NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

R -- MANAGEMENT OF THE NASA SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP RESEARCH PROGRAMS (SHARP/SHARP PLUS) SOL RFIW-SHARP DUE 060199 POC Delia B. Robey, Contracting Officer, Phone (301) 286-8109, Fax (301) 286-0357, Email Delia.B.Robey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/HQ/date.html#RFIW-SHARP. E-MAIL: Delia B. Robey, Delia.B.Robey.1@gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA is hereby soliciting information for potential sources for the operation and management of the NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP) and SHARP PLUS. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents deemed fully qualified will be considered in any resultant solicitation for the requirement. On December 16, 1998, an industry briefing was held to present the NASA requirements for the SHARP and SHARP PLUS program. As a follow-up to the briefing, NASA is now requesting that small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, (including HBCU and OMI) and women owned small businesses submit capabilities to provide education and training services for the administration and implementation of the SHARP and the SHARP PLUS Program. The SHARP program was established in 1980. The goal of SHARP is to foster interest in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology in high school students from groups that tend to be underrepresented in these fields. In this program, students are carefully matched with an active researcher who mentors and guides the student during the intense eight-week apprenticeship period. Participation is limited to students living within commuting distance of a NASA center. Based upon the success of SHARP, NASA decided to broaden the scope by establishing SHARP PLUS in 1993. A supplement to SHARP, SHARP PLUS provides students who do not live within commuting distance of a NASA center an opportunity to participate in research experiences with selected universities and companies during a residential eight week apprenticeship program. More information on these programs can be found at their program home pages: SHARP Program is available at http:///www.mtsibase.com/sharp/; information related to SHARP PLUS can be found at http://qemnetwork.qem.org/sharpplus.html Every year, approximately five hundred students are sponsored under these programs. The successful offeror must recognize that significant coordination will be required with NASA Headquarters and its ten centers as well as with all of the sponsoring universities and companies. Interested offerors/vendors having the required specialized capabilities to meet the above requirement should submit a capability statement of 20 pages or less indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein. In addition to submitting their capability statements, interested firms should address their expertise and experience in the following minimum criteria of the program: 1.) demonstrate established relationships with the college/university community, particularly HBCU/OMIs, 2) Knowledge of high school curricula, processes, and issues, particularly as they relate to education for students who are underrepresented in mathematics, science engineering and technology career fields (MSET), 3) experience in development and application of student selection criteria for research based mentorship educational programs, and 4) past performance with managing national programs involving high school students. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to Delia B. Robey, Mail Code 210.H, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center,Building 17, Room S134, Greenbelt, MD 20771 no later than June 1, 1999. In responding reference RFIW-6199. Posted 05/12/99 (D-SN330760). (0132)

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