Office of Legislative Public Affairs

The National Science Foundation Office of Legislative Public Affairs (OLPA) serves as the communication liaison between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Congress, the media, and the public. This civilian federal office is responsible for coordinating NSF's legislative affairs activities, managing external communications, and disseminating information about NSF programs, research initiatives, and scientific discoveries. OLPA plays a critical role in ensuring transparency and promoting awareness of NSF's contributions to scientific advancement and innovation across various stakeholder groups.

The contracting activities of OLPA reflect its commitment to staying informed about legislative developments and enhancing its communication capabilities. OLPA has invested in legislative tracking services through a $228,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order with Fiscalnote, Inc. for CQ licenses, enabling the office to monitor and analyze legislative activities relevant to NSF's mission through platforms like CQ.COM and CQ Roll Call. The office also maintains scientific news dissemination capabilities through a $20,805 purchase order with the American Association for the Advancement of Science for a renewal subscription to the EurekAlert! news service, which helps OLPA broadcast scientific discoveries and NSF initiatives to media outlets and the public.

OLPA's contracting portfolio demonstrates significant investment in information technology infrastructure to support its operations. The office has awarded multiple delivery orders under the NASA SEWP V government-wide acquisition contract for computer equipment, including $44,405 to Countertrade Products, Inc. for Dell laptops and docking stations, $67,315.56 to V3Gate for Apple laptops, $19,256.13 to American Wordata for Dell Precision desktop computers, $15,476.19 to Regan Technologies for MacBook computers, and $10,065.54 to Advanced Computer Concepts for MacBook Pro laptops. Additionally, OLPA has contracted for audio-visual maintenance services through a $15,126.62 purchase order to Conliff Solutions LLC, ensuring its communication technology remains operational.

Beyond information services and IT infrastructure, OLPA has engaged in broader science education and outreach initiatives. The office awarded a significant $1,496,195.49 firm-fixed-price contract to Ensemble Government Services for a "Video Game Challenge" with completion scheduled for June 2027, likely aimed at engaging public audiences with scientific concepts through interactive media. OLPA also issued a $14,000 purchase order to the Aaai Balloon Museum in Albuquerque for a museum project, further demonstrating its commitment to science education and public engagement. These investments highlight OLPA's role in not only communicating about NSF activities but also actively promoting science literacy and engagement among various stakeholder communities.