Hanscom STARBASE RFI_16 Mar 22 (003).pdf

Classification

Original Set Aside:

Product Service Code: U - EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NAICS Code:

611310 - Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

611710 – Educational Support Services

Place of Performance: Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 USA

Synopsis:

Through this RFI, 66 Force Support Squadron is seeking information on how an interested contractor could execute their Department of Defense (DOD) funded Enhanced STARBASE program. The purpose of this contract is to obtain the services and expertise necessary for the operation and management of an Advanced Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology Academies

Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration (STARBASE) program with STARBASE 2.0 at

Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB), MA in accordance DoD instruction (DoDI) 1025.07, DOD

STARBASE Program. The non-profit service provider shall provide all necessary labor, materials, services, administration and supervision necessary to complete the minimum instruction time, classroom hours, vacation breaks camp hours, community outreach and STARBASE 2.0 requirements as outlined in section 3.4. of DODI 1025.7.

Brief Description of the STARBASE Program:

STARBASE is designed to raise the interest and improve knowledge and skills of elementary and secondary students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The program targets

“at risk” students from low socio-economic backgrounds and from groups historically under-represented in STEM industry and research. STARBASE is currently designed to reach students at the fifth grade level and utilizes a curriculum designed to meet specific STEM objectives. Students attend for 5 days and are engaged through an inquiry-based approach and experiential activities. Students apply Newton’s laws and Bernoulli’s principles as they study the physics of motion and properties of matter. Math is embedded throughout the curriculum and teamwork and goal setting are a constant theme as students work together to explore, explain, and evaluate concepts. To extend the positive impact of the

STARBASE program, STARBASE 2.0 has been designed as an after school STEM program combining

STEM activities with mentoring and peer to peer relationships. Mentoring clubs meet no less than four hours per month at school sites within the school districts. STARBASE 2.0 provides a platform for at-risk youth transitioning from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school. The

DoD STARBASE Program is a productive investment in the future of our youth and will help build and enlarge the talent pool of potential workers needed to support the DoD workforce consisting of civilian and military personnel.

The DoD STARBASE Program is funded by the Department of Defense and managed by the Assistant

Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The STARBASE Program at Hanscom AFB is part of the national DoD STARBASE Program and is overseen locally by the 66th Force Support Squadron of

Hanscom AFB.

Technical Description:

The objective of this RFI is to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) from non-profit educational entities that can execute the Hanscom AFB STARBASE Program. Specifically, Hanscom AFB seeks organizations that can extend some of their business, technical, educational, and human resources capacities as an umbrella in the direction of STARBASE to insure that DoD funding is used efficiently and leveraged effectively to achieve STARBASE goals. The following organizational capabilities are of interest to the base and are provided as a guide. Responding organizations’ are not obligated to address all of the bulleted items, nor are they constrained by the list in formulating their response:

Capabilities to act as a fiscal agent for the program by providing a mechanism for administering payroll, benefits, operating budgets, and ensuring compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, regulations and financial reporting.

Capabilities to provide contract and grants management and principal investigator support.

Capabilities to accept donations as a 501 c3 non-profit on behalf of the STARBASE Program at

Hanscom AFB.

Capabilities to accommodate outside funding streams to the STARBASE Program at Hanscom

AFB such as from the state or any public or private entity.

Capabilities to bridge short funding gaps such as a delay in federal funding at the end/start of a fiscal year.

Capabilities to provide technical support and/or assistance for the technology utilized by the program including computers, 3-D printers, networking and educational technology.

Capabilities to facilitate the existence of a non-profit board with meetings and minutes for the

STARBASE Program at Hanscom AFB.

Capabilities to provide or facilitate formal and/or informal professional development opportunities to STARBASE staff through various modalities.

Capabilities to extend the reach and influence of the STARBASE Program at Hanscom AFB through synergies with existing or planned research, programs or partnerships.

Capabilities and intentions to be both timely and transparent in reporting to the base and DoD

STARBASE on all actions and activities, financial and other-wise, with respect to the

STARBASE Program at Hanscom AFB.

Interested parties should submit a Letter of Interest detailing how their organization would benefit the mission and long term sustainability of the STARBASE program at Hanscom AFB. Please provide a point of contact for your organization as well as the name of a person (if different) with authority to enter into agreements with outside parties.

Special Note: This is not a request for proposals (RFPs), applications, proposal abstracts, or quotations, nor does its issuance obligate or restrict the Government to an acquisition approach. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of any responses, or pay for the preparation or use of any information submitted. All information received will be used for planning and market research purposes only. Any proprietary information submitted should be marked accordingly. The Government will not be liable, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Points of Contact: Please address any comments/questions regarding this request for information to Mr

Michael Van Nest, 66 FSS/FSD, at michael.van_nest@us.af.mil, with a copy to Khunravin Heng, Contracting Officer, at khunravin.heng@us.af.mil, and 2LT Cole Sposato, Contracts Manager at cole.sposato.1@us.af.mil.

Attachment/Links

1. DODI 1025.07

2. STARBASE PWS, DOD STARBASE Approved Curriculum Guidebook, dated September

3. STARBASE 2.0 Program Guide