreams, as the Gravity Project 

does.

16.Question: Is the Gravity Project an applicant to this or is the structure of other applicants need to be working 

within?

Response: The Gravity Project is developing a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources(FHIR)

implementation guide and a data definition,so it isthe structure, not an applicant. As you are 

incorporating closed-loop referrals or e-referrals, considerrepresenting the exchange in a 

standardized way. Thisis where the Gravity Project's guidance for data definitions and using FHIR 

based open APIs will come into play.

17. Question: What is the main goal of HSDA?

Response: Open Referral’s Human Service Data API Suite (HSDA) addresses the problem of too many

standards. It is designed to achieve interoperability across diverse, technological, and institutional 

contexts; it is not trying to “beat” the other standards.

18. Question: What referral platforms participated in the Gravity Project session for the compilation of 

referral components? Did they articulate a willingness for interoperability and are they going to be 

meeting again?

Response: Several referral platforms participated in the session, including UniteUs, Aunt Bertha, 

NowPow, and Open/City Labs. They did articulate willingness for interoperability and requested 

that we convene another session. The Gravity Project plans to do so on behalf of FHIR Technical 

build activities.
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19. Question: Is there a schema.org link for Open Referral data elements or guidance?

Response: Right now the schema option is available for legal aid programs and Open Referral is 

working to generalize that integration.

20. Question: Could submissions focus on a vulnerable population other than the elderly and 

individuals with disabilities?

Response: Yes. Through this effort, we are looking for solutions that support all populations and 

all payers, whether they are an older adult, anyone with a disability, a Veteran, a caregiver, etc. 

The goal is that anyone moving through the health care system and in need of social care can be 

connected to the right community resources through a seamless process, without having to go 

through multiple systems. The population served would be up to the team and the organizations 

involved. Ultimately, high-cost and high-need populations will likely include older adults or 

individuals with disabilities.

21. Question: The measurable component with this opportunity is unclear. Is the "measurable" to 

create a database of community resources? Or is it to create a regional collaboration of service 

providers to serve people with disabilities? This seems very IT-specific.

Response: The key measure is interoperability, which is relatively technical. However, from the 

organization perspective, this Challenge is really about business operations, how partnerships 

work, and strategies to determine how different organizations that have different systems can 

collaborate. A measurable piece could be the ability to successfully share information from one 

system to another. Consider how a partnership between organizations that previously competed, 

or at least did not collaborate, can be beneficial in a strategic and operational way.

22. Question: Does the Challenge seek referral systems that transfer personal health information or 

could it be only public information? Does the Challenge have any specific guidelines or regulations 

to ensure adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

Response: The type of referrals and data exchange will likely include public information with 

some type of individualized identifier. All legal and regulatory standards and privacy measures 

will need to considered and addressed.

23. Question: To clarify, the focus is on the sharing data on resources, versus data about specific 

clients, correct?

Response: The focus is on resource directory data and social determinants of health (SDOH) data 

exchange. However if appropriate considerations are made, specific client information may be 

shared or may be deemed necessary, depending on the parties involved. Also see the response to

question #22.

24. Question: In addition to the directory of services, are you also interested in the privacy implications

of sharing data between regulatory domains? For example, care teams that touch HIPAA, Family 

Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and unregulated organizations?

Response: This is a highly complex area and we recognize the importance of not only sharing

data, but compliance with existing regulations. We are open to working with teams to address 

concerns. We recognize that there was HIPAA rulemaking that addressed information sharing 

with community-based organizations (CBOs), given that many CBOs do play a role in continuity of 

care and services. If there are issues related to FERPA or other regulations, we are willing to 

discuss clarity needed to ensure appropriate private and secure information sharing.
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25. Question: Is there any need to consider how to connect information between healthcare providers,

CBOs, and consumers?

Response: There are a number of considerations, including data content or messaging standard 

and the relationship between providers. In many cases, there could be a type of EHR outbound 

message going to the CBO, in which the referral notes could be embedded. Alternatively, there 

could be a pre-screen of needs at the healthcare level or an assessment at the level of the CBO. It 

can be highly variable depending on which partners you are working with and based on what

works within the workflow and existing technology infrastructure and the populations they are 

serving.

Other things to consider are the sensitivity of the data and the need to respect privacy and 

confidentiality by giving individuals the option to opt in through data segmentation.

26. Question: Could you describe further how you believe organizations and individuals could benefit 

from the Challenge? What things could change? How could things change?

Response: The goal is to break down silos between the various referral platforms and resource 

directories that are currently in the market. We know that states, CBOs, hospitals, even health 

plans have invested in their own referral platforms and resource directories. There is a lack of 

standardization and a need to seamlessly exchange data to ensure informed decision making 

when connecting individuals to community resources to meet their needs in a person-centered 

way. We know of situations where 211 and another information referral system within a similar 

geography have a lot of overlap with the CBO receiving their referrals. It is important to have open 

infrastructure that allows for a current electronic account of all the community resources

available to meet individuals’ needs. Particularly during the pandemic, we want resources to be 

readily available and up-to-date. We are supporting the critically important thinking around the 

business model needed to maintain and encourage this change and keep it dynamically updated. 

Better quality data flow in a community at lower costs can be a measurable component to the 

success of this Challenge. When many organizations are using the same resource data across 

multiple systems, you can collect more robust analytics about who is searching for what services

through which channels. That provides a broader array of insights into the needs of the 

community and the patterns of service delivery.

27. Question: Regarding project scope, if we design a scalable IT solution, but test it locally, do we use a 

business model to address a potentially larger scope?

Response: Yes, this is an appropriate approach. If the proposal is selected for Phase 2 or Phase 3, 

then the scale of implementation will be determined based on the team’s capabilities and scope.

28. Question: Does the Challenge include pursuit of different agreements and costs associated with 

work to get csv files into a format that can be shared?

Response: Prize winners may use funds for such costs, however there are no additional funds 

being provided.

Team Formation/Stakeholders/Partnerships Questions

29.Question: Can an individual or entity participate on more than one team?

Response: Yes, an individual and/or entity can participate on more than one team. Multiple

entries are permitted. Each solution must be sufficiently novel and unique and not be a minor

modification of a priorsubmission.
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30. Question: Is participation on the team by state leaders required?

Response: We believe that state health and human service leaders play an important role in 

successful health and social care integration, including the technical/IT component. However, we 

also know that state leaders are stretched in resources given the current COVID environment. 

Therefore, we would like to see that state leaders are involved, but do not expect them to be 

leading the team. This decision is ultimately up to the team leader.

31. Question: Are there different levels in which teams can collaborate on a proposal? For instance, 

how would cross team collaborations clarify who is the lead?

Response: The team collaboration page, found at 

https://socialcare.innovationchallenge.com/teams, can be a space to collaborate with other 

teams and communicate with each other to potentially work as one team. It is up to the partners 

to designate the team lead.

32. Question: Will you consider funding a collaborative that is taking steps towards interoperability, but 

need funds to evaluate or are you looking for brand-new partnerships?

Response: Yes. This Challenge does not require new partnerships.

33. Question: Is 211 already an available partner?

Response: A regional United Way 211 provider has registered for this Challenge. Please reach out 

to ACL for more information.

Phase 1 Questions

34.Question: For the online application entry form, do the character limits for each question include 

spaces?

Response: Yes, the character limits include spaces. Generally, each question box is about two 

pages’ worth of text.

35.Question: Will Phase 1 prizes will be given out as proposals are submitted on a rolling basis or will ACL 

wait until December to review all proposals at the same time?

Response: Proposals can be submitted at any time. However, the evaluation and the judging of all 

submissions will happen at once. We will evaluate allsubmissions that we receive by the December 

14th due date and plan to announce the award winnersin January.

36. Question: Is sustainability one of the evaluation metrics during review of Phase 1 submissions?

Response: The judging criteria does not address sustainability. However, considerations for a 

sustainable, open business model is a part of understanding that the proposal is forward 

thinking and scalable.
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37. Question: For the Phase 1 submission, judging criteria, #3 and #4 are focused on scalability, 

feasibility and product functionality. How detailed should teams be in addressing these criteria at 

this Phase?

Response: For the Phase 1 submission, ACL is looking for an understanding of how the team of 

stakeholders submitting a solution are committed to, if not already, adopting the open API and 

standard SDOH content approaches described in judging criteria #3 and how or if the specific 

functionalities listed in judging criteria #4 will be incorporated in the ultimate solution. An 

understanding of how these functionalities are or will be incorporated in the proposed solution 

can also be included in the description of the use cases or the technical workflows that teams 

may upload as attachments in order to describe how these functions can be demonstrated or 

implemented when

Phase 2 Questions

38.Question: What kind of demo are you expecting Challenge participants to deliver in Phase 2? For 

example, a demo could be as simple as a slide deck with animation and team member role

playing, or it could be an actual software demo.

Response: We generally anticipate the demo being a little bit of both–actual software demos 

(with the assumption that most of the solutions submitted will build off of existing technology 

platforms, so there would be some portion to visually demo) and a presentation of any other 

technical details added to enhance the project. Challenge competitions are very flexible in that 

we will be able to collaboratively work with the teams that move forward to Phase 2 to identify 

what is practical.

39.Question: For the Phase 2 demo, are you looking for demos that are more about the technology, 

use of standards, etc., or about the end user workflows, without regard to the technology? I ask 

this question because a key purpose of the Challenge is to promote the development of 

standards-based solutions.

Response: The standards-based adoption and use will be a key component of Phase 2., You can 

learn more about this from the July 28th webinar recording. However, we fully understand that 

standards use does not happen overnight, so we anticipate providing some technical assistance 

to the teams that move forward to Phase 2. We would ideally also like to see a demo or 

presentation of the user workflows and overall technology enhancements in Phase 2.

40. Question: What is the size and scale expected of the prototype?

Response: We will work with Phase 2 winners to identify the appropriate size and scale for 

demonstration and implementation based on the solution’s capabilities and considerations for all 

stakeholders involved. This detail has not been finalized yet.

41.Question: When we get to Phase 2, is it required that the technology be at a pre-pilot, demo stage

by early January 2021?

Response: No, a demo will not be required until the end of Phase 2, which is June of 2021. The 

five-month period for Phase 2 can be used to develop the system for demonstration and the 

five-month period in Phase 3 will be used to prepare for implementation and testing.
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42. Question: Could you share more about the Phase 2 timeline - when would you expect proofs of 

concept and demonstrations to be provided should we be selected to move on to that phase?

Response: Demonstrations for Phase 2 will not occur until June of 2021. See question #40

response.

43. Question: Will there be awards after the $30,000 in Phase 2?

Response: Yes, three winners will be selected to move on to Phase 3 of the competition. One 

final prize winner will receive $140,000 or more. See question #2 response for additional detail 

on award amounts.

44. Question: Will Phase 2 and Phase 3 be more for developing working prototypes or will it also be 

fine tuning more on the architecture and design?

Response: Phase 2 and Phase 3 will be for both, depending on the scope and structure of the 

proposed solutions that are selected from Phase 1. The timeframe between each phase will 

allow for improving the architecture and design to ensure the best demonstration.