ASEC Opportunity Day_20250130.pdf

Opportunity Day Webinar – 30 JAN 2025

Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC) – W911SR-25-R-ASEC

• The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM ET

• All webcast participants will remain muted.

• Presenters can unmute themselves.

• Please enter all questions into the chat box for the Q&A session.

To learn more visit usaeop.com goAEOP USAEOP

U.S. Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC)

Agenda

1. Introductions & Opening Remarks

2. Grants Specialist Remarks

3. Army STEM & ASEC Overview

4. FOA Technical Briefing & Expectations

5. Q&A Session

Key Points of Contact

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Mr. Brian Leftridge, ASEC Cooperative Agreement

Manager (CAM), brian.m.leftridge2.civ@army.mil Ms. Christina Weber, Co-CAM, christina.l.weber.civ@army.mil

U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground(ACC-APG) Ms. Samantha Degele, Grants/Agreements

Officer, samantha.l.degele.civ@army.mil Mr. Aiden Witt, Grants/Agreements Specialist, aiden.b.witt.civ@army.mil Ms. Sarah Eggerling, Grants/Agreements

Specialist, sarah.e.eggerling.civ@army.mil mailto:brian.m.leftridge2.civ@army.mil mailto:christina.l.weber.civ@army.mil mailto:samantha.l.degele.civ@army.mil mailto:aiden.b.witt.civ@army.mil mailto:sarah.e.eggerling.civ@army.mil

ACC-APG

FOA: W911SR-25-R-ASEC

Posted 15 January 2025

Application Inquiries and Questions (Deadline): 14 February 2025

Applications Due: 14 March 2025 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Tentative date range of award notification: 1 July 2025

Number of Awards: One (1) cooperative agreement award of up to $277,000,000 over a PoP of (up to) ten years. The base period will be two (2) years, with four (4) two-year option periods.

Three (3) month phase-in period with an estimated performance start date of 1 October 2025. Base Period of Performance will be from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027.

ACC-APG

FOA: W911SR-25-R-ASEC

Disclaimers:

Questions not answered today will be answered via written response.

The content of the FOA posted to grants.gov supersedes any information provided during this Opportunity Day, to include any answers provided to questions during today’s session.

Nothing said in today’s presentation changes the requirements set forth in the public announcement. Any changes will be incorporated via amendment of the announcement.

All Q&A’s, resulting from this presentation or otherwise, will be uploaded as an amendment to the FOA by 21 February 2025.

Army STEM Overview

The Why

The Department of Defense requires diverse, high quality, and agile STEM talent.

National security makes it imperative that the United

States have available a substantial, high quality STEM workforce. (National Academies of Sciences, 2012)

The Need for Diversity in DoD STEM Workforce – Diversity Drives Innovation!

Shifting demographics: the U.S. population is projected to be more than 40% minority in upcoming decades. (U.S.

Census, 2020)

Preparation of students for future STEM careers starts at K-12.

Only 20% of college bound seniors are ready for courses typically required for a STEM major. (National Science Foundation, 2018)

Army Implications

The Army:

is critically dependent on a pool of home-grown, STEM literate talent to enter higher education or workforce, which in turn supports the defense industry and Army S&T is not only concerned with S&T occupations, but with workforce as a whole—we’re dependent on STEM competencies that are in demand within and outside traditional STEM occupancies is concerned with unbalanced representation of our Nation’s demographics in

STEM fields offers unique and valuable assets to the Federal “all-hands on deck” approach to

STEM education

• Scientists & Engineers mentors and well-equipped laboratories/research centers

Holistic Approach to Secure Exceptional STEM Capabilities

Broadening the STEM Talent Pool

Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC)

Local Outreach Initiatives

Attract and Recruit Direct Hiring Authorities

Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)

Research Capabilities & Workforce Development External research partnerships (PIRT, MURI, University Research Grants)

External workforce (ORISE, NDSEG/LUCY, CRFP)

The Army has a holistic approach to STEM capabilities AEOP serves to broaden the future talent pool

Program evaluations are all available online at http://www.usaeop.com/about/our-impact/ http://www.usaeop.com/about/our-impact/

Army STEM at a Glance

Who

What Resources & Workshops

Enrichment Programs

Competitions

Internships

Fellowships

Scholarships

Career/Workforce Development

Army STEM Vision & Mission

Vision: A nation of STEM-inspired changemakers, problem solvers, and innovators prepared to solve the country’s biggest challenges

Mission: To provide an accessible pathway of STEM opportunities to attract, develop, and mentor the next generation of our nation’s diverse talent through U.S.

Army STEM programs.

Army STEM Leadership and Technical POCs

Policy, Guidance and Direction for Army STEM

Dr. Travis King, Director for Basic Research, DASA RT

Mr. Mike Putnam, Senior Program Analyst, DASA RT

ASEC Cooperative Agreement Managers (Technical/Fiscal Oversight)

Ms. Christina Weber, Chief of STEM Education Office, DEVCOM HQ, G1 – (Co-CAM)

Mr. Brian Leftridge, Lead STEM Program Manager, DEVCOM HQ, G1 – (CAM)

W911SR-15-2-0001

Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Cooperative Agreement 2015-2025

AEOP Consortium

Consortium model approach to the Army’s K-16+ STEM education and outreach

Leveraging partnerships to amplify awareness of Army/DoD STEM opportunities and broaden impact

Evolving approach based on data & evaluations

National reach with select focus on priority populations

Centrally coordinated functions, planning, and support activity

Coherent and interconnected K-16+ STEM education and outreach portfolio

Engaging Army scientists and engineers with students and educators

Aligned to Federal STEM plan and supports DoD STEM Strategic plan

AEOP Consortium

Current AEOP Consortium is a collaborative partnership between institutions of higher education, for profit and not-for-profit organizations, and government that aims to broaden STEM literacy and develop a diverse and agile future workforce to power the innovative defense infrastructure of the United States.

W911SR-25-R-ASEC

ASEC Cooperative Agreement FOA

Terms and Definitions

The terms COA and Cooperative Agreement are synonymous

The terms ASEC and Consortium are synonymous

The term “Consortium Members” refers to all organizations and entities within the cooperative agreement, to include the Lead Organization as well as any subawardees, including those responsible for providing STEM education and outreach programming.

Guiding Policies and Authorities

10 U.S.C. Sec. 2192: Improvement of education in technical fields:

general authority regarding education in science, mathematics, and engineering Sec 2192b: Program on enhancement of preparation of dependents of members of armed forces for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

10 U.S.C. Sec. 2193a: Improvement of education in technical fields:

general authority for support of elementary and secondary education in science and mathematics.

The Recipient (Lead Organization) must be a “non‐federal entity,” defined in 2 CFR § 200.1 as a State, local government, Indian tribe, Institution of Higher Education (IHE), or nonprofit organization or a for‐profit organization per 32 CFR 34.

The Opportunity: Army STEM Education Consortium

The U.S. Department of the Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Army STEM), under its Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) and 10 U.S. Code 2192, seeks to enter into a cooperative agreement with a Consortium of like-minded organizations (herein “Consortium Members”) to provide a continuum of meaningful STEM learning experiences for students and educators through effective STEM education and outreach programs. The Consortium will be named the Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC).

Envisioned as up to a 10-year, $277M Cooperative Agreement

The Army intends to award one (1) ASEC cooperative agreement award

Fundamental Elements

1. Consortium/COA Management

2. Data Management, Analysis and Reporting

3. Strategic Communications and Marketing

4. Ambassador Management

5. Strategic Outreach Initiatives

6. Gains in the Education of Math and Science (GEMS) Program

7. eCYBERMISSION Program

8. Internship/Fellowship Program

9. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Program

Fundamental Element 1: Consortium/COA Management

The Recipient will lead the Consortium to ensure the Fundamental Elements are focused on planning and executing programs in alignment with Army STEM Strategic Goals and Objectives.

The Recipient will be responsible for:

Planning Consortium Management Committee (CMC) Meetings

Submitting consolidated Consortium‐wide deliverables

Overseeing holistic evaluation and assessment of the Consortium

Facilitating cross‐Consortium outreach and communications efforts

Distribution of funding to all members of the Consortium

The following requirements are to be addressed in an application for the technical management and oversight of the Consortium:

Cooperative Agreement Manager{s} (CAMs): Overall technical management and fiscal responsibility for the ASEC COA. The CAM is the government lead for this effort and therefore, all executables must be approved by the CAM, to include programmatic and budgetary changes. The CAMs will consult regularly the grants officers on what can be reviewed/approved at the CAM level and what will require an award modification.

Consortium Chair (CC): The CC of ASEC is the technical representative charged with the responsibility to manage and provide guidance to ASEC. The CC will be designated by, and must be a part of, the Lead Organization (LO).

Individual Program Administrator (IPA): The IPA is the primary point of contact designated by the Consortium for each Fundamental Element and should regularly communicate with the CC and CAM.

Cooperative Management Committee (CMC): The CMC will be responsible for the management and integration of the Consortium’s efforts under the ASEC COA, to include programmatic, technical, reporting, financial, and administrative matters.

Articles of Collaboration (AOC): AOC defines the operational structure within the Consortium. Applications must include a copy of the proposed AOC, signed by a duly authorized representative for each CMC.

and oversight of the Consortium:

Initial Program Plan (IPP): The IPP for the base period of the ASEC COA should provide a detailed description of how the recipient and its Consortium members plan to execute the first two years of the ASEC COA. The IPP will also include a 10‐year roadmap which describes the 10-year plan to be accomplished by the Consortium.

Biennial Program Plan (BPP): Towards the end of the base period and every option period exercised thereafter, the Consortium will develop a BPP prior to the start of the next option period.

Biennial Program Review (BPR): The Consortium will be responsible for coordinating and participating in an end of base/option period BPR to the Army to present the results and achievements of the previous program cycle and to propose plans for the following option period. The program review will foster interactions and collaborations among all consortium members and the Government.

Biannual Reviews: The Consortium will establish, at minimum, biannual consortium meetings with a minimum of one in‐person meeting (preferably year‐end program reviews). The biannual meetings will provide the Consortium and the CAM the opportunity to share best practices, address programmatic issues/updates, and synchronize Army STEM outreach and communications efforts.

and oversight of the Consortium:

• Insurance: The Recipient will carry an insurance policy to cover all student participants participating in COA efforts for each year of performance.

• Compliance: The Recipient will ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, policies, and guidance outlined within the FOA.

• Program Promotion: The Recipient will develop a plan for cross program promotion to strategically reach audiences to increase students’ and educators’ participation through Army STEM’s continuum of opportunities.

• Metrics: Performance metrics are to be provided to measure the COA’s accomplishments against its overall priorities and objectives, such as successful integration of goals into all programs, partnerships, and processes; effective integration and use of website and branding; collaboration of all organizations; effectiveness of evaluations, common metrics, and data collection; and management of the COA.

• Financial Tracking: The Recipient is responsible for Consortium financial tracking and ensuring compliance with funding allocation requirements and reporting.

Fundamental Element 2: Data Management, Analysis & Reporting

The following requirements are to be addressed in an application for this Fundamental Element:

Program Evaluations: The Recipient is responsible for executing and enhancing current data management and evaluation efforts through documenting activities and outputs, as well as near‐, mid‐, and long-term outcomes through annual evaluations of STEM programs.

In collaboration with the Government, the Recipient will develop and publish a Biennial evaluation report which captures evaluation outcomes for the current period of performance to include instruments used in the evaluations.

STEM Alumni Study: A proposed longitudinal alumni study to ascertain the status, achievement, attitudes, and future aspirations of STEM program alumni, and assess the extent to which alumni perceive their participation in a STEM program as contributing to these factors.

The alumni study would evaluate the extent to which STEM is successful in achieving its longer‐term objectives through assessing mid‐ and long‐term outcomes.

Fundamental Element 3: Strategic Communications & Marketing

Army STEM Rebrand: The recipient will develop a plan for the rebranding of AEOP consortium efforts under “Army STEM”.

The branding should reflect the successes of AEOP while strengthening its connection to Army S&T and including traditional educational and career paths in STEM, and those STEM-adjacent opportunities and careers that are as important in building the next generation of problem solvers.

Outreach and Communications Strategy: The Recipient will develop a plan for the overall strategic outreach and communications campaign in support of Army STEM priorities and goals.

Army STEM Learning Hub: An online Learning Management System (LMS) utilized to engage Army STEM participants in unique virtual experiences such as workforce development, educational opportunities, webinars and more.

The applicant should describe how it envisions leveraging input from consortium partners and utilizing the Learning Hub across consortium efforts aligned to the Army’s priorities and goals.

Purchases and contracting: The Applicant should detail the process in which the purchase and contracting of services, items, and collateral required to support the outreach and communications plan.

Army STEM Website: The Recipient will work with the Government to ensure that all of the STEM’s strategic initiatives are advertised through the centralized Army STEM website.

Fundamental Element 4: Ambassador Management

Develop and implement an innovative strategic plan that will establish, grow, and award/recognize Ambassador engagement to allow mutually beneficial connections, support and advance Army STEM efforts, and inspire increased interest in Army/DoD STEM opportunities.

Recruit and manage database of Ambassadors from current and previous Army STEM programs, participant/alumni parents, STEM professionals, STEM enthusiasts, community partners, educators, etc.

Design and implement resources, such as trainings, webinars, digital/physical marketing materials, and educational opportunities to support Ambassador efforts at varies levels.

Develop an Army STEM Ambassadors Council, made up of Ambassadors and alumni from across Army STEM programming, that engages, informs and inspires future generations to engage in Army/DoD STEM opportunities.

Manage the Army STEM Travel Award which encourages Army STEM program participants to engage in scientific meetings/technical symposia to showcase their STEM achievements and receive recognition. Participation in scientific meetings/technical symposia will expand and enrich educational experiences of Army STEM students by interacting and networking with STEM professionals in the field, exploring a variety of STEM disciplines and careers, gaining experience in communicating their research accomplishments, and serving as Army STEM Ambassadors.

Fundamental Element 5: Strategic Outreach Initiatives

Collaborate with STEM partners and leverage strong STEM networks that exist outside the Army STEM COA. This could include, but is not limited to, internships/hands on research experiences at colleges or universities, partnerships with local/regional/national science and engineering expositions or festivals, etc.

Promote and integrate a portfolio of STEM opportunities within the framework of Consortium Members’ existing STEM programming.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2192b and in alignment with Army STEM Goals, enhance the educational experiences of students from priority populations, their parents, and teachers. These programs may include teacher professional development and student-focused programs in the formal and informal learning environments.

Coordinate with the Government to leverage existing and new (internal and external to the Government) partnerships to execute STEM activities such as virtual competitions and challenges across the PreK-12 levels. These competitions and challenges should include areas of, but are not limited to, robotics, mathematics, artificial intelligence, etc.

STEM Education and Outreach Activities: Applicants are encouraged to assemble Consortium Members that provide proven and meaningful STEM learning experiences.

Priority Populations: The Applicant should develop a plan with established objectives and recommend measurable impacts in support of engaging and retaining interest of students from underserved and underrepresented populations, to include military connected students.

Fundamental Element 5: Strategic Outreach Initiatives

Addressing a plan to execute these grant-based initiatives:

Impact Grant (formerly known as “Unite”) provides supplemental funding to higher education institutions hosting a four-to six-week pre-collegiate summer program for talented high school students from priority populations. This grant is designed to give students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the real-world applications of STEM, overcome negative attitudes and perceptions they may have about cultural, social, and other barriers to STEM studies and careers, gain confidence in their abilities, engage in activities that promote collaboration and problem solving, and be better prepared to further pursue STEM in their education and future careers.

Impact Research Grant (formerly known as “Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP)”) provides a hands-on summer STEM research experience for a cohort of high school students, from priority populations, under the mentorship of professional scientists or engineers at an eligible postsecondary educational institution. Eligible postsecondary educational institutions (Host Site) include universities and colleges, community or junior colleges, as well as trade schools, vocational schools, and certificate programs. Interns participate in hands-on research projects under the direct supervision of a university researcher.

Fundamental Element 6: GEMS Program

The Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS) program provides students and teachers a unique learning experience at Army research centers and laboratories or affiliated sites.

The GEMS program is a one-week, summer STEM enrichment program that is designed to nurture interest and excitement in STEM for elementary, middle and high school students, while providing an entry point into the pipeline of Army STEM opportunities.

The GEMS program enables participants to experience the real-world application of STEM concepts and to increase their knowledge and skills in targeted STEM areas. .

The program allows students to interact with Army scientists and engineers (S&Es), high school and college-aged Near-Peer Mentors (NPMs), and Teachers.

Army S&Es, NPMs and Teachers facilitate educational hands-on STEM activities, expose students to Army research and STEM careers, and provide adaptive mentorship to students.

Fundamental Element 6: GEMS Program

Develop and implement a strategic plan based on program budget, BPP and BPR. This should include a timeline of critical program elements and processes to ensure the successful, timely and seamless execution of GEMS programs across the Army S&T community.

The applicant should describe how it plans to manage essential program elements such as outreach and recruitment;

marketing & communications; management of centralized applications; website updates; selection, in-processing and payment of program participants; safety and security; and fiscal and data management.

Conduct periodic updates to website and centralized application for GEMS programs ICW CAM office, Element 2 lead (Data Management, Analysis and Reporting), and Local Program Coordinators (LPCs). Ensure all program participants register/apply through the centralized website/application.

Support Local Program Coordinators (LPCs) throughout the program timeline, especially throughout the selection, in-processing, and payment of program participants. Coordinate with LPCs to ensure local program execution is aligned with Army STEM priorities and objectives. Collaborate with LPCs to develop and implement outreach campaigns that target a diverse pool of potential program participants, to include priority populations as well as groups with limited opportunities in STEM education, near GEMS sites.

Fundamental Element 7: eCYBERMISSION Program eCYBERMISSION provides virtual learning experiences to students in grades six through nine across the United States, its Territories, and Department of Defense Educational Activity (DODEA) school sites.

The goal of eCYBERMISSION is to engage students early in STEM and encourage them to take on a more rigorous STEM coursework in their secondary years as well as consider STEM as the focus of their post-secondary education/career.

eCYBERMISSION students and teachers are provided an opportunity to engage with the Army’s scientists and engineers as they work through their project.

eCYBERMISSION was built upon the framework of collaborative online learning of real-life applications of

STEM.

Participants identify a problem in their local community to explore with science or solve with engineering and submit their projects online competing virtually at the state and regional level for awards.

Fundamental Element 7: eCYBERMISSION Program

Develop annual marketing, promotion, communications and outreach plan to be executed throughout all phases of the program, in support of current year and long-term program goals to include promotion of Army STEM opportunities. The goal of this task to increase program awareness and participation from students (especially those from priority populations), teachers, and Army/DoD scientists and engineers.

Develop and execute all phases of the state, regional and national competition, including awards, ‘STEM in Action’ grants, and mini-grants.

Develop a plan and administer the execution of the annual eCYBERMISSION competition, inclusive of participant and volunteer registration, submission and judging at all phases of the competition, including the eCYBERMISSION National Event.

Develop and implement a plan to increase recruitment, retention, and engagement of eCYBERMISSION volunteers to include, but not limited to, Ambassadors, Mission Mentors and, Virtual, Regional, and National Judges.

Manage all aspects of eCYBERMISSION website, database content and application tool. Perform web development and maintenance, content management and content update of eCYBERMISSION program website and database/application tool throughout all phases of the competition and the period of performance.

Develop and implement a strategic plan for eCYBERMISSION initiatives to allow for program expansion, maximizes impact and leverages partnerships.

Fundamental Element 8: Internship/Fellowship Program

The Army provides high school through post-doctoral students and Teachers with hands-on STEM research opportunities in professional STEM laboratories across the United States and its Territories.

Participating in Army STEM Internships and Fellowships offers students and Teachers the unique opportunity to be mentored and trained by senior Army and Army-sponsored university faculty researchers while conducting real-world research.

Through Army STEM Internships and Fellowships, students gain access to high quality mentors while working on real world research challenges.

Furthermore, they learn about education and career opportunities in a variety of different STEM fields to help make informed career decisions and support their retained interest in STEM.

Develop and implement an annual strategic implementation plan with a timeline of critical program elements to ensure alignment with Army STEM objectives, local program needs, and provide quarterly updates on the implementation timeline.

Oversee essential program elements such as outreach, recruitment, marketing, application administration, participant selection, payment, insurance, safety, fiscal management, and program evaluation. Maintain and update the centralized application system for all internship/fellowship opportunities.

Support Local Program Coordinators (LPCs) throughout the program timeline, especially throughout the recruitment, selection, in-processing and payment of program participants. Collaborate with LPCs to develop and implement outreach campaigns that target a highly qualified and diverse pool of potential program participants

Work closely with the Army Research Office (ARO) Program Manager to support high school and undergraduate internship opportunities at partnering colleges and universities conducting Army-funded research, and coordinate the administration of program evaluations, coordination of participant selection, and marketing of internship opportunities, and communications.

Participate in program evaluation planning and execution, facilitating data collection and encouraging participation in surveys and focus groups. Coordinate evaluation efforts with LPCs, mentors, and principal investigators (PIs), providing training and strategies to ensure high participation rates. Develop continuing education opportunities for students interested in expanding their knowledge about STEM and STEM careers.

In partnership with the Element 3 (Strategic Communications and Marketing) Lead, develop and implement marketing campaigns aligned with overall Army STEM strategy. Ensure website is up to date with accurate program information, and solicit new content, materials, photos, and success stories from LPCs, mentors, and PIs.

Implement the Army’s Teacher Fellowship (Formerly “RESET”) program that includes inquiry-based, hands-/minds-on experiences that teachers can incorporate into their lessons to align with Army STEM priorities and core objectives, incorporate STEM state standards into programming, demonstrate the connection between STEM curricula and their real-world application for available STEM careers across the Defense Industrial Base.

Fundamental Element 9: JSHS Program

JSHS is a Department of Defense sponsored STEM program (Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) and the research and development arms of the U.S.

Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force).

JSHS promotes original research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level and publicly recognizes students for outstanding research achievements through regional and national symposia.

Aims to encourage continued interest in STEM disciplines and the pursuit of a STEM career field by connecting talented students, their teachers, and research professionals; by exposing program participants to STEM careers in DoD laboratories and engineering centers and by rewarding research excellence.

Coordinate with CAM Office, Service Representatives, and LO to define program scope, roles and responsibilities, and overall program direction.

Develop and execute annual marketing, promotion, communications and outreach plan, to be executed throughout all phases of the program, in support of current year and long-term program goals to include promotion of DoD STEM pipeline of opportunities such as SMART, NDSEG, internship opportunities across the Services, and career highlights from STEM professionals across the DoD. The goal of this task to increase program awareness and participation from students (especially those from priority populations), teachers, and DoD scientists and engineers.

Develop and execute all phases of the regional JSHS and national JSHS competition(s), including identifying regional hosts, managing sub-contracts with regional hosts, coordinating with Regional Director to ensure all program requirements are being met. Facilitating student awards and scholarships, develop a plan and administer the execution of the annual National JSHS competition, inclusive of participant and volunteer registration, submission and judging at all phases of the competition

Establish a Regional Director’s Executive Advisory Council (RDAC), consisting of nominated and elected Regional Directors who have experience with JSHS at the regional and national level, as well as representation from high school teacher. The council meets at minimum on a quarterly basis to discuss areas specific to rules and regulations of running JSHS, for example rules of competition and judging rubrics. This council provides expert advice to JSHS as to interpretation of the rules, as well as provides academic expertise with National JSHS event.

Participate in the planning and execution of JSHS program evaluation ICW the evaluation team by facilitating data collection at both the regional and National events; encourage program participants to complete pre-and post-surveys and to participate in focus groups. Work with evaluation partners to design data collection tools that collect materials relevant for the JSHS program and all its tri-service members. Work in conjunction with evaluation partner to identify best audiences for collecting data from, for example developing and collecting surveys from Regional Directors.

Develop and implement a strategic plan for JSHS initiatives to allow for program expansion, maximizes impact and leverages partnerships to potentially include DoD internship opportunities for JSHS scholars.

ASEC Structure

Estimated Funding Over the Period of Performance

Period (Two years) Amount

Base Period Up to $52,000,000

Option Period 1 Up to $53,000,000

Option Period 2 Up to $55,000,000

Option Period 3 Up to $57,000,000

Option Period 4 Up to $60,000,000

TOTAL AWARD Up to $277,000,000

Important Budget Notes

• The Recipient will invoice the Army for approved program funds of each of the Fundamental Elements and then distribute funds to all Consortium members accordingly.

• Prior to award, the Recipient and all consortium members will establish and maintain an approved accounting system in accordance with 2 CFR 200.302

• The Recipient will provide a Federal Financial Report (SF 425) every year.

• The Recipient will provide a compiled annual financial report to the CAM electronically.

Optional renewal periods are subject to availability of funds based on annual budget appropriations

Applicant Evaluation Process

Criteria: It is the intent of the FOA to solicit the most creative, innovative, and effective approach to the administration of the ASEC. The award decision will be based on an overall evaluation of each application in accordance with the factors set forth below. These factors in order of relative importance are:

(1) Technical Plan to meet requirements of each Fundamental Element;

(2) Management;

(3) Past Performance; (4) Credentials; and

(5) Cost.

Review & Selection Process All information necessary for the review and evaluation of an application must be contained within the application. No other material will be provided to those evaluating applications. An initial review of the applications will be conducted to ensure compliance with the requirements of this FOA.

Applications that are in compliance with the requirements of the FOA will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation factors and priorities described above. Award will be based on an integrated assessment of each Applicant’s ability to satisfy the FOA requirements.

The Government may elect to establish a range of applicants that have been evaluated to be among the most qualified with respect to their proposed Technical Plan. “Most qualified” is defined as being evaluated to have relatively few or no weaknesses, and/or a relatively high number of strengths that contribute to a Good or Outstanding rating. The applicants not among the most qualified may result in the application receiving no further consideration for award.

The review panel will not compare one application against another, but rather assess each application individually in regards to how it addresses the requirements defined in the Fundamental Elements as well as how well it addresses the evaluation criteria and factors published within the FOA.

Q&A Panel

Mr. Brian Leftridge, Army STEM, ASEC Cooperative Agreement Manager (CAM)

Ms. Christina Weber, Army STEM, ASEC Co-CAM

Mr. Aiden Witt, ACC-APG, Grants/Agreements Specialist

Ms. Sarah Eggerling, ACC-APG, Grants/Agreements Specialist

Note:

The content of the Funding Opportunity

Announcement posted to grants.gov supersedes any information provided during this Opportunity Day, to include any answers provided to questions during today’s session.

The Government will post a Question-and-Answer document to the grants.gov FOA Announcement following the deadline for question submissions. The Question-and-Answer document posted to grants.gov WILL constitute an Amendment to the FOA.