Challenge Rules

LEVER FOR CHANGE Gulf Futures Challenge RULES

1. Definitions and interpretation

In this document, capitalized terms have the following meanings, unless otherwise expressly indicated:

1.1  "Application" means an entry submitted by an Applicant in response to the Challenge. The Application includes all attachments and exhibits, and all inputs provided by the Team Leader’s collaborators.

1.2  "Applicant” or “Lead Organization" means an organization that meets the requirements of this Challenge and that submits or proposes to submit an Application to the Challenge and is represented on this Website by a person 18 years of age or older at the time of the Application.

1.3  "Award" means any form of benefit or other forms of recognition to declared or selected Finalists and/or Awardees, as set out in the Challenge Rules.

1.4  “Awardee” means an Applicant whose Application is selected by the Challenge Sponsor to receive award funding in accordance with the Challenge Rules.

1.5  “Challenge” means the Gulf Futures Challenge posted on this Website, however expressed.

1.6  “Challenge Sponsor” means the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on behalf of its Gulf Research Program. The Challenge Sponsor has contracted with Lever for Change to manage the Challenge. Lever for Change is located at 140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603-5285.

1.7  “Finalist” means those Applicants whose Applications are selected to advance in the Challenge and be eligible for consideration of a final Award in accordance with the Challenge RULES.

1.8 “Loss" means any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential liabilities, damages, claims, losses, costs, expenses, actions, demands or suits, whether in contract, tort (including liability due to infringement of intellectual property rights or due to negligence), statute or otherwise and whether pecuniary or non-pecuniary. This includes, but is not limited to, loss of profits, legal costs, and defense or settlement costs.

1.9  “RULES” means these rules governing the Challenge as set forth herein, as may be amended from time to time, as well as other instructions provided by Lever for Change or the Challenge Sponsor.

1.10  “TERMS” means the rules with the platform provider of this Website, Submittable, that apply to Your use of the Website.

1.11  "User" means any person who has registered a user account on this Website. The term "User" includes all Applicants.

1.12   "Website" means any web pages contained within this domain and any sub-domains and all underlying software and infrastructure which permits the holding of the Challenge. Where the context permits, ‘Website’ or 'website' includes the services provided on the Website. This Website platform is run by Submittable Holdings, Inc. (“Submittable”). 

1.13  “You" means the person and organization using the Website, including a User, and a Lead Organization duly organized and validly existing under state or federal law in the United States of America that is represented on the Website by a User that is a person at least 18 years of age who is the duly authorized representative of such Lead Organization. Each person submitting an Application must be authorized to submit the Application and to bind the Lead Organization on whose behalf the Application is being submitted to the RULES.

1.14   “Your” means the possessive of “You”.

RULES

Thank you for your interest in the Gulf Futures Challenge, (the “Challenge”). The eligibility requirements to participate in the Challenge are set forth in these RULES and the deadlines for submitting submissions are linked here and incorporated by reference herein.

By participating in the Challenge and in accordance with these RULES governing the Challenge (“RULES”), you are applying to potentially receive various forms of recognition and a possible Award of $20 million from the Challenge Sponsor. The RULES stated here are in addition to the Terms & Conditions  ("TERMS") for use of this Website and You are hereby bound to the same extent and by the same steps as described in the TERMS.  

The full TERMS are available for Your review by accessing them on this Website. 

Please read the RULES and the TERMS carefully, as they describe the conditions under which You are allowed to participate. As you participate, You may periodically be asked to recognize your acceptance of these RULES and the TERMS by clicking "accept" at various pages on this website, but by continuing any use of this Website you expressly consent to all these RULES and the TERMS.

SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION IN THE GULF FUTURES CHALLENGE CONSTITUTES FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL AGREEMENT TO AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE RULES.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO RECEIVE AN AWARD.

1. Eligibility and Proposal Scope

For the Challenge, organizations eligible to serve as the Lead Organization must be:

• A public charity under section 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) that has received a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”);

• A tribal government treated as a State pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 7871; or

• A state or local governmental entity which includes government units and government instrumentalities.

In addition, the Lead Organization must be based within Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, but may partner with organizations located elsewhere. The Lead Organization must be in good standing in the jurisdiction under which it is organized.

The Lead Organization is a single legal entity that has the legal responsibility, authority for and control of the use of any grant funds, is responsible for the reporting on any grant funds, and must be able to exercise in fact and law direction, control, and supervision of the proposed project and the grant funds.

Proposals must apply science, engineering, or medical knowledge to address critical challenges in the Gulf Coast region in at least two of these three areas: The future of the energy transition; the future of environmental change along the Gulf Coast; the future of healthy and resilient communities. 

2. Ineligible persons or entities

The following are examples of parties that are not eligible to apply as the Lead Organization but can serve as collaborators on an Application and receive a subgrant or contract from the Lead Organization to assist the Lead Organization in implementing the proposed solution:

• Individuals.

• For-profit entities. 

• Private foundations based in the United States under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC that have received a tax determination letter from the IRS and which Tax Letter is in effect.

• Organizations located outside of the Gulf Region (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas).

The following are examples of parties that are not eligible to either apply as the Lead Organization or receive a subgrant or contract from the Lead Organizations to implement the proposed solution, but can serve as volunteer collaborators on the proposed project: 

• Federal government agencies or entities.

• Federal government employees.

The following are examples of parties that are not eligible to either apply as the Lead Organization or to serve as a subgrantees, contractors, or collaborators on the Application: 

• BP Exploration and Production, Inc. (BP), Transocean Deepwater, Inc. (Transocean), their affiliates, and employees. 

• Employees, Officers, or Board Members of the Challenge Sponsor, Lever for Change, Submittable (the Challenge platform), 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 to participate.

3. Prohibited Use of Award Funds

Award funds must be used for the charitable project for which they are awarded. Prohibited uses of award funds include:

• For work outside the Gulf Coast region. Proposed projects should occur in the Gulf of Mexico waters or within 100 miles of the Gulf coastline.

• For the purpose of lobbying, to carry on propaganda or otherwise to attempt to influence legislation within the meaning of Code Section 4945(d)(1)) and related Treasury regulations);

• For general funds used for broader purposes than the solution proposed, including to fund general operating support for the Lead Organization and/or any collaborators;

• To establish a scholarship program;

• For the creation of an endowment;

• For the creation of a venture capital fund, or pooled funds to invest in or distribute to for-profit organizations;

• For loans or microloans to individuals, nonprofit, or for-profit entities;

• For capital campaigns;

• For funding of a project where the primary purpose is restoration of specific land or water assets;

• To fund political organizations and political work (such as the work of 527s and certain types of work in which (501(c)(4) may engage;

• To undertake any activity for any purpose other than one specified in Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Tax Code.

4. Collaborations

Eligible Lead Organizations are welcome to collaborate with parties, except to the extent otherwise set forth in these Rules to implement the initiative.

Finalist teams comprised of more than one organization proposing to work together must demonstrate through a fully executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or other similar agreement, executed by all parties, that all parties have agreed that a single eligible entity, the Lead Organization, will serve as the Awardee, if selected, and will have direction, control, and supervision of the proposed project and management of all grant funds and be responsible for all reporting requirements. While MOUs will not be collected in the initial Application, teams selected as Finalists at later stages of the Challenge may be required to submit MOUs. 

5. Multiple Applications from a Single Organization and Overlapping Boards

Regional or location-specific branches of larger organizations, as well as departments, schools, and centers within or based in a college/university, can register and submit separate Applications as long as the proposed solutions are different and separate. As long as each Application is submitted by a different team member with a unique email address, some overlap in team members on different Applications is permitted. Lead Organizations, though, are encouraged to select a single project that best represents its ability to deliver a solution that meets the scoring criteria. Overlapping membership of boards and advisory boards among different Applicants is also permitted.

6. Indirect Costs

While general operating support is not allowed, the Challenge Sponsor recognizes that Applicants may have overhead costs that are not directly attributable to the proposed project but are necessary for implementation. The Challenge Sponsor will consider paying for these indirect costs up to a maximum of 20% of direct project or activity costs within the $20 million award limit. Ensure that any indirect costs are accounted for in the budget in the Application. 

7. Guidance Related to Non-Charitable Activities

Grant funds must be used for charitable purposes and may not result in more than an incidental private benefit to shareholders or other people, organizations, or entities that is a necessary byproduct of the accomplishment of the charitable purpose.

8. Financial and Organizational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate their financial and organizational capacity to carry out the proposed project and to appropriately manage an Award.

9. Grant Agreement

The successful Finalists and/or Awardees will be expected to enter into a grant agreement with the Challenge Sponsor, containing key terms and conditions which are separate from these RULES and TERMS posted on this Website for this Challenge. Any grant that may be considered pursuant to this process must satisfy legal criteria in the sole discretion of the Challenge Sponsor.

NOTE: The terms of the grant agreement with a Finalist and/or Awardees depend on the nature of the project, the Lead Organization receiving the funds, and the Challenge Sponsor.

10. Reporting

Finalists and /or any Awardees will be required by the terms of their grant agreement with the Challenge Sponsor to report on progress toward milestones and other goals. Those reporting requirements may vary, based on the organization and the project, and will be determined by the Challenge Sponsor. However, a minimum of an annual financial report and an annual narrative report will be required.