The frequently asked questions (FAQs) detailed below are an ongoing compilation of questions about the Quit & Thrive Challenge: Community-Derived Solutions to Reduce Menthol Cigarette Smoking being sponsored by ODP. These FAQs may be updated or new ones added periodically. Please revisit this page for potential updates. A pre-submission informational video is also available for organizations that want to know more about participating.
All organizations interested in the Challenge are strongly encouraged to consult ODP about whether their solution fits with the Challenge announcement before submitting an entry or with any questions not answered below. All emails should be sent to [email protected].
Questions and examples provided below are for illustrative purposes only and should not be viewed as definitive or comprehensive.
General
What is a Challenge?
A Challenge (also referred to as "prize challenge," "competition," "prize competition," or "incentive prize") allows the public to solve problems presented by federal agencies and receive awards for the best solutions. See the FAQs on Challenge.gov for more information.
How is this Challenge different from an NIH research grant?
With NIH grants, contracts, or Other Transactions, NIH selects applications to do proposed work and then pays the monetary award incrementally as the work is done. In this Challenge, NIH will select winners after assessing work that has been completed.
Community-Derived Solutions
What is a community-derived solution?
Community-derived solutions refer to programs, policies, and other strategies that have already been implemented by local or state governmental agencies, community-based organizations, or service providers, and that have been shown to be effective in reducing menthol cigarette use at the organizational, neighborhood, city, county, and/or state level in the United States.
What does it mean for a solution to be community-derived?
For this Challenge, community-derived means that the solution was developed or implemented by non-academic organizations or agencies at the local or state level. Solutions that are led by academic researchers, supported by NIH grants, or are nation-wide solutions led by federal agencies do not fit the definition of community-led solutions.
Can our solution be focused on a population different from those mentioned in the Challenge announcement?
Yes, the Challenge is focused on solutions to address menthol cigarette smoking in “populations with high rates of use,” including youth; racial and ethnic minorities; lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations; and people with lower incomes. A solution can focus on other populations with high rates of use, provided that the submission includes supporting data or research findings to justify the focus on that population.
Can we evaluate a law or policy my local government enacted?
It depends. The answer is yes only if your organization was involved in crafting, implementing, or enforcing the law or policy.
Can we submit plans for a future community-derived solution?
No, this Challenge seeks community-led solutions that have already been implemented or delivered. Although organizations may discuss additional plans for their existing solution, submissions that only describe plans for future activities will not be considered.
Can the solution be focused primarily on vaping?
No, the primary focus must be on menthol cigarette smoking. Solutions that successfully reduced both cigarette smoking and vaping are acceptable if evidence is available specifically on menthol cigarette smoking outcomes.
Can the focus of the solution be on harm reduction rather than quitting or abstinence?
It depends on how ‘harm reduction’ is defined. Evidence of effectiveness is not limited to successful quit attempts or smoking abstinence. Reduction in menthol cigarette smoking, more quit attempts, or use of FDA approved cessation products are examples of acceptable outcomes. However, solutions that developed new smoking cessation products or provided non-FDA approved alternatives to combustible tobacco products (e.g., electronic cigarettes) will not be considered for this Challenge.
Evidence of Effectiveness
What kinds of measures or data are acceptable to show effectiveness?
A variety of data sources may be used to show the effectiveness of your solution (surveys or self-report data, service utilization data, smoking surveillance data, etc.). The most appropriate metrics, tools, or measures will vary by the nature of the solution. Data showing an increase in knowledge or attitudes about menthol cigarette smoking is not sufficient and should be accompanied by data about changes in smoking behavior.
Do we just describe how we collected the data and the types of measures or metrics we used, or do we also have to provide data?
You should provide data showing that your solution is effective in changing menthol-smoking behavior. As described in the “How to Enter” section of the Challenge description, you should also describe the process for collecting, compiling, or analyzing the data.
We’re using a survey to measure smoking behavior, but our participants only filled it out after we delivered our program. Is that acceptable?
The Challenge description specifies that “metrics of effectiveness should include data from before and after the implementation of community-derived solutions.” This means that providing pre and post data is preferred but not required. If you only have data from after the implementation of your solution, you should still describe how the collected data show that the community-derived solution produced changes in menthol smoking-related behavior. This could be done using self-reported reductions in smoking behavior, using data from a comparison group not receiving the program, or using some other data relevant to your solution.
Can we cite published studies to show the effectiveness of our solution?
No, unless the published studies are authored by personnel from the Participant Organization or Collaborating Organization(s) and describe outcomes of the community-led solution that your organization is submitting. In other words, your submission should include effectiveness data regarding your solution, not just data from a similar activity that was implemented by others.
Does an increase in use of smoking cessation services or counseling among people who smoke menthol cigarettes count as “smoking behavior”?
Yes, for this Challenge, showing an increase in use of smoking cessation services would count as changing smoking-related behavior.
Eligibility
What is the difference between a Participant Organization and a Collaborating Organization/Agency?
The Participant Organization submits the community-derived solution to the Challenge. This organization must meet the eligibility requirements and have been responsible for developing, implementing, delivering, or enforcing the solution. Collaborating Organizations/Agencies, if any, are organizations that worked with the Participant Organization to develop, implement, deliver, enforce, or evaluate the solution. Collaborating Organizations/Agencies do not need to meet the eligibility requirements of the Participant Organization.
Can individuals enter?
No, the Challenge is for organizations only. Eligible organizations of any size are invited to enter.
Can for-profit organizations apply? Does the organization need to be a 501(c)(3)?
Yes, for-profit organizations can apply. Participant or Collaborating Organizations/Agencies do not need to be a 501(c)(3) organization.
Can foreign organizations enter?
No, Participant Organizations must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. Foreign organizations may serve as Collaborating Organizations/Agencies, though the community-led solutions need to have taken place in the United States.
Our organization has an NIH grant that is unrelated to our submission. Would that make us ineligible?
Yes. Only organizations that do not have an active NIH grant, cooperative agreement, Other Transaction, or contract at the time of submission are eligible. Your organization could still be involved as a Collaborating Organization/Agency.
We have an Other Transaction from NIH. Would that make us ineligible?
Yes. Holding an active NIH award would make an organization ineligible. Organizations with NIH awards can still be involved as Collaborating Organizations/Agencies.
Can our collaborators have NIH awards?
Yes. However, please keep in mind that Participant Organizations may not use federal funds from a grant award or cooperative agreement to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions.
Can a university/academic institution be a Collaborating Organization/Agency?
Yes. However, please keep in mind that the focus of the Challenge is community-led solutions rather than researcher-led projects.
Submissions
When are submissions due?
Submissions are due Tuesday, September 2, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
How do we submit our entry? Is there an online submission system?
Submissions must be emailed to [email protected]. There is no online submission system.
Can we contact NIH to see if our solution fits with the Challenge announcement before we submit an entry?
Yes! We encourage you to submit any questions about your solution, eligibility, or the submission process to [email protected]. We are happy to address your questions via email, phone, or a virtual meeting.
Can our organization submit more than one entry?
No, organizations can submit only one entry as the Participant Organization.
Can our organization submit an entry as the Participant Organization and be a Collaborating Organization/Agency on another submission?
Yes.
Our fiscal sponsor handles financial and administrative functions for our non-profit organization. Can the fiscal sponsor submit the entry on our behalf?
We encourage organizations to submit their own entries directly rather than working through a fiscal sponsor to avoid any confusion regarding organization eligibility and conforming to Participation Rules. Organizations that receive a prize can arrange to have the fiscal sponsor receive and manage the prize money, if appropriate.
Where can I find the application? Is there an application template?
Unlike an NIH grant application, there is no application package for electronic submission. The “How to Enter” section of the Challenge Announcement provides instructions about the required components (Entry Form, Description of the Community Derived Solution, References, and Additional Collaborating Organizations/Agencies [if applicable]).
The instructions also specify that the Description of the Community-Derived Solution should include the following sections:
- Overview of the community-derived solution
- Relevance to populations with high levels of menthol cigarette use
- Innovation
- Evidence of effectiveness
- Potential for sustainability or broader implementation
Do we need to provide a budget?
No, prizes are awarded for successful community-led solutions that have already been implemented, so plans for spending the prize money are not part of the judging criteria.
Should we provide letters of support from our collaborators?
No. Only the required submission components (Entry Form, Description of the Community-Derived Solution, References, and Additional Collaborating Organizations/Agencies [if applicable]) will be considered in the judging.
Should the Description of the Community-Derived Solution document be single- or double-spaced?
The page limit is 10 single-spaced pages. You can use double spacing if you wish, but the page limit is still 10 pages, so you won’t be able to provide as much text as in a single-spaced document.
Can we submit pictures or videos or just text?
You can include tables, charts/graphs, photos, or other images within the 10-page Description of the Community-Derived Solution document. Additional attachments such as videos or appendices will not be considered.
Can figures be submitted separately, or does that count toward the 10-page limit?
If figures or other images or graphics are included in your submission, they must be included as part of the 10-page Description of the Community-Derived Solution document. Separate attachments or appendices will not be considered.
Is the Entry Form included in the 10-page limit?
No. The Entry Form (PDF) should be submitted as a separate document and does not count toward the 10-page limit for the Description of the Community-Derived Solution.
Can we submit all the submission components as a single, merged PDF file?
We prefer that the required components be submitted as separate files, because only the Description of the Community-Derived Solution and References documents will be considered in the judging. However, it is also acceptable to submit a single, merged PDF file (with the components clearly labeled).
Do we need to have an eRA commons account or System of Award Management (SAM) registration to enter?
No. However, Participant Organizations are encouraged to request and obtain a free Unique Entity ID, if they have not already done so, via SAM.gov, as this will expedite prize payment.
Can we make revisions or corrections to our entry after we submit it?
Yes, but only if you submit your revised entry prior to the submission deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Selection and Awarding of Prizes
Who will be reviewing the entries?
All submissions that are responsive and meet the Eligibility and Participation rules will be evaluated and scored by qualified expert employees of the federal government using the criteria specified in the Challenge Announcement. The results of the evaluation will be provided to a Judging Panel composed of NIH and other federal staff.
How many awards will be made?
Up to nine awards may be made.
Are there different categories for selecting prizes (for example, youth vs. adult focused)?
No, there are no separate categories for submission or judging.
Is there a preference for certain types of Participant Organizations in the judging?
No, the type of Participant Organization is not a factor in the judging.
Are there requirements regarding how the prize money will be used?
No. We hope that the prize money would be used to sustain, expand, or further evaluate the solution, but awardees are free to use the prize money as they wish.
How should the prize money be allocated to the Collaborating Organizations/Agencies?
This is left to the discretion of the Participant and Collaborating Organizations/Agencies. NIH will not be involved in how the prize money is distributed to collaborators.
Do the prize winners have to report progress to NIH?
No. Prizes will be awarded for successful efforts to reduce menthol cigarette smoking, not planned future efforts.
How does the copyright and licensing work?
For federal Challenges, each Participant Organization grants to the NIH an irrevocable, paid-up, royalty-free nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and display publicly the submission on the web or elsewhere, and a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice, or have practiced for or on its behalf, the solution throughout the world.
For this Challenge, this means that NIH has permission to feature descriptions of the winning solutions on NIH websites, newsletters, social media platforms, or other public outlets. NIH will not otherwise be implementing or marketing the solutions. Participant Organizations retain the right to use or transfer their solutions, as applicable.