It's Official: GSA Picks Contest App

The General Services Administration on Thursday officially announced that Web services firm ChallengePost will offer a free tool that lets agencies easily launch online contests, information that Nextgov reported last month.

The April 30 Nextgov article stated:

General Services Administration officials said . . . they are acquiring at no cost an app agencies can use to run contests. Web services firm ChallengePost will provide the tool, which will be available in July. The December [open government] directive required the government to offer departments a Web-based template to coordinate challenges and prizes quickly and easily. First lady Michelle Obama and the Agriculture Department are using ChallengePost's platform for the online nutrition campaign Appsforhealthykids.com.

On Thursday, GSA officials said the application will allow agencies to post challenges and have the public suggest, discuss and rate ideas, sometimes in exchange for prizes. GSA plans to provide agencies with best practices, training and guidelines for coordinating competitions. In addition, GSA will make contracting options available to agencies for procuring more advanced challenge products and service.