2017 Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitors Centers (CP4SMPVC)

NASA’s Office of Education, in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Offices of Communications, Chief Scientist, and Chief Technologist, the Mission Directorates, and Mission Support Directorate, solicits proposals led by Informal Education Institutions (IEIs) to uniquely perform NASA education or research engagement and/or exhibits through partnerships with K-12 schools, youth-serving organizations, libraries, higher education institutions, and/or other agencies that support Federal STEM education goals through inquiry- or experiential-based activities that feature NASA’s missions, science, engineering, exploration, or technologies. This solicitation further seeks projects that feature NASA-themed content in space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science, or microgravity, or a combination of these topics (consult Appendix A) to support federal and NASA education outcomes.

CP4SMPVC seeks to provide authentic STEM engagement and/or professional development opportunities for informal and formal educators that:

• Leverage NASA assets and NASA-related content to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem solving skills;

• Utilize partnerships to improve reach and better serve groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields;

• Support the learner experience through appropriate connections to state and local needs, STEM learning systems and coordinated interconnected experiences, and effective engagement across classrooms and out-of-school settings;

• Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project; and

• Provide a measureable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM.

For this solicitation, informal education projects shall focus on STEM engagement and advancement of STEM literacy for youth (particularly those in grades 4-12), families, and informal and formal educators serving those audiences.

Proposed projects shall be one of the following types:

(1) Project Development and Implementation, utilizing evidence-based approaches (i.e. backed by research evidence that proves its effectiveness);

(2) Pilot Project, that also budgets for a needs assessment, conference gathering or symposia, or other type of study to understand the effectiveness of an approach; or

(3) Combination of types (1) and (2).

Organizations submitting a proposal under this NRA are certifying that they meet the following criteria to propose as the lead or managing organization:

• legally recognized by a federal, state or local authority as a non-profit;
• located in the United States or its Territories; and
• provide STEM education programming, (such as but not limited to exhibits) through partnerships with K-12 schools or districts, youth-serving organizations, higher education, and/or other federal, state, or local agencies.

An eligible institution is not required to have the words museum, visitor center, science, planetarium, youth, or library in its legal name. All types of NASA Visitor Centers (e.g., private, state or federal entities) are eligible to propose (consult Appendix D, Identification of Entities as NASA Visitor Centers Special Guidance: STEM Education Activities and NASA Visitor Centers).

A Principal Investigator (PI) shall be the President, Vice President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chairman of the Board, Superintendent of Schools, Planetarium Director, Director of Sponsored Research, or similarly ranked executive from an eligible institution. PI status is a key indicator that the proposal has sufficient institutional engagement to be successfully implemented. For additional information for the detailed rationale and criteria for Principal Investigators, consult Appendix E, Principal Investigator Criteria Details.

Not later than the due date for proposals, proposers to this NRA shall have:

1) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number,
2) a valid registration with the System for Award Management (SAM),
3) a valid Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code,
4) a valid registration with NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) (this also applies to all entities that are proposed for subawards or subcontracts.)

Every institution that intends to submit a proposal to this NRA, including the proposed lead institution or any partner whether an IEI, other non-profit institution, state and local Government agency, and any other organization that will serve as a subawardee or contractor, shall be registered in NSPIRES. Electronic submission of proposals is required by the due date and must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization. Such registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal. All principal investigators and other participants (e.g. co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of submission system. Potential proposers and proposing organizations are urged to access the system(s) well in advance of the proposal due date(s) of interest to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information.

Electronic proposals must be submitted via the NASA proposal data system NSPIRES or via Grants.gov. Organizations that intend to submit proposals via Grants.gov must be registered with Grants.gov and with NSPIRES.

Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date. If so, such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted on http://nspires.nasaprs.com. It is the proposer’s responsibility to regularly check NSPIRES for updates to this NRA.

Awards to eligible applicants who are selected will be made as grants or cooperative agreements.