TR Genius Prize Competition on Management of Invasive Species 2023

The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competition for Management of Invasive Species seeks solution that addresses invasive grasses and horticulture pathways.

Donor Name: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

State: All States

County: All Counties

U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

Type of Grant: Competition

Deadline: 06/27/2023

Size of the Grant: Up to $100,000

Details:

The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the Management of Invasive Species was established to encourage technological innovation with the potential to advance the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to the managing of invasive species and to award one or more prizes annually for a technological advancement that manages invasive species.

Invasive species are non-native species that cause harm to native ecosystems, human health, or the economy. They affect all habitats, terrestrial and aquatic. Well-known examples include zebra mussels, feral swine, lionfish, the fungus which causes white-nose syndrome, invasive carp, aquatic and terrestrial weeds, and pythons. One characteristic of invasive species is that they reproduce and spread rapidly, often out-competing native species. This often makes them challenging to control. Preventing new invasions is the most effective strategy. However, managers often need more tools to restrict invasive species’ inadvertent movement through commerce.

The movement of plants and other horticultural products also serves as a significant pathway for spreading new invasive animal species (including insects) into and within the United States. Coqui frogs and spotted lanternflies are two examples of ecologically and economically harmful species recently found in nursery products transported between current infestations and uninvaded areas. Although existing regulatory and education programs reduce some risk, these ongoing interceptions illustrate that new solutions are needed to improve the prevention of unintentional animal species moving into new habitats and regions through the horticultural trade.

To win the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competition for Management of Invasive Species, participants must submit their solution that addresses the issue through one of these high-priority focal areas:

• Invasive Grasses
  • A solution that provides land managers with new methods, tools, and strategies to help prevent and reduce the spread of invasive grasses and conserve our native ecosystems. Although solutions may be species-specific, they prefer they address multiple species.
• Horticulture Pathway
  • A solution that reduces or prevents inadvertent movement of invasive animal species (including insects) by targeting transmission pathways associated with plant nursery trade and other commercial horticulture activities.

Challenge types

• Scientific;
• Ideas;
• Technology demonstration and hardware
• Innovation

Funding Information

The total prize purse from the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competition for Management of Invasive Species is up to $100,000 for winning technology innovation(s). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may recognize additional participants with non-monetary, honorable mention awards.

Eligibility Criteria

Any individuals, legal entities, or their family members involved with the design, production, execution, distribution or evaluation of any of the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions, or individuals determined to have a conflict of interest, are not eligible to submit as potential solvers in these Prize Competitions. A potential or actual conflict of interest exists when commitments and obligations are likely to be compromised by other material interests, or relationships (especially economic), particularly if those interests or commitments are not disclosed.

• To be able to win a cash prize purse, a solver must
  • Agree to the rules of the Prize Competition;
  • In the case of a private entity, be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States or its Territories, or in the case of an individual, be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
  • Not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment; and
  • Not use Federal facilities or consult with Federal employees during the Prize Competition unless the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals and entities participating in the competition on an equitable basis
• Meritorious, non-cash prizes may be awarded. To be eligible for non-cash, meritorious prizes a solver must
  • Agree to the rules of the Prize Competition; and
  • Agree to be recognized in publications issued by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcing the results of the Prize Competition, such as press releases, website, social media, etc.
• The following solvers are not eligible to win any prize regardless of whether they meet the cash prize purse or meritorious prize eligibility criteria set forth above:
  • Federal entities or Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible to win a prize.
  • An individual or entity that is determined to be on the GSA Excluded Parties List is ineligible to participate, receive a monetary or non-monetary prize and will not be selected as a Prize Competition winner.
  • If you/entity/team/organization are a resident or entity designated by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, you are not eligible.
  • Employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, current or past members of the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Advisory Council or Boards, 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.
  • Any solver that employs an evaluator (e.g., Judge) on the Judging Panel or otherwise has a material business relationship or affiliation with any Judge.
  • Any solver who is a member of any Judge’s immediate family or household.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, participating organizations, and any advertising agency, contractor, or other individual or organization involved with the design, production, promotion, execution, or distribution of the Prize Competition, and all employees, and all members of the immediate family or household of any such individual or organization.
  • Any solver that uses Federal funds to develop the written proposed solution for the Prize Competition (“Proposed Solution”) now or anytime in the past, unless such use is consistent with the grant award, or other applicable Federal funds awarding document. Solvers that have been funded by the Federal Government in the past to work within the technical domain of the Prize Competition are eligible, provided that they did not develop their specific submission with Federal funds. Submissions that propose to improve or adapt existing federally-funded technologies for the solution sought in this Prize Competition are also eligible. Solvers are also encouraged to consult with their employer’s Ethics Officer for additional guidance and considerations.
• Winning technology innovations are not eligible to be submitted nor to compete in any future Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions. This includes any innovations that builds upon a previous winning technology innovation.

Judging Criteria

• Invasive Grasses Solution
  • The critical criteria includes:
    • Species Targeted- The solution focuses on species that cause harm to native ecosystems in the United States and/or its territories. Solutions with application to address multiple species, or with wide application geographically or across multiple ecosystems are preferred.
    • Benefits- The solution results in significant and measurable benefits (e.g., acres, species) and focuses on preventing or reducing the spread.
    • Readiness- The solution is adoptable by the intended users and describes the anticipated time frame for the development and implementation.
    • Regulatory Risk- The solution is likely to gain necessary governmental approvals (NEPA, OSHA, EPA registration) and includes a paragraph addressing how managers might address environmental and safety compliance laws to implement the proposed solution, if applicable.

The supplementary criteria includes:

• Sage-Grouse Habitat- The solution is applicable to the Great Basin region and benefits greater sage-grouse habitat.
• Cost Efficiency- The solution is efficient in use of monetary and human resources.
• Expected Impact- The solution generates results that are persistent beyond one year, three year or long-term.
• Ease of Use- The solution is easy of use and implement.
• Operational Enhancements- The solution can be operated independently or in remote locations.

Submissions that solely consist of spread modeling, early detection, test kits, species identification, or monitoring will not be eligible.

• Horticultural Pathway Solution
  • The critical criteria includes:
    • Benefits: The solution results in significant and measurable benefits (e.g., native species) and focuses on prevention and control of hitchhiking invasive animals associated with the horticulture trade.
    • Species Targeted: The solution focuses on documented high-priority invasive animal species (including insects) that cause harm to native ecosystems in the United States and/or its territories.
    • Readiness: The solution is sufficiently developed that intended users can readily adopt it without lengthy delays.
    • Regulatory Risk: The solution is likely to gain necessary governmental approvals (NEPA, OSHA, EPA registration) and includes a paragraph addressing how managers might address environmental and safety compliance laws to implement the proposed solution, if applicable.

The supplementary criteria includes:

• Cost Efficiency- The solution is efficient in use of monetary and human resources.
• Ease of Use- The solution is easy of use and implement.
• Operational Enhancements- The solution can be operated independently or in remote locations.

For more information, visit Management of Invasive Species.