STIR FAQS
Public Questions and Answers regarding STIR RFP
Note: Some of the questions below have been paraphrased or shortened for the sake of clarity and/or brevity. Please submit all application questions and inquiries via-the ONLINE APPLICATION or by email to: [email protected]
Q1: Do budgets exist to address the challenge areas and is there political support at the leadership level to move things forward?
A1: Each of the Challenge Areas listed in the RFP has support at the leadership and managerial levels within the relevant City department and is a priority issue for the City.
Q2: Is there a way for designers and artists to participate in the STIR program?
A2: Startups often have a mix of technologists and designers on staff to create solutions deeply connected to the community with dynamic customer experiences. We welcome proposals from teams that include designers and/or artists, provided they demonstrate the necessary technical skills to develop and implement the technology-based solution. All proposals will be scored based on the Selection Criteria in the RFP.
Q3: This looks like a great program, but does the City see value in these challenges and are they willing to support a new project?
A3: See answer to Question 1 above.
Q4: How will the competitive process determine which City would most benefit from the project submitted? How are matches made? Should we only focus on one City?
A4: San Francisco, Oakland, San Leandro and West Sacramento are each conducting separate scoring and selection processes with unique requirements for each City. Applicants to San Francisco’s STIR Program may propose a solution only to one of the Challenge Areas listed in Attachment A of the RFP. San Francisco applicants may also submit applications to the Oakland, San Leandro and West Sacramento programs if they wish, but a startup may ultimately only be allowed to work with one city at a time. For example, if you are the highest scoring respondent for a particular challenge area for both the San Francisco and Oakland programs, you may be required to choose to work with only one City in 2016.
Q5: Can a 501c3 nonprofit apply to the STIR program?
A5: Yes.
Q6: Since the program is unpaid, is there a pipeline to venture capital and/or will the City purchase the new product after the program is over?
A6: At the end of the 16-week program, the City will have the option, at its sole discretion, to license any technology-based solution developed during the program without having to go through another procurement process. In addition, the 16-week “residence period” includes workshops with leaders in government, business, technology, and philanthropy on topics relevant to public sector work and developing your technology solution. Participants will also be paired with industry leaders or “STIR Ambassadors” who will provide mentoring to participants. Participating startups from our previous class (2014) have gone on to participate in conferences, competitions and programs where they have demonstrated and shared their technologies. For example, Indoors participated in the 2015 Smart City Work Hack in Barcelona.
Q7: Are you looking for startup teams of 2+ people to apply, or can one individual from a startup apply to the program and are you looking for individuals that conduct computer programming or mechanical engineering as a profession, or can the individual have a different background?
A7: The STIR program is generally intended for startups, however an individual is not prohibited from applying. All applicants will be scored based on the scoring criteria in the RFP. If selected, an individual must be able to satisfy the insurance and indemnity requirements in the Nondisclosure Agreement attached to the RFP.
With regard to individuals with different backgrounds, individuals can have a range of professional expertise that are relevant to the challenge areas. However, applicants must propose a technology based solution and, as stated in the RFP, one of the main scoring criteria for proposals is “relevant technology skill set and experience.
Q8: Can you please tell us more about the “other ideas” category and whether or not a particular policy or program area is of interest?
A8: Even if you don’t see a Civic Need that’s a fit for your startup, we still want to receive your ideas through the “other” category noted in the application. The decision to select a startup idea from the “other category” is up to the panel from the City reviewing the startup application.
Q9: Is it possible for you to expand a bit more on the licensing agreement: can we continue to commercialize to mass market or must we wait for the 1 year post STIR program period to pass before commercializing to other cities?
A9: You are free at any point in time to pursue commercial arrangements.
Q10: How are early stage/single person startups meeting the liability and insurance requirements for Startup in Residence applications for the SF initiatives? Are these requirements to apply or are they requirements to contract?
A10: All selected participants (i.e., the highest scoring proposers for each Civic Challenge Area) will be required to sign a Confidential Information Nondisclosure and Technology Based Solution Agreement as a precondition to participating in the STIR Program. The template agreement attached as Attachment B contains the City’s standard liability and insurance requirements. The City’s Risk Manager will consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests to modify or reduce the insurance requirements based on the nature of a particular startup, Civic Challenge Area and/or the proposed technology-based solution.
Q11: We are physically located outside of the Bay Area, are we eligible to participate? Also, please expand upon what “residence” means for example, do we physically have to be in San Francisco other than a once a month meeting with gov’t officials?
A11: Yes. Startups from outside the Bay Area are eligible to participate. For information about the expectations of the “residence” period, please refer to: http://startupinresidence.org/2016-application-for-statups/open-call-faq-2/ “Schedules will be agreed upon with your partnering department, but at least 1 person from your team must be available in person once per week to meet with your city partner and participate in all trainings and workshop.”
Q12: It looks like there is a 1year free license required after participating in the San Francisco program. Is the free license required whether or not the City and startup decide to pursue a paid contract?
A12: Even in the unlikely circumstance, yes, the City is reserving the option for 1 year free license to recognize the investment in time and energy from staff participating in the program. The City’s licensing options vary according to whether the technology based solution is (1) On-Premise Software (perpetual free license), (2) Hosted Software (one year free license) or (3) Hardware (one year free license or lease), see below. Upon conclusion of the 16-week residence period, the City may exercise the free license option. In addition, upon a successful negotiation, the City and startup may enter a paid agreement for future maintenance, subscription, licensing or leasing costs. But if such negotiations are not successful, the City retains its right to the free license option regardless of whether the parties enter into a paid agreement.
· Perpetual License to on Premise Software: In those cases where the participant develops on premise software, the City will have the option to license the software in perpetuity free of charge. If the option is exercised, the participant(s) will maintain the software and provide the City with free maintenance for one year, during which time the City and participant(s) will negotiate an annual maintenance fee for future years.
· Hosted Software or Applications: In those cases where the software developed is hosted by a participant (i.e., “hosted software”), the City will have the option of a term license with the first year of access provided free of charge. If the option is exercised, the City and participant(s) will negotiate an annual subscription fee for future years
· Hardware: In those cases where the participant develops a hardware product, the City will have the option to lease or license the product for free for one year (including free maintenance). If the option is exercised, the City may elect to purchase or continue leasing the product following the initial year of free use, and in such a scenario will negotiate a compensation charge and maintenance fee with the participant(s).
