diff --git a/services/contest_service_facade/src/java/main/com/topcoder/service/facade/contest/ejb/ContestServiceFacadeBean.java b/services/contest_service_facade/src/java/main/com/topcoder/service/facade/contest/ejb/ContestServiceFacadeBean.java
index 494e17fca..8a99c9b59 100644
--- a/services/contest_service_facade/src/java/main/com/topcoder/service/facade/contest/ejb/ContestServiceFacadeBean.java
+++ b/services/contest_service_facade/src/java/main/com/topcoder/service/facade/contest/ejb/ContestServiceFacadeBean.java
@@ -3663,6 +3663,37 @@ public SoftwareCompetition createSoftwareContest(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCo
   public SoftwareCompetition createSoftwareContest(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCompetition contest,
       long tcDirectProjectId, Date regEndDate, Date multiRoundEndDate, Date endDate)
       throws ContestServiceException, PermissionServiceException {
+    return createSoftwareContest(
+        tcSubject, contest, tcDirectProjectId, regEndDate, multiRoundEndDate, endDate, false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * <p>
+   * Creates a new <code>SoftwareCompetition</code> in the persistence.
+   * </p>
+   *
+   * @param tcSubject         TCSubject instance contains the login security info
+   *                          for the current user
+   * @param contest           the <code>SoftwareCompetition</code> to create as a
+   *                          contest
+   * @param tcDirectProjectId the TC direct project id. a <code>long</code>
+   *                          providing the ID of a client the new competition
+   *                          belongs to.
+   * @param regEndDate        the registration end date
+   * @param multiRoundEndDate the end date for the multiround phase. No multiround
+   *                          if it's null.
+   * @param endDate           the end date for submission phase. Can be null if to
+   *                          use default.
+   * @param skipForum         true if no need to create the forum
+   *
+   * @return the created <code>SoftwareCompetition</code> as a contest
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the input argument is invalid.
+   * @throws ContestServiceException  if an error occurs when interacting with the
+   *                                  service layer.
+   */
+  public SoftwareCompetition createSoftwareContest(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCompetition contest,
+      long tcDirectProjectId, Date regEndDate, Date multiRoundEndDate, Date endDate, boolean skipForum)
+      throws ContestServiceException, PermissionServiceException {
     logger.debug("createSoftwareContest with information : [tcSubject = " + tcSubject.getUserId()
         + ", tcDirectProjectId =" + tcDirectProjectId + ", multiRoundEndDate = " + multiRoundEndDate + "]");
 
@@ -3715,7 +3746,7 @@ public SoftwareCompetition createSoftwareContest(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCo
       checkBillingProjectCCA(contest);
 
       // update the AssetDTO and update corresponding properties
-      createUpdateAssetDTO(tcSubject, contest);
+      createUpdateAssetDTO(tcSubject, contest, skipForum);
 
       com.topcoder.management.resource.Resource[] contestResources = createContestResources(tcSubject, contest,
           billingProjectId, requireApproval);
@@ -4015,10 +4046,11 @@ private boolean shouldAutoCreateBugHuntContest(SoftwareCompetition contest) {
    * @param tcSubject TCSubject instance contains the login security info for the
    *                  current user
    * @param contest   the contest
+   * @param skipForum true if no need to create forum
    * @throws EntityNotFoundException                           if any error occurs
    * @throws com.topcoder.catalog.service.PersistenceException if any error occurs
    */
-  private void createUpdateAssetDTO(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCompetition contest) throws EntityNotFoundException,
+  private void createUpdateAssetDTO(TCSubject tcSubject, SoftwareCompetition contest, boolean skipForum) throws EntityNotFoundException,
       com.topcoder.catalog.service.PersistenceException, DAOException, ConfigManagerException {
     // check if it is going to create development contest
     boolean isDevContest = isDevContest(contest);
@@ -4055,7 +4087,7 @@ else if (isDevContest) {
       }
       long forumId = 0;
       // create forum
-      if (createForum) {
+      if (createForum && !skipForum) {
         if (useExistingAsset && assetDTO.getForum() != null) {
           forumId = assetDTO.getForum().getJiveCategoryId();
         } else {