NASA MSFC Solicitation: Engineering Design Challenges for Technology Demonstration Missions
Synopsis – Aug 06, 2012
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNM12445601R
Posted Date: Aug 06, 2012
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Aug 06, 2012
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Sep 14, 2012
Current Response Date: Sep 14, 2012
Classification Code: U — Education and training services
NAICS Code: 541330
Contracting Office Address
NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Description
NASA/MSFC plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the following: Engineering Design Challenges for Technology Demonstration Missions:
The Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) Program Office at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is seeking to sponsor the development of a curriculum to demonstrate the principles of the technology demonstration mission concepts currently in development within the office. The goal of this curriculum is to provide engineering design challenges on the ground that simulate the application of the technology demonstration missions to provide a hands-on inquiry-based learning experience. This scope outlines the curriculum development, pilot program, and evaluation program for FY13.
Fall semester (ATP – December 2013): Challenge Development and Feasibility Assessment
The first semester of the project task will be devoted to developing the specific engineering design challenges. The following tasks will be accomplished during this period in support of the challenge development.
1. Conduct a feasibility analysis of the proposed engineering design challenges to understand their capabilities to meet the desired program outcomes
2. Identify high schools that would be willing to participate in the pilot program and secure their participation
3. Develop curriculum content
4. Develop project schedule
5. Develop web content for a High School Technology Development Portal for NASA
6. Present concept and plans to the Program Office and NASA HQ management
7. Develop an initial professional development training opportunity for the high school teachers involved in the pilot program. Conduct this training event before the start of the engineering design challenge in the spring semester.
Spring semester (January – April 2013): Pilot Program
The second semester of the project will be devoted to conducting a pilot program of the challenges to determine their effectiveness in the classroom. The following tasks will be accomplished during this period in support of the pilot program
1. Lead competition between high schools in Louisiana and the Washington, DC area to provide solutions to the engineering design challenges. Expectations are that at least two high schools will participate in the program.
2. Work weekly with the high school students to develop their solution to the engineering design challenge. This will be both in-person and via live-remote.
3. Provide an avenue for the students to market their proposed solution to the design challenge in several different forms of media
4. Plan a final review with NASA HQ and Program Office personnel
5. Gather data to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program as well as determine issues that need to be addressed in the curriculum for broader dissemination in the later years.
Summer semester (May – July 2013): Evaluation and Professional Development
During the summer semester, the proposed task will be evaluated to determine its effectiveness as well as provide in-service professional development for interested teachers. The following tasks will be accomplished in support of this phase of the project.
1. Document the project in the form of a Contractor Report for NASA. This Contractor Report shall be delivered Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) Program Office
2. If deemed appropriate, further publications shall be developed for broader dissemination of the data developed during this project 3. Deliver Web portal material for the TDM website
4. Assess the metrics collected during the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the project
5. Modify the curriculum, incorporating the “lessons learned” from the pilot program
6. Conduct an in-service teacher professional development workshop to provide training to interested teachers that wish to participate in the academic year 2013-2014
The anticipated release date of RFP is on or about August 17, 2012 with an anticipated proposal due date of September 14, 2012. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html . The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over the Internet. These documents will reside on a World-Wide Web (WWW) server, which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA Business Opportunities page is http://procurement.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin= .
It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing e-mail to janice.p.stewart@nasa.gov not later than August 15, 2012. Telephone questions will not be accepted.
Point of Contact
Name: Janice M. Stewart
Title: Contract Specialist
Phone: 256-961-7726
Fax: 256-961-7439
Email: Janice.P.Stewart@nasa.gov
