Statement_of_Work.docx

Statement of Work for the External Evaluation NASA Wallops Visitor Center STEM in Action – NASA GSFC Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center Activities and Outreach Enhancements

Background The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) submitted a proposal to the NASA Office of Education, NASA Research Announcement (NRA), STEM Education and Accountability Projects (SEAP), 2015 Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+). The proposal was submitted by the WFF Office of Communications in collaboration with the WFF Directorate Managed Education. The Principle Investigator (PI), Jeremy Eggers, received notice on August 17, 2016 that the Proposal was selected for funding. The Proposal “NASA Wallops Visitor Center STEM in Action—NASA GSFC Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) Visitor Center Activities and Outreach Enhancement” will be implemented during FY 2017. The NRA stated, “All projects shall conduct an independent evaluation in order to improve and assess the effectiveness of strategies to advance the Nation’s STEM education.

Scope The evaluation is designed to provide information to improve the project as it develops and progresses. Information collection will be carried out to determine whether the project is proceeding as planned, meeting stated objectives and proceeding according to the proposed timeline. Data collection will be conducted on a regular schedule, as determined at project start up. In addition to monitoring the progress, the evaluation will also examine the specific components of the project to determine if the goals and objectives of each component are being met and how each component contributes to overall project success. Finally, project monitoring will include an evaluation segment on project impacts and outcomes as the project term comes to completion. The formative monitoring examines if the project is being implemented as originally planned and provides an overview of areas that can be targeted for improvement on an ongoing basis. Summative evaluation (impact evaluation) is conducted after project modifications (if any) have been made, the project has stabilized and the impacts of the project have a chance to be realized. The final evaluation report will be provided to the WFF PI 30 days after the project is completed.

Requirements The information gathered by will include the use of direct observation (site visits), surveys and questionnaires. This will provide information on the knowledge and attitudes of project participants (through the various project elements) and how the project meets the overall goals. The indicators will be finalized with key project staff during project start up and will continue to be modified as needed throughout the life of the project. The type of results that can be obtained from the indicators include:

· Enhancement of available resources at the WFF Visitor Center

· Increase coordination of educators and private industry

· Number of educators, students and parents benefitting from increased awareness of education assistance available

· Increased awareness of science and engineering information as a result of exposure to enhanced visitor center enhancements

Deliverables and Delivery Schedule Once the selection of data types/indicators is finalized, the evaluator will complete a design matrix for data collection. The design matrix will be finalized with project management to ensure access to necessary participants and other sources of information. Each of the three elements of the Project will be included in the formative and summative evaluation observations, data gathering and reporting:

Element 1: WFF Visitor Center Community Engagement and Professional Development through Exploring Engineering Technology Element 2: WFF Visitor Center STEM Improvements Element 3: WFF Visitor Center STEM Community Programming and Public Engagement

The formative or progress evaluation will assess if the project is meeting milestones (objectives and goals). The progress evaluation will analyze the impact of activities and project implementation on participant attitudes and behaviors. The progress evaluation will use both quantitative and qualitative information to determine if the project activities and strategies need to be adjusted.

The basic components of the evaluation will include a five step approach:

· Develop evaluation questions, surveys and other data collection tools

· Match information needs with relevant information gathering methods

· Collect data

· Analyze data

· Analyze information and provide reports on results (electronically and one printed copy).

Three months from the award of the evaluation to the TLLC the plan and matrix will be completed. Six months after the award the formative or progress evaluation will be presented to the Project PI and project team.

Government-Furnished Equipment and Government-Furnished Information Information on the scheduled project elements will be provided to the evaluation team. Draft surveys will be reviewed in advance and provided to participants as needed. There will be no government furnished equipment.

Place of Performance The external evaluator, will prepare evaluation documents and reports at the contractor’s site in Northern Virginia and Helena, Montana. Site visits to collect information for the formative and summative evaluations will be conducted at the NASA GSFC Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and the WFF Visitor Center.

Period of Performance The external evaluation is a fixed price agreement for that will be conducted over the FY 2017 year of the project implementation. The final evaluation report will be submitted to WFF 30 days after the completion of award activites.