NASA Notice of Intent (NOI) to Release Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) Entitled 2011 Summer of Innovation Project
General Information
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Solicitation Number: NNC11ZCE009C
NAIS Posted Date: January 12, 2011
Response Date: N/A
Classification Code: N/A
Internet Address: nspires.nasaprs.com
Office Address
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NASA Educational Programs Office, NASA Glenn Research Center, MS 7-4, Cleveland, OH 44135
Description
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NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden has identified improvement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning as a national need. To address this need, in 2010 NASA piloted the Summer of Innovation Project.
Summer of Innovation (SoI) is an intensive STEM teaching and learning program that targets middle school students (as defined by NASA for these purposes as students enrolled in grades 4-9 for the pending school year) and middle school teachers. In recruiting students, specific emphasis should be paid to girls, minorities and low income students.
Offerors shall include a summer engagement component and follow-on efforts designed to keep students involved in NASA-themed STEM activities during the academic year. Offerors will be required to partner with schools, school districts or state departments of education. A key aspect of SoI is the participation of certified teachers in the delivery of high quality content to middle school students in summer programming and sustained engagement during the school year. Offerors are encouraged to solicit the involvement, participation, and/or contributions of interested public/private partners including other federal agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, for-profit organizations, universities, museums, planetariums and science centers with relevant experience and ability to accomplish the goals of SoI.
Expected outcomes of this project are increased student interest in STEM concepts and careers, improved student performance in STEM learning for student participants, increased teacher confidence and competency to deliver STEM content to middle school students and increased capacity for awardees to sustain their SoI projects beyond the scope and timeline of NASA funding. On an annual basis each awardee is expected to engage a minimum of 2500 students in summer programming and subsequent student engagement and involve at least 150 certified teachers in the delivery of content to students and sustained professional development activities.
Evaluation Criteria
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Proposal evaluation criteria will be focused on Implementation, Evaluation Plan, Strategic Partnerships, Intrinsic Merit, Sustainability, and Cost.
Anticipated Timeline
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ITEM Proposed Date
Notice of Intent to Proposers Dec. 30, 2010
Release 2011 Summer of Innovation CAN * Jan. 12, 2011
Pre-Proposal Teleconference Jan. 19, 2011
Non-binding NOI to Propose Due Jan. 26, 2011
Proposals Due Feb. 18, 2011
Award Announcement April 18, 2011
*NOTE: The Summer of Innovation CAN will be posted on or about January 12, 2011.
Timeline is subject to change; current information will be posted on NASA NSPIRES and Grants.Gov
Critical Elements for Offerors
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— A detailed plan to grow capacity and expand network over a performance period of 48 months
— Ability to infuse a minimum of 40 hours of NASA content into existing summer programs and to sustain student engagement by providing an additional 40 hours of NASA content either in classroom or other out-of school settings during the school year
— Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain female, minority and/or low income middle school students for purposes of tracking academic performance and changes in attitudes towards STEM over the 48 month period of performance
— Demonstrated ability to recruit certified STEM middle school teachers to support the design and delivery of SoI summer and sustained student engagement activities
— Ability to partner with NASA and its contractors who provide professional development to certified teachers using NASA content and STEM topics
— Capacity to provide unique and innovative experiential STEM learning opportunities to students
— Demonstrated understanding of the development, administration and implementation of high quality STEM programs and projects
— Capacity to sustain STEM education programs on an ongoing basis
— Partnerships with industry, academia, and accredited schools, school districts or state departments of education to support project recruitment, implementation, sustainability and scalability
— Proven ability to work with formal educational structures (schools, school districts,etc.)
— Ability to make timely submittals of all reports and financial data required; and to make timely payments to all sub contractors and/or partners
Anticipated Award
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Contingent upon the availability of funding, NASA intends to select up to ten (10) awards that may be up to $750,000 each with a period of performance of 48 months for awardees. Funds will be awarded through a graduated distribution system. To retain financial strength and support on an ongoing basis, awardees are strongly encouraged to leverage monetary opportunities through collaborations and partnerships with entities that share resolve for a successful, ongoing SoI project.
Point of Contact
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Name: Robert Lasalvia
Title: 2011 Summer of Innovation, Project Manager-Acting, NASA GRC
E-mail: grc-2011summerofinnovation@mail.nasa.gov
