The competition is open to individuals, private entities (for-profits and nonprofits), nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities, academic institutions, subject to the following requirements: • An individual prize competitor (who is not competing as a member of a group) must be a United States citizen or a permanent resident. • A group of individuals competing as one team may win, provided that the online account holder of the submission is a United States citizen or a permanent resident. Individuals competing as part of a team may participate if they are legally authorized to work in the United States. • Private entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States with majority domestic ownership and control. If an entity seeking to compete does not have majority domestic ownership and control, EERE may consider issuing a waiver of that eligibility requirement where the entity submits a compelling justification; the entity is incorporated in and maintains a primary place of business in the United States; and the entity otherwise meets the eligibility requirements. EERE may require additional information before making a determination on the waiver request. There are no rights to appeal DOE’s decision on the waiver request. See Appendix 2 for more information on the waiver process. • Academic Institutions must be based in the United States. • DOE employees, employees of sponsoring organizations, members of their immediate families (i.e., spouses, children, siblings, or parents), and persons living in the same household as such persons, whether or not related, are not eligible to participate in the Prize. • Federal entities and federal employees, acting within the scope of their employment, are also not eligible to participate in any portion of the Prize. • DOE national laboratory employees cannot compete in the Prize during their official duty hours or using lab equipment.