Pentagon, VA Launch Mobile App Contests
Site: VA.gov
NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have recently challenged researchers and developers to submit applications that would aid space projects and programs.
Now, the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs are launching similar contests asking for industry to submit mobile apps in order to support agency functions.
The Pentagon announced its mobile app contest Wednesday and said it wants mobile solutions to provide learning tools for science, technology, engineering and math efforts in K-12 education.
The Pentagon’s Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative will head the mobile app challenge, which begins April 2 and will be open for competition through June 4.
The app challenge may also have an immediate impact on the Pentagon itself, said Kristy Murray, ADL Initiative director.
App developers can submit their solutions for no cost and wining developers will present their solutions at the ADL Initiative’s iFest Conference in Orlando, Fla.
The VA also solicited developers for mobile solutions that would help veterans understand and receive available benefits, Federal Computer Week reports.
This is the third competition that the VA has targeted at industry participants as part of the $50 million VA Innovation Initiative program project, according to FCW.
Several projects from previous competitions are underway and the agency expects to award multiple two-year awards to winners of the current competition.
The VA wants mobile apps to cater to programs in maternity continuity care, post-traumatic stress disorder treatments and pressure ulcer treatment and prevention.
The government agency is set to hold a webcast with interested app developer.