It would be better.
if they weren't so subtle, and just offered a $5B + interest prize to the first American company that could build a lunar base that could support 100 people, and offer $10B + interest for a 100 person martian base. One year of NASA's budget, throw it in an account and let it grow until someone collects. I bet less than 10 years for the moon and less than 20 years for Mars.