The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) has introduced the "Supplements, Facts First: A Digital Adventure for Every Age" challenge. This initiative seeks to foster the development of innovative multimedia strategies aimed at transforming static dietary supplement fact sheets into dynamic and engaging digital experiences. The competition is designed to bridge the gap between evidence-based supplement information and public engagement by incentivizing the creation of culturally and linguistically tailored digital platforms that enhance health literacy and support informed, safe decisions regarding supplement use.
Program Overview
• Challenge Name: Supplements, Facts First: A Digital Adventure for Every Age
• Sponsoring Body: The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Objective: To translate static ODS dietary supplement fact sheets into innovative, multi-modal digital experiences that improve consumer health literacy and promote safe, informed decisions.
• Core Requirement: Participants must develop prototypes that integrate at least two of five specified digital modalities.
• Total Prize Pool: $869,000
Approved Digital Modalities
• Behavior Change and Health Information Apps: Mobile or web-based applications designed to influence health behaviors or increase access to accurate information on dietary supplements.
• Social Media Content: Short-form, visually appealing media optimized for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, with a specific focus on strategies for TikTok.
• AI-Enabled Tools: Artificial intelligence-powered solutions that generate or personalize content, such as custom podcast creators, health information chatbots, or personalization engines.
• Serialized Video & Broadcast Content: Long-form or episodic content for platforms like YouTube or streaming services that combines storytelling with evidence-based health information.
• Other Technology: Any interactive technology supported by peer-reviewed literature, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), SMS-based coaching, voice-activated assistants, or wearable device integrations.
Target Audience Requirements
• Scope: Solutions must be tailored to two or more specific target audiences.
• Composition: Submissions must address at least one age group (e.g., youth, adults, or older adults) and at least one special population experiencing health disparities (e.g., a group at high risk for chronic conditions, food-insecure families, veterans, new mothers).
• Optional Group: An additional target group, such as health professionals, may be included with a clear rationale based on evidence of need.
Challenge Structure and Timeline
• Phase 1: Concept Development (Community-Engaged Design): Participants submit a Concept Paper detailing their proposed solution, target demographics, selected modalities, and a strategy for community engagement. The submission deadline is April 6, 2026.
• Phase 2: Prototype Development & Initial Validation: Selected teams create functional prototypes, conduct user testing, and refine their solutions based on feedback. The submission period runs from May 12, 2026, to April 20, 2027.
• Phase 3: Full Implementation, Pilot Testing & Evaluation: Finalists implement their production-ready solutions in real-world settings, conduct a pilot test, and complete a comprehensive evaluation. This phase runs from June 7, 2027, to December 6, 2027.
• Key Milestones: The challenge launches on January 20, 2026. Phase 1 winners will be announced on May 11, 2026. Phase 2 winners will be announced on June 6, 2027. Grand prize winners will be announced on January 20, 2028.
Prizes and Awards
• Total Prize Pool: $869,000 in cash prizes will be distributed across the three phases.
• Payment: Prizes will be paid via electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS/NIH will comply with all IRS reporting requirements.
• Unique Entity ID (UEI): Participants are encouraged to obtain a free UEI via SAM.gov to expedite prize payment.
• Discretionary Rights: NIH reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the challenge, or to not award any prizes if no submissions are deemed worthy.
Eligibility and Participation Rules
• Registration: All participants must register through the official challenge website.
• U.S. Presence: Private entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Federal Employee Restrictions: Federal employees may not participate within the scope of their employment. Employees of HHS or its components are not eligible to participate.
• Age Requirement: Participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.
• Funding: Participants may not use federal funds to develop their challenge submissions.
• Intellectual Property: Participants grant NIH a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use their submission for administrative or promotional purposes, while retaining all other IP rights.
• Team Size: There is no minimum or maximum team size.
Submission Requirements by Phase
• Phase 1 (Concept Development): Submissions include a Concept Paper (≤10 pages), concept demonstrations (e.g., mockups, wireframes), demographic customization samples, a user engagement plan, and a description of the team and partners, including at least one letter of intent from a community partner. Working software is not required.
• Phase 2 (Prototype & Validation): Deliverables include a functional multi-modal prototype, user study results from 15-40 users, technical documentation, and a community integration report.
• Phase 3 (Implementation & Pilot): Final submissions require the fully operational solution, a pilot implementation report (from a 3-6 month pilot with 20-100 participants), a scalability and sustainability brief, and a community engagement summary.
Judging Criteria
• Phase 1 (Concept): Submissions are evaluated on Innovation & Technical Excellence (25%), Audience Reach & Demographic Targeting (30%), Scientific Accuracy & Health-Impact Potential (25%), and User Engagement & Experience Design (20%).
• Phase 2 (Prototype): Criteria include Implementation & Real-World Impact (35%), Scalability & Sustainability (25%), Community Integration (25%), and Innovation & Cross-Media Synergy (15%).
• Phase 3 (Final): Finalists are judged on Sustained Real-World Impact (30%), Innovation & Technical Excellence (30%), Audience Reach & CBPR Alignment (20%), and Cross-Media Synergy & UX (20%). Bonus points are available for Scalability, Sustainability, and Adoption Readiness.
This challenge presents a significant opportunity for innovators to contribute to public health by reimagining how evidence-based information is communicated. For complete details on how to enter, including registration and submission guidelines, interested parties should visit the official challenge page. For questions, please contact the support team via the provided channels. Official Website: www.herox.com/SupplementsFactsFirst. Email: gethelp@herox.com.