NASA Graduate Certificate in Program Management
Synopsis/Solicitation Combo – Jan 20, 2012
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNX12TA66P
Posted Date: Jan 20, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jan 20, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Feb 10, 2012
Current Response Date: Feb 10, 2012
Classification Code: U — Education and training services
NAICS Code: 541611
Contracting Office Address
NASA Shared Services Center Procurement Division Building 1111 Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
Description
NASA/NSSC intends to issue a sole source contract to Stevens Institute of Technology School of Systems & Enterprises/Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030 for a training program entitled “Graduate Certificate in Program Management.” The objective of the program is to provide a project management leadership curriculum for JSC employees selected for the Project Leadership Program. The contractor shall provide a Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Project Management for Space Systems for 29 participants in PLP.
The curriculum in this program must satisfy the following requirements:
* The curriculum shall consist of two (2) modules earning each participant 3 semester hours of graduate credit per module. The modules shall be delivered in the following format:
– Each technical module shall consist of 40 hours (5 days) of in-class instruction, divided into segments designated as Part A & Part B. Each technical module shall include an additional day (8 hours) of JSC, NASA and external speakers to supplement the technical curriculum provided by the contractor.
– Participants shall have 6 weeks between Part A & Part B to accomplish class assignments, papers, and individual and group projects.
– Participants shall have 6 weeks between the end of a module and the beginning of the next module. – The Tactical Issues module will consist of a 2-day course at the beginning of each of the three technical modules for 24 hours (3 days) of instruction.
* The curriculum shall emphasize core project management and systems engineering competencies and principles including project planning, organizing for project management, stakeholder management, requirements development and management, scheduling, cost estimating and budgeting, acquisition and contract management, mission assurance, risk management, leadership, teamwork, strategic communications, decision-making, project manager maturity and strategic issues. The curriculum will be customized to address these key areas.
* The curriculum shall emphasize crucial activities spanning the entire project lifecycle.
* The curriculum shall combine lectures, classroom activities, case studies, readings, individual and group projects, papers, and development assignments that can be applied to the participants’ on-the-job project work.
* The curriculum shall be provided onsite at NASA JSC or offsite within a 5 mile radius of NASA JSC.
* The curriculum shall be provided according to a flexible delivery schedule that is suited to the needs and constraints of the participants in the PEP. This may include rescheduling modules to avoid interference with mission schedule mid goals or redesigning the delivery format.
* The two modules included in this SOW shall emphasize the following project management and systems engineering capabilities mid topics:
– Project Management Learning Laboratory This module combines hands-on, real-life problems with a simulation that helps participants apply approaches, tools and techniques in project planning, monitoring and control. Participants, working in small teams, organize and plan a project. Participants will establish roles and responsibilities, define scope, generate activities, define critical dependencies, develop schedules, estimate lifecycle cost, create/update budgets, develop a risk management plan and continuously reassess risk, track and manage performance. As the simulation progresses, teams are challenged with typical problems and are required to re-plan and re-program to accommodate changes. Participants gain experience and invaluable perspectives on “how-to” do project management.
– Tactical Issues for Project Managers This module provides participants with invaluable tools and approaches to implementing a project. Topics and exercises include: team development and dynamics, team challenges, leading and integrating multiple teams, conflict management, negotiation, strategic and intentional communications, creating and maintaining intensity and commitment, as well as power, authority and influence. Learning is enhanced by focused role assignments coupled with professional feedback on performance from coaches throughout the technical curriculum. Group feedback is provided by coaches and learning laboratory instructors. Individual feedback is provided via peer review tempered by coaches’ review. This module is conducted in parallel with the other three technical modules to introduce an element of realism and allow coaches to observe participants while working on group projects and provide feedback.
* The curriculum shall provide instruction in accordance with NASA Project Management Requirements NM 7120.81 (NASA Interim Directive (NID) for NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 7120.5D), and NASA Procedural Requirements 7123. IA.
Provider Requirements The contractor shall meet the following requirements:
* The contractor shall have demonstrated previous positive performance in providing a graduate certificate program in Applied Project Management for Space Systems at least one NASA field center.
* The contractor shall be accredited in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education guidelines.
* The contractor shall have previously demonstrated a substantial knowledge of NASA space system engineering practices, procedures, priorities and development requirements.
* The contractor shall have previously demonstrated a substantial knowledge of NASA project management practices, procedures, priorities and development requirements.
* The provider must be flexible to allow tailoring of the assigned individual and group projects to make them more relevant to the participant.
This offering shall be held at the Holiday Inn near NASA’s Johnson Space Center beginning February 27, 2012.
Pursuant to FAR 13.106(b), the acquisition of these services has been determined to be reasonably available from only one source. Competition is impractical for the following reasons:
This unique curriculum in Project Management is provided by the Stevens Institute of Technology School of Systems and Enterprises and Howe School of Technology Management, which currently provides the largest graduate program in system engineering in the U.S. and is the largest provider of system engineering education worldwide. Stevens Institute is an internationally-recognized university with specialization in system engineering and project management for space applications. Stevens Institute provides the only graduate certificate program in the country in project management with a focus on space systems. The Stevens Institute instructors have written and/or edited the only integrated collection of 14 published textbooks and references that capture the full spectrum of system engineering and project management and their application to NASA design experience and lessons learned. Further, Stevens Institute is the provider of choice for project management training for the National Security Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Energy and key industry organizations.
These certificate programs are one-of-a-kind and provide NASA’s aspiring and practicing system engineers with design experience and lessons learned from over 35 years of NASA, Department of Defense and industry experience designing and operating space missions and systems.
The project management curriculum is comprised of two, 3-semester hour modules which constitute are a unique combination of hands-on project management development:
* Space domain focus on project management–balanced and integrated technical domain and system management tied to NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements NM 7120.81 (NASA Interim Directive (NID) for NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 7120.5D), and NASA Procedural Requirements 7123.1A.
* Hands-on courses and laboratories are delivered onsite which saves travel dollars for JSC and time for employees.
* The courses have a flexible delivery, scheduled to suit employee constraints and work schedules (for example employees attend 3 days in one week, have a break of 6 weeks, and then complete the remaining 2 days in another week).
* Professors actually wrote the book. Project Management for Space Systems, along with a host of NASA employees, industry and other government experts in project management for space systems. This book forms the foundation of the curriculum.
* Each of the two courses earns participants 3-semester hours of graduate credit leading to a Graduate Certificate in Project Management.
Stevens faculty provided tailored courses that participants found directly applicable to their project management roles and gave each of the modules high marks. In addition, Stevens project management courses are accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC). Stevens was only the third university worldwide to receive this distinction when it was accredited in 2004. Stevens has a significant leadership role in project management education and research; faculty currently have three PMI research grants in program and project management. The faculty provides the ability to tailor curriculum to meet the needs of NASA and JSC, utilize NASA terminology, examples, and homework, and demonstrate knowledge of project management as applied to space systems.
Stevens Institute of Technology professors, Dr. Wiley Larson, Dr. Robert Seymour, Dr. Jeff Austin and their team, are the only known source that can provide the necessary breadth and depth of this integrated curriculum across the spectrum of robotic space systems and crewed space systems. Research using the internet web determined that no other firms or universities were able to perform this requirement. Due to Steven’s Institute’s 55 years of unique experience in system engineering and project management training and education with other governmental agencies and leading companies, and the fact that the workshops are derived from NASA experience, Stevens is the only reasonable choice to meet NASA’s requirements. The Steven’s Institute is one of the oldest universities in the country, specializing in system engineering and project management education and training. Their knowledge of NASA programs, culture, and interaction with personnel has proven their capability. Due to the legacy of success that this space system engineering and project management development concept has demonstrated, there is no other source that can replicate the comprehensiveness and quality of this supplier’s training.
The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using the procedures in FAR Part 13.106.
Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 3:00 p.m. central standard time on February 10, 2012. 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.
Capabilities and qualifications should be submitted to Amanda McInnis at Amanda.T.McInnis@nasa.gov.
An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note “B”.
Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
Point of Contact
Name: William Richard Horton
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 228-813-6120
Fax: 228-813-6493
Email: william.r.horton@nasa.gov
Name: Eli Ouder
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 228-813-6168
Fax: 228-813-6315
Email: eli.c.ouder@nasa.gov
