diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b1bd1991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+# Documentation
+# https://docs.github.com/en/code-security/dependabot/dependabot-version-updates/configuration-options-for-the-dependabot.yml-file
+version: 2
+updates:
+- package-ecosystem: github-actions
+  directory: /
+  schedule:
+    interval: monthly
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bep_update_reminder.yml b/.github/workflows/bep_update_reminder.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8ac86527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/bep_update_reminder.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+---
+name: BEP update reminder
+
+on:
+  schedule:
+  # 1rst of may and november
+  - cron: 0 0 1 5,11 *
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+
+  bep_update_reminder:
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    # only trigger update on upstream repo
+    if: github.repository_owner == 'bids-standard'
+
+    steps:
+    - name: open issue
+      uses: rishabhgupta/git-action-issue@v2
+      id: Issue
+      with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          title: BEP update reminder
+          body: "Ask BEP leads for an update on the BEPs."
+    - run: |
+        echo ${{ steps.issue.outputs.issue }}