§20144 Prize Authority

Summary

NASA may run cash prize competitions to encourage new ideas, research, technology, and prototypes that could help its space and aviation work. NASA must widely advertise each competition and publish a Federal Register notice with the topic, who can enter, the prize amount, and how winners will be chosen. Topics are picked after wide consultation and can include things like supplying power to the Moon from space, new ways to spot or push away near‑Earth objects, or ways to make aviation safer and more efficient. People or companies must register, follow the rules, be U.S. persons or U.S. companies, and not be federal employees or agencies. Registered entrants must accept all risks and give up claims against the government except for willful misconduct, and they must have insurance or show financial responsibility in amounts set by NASA to cover third‑party injuries and damage, and damage to government property. Judges will be qualified and include people from outside NASA, and they must avoid conflicts of interest. NASA can hire a nonprofit to run a competition. Prizes can be paid from federal money or private donations, but donors get no special treatment. Prize funds stay available until spent and generally cannot be reprogrammed for 10 fiscal years after the year they were appropriated. No prize can be announced until the money is fully funded or committed in writing. Increases in prize amounts need the same notice and funding. If a prize would exceed $50,000,000, Congress must be given 30 days’ written notice. Any prize over $1,000,000 needs the Administrator’s approval. Entrants must get written approval before using NASA’s name or logo, and they remain responsible for following other federal laws like export controls.