MDA-STEM-BEST-HTPD-2022.pdf

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 1

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release; distribution is unlimited Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY (MDA)

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM)

Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) Robotics Grant

Hub’s Teacher Professional Development (HTPD)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022

I. Funding Opportunity Description

The purpose of this announcement is to allow Official Boosting Engineering, Science, and

Technology (BEST) Robotics Inc. Local Competition Hubs the opportunity to obtain financial support for providing direct teacher professional development to teachers within their first five (5) years of being a team teacher for a BEST Robotics team. Teacher professional development ensures general Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) training for teachers and a successful experience during their local BEST Robotics season, advancing the awareness of and engagement in STEM with K-12 teachers and students.

This announcement strongly encourages the utilization of virtual training to minimize risk of COVID-19. Thus, training reimbursement is only applicable to materials and shipping.

There are no provisions for travel reimbursement.

Missile Defense Agency (MDA) STEM:

The MDA STEM Outreach’s goal is to increase STEM awareness and proficiency among K-

12 and college students to enhance the number of U.S. scientists and engineers capable of solving future missile defense challenges in the government, industry, and academia.

MDA STEM is further guided by the following objectives:

1. Increase the number of high school graduates capable of declaring a college major in a STEM field.

2. Inspire K-12 and college students about career paths and the activities of scientists and engineers.

3. Investigate real-life, practical uses for applied math and science in K-12 grade classrooms to further degree declarations; and career and life interest in STEM.

4. Present the importance of STEM career opportunities to school personnel, parents, and supporting institutions.

BEST Robotics, Inc.:

BEST Robotics, Inc. (https://www.bestrobotics.org/site/) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology, and math through participation in a sports-like, science-and engineering-based robotics competition.

BEST's mission is to engage, inspire and excite students to pursue STEM majors and STEM careers through the vehicle of an after-school robotics program and competition. BEST values access and diversity and encourages participation of all students and schools by providing a free program supported through the fundraising and mentoring efforts of a large higher education and industry volunteer corps.

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 2

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

BEST Robotics Inc. point of contact: Michael Steiner, Executive Director, Michael.Steiner@Bestinc.org, (412) 499-4790.

II. Eligibility Information

Official BEST Robotics Inc. Local Competition Hubs that are managed by or work closely with a Higher Education Agency (HEA), such as a junior college or university, are eligible to apply for funds via this grant. For hubs not managed by, yet closely working with an HEA, all receipted and payment portions of the grant must be processed through the HEA’s grant office. All non-HEA hubs must be classified as non-profit, 501(c)(3). Teachers identified by their hub for training must be full-time employees of a school system and within their first five (5) years of coaching a BEST Robotics Team.

Local Competition Hubs awarded an MDA STEM BEST Hub’s Teacher Professional

Development grant in Fiscal Years 2015 - 2021, may apply for funding through this grant opportunity only if both of the following statements are true about the hub’s previous grant performance:

1. Projected team registration goals and hub growth proposed in the grant proposals were attained.

2. All reporting requirements, including deadlines and content requirements, were met.

III. Application Date

Grant applications must be received through Grants.gov by May 6, 2022 at 5:00 PM

CT. Applications received after this date will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.

IV. Anticipated Awards

Multiple awards are anticipated under this funding opportunity. However, MDA is under no obligation to make any awards in response to the applications submitted. The number of awards is not predetermined.

V. Funding Availability

Each hub’s individual grant award will vary, but may not exceed $1,000.00. Estimated cost per teacher attendee shall not exceed $100.00. A hub may submit one proposal, for up to 10 team teachers. Individual teachers should not submit proposals; all proposals should be submitted by a HEA/BEST hub. Applicants should be aware that funding availability may change with little or no notice.

VI. Use of Grants.gov

This section provides instructions for registration and submission of applications in

Grants.gov. Please read the following instructions carefully and completely. Additional information can be found on the Grants.gov website.

1. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov mailto:Michael.Steiner@Bestinc.org

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 3

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

a. Instructions: Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active

System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and a Grants.gov account to apply for grants.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact an applicant’s ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Note: For payment purposes, awardees must be registered in Wide Area Workflow, and accounts must remain current, until all grant agreement payments and reporting are complete. To register in Wide Area Workflow, visit the Procurement Integrated Enterprise

Environment (PIEE) at https://piee.eb.mil and click “Register” in the top right corner.

Complete instructions can be found on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

i. Obtain a DUNS Number: All applicants must have a DUNS Number from Dun &

Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS Number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS Number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

ii. Register with SAM: All applicants must register with the System for Award

Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent you from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

iii. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with

Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

iv. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the UEI (Unique Entity

Identifier) field while adding a profile. For more detailed instructions about https://piee.eb.mil/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 4

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22) creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

v. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for

Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz Point of Contact (POC). The EBiz

POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html

vi. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

b. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature.

The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

2. How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application.

For complete instructions on using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete the application online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

i. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 5

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

ii. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

iii. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS

Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

c. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab.

Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

d. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My

Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-

800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov.

3. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by the due date established for the announcement. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov.

An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number

(GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

b. When MDA successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 6

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

c. Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

VII. Application Requirements

This grant opportunity may fund up to ten (10) BEST Robotics team teachers and the necessary training costs. While other teachers may participate in the training offered by the local hub, this grant will not reimburse or financially support the costs of training any additional teachers, new or veteran. Total requested funds should reflect the number of BEST

Robotics team teachers (up to 10) within their first five (5) years of coaching. Materials required to train the identified teachers will be reimbursed per the allocations listed in Table

VII-1 Training Reimbursement Allocations. Meals and/or refreshments offered during the professional development session(s) training will not be provided by or reimbursed through this grant opportunity.

Applications may only request support for developing and providing teacher professional development, provided by the local hub competition site, within three (3) months of kickoff for the 2022 BEST Robotics competition season. Teacher professional development must include all of the following:

Training for BEST Robotics team teachers within the hub’s assigned BEST Robotics region;

Awarding at least one continuing education credit (CEU) for participating teachers;

Instruction in at least three STEM areas, such as programming languages, computer-aided design (CAD), and robotics;

Learning materials for each team teacher to retain for classroom learning; and

Sessions totaling at least four (4) hours but no more than eight (8) hours.

Teachers and their schools must be identified in the application. Funding will include exact reimbursement for costs up to and not exceeding the amounts, per teacher, identified in Table

VII-1 Training Reimbursement Allocations. The material funds are for the Official BEST

Robotics Hub to use for training.

Table VII-1 Training Reimbursement Allocations

ITEM TOTAL MAXIMUM COST

Materials $75.00

Material shipping $25.00

Total per Teacher: $100.00

VIII. Application Attachments

In addition to the SF-424 Form required by Grants.gov, each application must include the following documents (to be included on the Attachment Form).

Attachment 1: Training Information

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 7

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

A document with all training information including, but not limited to:

a. Location

b. Date

c. Number of learning modules

d. Time allotted for each module

e. Brief description of learning objectives/modules

f. Brief description of learners’ assessments

g. Estimated number of CEUs to be given to the attendees

h. Itemized list of training materials, including vendor

i. List of take-away learning materials for the attendees

j. Cost per teacher

k. Total amount of funding requested

l. Projected number of participating teams for 2022

Attachment 2: Hub Contacts

A document listing the Hub’s name and address, and the Hub Director’s name, e-mail address, and phone number. This document should also include the Grant Coordinator’s name, e-mail address, and phone number. Finally, this document should include a list of potential schools which might send a teacher to attend the 2022 training and a contact phone number for each.

Attachment 3: Support Letter

A signed support letter on official letterhead (internal) from physical site’s senior leadership, such as the University President or Vice-President.

Attachment 4: Post-Award Agreement

A signed letter of acknowledgement and agreement from the Hub Director on official letterhead to provide MDA STEM with required post-award reporting. The letter should include MDA BEST Robotics Teacher Professional Development Survey, demographic information, information briefs, videos, and/or photographs.

Attachment 5: SAM Certification

A certification that SAM information for the associated HEA is current.

Attachment 6: WAWF Certification

A certification that a WAWF account for the associated HEA is current.

IX. Application Evaluation and Selection

MDA will evaluate and select applications based upon the following areas – efficiency and commitment.

a. Efficiency (60%)

i. Is it evident by the amount, type, and description of the training objectives and modules provided that the hub will be effectively using the funds to train the proposed teachers?

ii. Is it evident by the proposed training and material information that the hub will provide relevant and effective training to the proposed teachers?

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 8

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

iii. Is it evident by the information provided that the training will be within the required time restraints?

b. Commitment (40%)

i. Is it evident in the support letters and contact information that the Hub is managed or works closely with HEA?

ii. Is it evident that the hub’s reach supports the number of proposed teachers in attendance?

iii. Is it evident by the information provided that the hub’s training is supported internally?

NOTE: Evaluation of applications may result in funding levels lower than the proposed amount(s).

X. Award Administration

1. Award Notices

Successful applicants will receive a separate notice (award/acceptance letter or e-mail) stating that an application has been selected. The notification letter or e-mail must not be regarded as an authorization to commit or expend funds. The Government is not obligated to provide any funding for this award until a Government Grants Officer and the appropriate official from the selected entity sign the grant award document.

An award notification letter should be sent to all applicants by June 5, 2022. Events taking place before the award notification letter is sent are not reimbursable under this grant opportunity.

2. Reporting

On or before October 2, 2022 awarded hubs must submit the following information via email to STEM@mda.mil with the email subject as “MDA STEM Best Robotics Grant HTPD

2022 - ” followed by the hub name and grant number:

A completed MDA BEST Robotics Teacher Professional Development Survey for each teacher for which the grant was awarded.

Receipts, expense documents, and/or invoices for items to support request for reimbursement (fully or partially) through the grant fixed supplementary stipend.

The lack of completion and/or submission of these documents can result in funding levels lower than the proposed amount(s).

MDA STEM will provide a post-award acceptance letter or email, providing acceptance of all reporting requirements and deliverables, to all applicants and necessary parties, by

October 30, 2022.

3. Invoicing

In addition to the above, grant recipient hubs shall submit a request for payment in WAWF

(cost voucher) for an amount which:

mailto:STEM@mda.mil

MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant HTPD - 9

Approved for Public Release 22-MDA-1101 (21 Mar 22)

a. Does not exceed the amount identified in the grant agreement;

b. Is documented by the invoice(s);

c. Is separated by category – training materials and shipping;

d. Occurs after all deliverables, outlined in “Reporting” above, are received by the MDA

STEM Office;

e. Occurs after hub receives an approval letter or email for all reporting requirements and deliverables; and

f. Occurs between November 2, 2022 and December 4, 2022.

4. Administration and Payment

The cognizant Office of Naval Research (ONR) will serve as the administrative office for the awarded grant. The appropriate ONR office will be identified in the award document. ONR will approve the voucher and supporting documents. Visit the ONR website

(http://www.onr.navy.mil) for more information on electronic payments for grants.

After ONR approves the voucher and supporting documents, ONR will forward the information to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) for payment. The appropriate DFAS office will be identified on the award document.

Both ONR and DFAS are completely separate entities from MDA. Awarded hubs must:

a. Include MDA in all communications with ONR regarding payments;

b. Include MDA in all communications with DFAS, if applicable;

c. Forward to MDA e-mail confirmations regarding invoice submissions (whether rejected or approved) from ONR; and

d. Provide to MDA a copy of all invoice documents and supporting receipts.

This will help MDA STEM provide assistance with any issues that might arise in the payment process.

XI. Agency Contacts

Questions about this grant opportunity should be directed to Luisa A. Martinez-Medina, Grants Officer at luisa.martinez-medina@mda.mil or MDA STEM at STEM@mda.mil.

http://www.onr.navy.mil/ http://www.onr.navy.mil/Contracts-Grants/manage-grant/grants-payment/electronic-payment.aspx mailto:luisa.martinez-medina@mda.mil mailto:STEM@mda.mil