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  •   about 11 years ago

Can you please point me to the section in the rules which state the competition will be closed early?

I've read the rules and the updates and unless I've missed something it's not clear.

  • 3 comments

  • Manager   •   about 11 years ago

    Thanks for the question, Robert G. I'm sure you're not the only person with this question. The Rules Section 8.a-b provide an explanation that the contest would begin accepting submissions starting March 22, 2012, and that judges would review submissions on a rolling basis. The contest period, the Rules explain, could be modified but would only be done so by a formal announcement.

    Last month, we issued a formal announcement that reiterated the “first across the goal line” format of Project REACH. You can view that here: http://reachthehomeless.challenge.gov/updates/253. Note that in the discussion, we provided the following: “We evaluate submissions as they come in. When they qualify, we accept them. When they fail to qualify, we tell submitters precisely why their submission did not satisfy the requirements. Once we identify the first five to meet the criteria we will close the submission period.”

    The VA Innovations Team

  •   •   about 11 years ago

    Reading the update there is no indication that the project will close to submissions once 5 made the cut. You only clarified this in the discussion below the update without issuing a clarification or updating the rules.

    I've had 10 engineers volunteering to work in their spare time to come up with the best app which would meet and exceed the requirements. We've conducted interviews with many people who run the shelters in the Monmouth County and put a lot of time into this only to find out that we've been shut out based on an unclear set of rules.

    Something my team felt good about now feels like a waste of time.

  •   •   about 11 years ago

    Robert, you aren't the only one who feels they have wasted time... I am in your shoes too and feel the same way (and I knew full well the competition would close early since I pressed the question!).

    All I can say is there are plenty of areas affected by homelessness and plenty of organizations out there that need help just as bad as Red Bank, NJ.

    I plan on finishing my product and presenting it to an organization that will value a well thought out and well executed platform for the homeless.

    Best of luck VAi2, I will be watching how the rest of this contest unfolds to see if you really did make the right decision to go with "first across the line"

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