National Science Foundation, Division of Contracts, Policy and Oversight, Contracts Branch, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 475, Arlington, VA 22230

R -- INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MODEL INSTITUTIONS FOR EXCELLENCE (MIE) INSTITUTIONS SOL RFP CPO 97-009 DUE 042497 POC Philip M. King, (703)306-1246/fax, (703)306-0280 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the agency point-of-contact by email., pking@nsf.gov. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a requirement for professional services to provide expert technical assistance to institutions participating in the Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE) Program. This procurement is being conducted using a multiphase acquisition technique that will include one or more down-selects. Only parties participating in the first phase will be permitted to participate in subsequent phases of this procurement. By this notice, interested parties are invited to submit detailed statements of organizational and personnel experience, qualifications, and resources (including proposed project teams and potential subcontracts) that demonstrate their capabilities for providing the services described herein. This notice provides the necessary information for preparing a response. There is no solicitation document for this first phase of this procurement. The Government will not respond to requests for copies of the solicitation document. However, the Government will respond to questions regarding this procurement that are received within 10 days of the publication date of this notice. The Government requests that interested parties which intend to submit a formal response to this notice send (fax) a letter within 10 days of the publication date of this notice indicating their intention to submit a response. The Government will send to those indicating interest any further communication regarding this procurement as may be warranted. Responses (4 copies) must be received at the address designated in this notice not later than 4:00 pm, EST, April 24, 1997, and be marked on the label with the notation: MAILROOM: DO NOT OPEN -- DELIVER DIRECTLY TO ROOM 475, RE: RFP CPO 97-009. NSF will evaluate all submissions in accordance with the criteria in the notice and make an advisory down-select decision. In conducting an advisory down-select, the Government shall (a) request selected respondents to submit a proposal for the next phase of the acquisition; and (b) inform respondents not selected that, based on their submission, they are unlikely to receive an award, and provide them with supporting rationale. Such respondents may, at their option, submit a proposal for the second phase. The Government will evaluate all proposals received for the second phase in accordance with the established evaluation criteria. The criteria that will be used in making the initial advisory down-select decisions will be (1) the degree in which organizational qualifications, experience, and resources are likely to contribute to the successful performance of the requirement, and (2) the degree in which personnel qualifications, experience, and skill mix are likely to contribute to the successful performance of the requirement. These criteria are of equal importance. The following is a more detailed description of the Government's requirement. The NSF has a mandate to ensure the vitality of the nation's scientific enterprise includes concern for the quality, composition, distribution and effectiveness of the human resource base in science, engineering and mathematics. NSF has a strong commitment to improving the quality of and access to science, engineering and mathematics education for all Americans, including women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Within this context, it is recognized that minorities are particularly underrepresented in the number of baccalaureate degrees conferred in science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM), particularly in the natural, social, behavioral, and economic sciences, computer sciences, engineering and mathematics. The impact of the small number of baccalaureate degrees is exacerbated by the even smaller number of doctorates conferred. Traditionally, minority-serving institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Native American-serving institutions) are leading sources for the production of SEM degrees for minorities. The MIE Program is intended to enhance the SEM baccalaureate degree granting capability of the six minority-serving institutions that have the greatest demonstrated potential for success. The six institutions are: Bowie State University, Oglala Lakota College, Spelman College, Universidad Metropolitana, University of Texas at El Paso, and Xavier University of Louisiana. The program will produce model institutions for SEM education and undergraduate research. NSF seeks to hire a technical assistance contractor to assist the MIE institutions in implementing institutional development activities in the following areas: (a) Work Area 1 -- Increasing Opportunities for Graduates; (b) Work Area 2 -- Fostering Know-How and Technology Transfer; (c) Work Area 3 -- Developing Industry/University Partnerships; and (d) Work Area 4 -- Public Affairs Training and Capacity Building at the Institutions. The activity described in this announcement is intended to provide technical assistance to the MIE institutions in institutionalizing programs and funding needed for continuance of MIE activities beyond the availability of Federal funding. Work Area 1 is intended to increase the retention of MIE institution graduates in the natural, social, behavioral and economic sciences, computer sciences, engineering and mathematics pipeline to SEM graduate school or SEM-careers. Each MIE institution is tasked to provide its students a supportive path (a pipeline) from pre-college to graduate school, and finally to SEM careers. The contractor shall provide technical assistance to the MIE institutions in establishing linkages to other institutions (universities and colleges, national laboratories, and business and industry) that will enhance these institutions' ability to work with, support, and employ the students and graduates of MIE institutions. Contractor performance in this work area will be judged by successful establishment of new SEM linkages (collective or individual) between MIE institutions and other institutions (universities and colleges, national laboratories, and business and industry). Work Area 2 is intended to facilitate dissemination of the successes of MIE institutions among the MIE institutions and to other colleges and universities. MIE institutions need opportunities to discuss issues, share problems and solutions, and otherwise reflect and communicate with each other, both electronically and in person. The Contractor shall work with the MIE institutions to design and implement planned activities intended to provide such opportunities. The MIE program is intended not only to produce model institutions for undergraduate SEM education and research, but, through dissemination of exemplary materials/activities, to enable other institutions to focus their plans for undergraduate SEM education and research. The Contractor shall work with the MIE institutions to design and implement planned activities intended to provide for dissemination of exemplary materials/activities to other institutions. Contractor performance in this work area will be judged by successful completion of: (1) planned events/opportunities for the MIE institutions to discuss issues, share problems and solutions, and otherwise reflect and communicate with each other, both electronically and in person; and (2) planned activities intended to provide for dissemination of exemplary materials/activities to other institutions. Work Area 3 is intended to provide the basis for continuation of the MIE activities at the MIE institutions, beyond the availability of Federal funding. The Contractor shall work with the MIE institutions to design and implement means to develop the capacity (as measured by tangible assets -- personnel, materials, or funds) of local and state level policy-makers, administrators, university faculty, business and industry, and the general public to work with and support the MIE institutions. MIE projects should develop effective pipelines from pre-college to graduate school. A variety of approaches, such as workshops, conferences, and forums shall be developed. Contractor performance in this work area will be judged by the increase in tangible assets (personnel, materials, or funds) available to the MIE institutions and creditable to development (partnership) activities for which the Contractor provided technical assistance. Work Area 4 is intended to enhance the ability of each MIE institution to communicate effectively with those (potential students, counselors, parents, community leaders, etc.) who need to be aware of the potential advantages to them of establishing a relationship with the institution. The Contractor shall work with the MIE institutions to design and implement an effective public affairs training and capacity building technical assistance plan for the MIE institutions (individually and collectively). Contractor performance in this work area will be judged by successful progress toward completion of the technical assistance plan. The Contractor shall present a plan for working with the MIE institutions, which spans a five year period, within one month of contract award. (0079)

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