Challenge Rules


Challenge Rules:

  1. The Challenge will begin at 3:00:00 PM Eastern Standard Time ("EST") October 11, 2016 and end at 11:59:59 PM EST on May 19, 2017 ("Challenge Period"). The Challenge is sponsored by the New York City Department of Education and the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation (“Sponsors”). Participation is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. You are responsible for checking applicable laws in your jurisdiction before participating in the Challenge to make sure that your participation is legal and to ensure that you comply with all relevant laws. You are responsible for obtaining all passports, visas, and other government-required documents and permissions needed to use a prize.

  2. ELIGIBILITY: The Challenge is open only to residents, 18 or older, of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) at the time of entry and during all phases of the Challenge. In order to participate, you must agree to the accompanying terms, including an affidavit, a non-disclosure agreement and the terms of a micropurchase agreement with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT). Employees of the City of New York, DOE and the judges or any of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, or any other company or individual involved with the design, production execution or distribution of the Challenge and their immediate family (spouse, parents and step-parents, sibling and step-siblings, and children and step-children) and household members (people who share the same residence at least three (3) months out of the year) of each such employee are not eligible to participate and receive award of a micropurchase agreement with DOE or any award. The Challenge is subject to all applicable United States federal, state and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes participant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsors’ decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Challenge. Award of a micropurchase agreement is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

  3. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, you must visit nyc.gov/cfi/doe and complete all forms by October 28, 2016. Once you have qualified and submitted all necessary documentation, participants will be provided with DOE datasets to work with on October 31, 2016 to compile a predictive model of school enrollment (“Submissions”) which will be provided via the Challenge Website. Models and submissions and responses to question sets will be due no later than December 16, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST. Participants will have approximately 6 weeks to work with the DOE datasets to develop their Submissions which must be submitted via the Challenge Webpage no later than December 16, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST.

    JUDGING PERIOD for PHASE I: The Judging Period will begin at 9:00:00 AM EST on December 17, 2016 and end at 11:59:00 AM EST on January 16, 2017. The Sponsors will appoint a panel of up to 8 judges.

    JUDGES:

    • Elizabeth Rose, Deputy Chancellor, Department of Education
    • Jonathan Geis, Director of Analytics, Office of District Planning, Department of Education
    • Jessica O’Brien, Senior Director, Portfolio Analytics, Department of Education
    • Sonali Murarka, Executive Director, Enrollment Research and Analytics, Department of Education
    • Amen Ra Mashariki, Chief Analytics Officer, Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics
    • Jed Sundwall, Global Open Data Lead, Amazon
    • Julia Lane, Professor, NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress
    • Rachel Cole, Senior Research Associate, Research and Policy Support Group, Department of Education

    The panel of judges will select up to 5 Finalist entries (the "Finalists") in its sole discretion from among all of the Submissions. All Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria, in the sole discretion of the panel of judges:

    Up to 5 entries with the highest overall score will be the 5 potential Finalists from Phase I of the Challenge. In the event of a tie, Finalists will be selected based on the criteria described in (a), then (b), and finally (c).


  4. FINALISTS: Up to 5 Submissions that receive the highest overall scores from judges during the Judging Period for Phase I will be potential Finalists and proceed to Phase II. Potential Finalists will be notified and confirmed on or about January 16, 2017 by email from the Sponsors. Each potential Phase II Finalist will be asked to provide contact information and sign and return an affidavit. If a potential Finalist does not respond to Sponsors’ notice or does not return the affidavit within 24 hours, that potential Finalist may be disqualified and the entry with the next highest score ranked by the judges will be selected as a potential Finalist for Phase II in its place. The Finalists entering Phase II will be posted on the DOE Challenge Webpage on or about January 16, 2017.

  5. PHASE II FOR FINALISTS: Phase II of the Challenge will begin at 9:00:00 AM EST on February 15, 2017 and end at 11:59:59 PM EST on April 21, 2017. During Phase II, entrants will be asked to further refine and develop their original Submissions based on additional data sets supplied by DOE which will result in a refined Submission for Phase II (“Phase II Submission”).

    Phase II Finalists will be asked to submit their Phase II Submissions by providing a new data model based on the additional data sets supplied in Phase II and information about how the new data model was prepared no later than April 21, 2017 at 11:59:59 PM EST.

  6. WINNER SELECTION: ALL POTENTIAL AWARDEES ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSORS WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CHALLENGE. After a Phase II Judging Round by the panel of Judges listed in section 4 above and under the same criteria listed in section 4, up to 5 potential award(s) and up to 1 grand prize award who will be notified via email on or about May 20, 2017 using the contact information provided at the time the entrant entered the DOE Challenge. The potential awardee(s) will be asked to complete an affidavit, execute a non-disclosure agreement and a micropurchase agreement in the form provided at entry. If any of the potential awardee(s) does not respond to Sponsors’ notice or does not return the affidavit and other executed documentation within 24 hours, that potential awardee will be disqualified and the entry with the next highest score will be selected as a potential awardee in its place. Return of any notification email as "undeliverable" or failure to fully comply with these Official Rules will result in disqualification. In the event of disqualification of any potential awardee, the award will be forfeited by that potential awardee and the panel of judges will select a new potential awardee from among the Finalists. Sponsors are not responsible for notifications that are misdirected, addresses that are no longer correct, or for any other reason beyond the control of the Sponsors. If such potential awardee cannot be contacted within a reasonable time period, if the potential awardee is ineligible, if any notification is returned undeliverable, or if the potential awardee otherwise fails to fully comply with these Official Rules, Sponsor may award the applicable award to an alternate awardee who had the highest score remaining of the eligible Submissions or Phase II Submissions.

  7. THE AWARDS:

    On or about January 16, 2017, Sponsors will announce the Submissions awarded micropurchase agreements on the Challenge Webpage.


    The Submissions or Phase II Submissions may also be featured on official social media channels operated by the DOE or the City of New York. Up to 5 awards of $5,000 for Phase II Finalists will be available with up to 1 award to a Phase II Finalist of $15,000.


    Award does not include assistance with or travel costs or other expenses associated with the Challenge, if required. No cash in lieu of award. No substitution of award is permitted except by Sponsor. Award is not assignable or transferable. Limit one award per person/team. If Awardee(s) cannot participate for any reason, Awardee(s) will forfeit the award and Sponsors may, at their option and in their sole discretion, select an alternate awardee or the award may not be awarded. All of the award elements are subject to change and shall be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion.


    The Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of the Award (s) will be award of $5,000 for up to 5 Phase II Finalists and $15,000 for up to 1 Phase II Finalist. Any difference between stated value and actual value will not be awarded. Awardee is responsible for any transportation not specifically noted in these rules. Awardee is responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents prior to travel. Certain restrictions, as determined by Sponsors, may apply. All specifics of the Challenge will be at Sponsors’ discretion. If Awardee (s) cannot comply with these restrictions or any other portion of these Official Rules, the award will be forfeited in its entirety and an alternate Awardee (s) will be chosen. If Awardee (s) cannot meet deadlines specified by Sponsors, the award will be forfeited in its entirety and the award may be awarded to an alternate awardee selected by the panel of judges from among Finalist entries. All costs and expenses associated with award acceptance and use not listed herein as part of the award including, without limitation, ground transportation (other than that specified above as included in prize), luggage fees, souvenirs, miscellaneous hotel expenses, and gratuities are the sole responsibility of Awardee.


    All federal, state and local income taxes on award(s) and gratuities are solely the responsibility of the Awardee. Payments to potential Awardee(s) are subject to the express requirement that they submit to the Sponsors all documentation requested by the Sponsors in compliance with all applicable state, federal and local tax reporting and withholding guidelines. All Awards will be net of taxes Sponsors are required by law to withhold. The Awardee is responsible for ensuring that he/she complies with all the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. If the Awardee fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and the Sponsors may, in their sole discretion, select an alternative potentialAwardee.


  8. OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES: Sponsors do not claim any ownership rights in your Subsmission or Phase II Submission. By participating, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and grant Sponsors a non-exclusive, fully paid-up, perpetual and royalty-free, worldwide license to use, modify, delete from, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and translate your Submission or Phase II Submission, including without limitation the right to use all or part of your Submission or Phase II Submission in any format in perpetuity.
    By participating, you consent to the use, by Sponsors, their affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, and licensees, of your name, likeness, and image, in connection with the Challenge and Sponsors’ related marketing activities, in any media or format now known or hereafter invented, in any and all locations, without any payment to or further approval from you. You agree that this consent is perpetual and cannot be revoked.
    You agree that nothing in these Rules grants you a right or license to use materials owned by Sponsors or any materials or data supplied by Sponsors during the course of the Challenge.

  9. WARRANTIES: By participating in the Challenge, you represent and warrant that your Submission or Phase II Submission:
    1. is your own original work;
    2. does not violate or infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, patent or other rights of any person or entity;
    3. does not contain malicious code, such as viruses, timebombs, cancelbots, worms, Trojan horses or other potentially harmful programs or other material or information;
    4. does not and will not violate any applicable law, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation; and
    5. does not trigger any reporting or royalty obligation to any third party.

    You further represent and warrant that the rights that you are granting under these Official Rules do not conflict in any way with any other agreement to which you are a party, or with any commitments, restrictions, or obligations that you are under to any other person or entity.


  10. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  11. Participation Conditions and Release

    By entering, each participant agrees to: (a) comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and/or the Challenge judges which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Challenge; (b) release and hold harmless the Sponsors, and their respect parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies, the award suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Challenge, and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or relating to a participant’s Submission or Phase II Submission, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, participation in the Challenge, acceptance or use or misuse of an award (including any travel or activity related thereto) and/or the broadcast, transmission, performance, exploitation or use of a Submission or Phase II Submission; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsors from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) arising out of or relating to a participant’s participation in the Challenge and/or particpant’s acceptance, use or misuse of an award.

    Publicity

    Except where prohibited, participation in the Challenge constitutes participant’s consent to Sponsors’ and their agents’ use of his or her name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purpose in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.

    General Conditions

    Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsors’ reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Challenge, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual or participant it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Challenge or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsors are not responsible for, nor are they required to count, incomplete, late, misdirected, damaged, unlawful or illicit Submissions, Phase II Submissions, including those secured through automated means or by registering more than one e-mail account and name, using another participant’s e-mail account and name, as well as those lost for technical reasons or otherwise.

    Limitations of Liability

    The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by participants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Challenge, (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Challenge; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Challenge or receipt or use of any award. If for any reason a participant’s Submission or Phase II Submission is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, participant’s sole remedy is to provide another Submission or Phase II Submission within the applicable deadline. No more than the stated number of awards will be awarded.

    Disputes

    Participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Challenge, or any award, other than those concerning the administration of the Challenge or the determination of awardees, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (2) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Challenge, or any awards, shall be resolved exclusively by the United States District Court or the appropriate New York State Court; (3) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Challenge, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (4) under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitations or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above may not apply to you. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsors in connection with the Challenge, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law of conflict of law rules (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York

    Privacy

    Sponsors collect personal information from you when you enter the Challenge. The information collected is subject to the privacy policy located here.

    Challenge Results

    For Challenge results go to nyc.gov/cfi/doe on or about May 20, 2017.

    Sponsors

    Sponsors: (1) New York City Department of Education, 52 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007 (2) NYC Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation, 15 MetroTech, Brooklyn, NY 11201.



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