Caregiver AI Challenge

Track 1: AI Tools to Support Caregivers  

The goal of Track 1 is to identify the most promising AI-enabled tools that support caregivers providing support to an individual in their home or community, that:

• Meet the competition’s Caregiver AI principles
• Incorporate user-centered design
• Promote high-quality care
• Minimize the potential for harmful, biased, or unsafe use of AI

While many tools are being developed to improve the independence of individuals with disabilities (and thus reduce the need for caregiver support), applications for this challenge must have a direct tie to caregiver experiences and needs. Read examples of potential use cases.

Track 1 phases

Phase 1: Design — This phase seeks applications that outline the overall design of a solution, showing how one or more AI-enabled tools, when used by caregivers, will help them in overcoming daily challenges in supporting care recipients. AI-enabled tools should be at Technology Readiness Level 3 or higher to be eligible for this opportunity. Phase 1 is currently open for applications.

Phase 2: Implementation and testing — This phase focuses on the implementation and testing of the selected AI solutions, including collecting performance data and refining the solution based on user input. Early in Phase 2, Phase 1 winners will refine and finalize their testing plans with technical assistance from the Challenge team and subject matter experts. The approved testing plans will then be carried out over the remainder of Phase 2. Phase 2 winners will be eligible to compete in Phase 3. At least 50% of the winners will have design solutions focused on family caregivers.

Phase 3: Promise of scalability and sustainability — This phase focuses on demonstrating the long-term scalability and sustainability of the AI solutions by testing implementation of the solution in additional environments and submitting plans that address long-term scalability and sustainability. First-, second-, and third-place solutions will be awarded, with winners receiving public recognition.

Prizes for Phase 1

A maximum of 10 applications that best meet the judging criteria will be awarded up to $100,000 each.

Up to five solutions that target one of the focus areas below could be eligible for an additional meritorious prize of up to $50,000:

• Caregivers supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)
• Caregivers supporting individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
• Interoperability with electronic medical records (EMRs), health system information, or home device systems
• Interoperability with assistive technology devices
• Collaboration between two or more companies or organizations that goes beyond a single-vendor solution to better address caregiver needs

At least 50% of Track 1 winners will have designs focused on family caregivers. Prize amounts for Phases 2 and 3 will be announced at a later date.

Awarding the Prize

Prizes awarded under this Challenge will be paid via electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS and ACL will comply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to request and obtain a free Unique Entity ID (UEI), if they have not already done so, via SAM.gov,as this will expedite prize payment.

For team applications, if a cash prize is awarded, it will be paid in full to the designated team leader, who is solely responsible for distributing the prize funds among team members.

For entity applications, if a cash prize is awarded, it will be paid directly to the entity and not the entity’s point of contact. HHS and ACL will not arbitrate, intervene, advise on, or resolve any disputes or arrangements among team members.

Track 2: AI Tools for Extending the Caregiver Workforce

The goal of Track 2 is to identify the most promising AI-enabled tools that create efficiencies to help extend and strengthen the direct care workforce. This track is primarily aimed at organizations that play a critical role in the caregiving support system, including state agencies that administer funding for community-based care, direct care workforce employers, home care co-operatives, and other home and community-based providers.

Key components of this track include the design and scaling of AI-enabled tools that demonstrate clear value to direct care workers and the communities they serve, such as reducing administrative burden by automating documentation, improving scheduling and deployment of staff, increasing caregiving time with care recipients, improving staff recruitment, retention, and training. Applicants must also:

• Meet the competition’s Caregiver AI principles
• Incorporate user-centered design
• Promote high-quality care
• Minimize the potential for harmful, biased, or unsafe use of AI

Read examples of potential use cases.

Track 2 Phases

Phase 1: Design — This phase seeks applications that outline the overall design of an AI-driven solution for organizations to make it easier for caregivers to provide care. AI-enabled tools should be at Technology Readiness Level 3 or higher to be eligible for this opportunity. Applications should describe:

• How the solution was informed by input from end users on the greatest challenges, barriers, and problems they face
• How the AI-enabled tool(s) will create greater efficiencies to address the specific challenges, barriers, and problems
• The extent to which the AI-enabled tool(s):
  • Meet the Caregiver AI principles
  • Incorporate user-centered design
  • Promote high-quality care
  • Minimize the potential for harmful, biased, or unsafe use of AI
• The approach for implementing the solution to demonstrate real-world viability of the AI-enabled tool, including the approach for evaluation and continuous improvement to ensure the tool effectively meets needs, the AI design standards, and usability design principles

Phase 2: Implementation and testing — This phase focuses on the implementation and testing of the selected AI design solutions. This phase will include the collection of performance data and further refinement of the solution based on user input. Early in Phase 2, Phase 1 winners will refine and finalize their testing plans with technical assistance from the Challenge team and subject matter experts. The approved testing plans will then be implemented over the remainder of Phase 2. Only Phase 2 winners will be eligible to participate in Phase 3.

Phase 3: Scalability and sustainability — This phase focuses on demonstrating the potential for long-term scalability and sustainability of the AI solutions. This phase will include broader implementation of the solutions and submitting plans that address long-term scalability and sustainability. First-, second-, and third-place solutions will be selected and receive public recognition.

Prizes for Phase 1

A maximum of 10 applications that best meet the judging criteria will be awarded up to $100,000 each. 

Up to five solutions that target one of the focus areas below could be eligible for an additional meritorious prize of up to $50,000:

• Solutions for providers supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) 
• Solutions for providers supporting individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias  
• Interoperability with electronic medical records (EMRs), health system information, or home device systems 
• Collaboration between two or more companies or organizations that goes beyond a single-vendor solution to better address workforce needs 

Prize amounts for Phases 2 and 3 will be announced at a later date.

Awarding the Prize

Prizes awarded under this Challenge will be paid via electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS and ACL will comply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to request and obtain a free Unique Entity ID (UEI), if they have not already done so, via SAM.gov,as this will expedite prize payment.

For team applications, if a cash prize is awarded, it will be paid in full to the designated team leader, who is solely responsible for distributing the prize funds among team members.

For entity applications, if a cash prize is awarded, it will be paid directly to the entity and not the entity’s point of contact. HHS and ACL will not arbitrate, intervene, advise on, or resolve any disputes or arrangements among team members.

Eligibility Rules

To be eligible to win a prize under this challenge, an individual, entity, or team:

• Shall have complied with all the requirements under this section
• In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the U.S.  In the case of a team, the team leader shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the U. S.  However, non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team or entity that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part). Their participation as part of a winning team or entity, if applicable, may be recognized when the results are announced.  In the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
• Shall not be a federal entity or federal employee acting within the scope of their employment (all non-HHS federal employees must consult with their agency ethics official to determine whether the federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit the acceptance of a COMPETES Act prize)
• Shall not be an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, or any other component of HHS) acting in their personal capacity
• Shall not be a judge of the Challenge, or any other party involved with the design, production, execution, or distribution of the Challenge or the immediate family of such a party (i.e., spouse, parent, stepparent, child, or stepchild)
• May, in the case of federal grantees, not use federal funds to develop applications unless consistent with the purpose of their grant award
• May, in the case of federal contractors, not use federal funds from a contract to develop COMPETES Act challenge applications or fund efforts in support of a COMPETES Act challenge submission
• Shall be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission

Participation Requirements

• An individual, entity, or team shall not be deemed ineligible because the individual or entity used federal facilities or consulted with federal employees during a competition if the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals and entities participating in the competition on an equitable basis.
• Federal grantees and recipients of cooperative agreements may not use federal funds to develop their Challenge applications unless use of such funds is consistent with the purpose of their grant award and specifically requested to do so due to the Challenge design. Examples of grants where it is consistent and approved are NIA’s SBIRand NIA’s AITC incubator.If a participant uses federal grant or cooperative agreement funds to win the Challenge, the prize must be treated as program income for purposes of the original grant or cooperative agreement in accordance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards [2 CFR § 200].
• Federal contractors may not use federal funds from a contract to develop their applications or to fund efforts in support of their submission.
• Multiple entries are permitted. Each solution must be sufficiently novel and unique and not be a minor modification of a prior submission.
• By participating in this Challenge, each participant (whether a team or entity) agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against the federal government and its related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from participation in this prize contest, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
• Participants are required to obtain liability insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility in the amount of $0 for claims by a third party for death, bodily injury, or property damage, or loss resulting from an activity carried out in connection with participation in this Challenge.
• Participants must also agree to indemnify the federal government against third-party claims for damages arising from or related to Challenge activities.
• By participating in this Challenge, each participant (whether a team or entity) warrants that they are sole author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works that the submission comprises, that the works are wholly original with the participant (or is an improved version of an existing work that the participant has sufficient rights to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the participant is aware.
• As a condition for winning a cash prize in this Challenge, each participant (whether participating as a team or entity) grants to ACL an irrevocable, paid-up, royalty-free nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and display publicly the team/entity name, title, executive summary, and plain language summary components of the submission on the web or elsewhere. Each participant will retain all other intellectual property rights in their applications, as applicable. To participate in the Challenge, each participant must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of the participant’s rights to the federal government.
• Each participant (whether a team or entity) agrees to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.
• Contestants to this Challenge must agree to be bound by the rules of the Challenge, agree that the decision of the judges for this Challenge are final and binding, and acknowledge that their submission may be the subject of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and that they are responsible for identifying and marking all business confidential and proprietary information in their submission.
• As a condition for winning a cash prize in this Challenge, each participant (whether participating as a team or an entity) irrevocably grants to ACL the right to the use of their name, affiliation, city and state, and likeness or image for the purposes of publicity releases and any other promotion of this Challenge.
• Applicants are only eligible to compete for Phases 2 and 3 of the Challenge if they were selected as a winner in the previous phase. Only Phase 1 winners are eligible for Phase 2; only Phase 2 winners are eligible for Phase 3. The Administration for Community Living reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at the Administration for Community Living’s sole discretion.

Intent to Apply

Teams are encouraged to submit their Intent to Apply by Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET via email to CaregiverAI@acl.hhs.gov. The email should provide all and only the following information.

• Team name, team members, and primary contact information
• The track they plan to apply for
• A brief description of the proposed AI-based solution and potential impact on caregivers (maximum 500 words)

Applicants must designate a primary point of contact for the application. The primary point of contact for each application must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is 18 or older. The primary point of contact will be responsible for all correspondence regarding this Challenge.

All information submitted as part of the Intent to Apply is considered tentative and draft. The information submitted may change before the final application. Responses to any questions submitted to the challenge team will be posted publicly on the Challenge definitions, FAQs, and resources page.

Phase 1 Applications

Applications are due by Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The designated primary point of contact must submit the application by emailing the completed materials to CaregiverAI@acl.hhs.gov no later than the stated deadline.

Application Requirements

The application for Phase 1 of the Challenge shall meet the following requirements. All applications must:

• Address the information described in the application outline.
• Be written in English and use clear, straightforward, and concise language. 
• Be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
• Not exceed 15 pages in length, excluding appendices, which are limited to a total of 10 pages.
• Use 1-inch margins.
• Use a widely available font face (e.g., Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Georgia).
• Use at least 11-point font, except for charts and tables, which must be at least 9-point font.
• Not use HHS, ACL, or other government logos or official seals in their application or otherwise imply federal government endorsement.