NSF and DOC National Network for Microelectronics Education Program OTASO.pdf

U.S. National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce Solutions Offering for the National Network for

Microelectronics Education Program

Contents

1.0 Purpose

2.0 Background

3.0 Eligibility

4.0 Expected Award Amount and Period and Place of Performance

5.0 Authorities and Instrument Type

6.0 Program Description/Scope

6.1 Objectives and Goals

6.2 Hub Activities

6.3 Anticipated Regional Node Activities

7.0 Written Proposal

7.1 Proposal Content and Format Requirements

7.2 Written Proposal Evaluation Guidelines

8.0 Oral Presentation

8.1 Oral Presentation Instructions

8.2 Oral Presentation Evaluation Guidelines

9.0 Submission Details

10.0 Review, Evaluation and Selection Process

11.0 Agency Contacts

1.0 Purpose

The U.S. CHIPS and Science Act1 provides funding to stimulate the resurgence of microelectronics research and development (R&D), design, and manufacturing in the United States. A portion of that funding was appropriated to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for education and workforce development to address the expected shortage of skilled workers needed by the microelectronics industry in the United States, including a focus on the semiconductor workforce. To that end, the purpose of this solicitation is to select an operator for the National Network Coordination Hub (referred to herein as the “Hub”) that will manage the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). The NNME will serve as a coalition of regional programs and centers that will develop and catalyze new and existing efforts to prepare individuals for roles in the microelectronics workforce.

Through this announcement, NSF, in collaboration with the CHIPS for America R&D Office and CHIPS Program Office (CPO) within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a bureau of the DOC, is soliciting proposals and, after completion of the merit review and selection process described in this announcement, intends to make one award to a suitable organization to be the Hub. As the major element of the NNME, the Hub will be responsible for establishing, growing, operating, coordinating, and managing the NNME with sufficient geographical extent and operational capacity to fulfill the U.S.

microelectronics workforce needs.

The establishment of the NNME is supported by NSF’s Directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), STEM Education (EDU), Engineering (ENG), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), and the DOC’s CHIPS R&D Of�ice and CPO within NIST. NSF and DOC expect the Hub to work closely with the National Semiconductor Technology Center’s (NSTC) Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE), which is operated by Natcast - a purpose-built non-pro�it overseen by

DOC.

Given the various entities that will be involved and established through an award made under this solicitation, proposing organizations should keep in mind the below referenced programmatic components, purposes, and timelines for each entity during proposal preparation. Section 6 provides additional information regarding the Hub and the NNME.

• The Hub o Timing: This entity will be established first (the purpose of this solicitation).

o Purpose: The Hub will be responsible for managing the NNME and executing several activities (as listed in Section 6) related to coordination, development and dissemination of content, communications, evaluation of performance of the activities listed in Section 6, and engagement with the stakeholders listed

1 See: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ167/html/PLAW-117publ167.htm.

throughout this solicitation. This solicitation further articulates the purpose of the Hub and its activities.

• The Regional Nodes o Timing: The Regional Nodes will be established after establishment of the Hub.

o Purpose: The Regional Nodes will constitute networks of regional performers including, but not limited to: K-12 schools, colleges and universities;

community colleges; trade schools; industry; state and local economic and workforce development agencies; and labor organizations. In collaboration with NSF and the DOC, the Regional Nodes will be established and coordinated by the Hub and serve as a network of regional performers, programs, and centers. The Regional Nodes will be knowledgeable of the regions where employers, learners, and educators operate and will therefore be able to tailor the activities to the workforce needs in their respective regions. The specific activities and responsibilities of the Regional Nodes will be further developed as the Hub is established.

• The NNME o Timing: The NNME will be fully constituted after the Regional Nodes are in place, though the Hub may start some activities once established.

o Purpose: The NNME, composed of the Hub, the Regional Nodes, and other performers, will be operated as a cohesive and highly coordinated operation wherein the capabilities, facilities and resources of the entire network will be available and accessible to any learners desiring to pursue careers in the microelectronics industry. The NNME will be coordinated by the Hub to develop and catalyze new and existing efforts meant to prepare individuals for roles in the microelectronics workforce. The NNME may also incorporate additional organizations and programs outside of the Hub and Regional Nodes.

• Working with the NSTC WCoE o Timing: The Hub will work with the NSTC WCoE after any award under this solicitation has been made.

o Purpose: The WCoE within the NSTC will be a trusted center for workforce development for semiconductor companies doing business in America where stakeholders work together to solve industry’s workforce challenges, foster best practices, and strengthen recruitment and training of the next generation of semiconductor researchers, engineers, and technicians. One of the main goals of the collaboration between the Hub and the NSTC WCoE is to ensure that the Hub’s microelectronics educational activities and the NSTC WCoE’s workforce development activities are complementary. The NSTC WCoE will serve as the main platform for industry stakeholders to provide feedback on workforce challenges and needs and to identify solutions. The NNME, including the Hub, will disseminate these best practices to organizations around the country, adapting them to local conditions, stakeholders, and institutions.

2.0 Background

According to a study published in 2023 by DOC’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the semiconductor industry directly employs more than 200,000 people in the United States, and 70,000 additional jobs are expected to be added by 2032 fueled by CHIPS Act investments and industry growth.2 Recognizing the need for bold and rapid action, the United States Congress appropriated funds to NSF and DOC to support the growth, retention, and development of a diverse and sustainable microelectronics workforce to address the evolving needs of industry, academia, government, and Federal laboratories. Acting on this charge from Congress, NSF and DOC have partnered to leverage each other’s strengths to address the semiconductor industry’s workforce needs at all educational levels across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for all job types including researchers, engineers, and skilled technical workers.

As the Federal Government’s leader in promoting STEM education, supporting impactful science and engineering research and development for over seven decades, making strong investments in education, training and workforce development, and having a strong track record in fostering public and private partnerships, NSF is uniquely positioned to fund the establishment of a Hub and the NNME as mandated in the CHIPS and Science Act. DOC possesses unique insights into the semiconductor industry’s needs given its reach across sectors and industries, and it has distinct leadership in the semiconductor industry, including receiving Congressional appropriations of $39 billion in CHIPS for America semiconductor manufacturing incentives and $11 billion in CHIPS R&D investments. With their combined capabilities, NSF and DOC are well-positioned to invest in the education and workforce development initiatives expressed in this solicitation.

NSF and DOC seek to ensure the activities in this program are made broadly available and accessible to all interested parties, including those groups that are underrepresented in microelectronics industry jobs. Program activities should employ methods and techniques to recruit and retain increased numbers of people into microelectronics careers and should use effective and adaptive models to evaluate services provided. These models should be data-driven and capable of reasonably accurate predictions of the numbers of workers needed by industry according to job type, educational level, region and time, and be co-developed with industry.

Lastly, in March 2024, the National Science and Technology Council defined four goals in its National Strategy on Microelectronics Research3: (1) enable and accelerate research advances for future generations of microelectronics; (2) support, build, and bridge microelectronics infrastructure from research to manufacturing; (3) grow and sustain the technical workforce for the microelectronics R&D to manufacturing ecosystem; and (4) create a vibrant microelectronics innovation ecosystem to accelerate the transition of R&D to U.S. industry. This solicitation is an important component of NSF’s and DOC’s initiatives

2 https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/technology-evaluation/3402-section-9904-report-final- 20231221/file 3https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/National-Strategy-on-Microelectronics-Research-March- 2024.pdf designed to meet these goals, especially Goal 3.

3.0 Eligibility

This solicitation requires a lead organization to submit a proposal. All lead organizations must be actively registered in the Federal Government’s System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a proposal (see: www.sam.gov).

The lead organization must be an institution of higher education or non-pro�it organization or a consortium (group) of such institutions and organizations (42 U.S.C. § 18997(a)(1)). A lead organization may only submit one proposal in response to this solicitation and may not appear as a subawardee on any additional proposals. Eligible organizations that do not submit proposals as lead organizations may, however, be included as subawardees and/or consortium members on multiple proposals.

Foreign entities are not eligible to submit a proposal as a lead organization or to participate as a subawardee under this solicitation. For the purpose of this solicitation, foreign entity means an awardee or subawardee organized or existing under the laws of a country other than the United States.

Each lead organization is required to identify a Hub Program Manager and any other senior/key personnel.

• For the purposes of this solicitation, a Hub Program Manager is the individual employed and designated by the lead organization who has the appropriate level of authority and responsibility for leading and directing the effort. An eligible Hub Program Manager can be listed in only one proposal in response to this solicitation and may not support a subaward on any additional proposals.

• For the purposes of this solicitation, senior/key personnel include the individuals designated by the lead organization who will contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to the execution of the project. Eligible senior/key personnel who are not the designated Hub Program Manager on a proposal may be included on multiple proposals.

The Hub Program Manager and any other senior/key personnel identi�ied in the proposal must hold an appointment at an organization that is eligible to submit a proposal under this solicitation.

4.0 Expected Award Amount and Period and Place of

Performance Subject to the availability of funds, NSF and DOC anticipate making a six-year commitment to an organization selected for award under this solicitation. In addition, NSF and DOC anticipate funding of up to $30 million over six years. NSF expects to make signi�icant additional investments to establish a number of Regional Nodes that will form the NNME.

Any additional funding that NSF and DOC may wish to provide jointly will be considered over time as various needed capabilities are identi�ied for inclusion in the NNME. The place of performance of any award made under this solicitation will be within the United States.

5.0 Authorities and Instrument Type

Authorizing Authorities: The statutory authorities for NSF include: 42 U.S.C. § 18997(b)(1);

42 U.S.C. § 18997(b)(3); 42 U.S.C. § 18997(b)(8); 42 U.S.C. § 19116; 42 U.S.C. § 1870a; and 42 U.S.C. § 1873(f).

Funding Instrument Type: Through this solicitation, NSF anticipates issuing an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA). NSF intends to make one award under this solicitation, subject to the availability of funds. It is anticipated that any award resulting from this solicitation will be an award vehicle under which individual orders may be issued.

NSF anticipates issuing multiple funding orders during the six-year period of performance and will provide the selected organization under this solicitation detailed task-speci�ic information prior to the issuance of any future orders. Any award resulting from this solicitation is anticipated to be made on a milestone-based schedule that will be determined during negotiations with the selected organization.

6.0 Program Description/Scope

NSF and DOC plan to coinvest in the establishment of the Hub to increase the number and enhance the skill levels of U.S.-based workers so they are ready for employment in the microelectronics industry, as well as expand access so persons of all backgrounds are able to participate in quality microelectronics jobs that support the domestic semiconductor industry. The Hub4 will perform a number of activities in support of this goal (see Section

6.2 below). After the Hub is established and has effectively managed the initial set of activities under Section 6.2, NSF, in collaboration with DOC, will work with the Hub to determine how to best establish a number of Regional Nodes that will form the NNME, composed of regional networks, to collectively perform activities tailored to industry’s needs in each regional semiconductor ecosystem. In addition, NSF and DOC are investing in other activities to further support education and workforce development aligned with the NNME now and in the future, as appropriate. The Hub will coordinate the entirety of NNME activities in microelectronics education and workforce training by working with the Regional Nodes and the NSTC WCoE to ful�ill the goals and objectives of this program.

6.1 Objectives and Goals

NSF and DOC expect the Hub and the NNME to incorporate the objectives and goals listed below in its strategy and execution of the activities described in Section 6.2.

4 See: Section 10318: Microelectronics Workforce Development Activities: (b) National Network for Microelectronics Education: (2) ACTIVITIES; of the US CHIPS and Science Act.

A. Select and Manage the Regional Nodes to Form the NNME

• The Hub will collaborate with NSF and DOC to execute a merit review-based competition consistent with 42 U.S.C. § 18997(b) to select, fund, and oversee some number of Regional Nodes that will serve as coalitions of regional performers, programs and centers that will develop and catalyze new and existing efforts meant to further prepare individuals for roles in the microelectronics workforce.

• The NNME, comprising the Hub and Regional Nodes, will prepare individuals for roles in the microelectronics workforce.

• The Regional Nodes will be knowledgeable and connected to the regions where employers, learners, and educators operate and will be therefore better able to tailor the activities to the workforce needs in their respective regions.

B. Provide a Neutral and Independent Platform to Foster Collaboration and Coordination

• The Hub will foster collaboration across the NNME to make best use of the expertise of national and regional stakeholders and contributors.

• The Hub will ensure they are decon�licted from any potential or perceived con�licts of interest that may bias the establishment and future coordination of Regional Nodes.

C. Ensure Industry Relevant Skills

• Curricula should be suf�iciently broad for learners to have transferable skills to new jobs, as well as suf�icient specialized skills needed by industry.

• Curricula should be developed in collaboration with industry to ensure these materials effectively prepare individuals for jobs in industry and focus on the needs of learners and workers.

• Curricula should remain modern and stay up to date with the latest industry-grade tools and software.

D. Engage Early Learners

• The Hub’s activities and the NNME should address the need to develop new capabilities to encourage K-12 students to become interested and engaged in microelectronics education and career paths. Examples include building simple circuits and microcontrollers using snap-together circuit kits or using software like TinkerCAD/Circuit Playground to simulate simple circuit designs.

E. Promote Flexible and Transferrable Credentials

• Through its activities and offerings, the Hub and the broader NNME will work to address the need for:

o Stackable credentials and certi�icates fully aligned with the demand to provide learners with the ability to continuously upskill themselves when desired or needed, including lowering barriers for worker re-skilling and re-training across industries and occupations.

o Trade schools and community college certi�icates and degrees to be readily and fully transferrable to four-year colleges and universities (including the establishment of transfer articulation agreements and standards and certi�ication processes for certi�icates and associates degrees) to ensure that the credits learners earn are useable for furthering their education at other institutions.

F. Innovate and Incorporate Experiential Learning and Technology

• The curricula developed by the Hub and/or its regional performers should bring arti�icial intelligence (AI)-augmented learning approaches to curriculum development including personalized AI tutors and intelligent instructional materials, where applicable and appropriate.

• The Hub should consider infusing AI, virtual reality, and other technologies into training programs. Taking this approach can enable learners to be prepared to manage new technologies and enable the Hub to reach learners from underserved communities.

• The Hub should consider incorporating experiential learning into curricula and training programs, including meaningful lab and/or industry experience prior to completion of training or education.

G. Support Quality Jobs

• The Hub and the broader NNME should enable learners to have quality jobs that align with the Good Jobs Principles laid out by the DOC and U.S. Department of Labor5. The Good Jobs Principles create a framework to ensure all workers are paid a stable, predictable living wage, receive basic bene�its (e.g., paid leave, health insurance, retirement/savings plan), have safe working conditions, have the ability to form and join unions and engage in protected, concerted activity without fear of retaliation, and have equitable opportunities and tools to progress to future good jobs.

• The activities of the Hub and through NNME should address:

o The need to serve and/or include veterans.

o The need for innovative training programs for incumbent workers, including pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships.

o The need for re-employment and re-training programs for dislocated workers.

o The need for wrap-around services (see I. below) for all learners, including those from �inancially disadvantaged and underserved communities.

o The need for family-sustaining wages and bene�its.

• The Hub should consider creating or leveraging an existing mechanism that connects individuals with opportunities across the nation (e.g., a job and candidate database). This platform could serve as one location where employers can �ind learners trained via relevant Hub-sponsored or supported programs.

5 https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles

H. Provide Equitable Opportunities for Individuals

• The Hub and by extension the NNME should reach learners from underserved communities and deliver economic growth for everyone, regardless of background, socioeconomic status, location, and/or any other factors.

• It is crucial that the bene�its of the program reach as many communities as possible throughout the U.S. and that all communities have the necessary and relevant support required to provide education and training to individuals that live there.

I. Incorporate Wraparound Services

• It is expected that the Hub and NNME will identify the types of wraparound services (e.g., childcare, healthcare, transportation, rental allowances, meal allowances, help with buying books or computers, etc.) learners may need to complete their education for employment in industry.

• The Hub and NNME will be responsible for forming partnerships with community-based organizations, local government, and other partners to deliver these services effectively, as appropriate. The Hub and NNME will work with providers to ensure that barriers faced by learners are mitigated as feasible to help grow the talent pool for industry.

J. Ensure Sustainability and Enduring Support

• It should be understood by proposing organizations that an important goal of this program is sustainability and therefore proposing organizations should clearly describe how their operations will be made sustainable and endure after NSF and DOC support ends.

• NSF, in collaboration with DOC, anticipates funding the creation and growth of the Hub and the NNME for a period of time, up to six (6) years. The NNME, led by the Hub, will explore and develop the means to sustain operations beyond the six-year period through a variety of mechanisms, including, for example, industry support and fees.

6.2 Hub Activities

The Hub shall perform the following major activities:

1. Coordination

a. Coordinate the NNME and the activities of the Regional Nodes, once established.

b. Coordinate activities to ensure consistency and synergy across the entire NNME.

c. Work with educational institutions, as well as workforce and labor organizations, to identify curricula that are effective and can be scaled.

d. Hold annual NNME meetings where stakeholders from industry, education, workforce development and labor organizations, etc., can discuss and compare activities, plan future activities, and present results.

e. Work closely with the NSTC WCoE to ensure efforts are complementary and not duplicated, including engagements with industry.

2. Dissemination

a. Establish a public-facing digital portal for the Hub as a clearinghouse to share educational digital resources for learners, trainees, and teachers.

b. Contribute to a digital education infrastructure for sharing and scaling curricula, instructional materials, and best practices.

c. Develop and maintain education and workforce development resources, including curricula and training programs developed by industry, institutions of higher education, and other entities.

d. Disseminate best practices for effective use of the activities across the NNME to maximize their societal and economic impacts.

e. Develop and scale evidence-based methods for recruiting and retaining learners to pursue microelectronics industry career paths.

f. Provide avenues for propagation of evidence-based education and workforce development (EWD) resources. Propagation efforts may include, but are not limited to, training and mentoring future and current instructors in the use of proven open-access teaching resources, supporting the development of networks and communities of practice, faculty/instructor professional development, or other methods to expand adoption and adaptation of best practices EWD resources.

g. Coordinate with the NSTC WCoE to distribute evidence-based content, connecting learners and performers at the Regional Nodes in ways that permit learners across the NNME to have agency over their own learning.

h. Provide input to the WCoE on best practices in curriculum and education, as well as outcomes and data from any NNME workforce efforts.

3. Communication

a. Execute a communications campaign to raise awareness of careers and educational pathways to careers in the microelectronics industry.

b. Showcase accomplishments of the NNME to key stakeholders and the general public.

c. Prepare annual reports to be submitted to NSF.

d. Prepare other documents to share with appropriate stakeholders.

e. Satisfy other data collection and reporting requirements as needed to ensure successful program outcomes.

4. Program Evaluation and Performance

a. The Hub will be required to provide an evaluation plan. The evaluation plan must include ways to objectively measure the effectiveness of the programs and activities put in place by the Hub and efforts to collect relevant data. The proposal must identify an independent professional external evaluator(s) with the expertise to conduct comprehensive, data-driven objective evaluations.

b. The Hub must work with the regional performers in the NNME to establish uniform methods for assessment based on data analytics and quanti�iable metrics for performance and impact. Examples of important metrics include but are not limited to: the number of learners who have graduated and are certi�ied each year through support provided by the NNME; the number and percentage of learners employed by industry in each year of the program; and the cost per learner of these activities. Industry’s evaluation of the abilities of employed learners to be immediately productive in industry positions will also be an important metric.

These metrics will be applied to each level of education offered, including certi�icates; two-year community college degrees; and B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees for each job type.

c. Additional performance criteria for evaluation of the Hub and NNME must include but is not limited to:

i. Its ability to develop strong partnerships with industry, including co-development of teaching and training programs and ability to secure funding from industry to help offset the cost of this program;

ii. Its development and use of novel methods and techniques to recruit and retain increased numbers of learners into pursuing microelectronics training, education, and careers; and

iii. Its ability to engage a large community that is open to all interested parties and that actively seeks to educate and train groups underrepresented in the microelectronics industry; it is important that the education efforts of this program are made broadly available and accessible to all interested parties.

d. The Hub will have one or more external advisory board(s) populated with industry, academic, labor and government representatives, including from NSF and DOC. NNME performers will be evaluated by the board(s) on the quality of the services provided to determine how to improve and optimize the services, as well as the ability to meet programmatic outcomes, using board-approved performance criteria and assessments performed by internal and external evaluators.

e. The Hub is expected to be vigilant and knowledgeable of changes in industry needs for new workers and adjust the education and training delivered to new learners to match the expected semiconductor industry’s need for additional skilled workers. To complement this work, the Hub should develop a model for monitoring and predicting the need for workers with relevant skills and competencies by region and time.

5. Industry-Driven Activities and Employer Partnerships It is critical for the Hub to engage with the microelectronics industry – including through demand-driven mechanisms like sectoral partnerships6 and labor-management partnerships7 - because: 1) industry de�ines workforce needs at any given time and in any given region; 2) industry has developed various important and highly effective semiconductor training and curriculum programs that could be scaled nationally; and 3) industry is expected to provide capabilities, resources and partnerships as well as the detailed plans proposed for addressing the needs for workforce development . The Hub should ensure curricula and training programs are informed by engagement and input from industry to ensure that these programs appropriately prepare learners for quality jobs. The Hub should also proactively engage employers to ensure that they provide commitments to hire and retain workers.

6. Other Critical Engagements Leverage and effectively utilize the nation’s existing and newly established capabilities, facilities, resources and talent for semiconductor implementation activities funded by the U.S. Government, state governments and industry, including: the DOC’s NSTC and its WCoE, operated by Natcast, the CPO incentive awardees with workforce regional intermediaries8 and other workforce awards, NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), NSF Chip Design Hub, semiconductor industry facilities, and other such activities in the private sector and at non-pro�its and international entities. This portfolio includes NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERC), Materials Innovation Platforms (MIP), Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC), Science and Technology Centers (STC), etc. Additionally, NSF and DOC intend to collaborate with the relevant parts of the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy and its National Labs, Department of Education, and Department of Labor to explore mechanisms for the Hub and NNME to leverage and utilize any existing and newly established relevant capabilities and resources, as appropriate.

6.3 Anticipated Regional Node Activities

NSF and DOC anticipate that the Hub will oversee the Regional Nodes’ performance in the following major activities:

6 Definition: “Sectoral partnership” is defined as a partnership of employers from the same industry that join with other strategic partners to collaboratively design sector strategies that train and place workers into good jobs that the employers need filled and intend to fill through the partnership. See pages 4-5:

https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/FY2024_GJC_Frequently_Asked_Questions.pdf.

7 Definition: “Labor-management partnerships” support and maintain collaborative relationships between employers, unions, workforce development entities, community colleges, and community-based organizations allowing the parties to work together on shared priorities through joint decision-making. See https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/GoodJobs/Docs/LMP-FS-TrainingGuide-v1.pdf.

8 Definition: Workforce intermediaries are neutral, trusted, and credible entities in the region that have established relationships with solution providers such as industry associations, workforce or economic development organizations, labor unions, non-profit/philanthropies, state or local workforce boards, and educational institutions such as community colleges. See https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2024/09/13/IntermediaryFactSheet- 508C.pdf.

1. Provide access to microelectronics design and fabrication infrastructure and resources, including design and veri�ication tools, clean rooms, chip fabrication, packaging, testing and characterization facilities, for hands-on training and education.

Provision of such resources can be through the cloud and/or facilities within the respective geographic vicinities.

2. Leverage relevant resources available through local, state, and national EWD organizations.

3. Implement a robust model for providing and tracking learners’ access to the resources in geographic regions.

4. Develop and re�ine education and training modules especially relevant to the geographic regions.

5. Facilitate access to and adoption of industry-standard educational, training and research tools, facilities, and resources.

6. Establish and implement training processes for faculty and instructors (“train the trainers”).

7. Identify and facilitate access to experiential learning opportunities for learners, such as internships, apprenticeships or cooperative experiences; research experiences for undergraduates and teachers; and training using real-world tools (e.g., electronic design automation, or EDA, software, commercial-scale fabs).

8. Establish and implement programs to address unique and speci�ic workforce needs in the geographic regions.

9. Implement a robust outreach plan for engaging pre-college students and the general public, including support for veterans, and for reskilling and upskilling the current workforce.

10. Develop creative and effective plans for wide dissemination of educational products and �indings across the NNME.

11. Engage and connect a wide range of participants within their respective regions including, but not limited to: K-12 schools; community, technical and career colleges;

labor organizations; training centers; state and local workforce boards; training and educational entities; higher education institutions [including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)];

worker assistance centers; professional associations; community-based organizations; partners offering wraparound support services such as housing, childcare, or transportation; states or local government entities; economic development organizations; and chambers of commerce.

12. Establish and implement a robust recruiting plan for recruiting additional faculty and instructors at different educational and training levels, where appropriate.

13. Establish and implement a robust recruiting plan for increasing learners at different age and educational levels.

7.0 Written Proposal

7.1 Proposal Content and Format Requirements

Proposals shall be direct and concise and must not exceed a total of 22 single-sided pages exclusive of the title page and appendices. The proposal shall be typed, double-spaced, using 12-point font and letter-sized pages (i.e., 8 ½” by 11”) with 1” margins on all sides. Tables or graphs may use a font smaller than 12-point. The proposal shall be submitted as a PDF.

Proposals that do not meet these format speci�ications may be removed from consideration.

7.1.1 Title Page (does not count toward the proposal page limit) The title page must include the lead organization’s name, unique entity identi�ier (UEI)9 number, point of contact for communications, and the contact information for that point of contact.

7.1.2 Body of the Proposal (limited to 15 single-sided pages) The body of the proposal must include concise, comprehensive information and details on how the proposing organization will support the objectives described in this solicitation. The proposal shall address the following areas:

Vision: Your organization’s vision for the NNME and the Hub, and role in leading it. This section of the proposal should include a long-term vision, as well as success metrics and intermediate progress indicators for years 1, 3, and 6 that support the evaluation plan described in Section 6.2.

Proposing organizations shall provide details and timelines on plans and approaches to building and operating the Hub and the NNME, perform activities described above, and achieve the overall objectives of this program.

Operational and Organizational Experience: Provide a description of your organization’s operational, entrepreneurial, and creative capacity and how it aligns with the needs of the Hub and NNME broadly. This section must convey the track record of your organization and of your leadership team, including the designated Hub Program Manager and any senior/key personnel, in leading education and workforce development activities and in working closely with industry. This section must also convey your track record of effectively managing contracts or awards and your ability to establish and manage subawards and execute them on rapid timelines. NSF and DOC would like to understand how your organization has engaged with the broad range of different types of stakeholders in the workforce ecosystem and its plans for engagement in this effort. Additionally, include short bios (less than three sentences per bio) for the leadership team and provide brief descriptions of any subaward organizations that you plan to bring onboard. With respect to the subawardees, explain why these organizations are necessary to execute on your vision of the Hub and how their involvement might effectively address any gaps your organization has or enhance your

9 For any organizations that do not already have a UEI, see https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration for instructions.

organization’s capabilities. Include an overview of networks, partnerships, and new capital sources your organization has and how they will be deployed in support of the NNME and the Hub.

Proposed Program Plan and Activities: Provide a 1) description and 2) timeline for the activities that your organization (or team, if applicable) will undertake during the award period of performance. This shall include a description of how your organization will achieve the minimum required activities stated above (in Section 6.2) and other activities that will be undertaken with NNME and Regional Node performers, NSF, DOC, the NTSC WCoE, and other partners (co-funders, talent, industry partners, etc.). While these activities may change after contract negotiations and as priorities evolve, NSF and DOC would like to understand the proposing organization’s Hub and NNME program plan. Additionally, the activities that are put forth in this section of your proposal shall include how the Hub and NNME will effectively collaborate with the NSTC WCoE as outlined in Section 6.

In addition to the required activities, NSF and DOC encourage proposing organizations to put forward new creative ideas to tackle the challenges outlined above for ful�illing the programmatic objectives.

Additionally, include high-level information on the functionality, features, and progress of the Hub and NNME at the end of year 2 of the award term. For instance:

1. What programs are anticipated to be launched?

2. What organizations will be involved in supporting the Hub and NNME?

3. How will learners, industry, and the nation bene�it from these activities and services?

4. What other future activities, engagements, and opportunities does the Hub envision beyond year 2 of the award term?

Ensuring Broad Participation: Proposals in response to this solicitation must provide a description of your organization’s ability to ensure that all Americans, regardless of background, will have an opportunity to participate in all aspects of the Hub and NNME. The Hub will work towards increasing opportunities for all individuals in microelectronics education and the semiconductor industry, to include people from underserved communities. NSF and DOC expect that the proposing organization will detail how its efforts will directly bene�it one or more underserved communities. The proposing organization must also describe its strategy to identify future NNME components to enable the network to reach across these diverse backgrounds and locations. A diverse range of stakeholders and communities should be considered in the development of the NNME and should bene�it from the outcomes of the NNME services.

The Hub should describe how it will periodically assess its efforts to enable access by all Americans. As part of this focus, the Hub leadership must develop a strategy to ensure that education and workforce development opportunities supported by this award are available to all Americans and have a proactive plan to remove barriers for underrepresented and/or underserved communities to fully participate in its programs. The above engagement must go beyond perfunctory outreach initiatives that merely serve as an introduction to Hub and NNME services and instead show a deep, intentional, persistent and impactful approach to broadening access and successful outcomes for all learners and trainees.

7.1.3 Proposal Budget and Budget Justi�ication (no page limit) A budget projection and accompanying budget justi�ication must set forth the amount of funding requested, by budget category, for the �irst 12 months of effort. The budget justi�ication shall provide a detailed breakdown for each category as well as a rationale to support the expenses proposed. The budget justi�ication must contain suf�icient information to allow for meaningful evaluation of the proposed level of effort. NSF and DOC are only requesting detailed budget information for the �irst 12 months of support.

This section shall also specify the requested pricing arrangement (e.g., �ixed-price, cost, cost-plus-�ixed-fee) and the rationale for its use. If an organization requests a cost reimbursement type of pricing arrangement, it must demonstrate having an approved accounting system.

Subject to the availability of funds, the actual funding provided to an organization under this solicitation will be subject to negotiation prior to making any award.

Direct Labor – Breakdown of direct labor identifying the individuals, labor categories, pay rates, and projected level of effort devoted to the project, and their associated subtotals.

Direct Labor Overhead/Fringe Bene�its – Rate(s) and base(s), and the cumulative effect on labor costs.

Materials, Supplies, and Equipment – Description and cost of materials, supplies, and equipment, to include the basis of the cost estimate (e.g., historical data, competitive market quotes, and in-house transfers).

Travel – Breakdown of travel and transportation costs. Proposed travel must include the following for each trip: the purpose of the trip, origin and destination if known, approximate duration, the number of travelers, and the estimated cost per trip must be justi�ied based on a reasonable basis for estimation.

Subawards – For proposals that contain one or more subawardees, include a separate subawardee budget for each planned entity that provides a comparable level of detail to the budget submitted for the overall proposal.

Consultant Services – Breakdown of each individual’s expertise, primary organizational af�iliation, normal daily compensation rate, and number of days of expected service, as well as any expected travel costs.

Other Direct Costs – Breakdown of other direct costs not already included elsewhere in the budget.

Indirect Costs – For each indirect rate (identi�ied here and elsewhere), indicate if the proposed indirect rate and allocation base have been approved by a government audit or cognizant agency for use in proposals; when the rate(s) was approved; and the name of and telephone number of the cognizant auditor or approving of�icial.

Fee – Fee may be proposed, and if proposed, is subject to negotiations and applicable statutory limits.

7.1.4 Data Management and Privacy Plan (limited to two pages) Proposals shall address within the Data Management and Privacy Plan their plans for data sharing across their organization, with NSF and DOC, and with the general public during the performance period. Additionally, proposals shall specify the types of data or products that will be generated as well as formats to be used and how these data or products are to be stored, preserved, and shared. Proposals shall also address how licenses will be obtained from any owners of copyrighted or patented subject matter that will be needed during this program.

Proposing organizations should be aware that any future award, to the extent that it produces intellectual property, may have certain restrictions and obligations (e.g., all DOC funding must comply with 15 U.S.C. 4656(g)).

7.1.5 Letters of Commitment (no page limit)

Signed one-page letters of collaboration from:

• Employers who have committed to working with your organization as a potential Hub operator or have worked with your organization in the past. Commitments should be speci�ic and measurable.

• Proposed subawardees where the subawardees outline what work they will perform as part of the effort and why they are uniquely quali�ied to lead that work.

7.1.6 Long-Term Financial Model (limited to two pages)

Long-term sustainability of the NNME after Federal funding has ended is an essential goal under this program. Therefore, NSF and DOC request that the Hub operator(s) give serious thought and consideration to how to transition the NNME from Federal support to a self-sustaining effort after funding ends six years from the date of award. At a minimum, the proposing organizations must provide a rough-draft second-year �inancial model as well as identify potential sources of revenue (prospective �inancial contributors, etc.) that can be established and tested at year 2 and beyond. The expectation is that self-suf�iciency will require some time to develop and therefore the operator(s) need to start experimenting with various revenue generating schemes starting in year 2 and thereafter and continue on a pathway of growing income sources over time towards sustainability. Proposing organizations are encouraged to consider philanthropy, fees for access to the talent network and services offered, funding from external partners, industry membership fees, and other fees or sponsorship costs. NSF and DOC would like to see what strategies proposing organizations have to create and develop a sustainable funding model that may not include signi�icant future funding provided from NSF and DOC. NSF and DOC recognize that these �igures and projections might ultimately change post-award, but this exercise will clarify how the proposing organization thinks about how to achieve NNME sustainability.

7.1.7 Project Deliverables (three-page limit)

A comprehensive list of all major anticipated deliverables under the award which are aligned with the objectives and activities laid out in Section 6 of this solicitation.

7.1.8 Con�licts of Interest (no page limit)

The proposing organization must include a statement describing any potential �inancial interests that the organization may have that could create con�licts of interest with the work to be performed in its proposal, especially the management and coordination of Regional Nodes. The proposing organization must also include their plan to resolve any potential and actual con�licts. This statement applies to the OTA contractor, its employees, consultants, and any subawardees who will perform work under the proposing organization’s proposal.

Given the nature of this requirement, it is possible for a con�lict to arise after an award is made that is not otherwise anticipated. Due to this possibility, the OTA award will include language requiring that the selected organization(s) notify NSF and DOC if a con�lict arises post-award and how the organization(s) intend to address the con�lict, including a proposed mitigation plan.

7.2 Written Proposal Evaluation Guidelines

All written proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria listed below.

Both criteria will be given full consideration during review and must be addressed. When evaluating written proposals, the evaluation team will weigh “Organizational Experience” more heavily than “Understanding of the Challenges and Proposed Approach.”

7.2.1 Major Criteria One: Organizational Experience

• The extent to which an organization has demonstrated experience upholding and executing on a vision consistent with the goals, objectives, and activities of this program.

• The extent to which an organization has demonstrated experience and the necessary networks to build and drive new partnerships with NSF, DOC and NNME stakeholders to successfully carry out the goals, objectives and activities of this program.

• The extent to which an organization’s past experience in education and training demonstrates successful accomplishments to obtain a widely recognized position of leadership in the semiconductor ecosystem.

• The extent to which an organization has relevant experience in developing and delivering curriculum, training and interactive learning to create successful pathways for learners resulting in industry employment.

• The extent to which an organization has presented evidence about their experience ensuring all Americans have an opportunity to participate, including those from underserved communities.

• The organization’s relevant experiences in developing and implementing plans for sustainability of large-scale efforts in a non-pro�it or higher education environment.

• The organization’s relevant experiences and performance on past programs in establishing and operating large scale (e.g., regional and/or national) networks, including but not limited to experiences and performance in coalescing consortia quickly and across different communities; adapting the consortia over time as needs and requirements change; and overcoming challenges forming and administering consortia, including handling sensitive information with appropriate privacy and con�identiality protections throughout the consortium’s membership.

7.2.2 Major Criteria Two: Understanding of the Challenges and Proposed Approach

• How well the proposing organization understands the challenges that the Hub and NNME will need to address and articulates a well-developed plan to successfully perform the goals, objectives and activities of this program.

• The extent to which the proposal presents a compelling vision for the Hub and resulting NNME that provides activities to achieve the goals and objectives of this program, including: the proposing organization’s innovative technical ideas for complying with the statutory requirements at 42 U.S.C.