NASA Seeks Partners to Reach New Audiences About The Future of Space and Aeronautics
NASA ANNOUNCEMENT: SEEKING PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE WITH NASA TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES IN INNOVATIVE WAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF U.S. SPACE ACTIVITIES AND AERONAUTICS
Synopsis – Jun 13, 2013
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH13OCOM001O
Posted Date: Jun 13, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jun 13, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Jun 30, 2014
Current Response Date: Jun 30, 2014
Classification Code: R — Professional, administrative, and mgmt support services
NAICS Code: 541611
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Description
The NASA Vision To reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind.
1. Statement of Purpose The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Office of Communications, seeks Partners for non-reimbursable (no exchange of funds) collaborations with organizations to reach the widest audience possible regarding the future of U.S. space and aeronautics activities as well as how to actively engage public participation.
These collaborations would be designed to create and disseminate an innovative and forward-thinking product, service, activity, or series of events that will inform and engage the public of the robust future of U.S. space and aeronautics activities. In addition, the collaboration would involve strategically communicating that product, service, activity, strategic communication plan or series of events to the widest reach of the proposed targeted audience.
NASA is looking especially for creative collaborative activities that can communicate the next step for U.S. space and aeronautics after the Space Shuttle era (see 2. Background).
Respondents who are selected will work with NASA representatives with the intention of completing a Space Act Agreement with the Agency. The Space Act Agreement will define the full roles and responsibilities of NASA and the Respondent(s) consistent with NASA’s authority under the Space Act (51 U.S.C. SS 20101-164).
2. Background NASA drives advances in science, technology, and exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality, and stewardship of Earth. NASA’s unique space-based mission and cutting edge aeronautical technology programs provide stimulating opportunities for public engagement.
In July 2011, NASA’s historic Space Shuttle program came to a close. Today, NASA is embarking on a new era of exploration that includes scientific missions throughout our solar system in preparation for expanded and long-duration human spaceflight. NASA’s work produces game-changing exploration opportunities, technological advances, critical climate monitoring data and developments for the aviation industry, all of which have benefits to life on Earth today.
NASA strongly encourages interested parties to review the current NASA Strategic Plan (http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516579main_NASA2011StrategicPlan.pd”>http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516579main_NASA2011StrategicPlan.pdf ).
3. Eligibility Criteria All categories of entities, including U.S. Federal government agencies, are eligible to respond to this Announcement.
Respondents seeking funding from NASA will be deemed ineligible.
NASA is prohibited from entering into Space Act Agreements with persons/entities identified on the System for Award Management (SAM) as having been suspended or debarred from working with the Federal government. SAM is the centralized repository of persons/entities who are ineligible to do business with the Federal government. The purpose of the SAM database is to protect the public interest by ensuring that Federal programs are undertaken with integrity by responsible persons/entities. NASA will check SAM to ensure none of the following persons/entities are listed in SAM as being ineligible to work with NASA due to suspension or debarment: (a) Respondent (e.g., Company Name); (b) Respondent’s principals (defined in 2 C.F.R. S 180.995); (c) Respondent’s Subcontractors or Consultants, if known; and (d) Respondent’s Subcontractors’ or Consultants’ principals, if known (2 C.F.R.S 180.425).
4. Submission Screening All Submissions will be screened to determine their compliance with the Eligibility Criteria (Section 3) and Submission Details (Section 7) of this Announcement. A submission compliance checklist is provided below. Submissions that do not comply may be declared noncompliant and rejected without further review.
Compliance Checklist To pass the compliance check, a Response must meet all of the following criteria:
* Respondent has not been suspended or debarred (see 3. Eligibility Criteria).
* Respondent does not request funding, grants, or other payment from NASA (see 3. Eligibility Criteria).
* Submission is complete and complies with page limits. Description of proposed collaboration activities comprehensively satisfies the required elements (see 7. Submission Details and Required Elements).
* Proposed partnership activities cannot be pursued through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.
Submissions deemed compliant with this Announcement then will be independently assessed by NASA against the Evaluation Criteria outlined in Section 5. NASA may request clarification of a specific point or points in a Submission during the evaluation and selection process.
5. Evaluation Criteria NASA will evaluate compliant Submissions against the following Evaluation Criteria:
A. Alignment with NASA’s missions, vision, and strategic goals: The degree to which the Respondent’s mission, values, and/or strategic goals align to NASA’s missions, vision, and strategic goals.
B. Alignment with NASA’s Communications Priorities: The degree to which the proposed collaboration will enhance one or more of NASA’s four (4) communication priorities: 1. Conduct valuable research on the International Space Station (ISS); 2. Work to better understand and protect our home planet Earth; 3. Explore Mars; and 4. Explore our solar system and beyond.
C. Alignment with NASA’s Communications Goals: The degree to which the proposed collaboration will enhance one or more of NASA’s three (3) communication goals: 1. Expand outreach to new audiences and venues to disseminate information on NASA’s mission, robust programs and activities; 2. Create greater opportunities for employees and the public to tell NASA’s story; and 3. Inspire and educate the public by demonstrating NASA’s relevance and benefits to key audiences.
D. Submission Approach: The degree to which the Respondent can demonstrate their competence to: 1. Create and implement a successful project, activity, or event to engage the target audience described in the Submission; 2. Work with NASA to deliver a promotional campaign through various multimedia, including, but not limited to print, radio, television and the digital methods (web, social, mobile), to inform about missions and recent accomplishments, and to facilitate encouragement of the public, especially young Americans to enter scientific, mathematical, and engineering fields.
E. Timeline: Timeline(s) and/or schedule(s) with milestones for accomplishing proposed activities, including data collection and metrics evaluation, are realistic.
F. Assets and Resources: 1. The degree to which the Respondent’s proposed contribution towards the collaborative activities is fair and reasonable compared to the NASA resources to be committed, NASA program risks, and corresponding benefits to NASA. 2. The degree to which Respondent’s management team’s expertise and experience is sufficient to successfully implement and deliver the Respondent’s proposed partnership activities.
G. National Scale Audience: The degree to which the proposed collaboration activities will achieve the widest reach of the proposed targeted audience and reach new or broader audiences for NASA across a national scale.
H. Broadening Participation: Description of how the Submission incorporates the NASA program areas (science, human exploration, aeronautics, space technology, and education).
I. Technical Capabilities: Respondent’s brand equity, or power that Respondent’s brand has derived from the goodwill and name recognition that it has earned over time.
6. Final Selection Process NASA will consider the results of the Submission evaluations, and any subsequent deliberations, in the selection process. NASA Office of Communications may take a variety of programmatic factors into account in deciding whether or not to select Respondents, including, but not limited to, resource availability.
Once a Submission has been selected, the NASA Office of Communications will enter into negotiations with the Respondent. Selection does not guarantee that NASA and the Respondent will execute a formal agreement.
7. Submission Details and Required Elements Details Please clearly mark any proprietary information as such. NASA will share submissions with NASA employees and NASA contractors for review purposes.
Responses should be no more than ten (10) pages in length and must be submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF) format via email to strategicalliances@nasa.gov. Please number all pages.
The first page should include: A. Title of proposed activity(ies); B. Abstract for proposed activity(ies) that includes information showing that the Submission satisfies the Evaluation Criteria; and C. Pertinent management and contact information for Respondent organization, including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Required Elements The remaining nine (9) pages should include: A. Title of proposed activity(ies). B. Description of proposed activity(ies). C. Mission, Vision, and/or Values: Summary of how the Respondent’s mission, vision, and/or values complements NASA’s mission, vision, and /or strategic goals. D. Communication Priorities and Goals: Summary of how the Respondent’s proposed activities will incorporate NASA’s communications priorities and goals. E. Assets and Resources: 1. Description (including type and level) of NASA resources Respondent proposes to use. For example, the number of civil servant labor hours, and how often and for what purpose any NASA facility would be used. 2. Description of the management team proposed to implement the Respondent’s responsibilities. F. National Scale Audience: Description of how the collaboration will leverage NASA’s resources to achieve the widest reach of the proposed targeted audience and reach new or broader audiences for NASA across a national scale. G. Broadening Participation: Description of how Respondent’s proposed activity will incorporate the NASA program areas (science, human exploration, aeronautics, space technology, and education). H. Submission Approach: Description of the Respondent’s ability to: 1. Create and implement a successful project, activity, or event to engage the target audience described in the Submission. 2. Work with NASA to deliver a promotional campaign through various multimedia, including, but not limited to print, radio, television and the digital methods (web, social, mobile), to inform about missions and recent accomplishments, and to facilitate encouragement of the public, especially young Americans to enter scientific, mathematical and engineering fields. I. Timeline: Describe the realistic timeline(s) and/or schedule(s) with milestones, including data collection and metrics evaluation, for accomplishing proposed activities. J. Technical Capabilities: Describe the level of brand equity for your organization.
8. Response Date This Announcement is currently open and will remain open for three (3) years. NASA will review proposals beginning July 2013, and thereafter beginning the first of each month. Responses received after a review cycle begins will be reviewed during the next month’s review cycle.
Respondents will be sent an acknowledgement upon receipt of their materials. NASA anticipates informing Respondents of the outcome of their submission within eight (8) weeks of the initiation of the review cycle.
9. General Information The intent of this Announcement is to establish one or more non-reimbursable (no exchange of funds) Space Act Agreements (see 10. Definitions), which will define the full roles and responsibilities of NASA and the Respondent. To the extent that NASA does enter into agreement with any Respondents, it will do so consistent with its authority under the Space Act (51 U.S.C. SS 20101-164).
This Announcement does not constitute an obligation for NASA to begin negotiations or enter into agreements with any Respondents to carry out this activity. NASA reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the Submissions for negotiations. No funding will be provided 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:
Point of Contact Bert Ulrich Manager, Multi-Media Programs strategicalliances@nasa.gov
10. Definitions Space Act Agreement (SAA): An agreement between NASA and one or more Agreement Partners entered into under NASA’s “other transaction” authority in the Space Act (51 U.S.C. S 20113(e)). Each SAA establishes a set of legally enforceable promises between NASA and the Agreement Partner(s). SAAs constitute Agency commitments of resources to accomplish stated objectives of a joint undertaking with an Agreement Partner.
Nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement: Nonreimbursable SAAs “involve NASA and one or more Agreement Partners in a mutually beneficial activity that furthers the Agency’s mission, wherein each party bears the cost of its participation, and there is no exchange of funds between the parties.” NASA Policy Directive 1050.1, “Authority to Enter into Space Act Agreements,” 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. SS 20101-164), authorizes NASA “to enter into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary in the conduct of its work and on such terms as it may deem appropriate, with any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or with any State, territory, or possession, or with any political subdivision thereof, or with any person, firm, association, corporation, or educational institution.” 51 U.S.C. S 20113(e).
Government Entity: A government entity is one that is closely affiliated, generally by government ownership or control, with Federal, State and local governments.
2 C.F.R. S 180.995 Principal: Principal means– (a) An officer, director, owner, partner, principal investigator, or other person within a participant with management or supervisory responsibilities related to a covered transaction; or (b) A consultant or other person, whether or not employed by the participant or paid with Federal funds, who– (1) Is in a position to handle Federal funds; (2) Is in a position to influence or control the use of those funds; or, (3) Occupies a technical or professional position capable of substantially influencing the development or outcome of an activity required to perform the covered transaction.
2 C.F.R.S 180.425 – When do I check to see if a person is excluded or disqualified?: As a Federal agency official, you must check to see if a person is excluded or disqualified before you– (a) Enter into a primary tier covered transaction; (b) Approve a principal in a primary tier covered transaction; (c) Approve a lower tier participant if your agency’s approval of the lower tier participant is required; or (d) Approve a principal in connection with a lower tier transaction if your agency’s approval of the principal is required.
11. References NASA Website http://www.nasa.gov
2011 NASA Strategic Plan and February 2012 Addendum http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516579main_NASA2011StrategicPlan.pdf
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/622687main_strategic_plan_addendum_2-13-12%20enclosures%20revA.pdf
NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 1050.1 Authority to Enter into Space Act Agreements http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPD&c=1050&s=1 I.
Space Act Agreements Guide http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/NPD_attachments/NAII_1050_1C.pdf
Point of Contact
Name: Bert Ulrich
Title: Manager, Multi-Media Programs
Phone: 202-358-1713
Fax: 202-358-4210
Email: strategicalliances@nasa.gov
