NNCO Web Redesign SOW.docx

Statement of Work (SOW) for the redesign of the nano.gov website – National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

November 8, 2024

Description of Requirement

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) is seeking a redesign of the nano.gov website.

Project overview nano.gov is the go-to resource for people who want to know about the field of nanotechnology, research and development advances, and activities and products produced by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO). These activities include workshops, meetings, webinars, social media, as well as larger efforts involving the nanotechnology community, such as the Nano4EARTH challenge and the international Communities of Research (CORs). Products include annual reports to Congress, strategic plans, public information and education resources, and national strategies like that on the environmental, health, and safety implications of nanotechnology (nanoEHS).

nano.gov is the central national communication platform highlighting these activities and products. The current website provides relevant information and updates about the NNI and nanotechnology. However, an updated website is required to increase the use of images and videos and to engage with users so they want to explore other parts of the website, and allow easier updating of content. The ability to find relevant information and the overall user experience would be improved with easier website navigation. These changes would better reflect the innovative and dynamic nature of nanotechnology.

For these reasons, NNCO seeks services from a web design company to address the issues raised above and create a dynamic website more in line with the way content is presented and consumed today (e.g., through visual elements, concise text, intuitive and clear navigation, and an engaging experience).

Key objectives

1. Reimagine and redesign NNI’s web presence by creating a clean and modern website that is accessible both on desktop and mobile devices. The essential features that we are seeking are: a better user experience; a website that is more engaging, more intuitive, less text heavy and easier to navigate; and has branding consistency throughout the website.

2. Website design should comply with government standards and security rules and should follow 508 compliance rules.

3. The web design company will be responsible for front- and back-end development of themes, templates, components, and application programming interfaces, as well as the design of the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI).

4. The platform will allow for continuous improvement and be straightforward to update by internal NNCO IT staff.

Optional objective:

1. Content analytics, content messaging, and development of thorough recommendations for improving the content pre-and post-launch.

2. Creation of a searchable, smart inventory that allows users to easily sort through the vast NNI resources (reports, event summaries, archives, etc.)

3. Development of smart database that compiles information from across the NNI community and directs users to external websites with more information

4. Development of a nanotechnology timeline that is factual, visually pleasing and easy to follow for everyday readers.

Web redesign implementation

The web design company will work with NNCO staff to develop the theme of the redesigned website, so that the navigation and feel creates a dynamic, branded experience for web visitors. The web design company will build interactive prototypes (to simulate the redeveloped website) before making the website publicly available. The web design company will assess existing web content and develop strategies to organize and present the information to maximize engagement and ease of navigation.

Technical requirements

Drupal 10 CMS, user authentication, search functionality, forms, and system integrations. Front- and back-end development of themes, templates, components, and application programming interfaces.

During the contract period:

· Conduct periodic security, accessibility, and functional reviews;

· User experience and user interface design;

· Training, documentation, and screencasts;

· Run periodic site audits and search engine optimization reviews;

· Review analytics data and make recommendations for improvements and fixes;

· Consult and collaborate on information architecture, content strategy, messaging, search engine optimization/tracking, and site engagement;

· Weekly syncs for project and task management, tracking, and reporting.

Audience

The primary audience for the website is the science-attentive general public, which includes people interested in science (with or without an academic background in science), policymakers, and the media. Secondary audiences consist of researchers (mostly from academia and the federal government), federal government staff, educators, and small businesses.

Our goal is for the redesigned website to offer clear navigation options so that each of these key audiences can find the information they need through various visual and content cues, including a well-structured navigation and a robust search feature.

Timeline

The tasks required to complete this project will follow an outlined timeline proposed by the vendor and agreed upon with the government to deliver various components of the project. Weekly calls will be held with the web design company for project and task management, tracking, and reporting.