A panel of experts will evaluate submitted solutions using the following criteria and recommend solutions for recognition — including an invitation to demonstrate at the Permitting Innovators Expo.
Evaluation criteria
Impact
The extent to which the submission addresses a specific service delivery standard, implements specific minimum functional requirement(s), and will meaningfully improve the quality or speed of environmental reviews and permitting.
User-centered design
The extent to which the solution reflects genuine understanding of the needs of end users (agency staff, project proponents, the general public, or others).
Readiness
The extent to which the solution has been meaningfully developed and tested beyond concept or wireframe and the entrant demonstrates practical understanding of how to implement their solution in a federal context.
Multi-agency compatibility
The extent to which the solution supports a multi-agency environment in alignment with CEQ’s NEPA and Permitting Data and Technology Standard by prioritizing elements such as secure data portability, configurability, interoperability, and flexibility.
Team capacity
The extent to which the entrant team integrates the technical, environmental, and policy disciplines needed to build and sustain a solution in this space — with the organizational capacity to support agency adoption and continue developing the solution over time.