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Modernizing NEPA Challenge FAQs

Challenge Priorities

What is the Modernizing NEPA Challenge?

The Modernizing NEPA Challenge is part of the United States Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT or Department) commitment to furthering efficiencies in the NEPA review process. This effort is led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy (OST-P) with coordination from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). 

What is the purpose of the Challenge?

The purpose of the U.S. DOT Modernizing NEPA Challenge is to encourage the use of readily accessible, interactive, web-based platforms to make documents associated with NEPA more engaging and easier to navigate and to save time in the review process.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include entities that are carrying out a transportation project that requires NEPA review by U.S. DOT (or a State with NEPA assignment). This includes:

  • Project sponsors, such as State agencies, transit agencies, or private entities
  • Consultants that conduct NEPA document development on behalf of project sponsors.

 

Note: Individuals may not submit in their individual capacity, and consultant submissions should have the support of the lead agency sponsoring the project requiring NEPA review.

 

Who is ineligible to apply?

  • Individuals applying in their individual capacity;
  • A Federal entity, including Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment.
  • All non-U.S. DOT Federal employees must consult with their agency Ethics Official to determine whether Federal ethics rules limit or prohibit the acceptance of a cash prize stemming from a Federally sponsored prize competition.

Can I use Federal funds to develop submissions for this Challenge?

Federal grantees or recipients of Federal cooperative agreements may not use Federal funds to develop submissions for this Challenge unless consistent with the purpose of their grant award or cooperative agreement. Additionally, Federal contractors may not use Federal funds from a contract to develop prize competition applications or to fund efforts in support of a prize competition submission.

Submission

What are the categories of submission?

Applicants may submit their application under Category 1 for Public-Facing Interactive Documents, Category 2 for Inter-Agency Collaborative Tools and Documents, or both.

Category 1 submissions feature an interactive NEPA document published after the Challenge opens that aims to be more engaging and easier to read for public consumption. Examples include, but are not limited to, documents associated with NEPA that:

  • Provide engaging and interactive texts, visuals, or maps;
  • Facilitate simple and engaging document navigation;
  • Incorporate the ability to comment on the document while reading, the ability to easily comment on specific content or text, or ability to comment geospatially ;
  • Provide questionnaire-style surveys within the NEPA document;
  • Improve the experience of readers on mobile platforms ;
  • Are adaptable to a variety of readers on electronic platforms through, e.g., plain language pop out boxes, 508 compliance on mobile and desktop applications, an ability to translate to other languages;
  • Allow for lead agencies and project sponsors to more easily find, identify, retrieve, and compile feedback from the public;
  • Allow users to view public comments on documents associated with NEPA in real time.

Category 2 submissions feature an accessible and readily available web-based tool or platform, such as SharePoint, Google Docs, or online mapping software such as ArcGIS, to create an interactive NEPA document for inter-agency reviews. Such projects should enhance the speed and efficiency of inter-agency NEPA reviews conducted by the applicant after the Challenge opens. Examples in Category 2 include, but are not limited to, tools and approaches that:

  • Allow for concurrent review of documents associated with NEPA rather than sequential reviews;
  • Allow for comment and response in real time during a particular review cycle;
  • Allow for cooperating agencies to view other cooperating agency comments in real time;
  • Ease the burden of commenting for the reviewer and comment collection for the agency;
  • Leverage web-based applications to centralize, share, and review documents;
  • Allow for geospatial commenting on interactive maps of project area;
  • Improve real-time collaboration between agencies, stakeholders, and supporting contractors.

Refer to the "Judging" section of the Challenge for submission criteria under Category 1 and Category 2.

Which documents associated with NEPA are eligible under Category 1?

Under Category 1 – Public-Facing Interactive Documents, documents associated with the NEPA process that are publicly-facing and will be published on or after April 15, 2024 are eligible. Documents include:

  • A scoping or Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) document. The scoping or PEL document could include an interactive map, interactive text, and/or the ability to comment on interactive text or maps. An interactive map could include the study area, alternatives, and key data layers/resources with a search function and the ability to comment.  Comments may be visible to the public or secure.
  • An early public version of a section of the document associated with NEPA such as the Purpose and Need or Alternatives Analysis
  •  A draft EIS, EA, or CE
  • A final EIS, EA, or CE
  • A Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI)
  • A Record of Decision (ROD)
  • A Combined Final EIS/Record of Decision
  • A Supplemental EIS or EA
  • A preliminary or final Section 4(f) determination

It is preferable that documents are under public review; however, to expand the suite of eligible documents, documents in the above categories that are final and not under public review are also eligible.  Documents in the above categories are also eligible if they are not publicly-facing at the time of the submission but are planned to be publicly-facing in the future.

 

Which documents associated with NEPA are eligible under Category 2?

Under Category 2 – Inter-Agency Collaborative Tools and Document, submissions that showcase how collaborative web-based platforms can streamline agency reviews are eligible. Agency reviews that occur after April 15, 2024 are eligible. Agency reviews that are planned to occur after the close of the Challenge on July 15, 2024 are also eligible. Submissions should showcase how the collaborative web-based platform have increased, or will increase, the speed and efficiency of interagency reviews, such as comment collection and collaboration methods, tools, processes that are clearly explained and illustrated in the Submission Narrative. Examples of points in the review process where these platforms could be applied can be found at the Challenge.gov posting.

How do I specify information that is not yet ready for public release?

If a project is not yet ready for public release, please include a secure link within your proposal that is clearly marked and identified. Please include instructions if access requires specific credentials.

Can I apply under both Category 1 – Public-Facing Interactive Documents and Category 2 – Inter-Agency Collaborative Tools and Documents?

Yes, applicants may submit proposals in both categories if desired. Proposals must be submitted separately under their respective category.

Where can I submit my application?

All applications must be submitted to Challenge.gov. Visit Modernizing NEPA Challenge at Challenge.gov for instructions on registrations and submission. 

What should be included in my application?

All applications must include the following:

  • Cover Page: Title, Submission Summary, Abstract
  • Narrative Content: Technical Description of Interactive Document or Collaborative Tool, Visuals or Illustrative Examples, Benefit/Impact
  • Supplemental Materials such as additional non-narrative graphics to be included in Appendix A

The Narrative Content may not exceed 10 pages or 8MB in file size. The 10 page and 8MB size limit includes all written materials, images, diagrams, and optional cover page(s). There is no required format for the Narrative Content. However, text in the Submission Narrative may be no smaller than 11-point font size with 1" margins. Text in tables or graphics of any font size are acceptable provided they are legible.

Video submissions may be included in your submission as a clearly identifiable link within the narrative content of your submission. Videos may not be directly uploaded to Challenge.gov. Video submissions may be included in your submission as a clearly identifiable link within the narrative content of your submission. Videos may not be directly uploaded to Challenge.gov.

Refer to the Challenge.gov posting for more information. Applicants are responsible for adhering to all publicly available guidelines and requirements.

Awards

What is the Challenge prize?

Individual prizes will be $50,000 each, for a total prize purse of $750,000. The Department expects to award up to 15 awards. Awardees will be invited to present their winning submission at a Modernizing NEPA Showcase webinar with DOT leadership.

Are there restrictions on spending prize funds?

No; however, awardees are encouraged to participate in the Modernizing NEPA Webinar Showcase (anticipated late Fall 2024). The showcase will be an opportunity for awardees to share about their experience, outcomes, and metrics used in front of a public audience.

Judging/Evaluation

How will submissions be judged?

The evaluation panel will consider each submission’s alignment with each of the following criteria and make recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation. (The Challenge Statement provides detailed descriptions of each of these criteria and additional selection considerations.)

  • Interactivity
  • Accessibility
  • Impact

When are awards expected to be announced?

Modernizing NEPA Challenge winners will be announced in Fall 2024.

I have questions that are not covered in this FAQ or the Challenge Statement.

Please contact ModernizingNEPA@dot.gov or use the Contact tab if you have additional questions or experience any technical difficulties while submitting your submission. Emails received after 5:00 PM ET may not receive a response until regular business hours resume on the following business day.

Last updated: Thursday, July 11, 2024