Phase 1 Evaluation Criteria (for Concept Phase—up to 8 semi-finalists)
Timeline: January 20, 2026 – April 6, 2026

1. 1. Innovation & Technical Excellence (25%)
   Is the concept creative and technically sound? Judges will assess the extent to which the solution transforms ODS fact sheet content into new, engaging formats spanning ≥2 modalities from the list above.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • Does the solution present ODS information in formats that don't already exist?
   • Are the technical connections between modalities clearly thought out?
   • Is it feasible to build with existing tech?
2. Audience Reach & Demographic Targeting (30%)
   Does the concept effectively target the right people? Judges will look at how well-defined and justified the target audiences are and how the solution will reach them.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • Are the target audiences well-supported by data (e.g., clearly documented needs or disparities)?
   • How specifically do the sample content and distribution plans address each audience's needs?
   • How concrete are the partnership commitments (specific support vs. vague interest)?
3. Scientific Accuracy & Health-Impact Potential (25%)
   Is the content accurate, and will it make a difference in health decisions? Submissions should demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based information and impactful outcomes.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • What proportion of health-related statements in the concept are backed by ODS references?
   • How specific and realistic are the proposed outcome targets?
   • Are the chosen metrics appropriate to measure changes in supplement-related knowledge or behavior?
4. User Engagement & Experience Design (20%)
   Is the solution user-centered and engaging? Judges will evaluate how well the concept considers the user's journey and incorporates user feedback.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • How complete is the depiction of the user experience (does it cover all major steps and decision points)?
   • If user feedback was gathered, is it clearly integrated into the design?
   • If not, is there a clear, specific plan for user testing? Are the cross-modality transitions well thought out and clear?

Phase 2 Evaluation Criteria (for Prototype Phase – up to 5 finalists)
Timeline: May 12, 2026 – April 20, 2027

1. Implementation & Real-World Impact (35%)
   Can the prototype be deployed, and does it show promise of real impact? Judges will look at evidence from the functional prototype and user testing.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • What percentage of the team's target metrics were achieved?
   • How many users did they end up testing with, and what was the completion rate?
   • Do the outcomes measured correspond to safer supplement use or better decision-making?
2. Scalability & Sustainability (25%)
   Is the solution technically robust and ready to scale further? Judges will consider the technical performance and plans for future deployment.
   Objective assessment examples:
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​Did the team conduct performance testing, and what were the results (e.g., how many users can handle it simultaneously)?
   • Is there documentation of load times (was it under 5 seconds, under 10 seconds, etc.)?
   • Did the team secure any formal agreements or letters for Phase 3 implementation sites?
3. Community Integration (25%)
   How well did the team engage community partners/users in Phase 2? Judges will look for evidence of ongoing community involvement and co-design.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • ​​​​​​​How many feedback sessions did the team hold?
   • Can they point to specific features or changes that were a direct result of community input?
   • Did most partners who committed participate actively?
   • Did community engagement occur early enough to influence the design (versus last-minute)?
4. Innovation & Cross-Media Synergy (15%)
   How well do the different modalities work together, and is the solution innovative? Judges will consider the degree of integration between modalities and overall creativity.
   ​​​​​​​Objective Assessment Examples:
   • How many points of integration were implemented and verified (e.g., app ↔ social media, chatbot ↔ video content)?
   • What percentage of test users utilized more than one modality?
   • Is there documentation or a demo to prove data passes between modalities (for instance, a user's progress in a game influences the recommendations in the chatbot)?

Phase 3 Evaluation Criteria (for Final Phase – Grand Prize selection among finalists)
Timeline: June 7, 2027 – December 6, 2027

1. Sustained Real-World Impact (30%)
   Did the solution produce real, measurable impacts during the pilot? Judges will examine results from the Phase 3 pilot implementation.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • How long did the pilot run?
   • What measured changes were seen (knowledge scores, behavior changes, etc.), and how large were they?
   • What proportion of participants stayed for the whole pilot period?
   • Did the pilot stay on schedule?
2. Innovation & Technical Excellence (30%)
   Did the solution maintain technical quality and continue to improve throughout the pilot? Judges will look at how the system performed and improved over the 6 months.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • What was the actual uptime percentage, and did it meet 95%?
   • How many of the 50+ WCAG AA accessibility criteria did the final solution comply with?
   • How many updates or fixes were made over the pilot period to improve the product?
3. Audience Reach & CBPR Alignment (20%)
   Did the project achieve its reach goals and uphold its community-engagement commitments?
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • What percentage of the intended participant number was enrolled?
   • How many CAB or advisory meetings took place and had a quorum?
   • What percentage of pilot participants came from the intended underserved communities?
4. Cross-Media Synergy & UX (20%)
   What was the user feedback and engagement across platforms in the pilot? This category looks at user satisfaction and multi-platform engagement at scale.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • What was the calculated NPS score from pilot participants?
   • How many unique users actively used the solution in the final month?
   • How many users engaged with more than one modality (indicating they experienced the cross-media aspect)?
5. Scalability, Sustainability, Adoption Readiness — BONUS POINTS CATEGORY
   Solutions are judged primarily on pilot impact (criteria 1-4). Strong sustainability plans enhance scores but are not required for Grand Prize consideration.
   Is the solution ready to be adopted and scaled after the challenge? Judges will consider how well the team prepare for life after the challenge.
   Objective Assessment Examples:
   • How many organizations formally committed to exploring or supporting the solution after the challenge?
   • Did the team provide a full toolkit or set of documentation for others to use? Are those resources accessible (e.g., posted online)?
   • Is there evidence that the solution can be maintained or expanded beyond the pilot?

Registration
Participants must register for the challenge on the official challenge website (link to be provided on launch). Registration opens on January 20, 2026. Teams may register at any time before submitting their Phase 1 concept paper (due April 6, 2026). During registration, basic information (team name, participant names, contact info) and acceptance of the rules will be required. Upon registration, participants will receive access to the full challenge platform, resources, and any updates (such as FAQs and workshop details).

Phase 1 Submission

All Phase 1 Concept Development submissions are due by April 6, 2026, 5:00 PM ET via the challenge submission portal. Teams should submit the required materials (described below) according to the instructions on the portal (acceptable file formats, size limits, etc., will be provided on the site). Submissions must be in English. Only one submission per team is allowed for Phase 1. There is no fee to enter.

Required Deliverables – Phase 1 (Concept Phase)

• Concept Paper – A written proposal, ≤10 pages (PDF format), describing the vision and goals of the solution, the 2–3 target groups it will address (with justification), the selected modalities and how they will integrate, and high-level plans for Phase 2 evaluation and Phase 3 implementation/sustainability. This document should include any figures or tables necessary (within the page limit). Use the NIH-provided template to streamline development.
• Concept Demonstrations – Illustrative media demonstrating the concept across ≥2 modalities. This can include mockups, wireframes, illustrations, or storyboarded videos. Up to 6 total minutes of media are allowed (e.g., a 3-minute demo for each modality if using 2). These demos do not need to be polished or fully functional; simple prototypes or even slides/videos capturing the envisioned user experience are acceptable in Phase 1.
• Demographic Customization Samples – At least one example of tailored content for each target audience identified. For instance, if older adults and new mothers are target groups, provide a sample of how the content or approach is tailored to each group. (This may overlap with the concept demos or be described in the concept paper.)
• User Engagement Plan – Either evidence of informal user feedback already gathered (notes from 5–10 potential users or community members about the concept), OR a Phase 2 testing plan detailing how the team would test the prototype with users (specify target number of testers, e.g. 15–40, and methods like surveys or interviews, and include any planned usability metrics such as SUS). This element is to demonstrate a user-centered mindset.
• Team & Partners – A description of team composition and any confirmed partners. Include the roles/expertise of key team members and at least 1 letter of intent (LOI) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from a community partner or organization that has agreed to support the project (e.g., assisting with content co-creation, user recruitment, or dissemination). (The 2nd partner can be added in Phase 2.) Also, please attach brief resumes/bios for core team members (each ≤ 1 page). The letters can count as appendices (not part of the 10-page concept paper limit). Use NIH-provided partnership agreement templates.

Important Note (Phase 1): Working software/code is NOT required in Phase 1. Solvers may submit mock-ups, sketches, and conceptual prototypes. Focus Phase 1 efforts on concept development, user journey mapping, and partnership building rather than programming. The judging will place value on the creativity, evidence-based, and community engagement plan behind the concept. Fully functional prototypes will be developed in Phase 2 for those who advance.

Phase 2 Submission

Only the Phase 1 winners (semi-finalists) are eligible to participate in Phase 2. Phase 2 submissions will be due April 20, 2027, at 5:00 PM ET. Detailed submission instructions will be provided for finalists, but in general, Phase 2 deliverables include:

• Functional Multi-Modal Prototype – An integrated, working demonstration of the solution incorporating the chosen modalities. (It need not be a public-ready or polished product, but it should be sufficiently functional to test with users and demonstrate key features.)
• User Study Results – Documentation of the initial user testing conducted (target 15–40 users). Include usability metrics (e.g., SUS or UMUX-Lite scores with benchmarks), knowledge gains or other outcome measures, and any usage analytics or feedback collected. Summarize what was learned and what iterative changes were made during Phase 2.
• Technical Documentation – A brief technical report OR ≤10-minute video walkthrough describing the prototype's architecture and performance. Include information on how many concurrent users the system was tested with (and results, e.g., supported ~15 users with no crashes), observed load times (e.g., average <5–10 seconds), and a plan for Phase 3 implementation (what needs to be done to go from prototype to pilot scale).
• Community Integration Report – Description of how partners and community feedback were integrated in Phase 2. Document at least 1–2 feedback sessions or user/community workshops held, what feedback was obtained, and how it influenced the prototype. Outline the Phase 3 community engagement plan (e.g., establishing a Community Advisory Board and recruitment strategies for the pilot).

Phase 2 submissions will be judged in June 2027, and up to 5 finalists will receive awards. Top performers will advance to Phase 3.

Phase 3 Submission

Only Phase 2 top performers advance to Phase 3. Phase 3 final submissions will be due December 6, 2027 at 5:00 PM ET. Phase 3 deliverables will include:

• Final Integrated Solution – The fully operational multi-modal solution (production-ready prototype) with all components integrated. This should be accompanied by any necessary training manuals or user guides to operate the solution.
• Pilot Implementation Report – Documentation of the Phase 3 pilot deployment. Include details on pilot setting(s) (1–2 sites), number of participants (target 20–100), with demographics), duration (3–6 months), and any IRB or ethical oversight obtained. Provide the outcomes of the pilot: pre/post evaluations, qualitative feedback, retention data, and any measurable effect sizes (e.g., improvements observed).
• Scalability & Sustainability Brief – At least a 3-page summary (+ optional appendices) outlining how the solution can be scaled and sustained beyond the challenge. This should include an implementation toolkit (or its description) that was developed, any confirmed interest from external organizations (conditional letters acceptable) (attach at least one letter of interest from an organization willing to adopt or support the solution), and a proposed business or operational model for future deployment. EVALUATED FOR BONUS POINTS; NOT REQUIRED FOR GRAND PRIZE.
• Community Engagement Summary – A report on the community partnership aspect in Phase 3. Document the formation and activities of the Community Advisory Board or equivalent advisory group: number of meetings (at least 2), key feedback or guidance provided, and how that input led to adaptations. Include any testimonials or statements from partners/community members on the collaboration.
• Dissemination-Ready Materials (optional) – Teams may include a short "elevator pitch" video or infographic (1–2 minutes or a one-pager) summarizing their solution's impact, which NIH can use for promotion or by the team to seek further adoption. (This is optional but recommended for winners.)

All Phase 3 submissions will be evaluated from December 2027 to January 2028 to select the Grand Prize winner, Runner-up, and Third Place.