SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- NASA ANNOUNCEMENT: SEEKING COLLABORATORS TO ASSIST NASA IN INSPIRING A NEWGENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND EXPLORERS AND EDUCATORS AND INNOVATORS
- Notice Date
- 4/19/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNH11ZHA005O
- Response Due
- 12/31/2011
- Archive Date
- 4/19/2012
- Point of Contact
- James Stofan, Deputy Asst Administrator for Ed Integration, Phone 202-358-0103, Fax 202-358-7097, Email NASAEdPartners@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
James Stofan
(NASAEdPartners@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The NASA VisionTo reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefitall humankind.Statement of Purpose The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeks unfunded collaborationswith organizations to enhance its ability to achieve its strategic goals, outcomes andobjectives as they relate to education: Strategic Goal 5: Enable program and institutional capabilities to conduct NASAsaeronautics and space activities. Outcome 5.1: Identify, cultivate, and sustain a diverse workforce and inclusive workenvironment that is needed to conduct NASA missions.Objective 5.1.2: Provide opportunities and support systems that recruit, retain, anddevelop undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering andmathematics (STEM)-related disciplines.Strategic Goal 6: Share NASA with the public, educators, and students to provideopportunities to participate in our Mission, foster innovation, and contribute to astrong national economy.Outcome 6.1: Improve retention of students in science, technology, engineering, andmathematics (STEM) disciplines by providing opportunities and activities along the fulllength of the education pipeline. Objective 6.1.1: Provide quality STEM curricular support resources and materials.Objective 6.1.2: Provide NASA experiences that inspire student interest and achievementin STEM disciplines.Outcome 6.2: Promote STEM literacy through strategic partnerships with formal andinformal organizations. Objective 6.2.1: Develop NASAs leadership role in national STEM improvement efforts, asdemonstrated by provision of meaningful educator professional development and studentexperiences, adoption of education technologies and contributions to STEM educationpolicies and strategies.Outcome 6.3: Engage the public in NASAs missions by providing new pathways forparticipation. Objective 6.3.1: Extend the reach of participatory engagement across NASA.Outcome 6.4: Inform, engage, and inspire the public by sharing NASAs missions,challenges, and results.Objective 6.4.1: Use strategic partnerships with formal and informal educationalorganizations to provide NASA content to promote interest in STEM.Objective 6.4.2: Provide clear, accurate, timely, and consistent information that isreadily available and suitable for a diverse audience.The 2011 NASA Strategic Plan (see References below) further articulates these strategicgoals. NASA strongly encourages interested parties to review this plan before respondingto this Announcement.This Announcement requests information from organizations interested in collaboratingwith NASA in reaching new or broader audiences across a national scale. NASA seeksresponses from creative organizations with wide-ranging areas of expertise.BackgroundNASA drives advances in science, technology, and exploration to enhance knowledge,education, innovation, economic vitality, and stewardship of Earth. NASAs uniquespace-based mission provides stimulating opportunities for inspiring students of all agesto engage in STEM education.In October 2010, NASA convened a three-day innovation summit to discuss how partnershipscould dramatically increase student inspiration and catalyze change in STEM education.The summit brought together education, industry, non-profit, and government leaders whoshare a commitment to improving our Nations STEM education. Participants broughtexpertise in teaching, media, technology, gaming, video production, fitness, careereducation, creating interactive experiences, and much more. This diverse groupreconfirmed the need to work with nontraditional partners to transform STEM education.Summit participants gave a unified commitment to cross boundaries and work together.Participants issued a call to action to leverage one anothers expertise, resources,unique brands, and abilities to engage diverse audiences to improve STEM education.Through this Announcement, NASA is taking the next steps in this direction. EligibilityAll categories of domestic entities, including U.S. Federal government agencies, areeligible to respond to this Announcement. Evaluation CriteriaNASA will select proposals based on the following evaluation criteria:The mission, vision, and/or values of the responding organization complementNASAs mission and vision.The collaboration will enhance NASAs ability to reach new or broader audiencesacross a national scale.The collaboration will help NASA achieve one or more of the NASA strategic goalsfor education identified above, and described in further detail in the 2011 NASAStrategic Plan.The level of NASA resources requested for the collaboration is commensurate withthe level of value and benefits offered to NASA.The responding organization demonstrates sufficient experience to accomplishproposed activities during stated timeline.The responding organization demonstrates sufficient financial resources to carryout project.Proposal includes metrics for measuring success of proposed activity(ies).Submission DetailsResponses should not include any proprietary information.NASA will share submissions with NASA employees and NASA contractors for review purposesfor NASA education and other related programs.Responses should be no more than six pages in length. Responses must be submitted inPortable Document Format (PDF) format via email to NASAEdPartners@nasa.gov.The first page should include:Title of the proposed activity(ies);Abstract for proposed activity(ies); andPertinent management and contact information for respondent organization,including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.The remaining five pages should include:Title of proposed activity(ies);Description of proposed activity (ies);Summary of how the mission, vision, and/or values of the responding organizationcomplements NASAs mission and vision;Summary of how the collaboration will enhance NASAs ability to reach new orbroader audiences across a national scale.Explanation of how the proposed activity(ies) will help NASA achieve one or moreof its education goals;Description of NASA assets and resourcessuch as people, content, andfacilitiesrequested for proposed activity(ies);Description of collaborator assets and resourcessuch as people, content, andfacilitiesfor proposed activity(ies); Timeline, including performance milestones, for the proposed activity(ies);Summary of the respondents ability to provide support for the proposedactivity(ies), including a demonstration that the respondent has sufficient experienceand financial resources to successfully achieve proposed activity(ies) within statedtimeline; andSuggested methods and criteria for measuring the success of the proposedactivity(ies).NASA does not have other specific format requirements.Response DateThis Announcement is currently open and will remain open through December 31, 2011. NASAwill review proposals beginning June 1, 2011 and thereafter beginning the first of eachmonth. Responses received after a review cycle begins will be reviewed during the nextreview cycle. The final review cycle will begin on January 3, 2012.Respondents will be sent an acknowledgement upon receipt of their materials. NASAanticipates informing respondents of the outcome of their submission within eight weeksof the initiation of the review cycle.General InformationThe intent of this Announcement is to establish one or more non-reimbursable (no exchangeof funds) Space Act Agreements (see Definitions below), which will define the full rolesand responsibilities of NASA and the responding organization. To the extent that NASAdoes enter into agreement with any respondents, it will do so consistent with itsauthority under the Space Act (51 U.S.C. 20101-164).This Announcement does not constitute an obligation for NASA to begin negotiations orenter into agreements with any respondents to carry out this activity. NASA reserves theright to select all, some, or none of the proposals for negotiations. No funding will beprovided to support respondents efforts in responding to this Announcement. NASA reserves the right to amend or withdraw this Announcement at any time.Comments and Questions:To send a comment or ask a question about this Announcement, please send an email to: NASAEdPartners@nasa.gov.Point of Contact:James StofanDeputy Associate Administrator for Education IntegrationOffice of Education 202-358-0103NASAEdPartners@nasa.govDefinitionsSpace Act Agreement (SAA): An agreement between NASA and one or more Agreement Partnersentered into under NASAs other transaction authority in the Space Act (51 U.S.C. 20113(e)). Each SAA establishes a set of legally enforceable promises between NASA andthe Agreement Partner(s). SAAs constitute Agency commitments of resources to accomplishstated objectives of a joint undertaking with an Agreement Partner. Nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement: Nonreimbursable SAAs involve NASA and one or moreAgreement Partners in a mutually beneficial activity that furthers the Agencys mission,wherein each party bears the cost of its participation, and there is no exchange of fundsbetween the parties. NASA Policy Directive 1050.1I, Authority to Enter into Space ActAgreements, paragraph 1.b.Space Act Authority to enter into a SAA: The National Aeronautics and Space Act (herein,the Space Act) (51 U.S.C. 20101-164), authorizes NASA 'to enter into and perform suchcontracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary inthe conduct of its work and on such terms as it may deem appropriate, with any agency orinstrumentality of the United States, or with any State, territory, or possession, orwith any political subdivision thereof, or with any person, firm, association,corporation, or educational institution.' 51 U.S.C. 20113(e).ReferencesNASAhttp://www.nasa.gov2011 NASA Strategic Planhttp://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516579main_NASA2011StrategicPlan.pdf NASA Educationhttp://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html NASA Policy Directive 1050.1I Authority to Enter into Space Act Agreementshttp://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPD&c=1050&s=1I NASA Space Acts Agreement Guidehttp://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/samanual.html
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