The national aeronautics and space association (NASA) supports the president and the national science and technology council committee on stem education (CO-stem) to increase the nation's qualified…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $25,302,459.76 cooperative agreement to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to implement and support the NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships (NIFS) program. Through this program, USRA will provide experiential mentor-guided internships and educational opportunities for students and teachers at all levels to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and business activities that support NASA's mission. As a nonprofit organization with over four decades of experience managing NASA educational programs, USRA will leverage its extensive STEM education network to increase student diversity, enhance the student experience, encourage continuity across STEM programs, and prepare the next generation for NASA and the nation's STEM workforce needs. This contract does not have a set-aside designation.

The national aeronautics and space association (NASA) supports the president and the national science and technology council committee on stem education (CO-stem) to increase the nation's qualified and diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) workforce by providing experiential mentor-guided internships and educational opportunities for students and teachers at all educational levels. NASA internships, as part of the NASA internships, fellowships, and scholarships (nifs) program, will provide a single pathway for students and teachers to engage in stem and business internships at NASA centers and locations nationwide. Universities space research association (usra) joins NASA and the nation to increase the country's diverse stem workforce through a shared vision for hands-on immersive educational experiences, through collaboration and partnerships with academic and professional research organizations that prepare the next generation for NASA and the nation's stem workforce needs. With over four decades experience managing and implementing NASA educational programs, usra is a leader in administering educational opportunities for students and teachers that lead to employment with NASA and industry in stem and business fields. Usra's experience and best practices will result in the efficiencies, flexibility and scalability needed to successfully manage the NASA internships program. Usra, in partnership with NASA, will implement and support NASA internships through innovative and proven program management methods and strategic business practices that will 1) increase retention rates among students entering stem disciplines; 2) reach a diverse population of students; 3) develop a highly skilled workforce that possesses the technical capabilities needed to make future discoveries and advancements in stem related fields. Through a stem education network comprised of over 400 research universities, including four historically black colleges and universities (hbcus) and two hispanic serving institutions (hiss), usra connects the top experts, researchers, and faculty members in stem disciplines with opportunities for stem interns. Usra's broad reach into the stem education community will support NASA internships to increase student diversity, enhance the student experience, encourage continuity across programs and agencies, and maximize opportunities for students. NASA internships will engage high school, undergraduate, graduate students, and teachers who represent the diverse population of the nation through NASA mentor-guided stem and business activities that foster their education goals and engage them in NASA's mission.