NASA Solicitation: NASA and the Navajo Nation 2: Continuing the Partnership

Synopsis – Aug 31, 2011

General Information
Solicitation Number: NNA11391874Q-AMG
Posted Date: Aug 31, 2011
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Aug 31, 2011
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Sep 15, 2011
Current Response Date: Sep 15, 2011
Classification Code: U — Education and training services
NAICS Code: 611710 – Educational Support Services

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Description

NASA/ARC has a requirement for a continuation of work that covers the development of planning, implementing, and evaluating two professional development workshops and two summer enrichment programs jointly with the Navajo Nation as a means of maintaining the sustainable partnership that has been established with the Navajo Nation and to attract and retain Native American students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). ArtReach will work with Navajo traditional practitioners and consultants to successfully accomplish the following tasks; personnel will liaise with current partners on the Navajo Nation to plan the workshops and enrichment programs, establish project roles, workflow, communication modalities, production calendar and milestones. They will explore and establish scientific and cultural content to present in the workshops and enrichment programs, directly provide training for workshop and enrichment program participants, work with the project team to design and administer the evaluation/surveys and collect, process and present survey data.

NASA/ARC intends to purchase the services from ArtReach International, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b), for the acquisition of supplies determined to be reasonably available from only one source. The field of delivering educational programming within the Navajo Nation is extremely specialized due to the established trust and familiarity necessary to work in the Navajo Nation education system. ArtReach possesses this unique capability as well as extensive experience working in a cross cultural environment. ArtReach has more than 10 years experience implementing cross-cultural educational programs on the Navajo reservation. They are located on the Navajo reservation and embedded in the Navajo education community allowing them to develop the relationships necessary to establish the required trust needed to accomplish the proposed tasks. Most importantly ArtReach can demonstrate that they have earned the trust and endorsement of the Navajo education community’s leadership through letters of commitment which is a requirement for this work. It is believed that no other contractor exists with the established relationships and understanding of the political and spiritual protocols within the Navajo Nation necessary to get the proposed work done.

The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on September 15, 2011. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.

NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The installation Ombudsman is Deborah Feng, Chief of Center Operations, NASA Ames Research Center, M/S 200-9, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001.

Point of Contact

Name: Christine M Benavides
Title: Purchasing Agent
Phone: 650-604-5807
Fax: 650-604-0932
Email: christine.m.benavides@nasa.gov

Name: Justin C. Pane
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 650-604-5621
Fax: 650-604-0932
Email: justin.c.pane@nasa.gov