RFI for NRT and IGE Evaluation.docx

49100425K0002 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

1. BACKGROUND

The Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) “…works to develop a well-informed citizenry and a diverse and capable workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians and educators. EDU's programs support STEM education at all educational levels and in a variety of settings.” (https://new.nsf.gov/edu). The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) is one of four divisions in EDU and “…provides funding to support graduate students and the development of novel, innovative programs to prepare tomorrow's leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.” (https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DGE). For more information on DGE, please also see the current DGE Strategic Plan at https://www.nsf.gov/edu/dge/2023%20DGE%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf.

The U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to ensure that graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers in high-priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas. For more information, see https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/nrt and https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-research. The first NRT program funding opportunity (or solicitation) was published in 2014 as NSF 14-458. The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) track was added in NSF 15-542 and NSF 16-503 before being split off into its own program. The IGE program is designed to encourage development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. . For more information, see https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/ige and https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/innovations-graduate-education-program. The goals and many key features have remained largely unchanged.

2. DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK

The NSF requires contractual support to provide an evaluation of the NRT and IGE programs which will conform to the NSF’s Evaluation Policy and industry evaluation standards and best practices. The goals are to examine the effectiveness of these program as related to the programs’ goals, as well as to identify emerging best practices, common challenges, and gaps that the program may consider addressing in future implementations of the programs. Findings from this work will provide evidence needed to inform policy and programmatic decisions.

The scope of this work will include the development of a sound research evaluation design with clear and logical statements of how the results address the research questions. The scope will also include the implementation of the design and contractors will be expected to use both primary data collection (from NSF staff, NRT/IGE Award Project Teams and Participants, and other stakeholders) and NSF administrative data. As a result, this work will require OMB Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Information Collection Request (ICR) approval for any new data collection. In order to guide the work, the Contractor will be expected to convene an Advisory Group beginning in Phase One, to consult on the design, analyses, and any major deliverables (reports) on findings. The Contractor shall recruit, in consultation with NSF staff, an Advisory Group with appropriate background to advise on the design and findings from this evaluation. NSF anticipates this group may include former NSF staff, current or former NRT/IGE Award Project Team Members (e.g., Principal Investigator (PI), coPI, Faculty Mentor, Trainee, Evaluator, Project Coordinator), or other STEM graduate education stakeholders. The group should include STEM education research expertise. The Contractor will propose an appropriate plan for engaging this group. The membership list and any changes during the project should be proposed by the Contractor and confirmed by NSF staff. The Contractor will clear all materials and data to be shared with the Advisory Group with NSF staff prior to sharing as some information may not be shareable to individuals not onboarded as NSF staff or may require internal clearance steps. The Contractor may propose an honorarium for Advisory Group members commensurate with the requests on this group’s time.

Phase One of the evaluation will assess outputs and outcomes for the five cohorts of NRT awards that have completed their awards (those NRT awards starting in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019) with existing data and the seven IGE cohorts that have completed their awards (those IGE awards starting in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021). However, any basic individual-level and institutional descriptive statistics or research topic descriptions should address all NRT and IGE Awards from inception of the programs through the present, including active awards that do not currently have complete data. Phase One should also include a critical examination of the current NRT and IGE Logic Models with opportunities to propose and implement refinements. Addressing the impact of solicitation changes for the programs is of interest to both phases of this project. It is also of interest to consider how the lack of changes (e.g., maximum budget) may have impacted the composition and outcomes of the projects over time. Phase One of the project would entail using existing data and documents to evaluate the programs and identify gaps and new data collection needs to inform the next phase of the project. The Advisory Group’s expertise should be engaged throughout this Phase. An interim evaluation report is expected.

Phase Two of the evaluation will be informed by findings from Phase One and discussions between the Contractor, NSF, and the Advisory Group. Phase Two may also rely on some existing data but is expected to largely rely on new data collection to be developed by the Contractor. The cohorts that will be covered by this Phase of the project will be determined by the findings and discussions referenced above, but at minimum will be expected to encompass respondents from the NRT and IGE Award cohorts that have completed their awards as described in the paragraph above for Phase One. This collection would require OMB Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Information Collection Request (ICR) approval. A final evaluation report comprehensive of Phases One and Two is the expected final product.

3. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI

NSF encourages any interested organizations to submit a Capability Statement to the individual identified in Section 4 below via email by the response date.

NSF encourages Small Business participation, including Teaming Arrangements and Joint Ventures.

Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

The Capability Statement shall clearly identify the following, regarding the interested organization(s):

1. Name, Address, Point of Contact;

2. UEI number;

3. Size Standard and applicable NAICS codes for the proposed requirement;

4. Identify if you have an applicable GSA Schedule Contract, Best in Class or Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) vehicle for the requirement identified in Section 2;

5. Identify all applicable classifications for your organization, such as:

a. Small Business

b. Woman-owned business

c. 8(a) business

d. Other than small business

e. Small disadvantaged business

f. HUBZone business

g. SDVOB business

h. Non-profit

6. Relevant past performance. Your capability statement needs to include a list of three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past three (3) years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. Your submission for relevant past performance must include for each customer:

• Contract name;

• Contracting Agency or Department, POC and contact information;

• Yearly contract value (in $);

• Whether your firm was the prime or a subcontractor;

• Period of performance;

• Description of work and how it relates to the requirements.

7. Include Organization Diversity and Small Business Unique Strengths;

8. Include the estimated timeframe to complete this study;

9. Recommendations on the pricing structure;

10. Response time necessary to prepare a proposal/quote in response to the RFP/RFQ;

11. Recommended Evaluation Factors (Examples: oral presentations, written, or other methods);

12. Questions regarding one or more of the needs listed in Section 2 above.

A response shall be submitted as either a Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF document and should not exceed ten (10) pages in length, 12-point standard font.

Do not submit resumes, marketing materials, slide presentations, or technical papers.

After reviewing the responses, the NSF:

· May or may not choose to meet with responders. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability and issues;

· Continue to refine the objectives of the requirement and/or associated tasks;

· May or may not choose to solicit quotes to procure one or more tasks/objectives identified in Section 2; and

· May or may not provide responses to questions submitted as part of responses to this RFI.

The NSF is not obligated to contact any or all respondents, hold meetings with any or all respondents, or solicit proposals as a result of this request. NSF will not reimburse costs associated with responding to this request and does not intend to pay for the information received.

*** Additional NAICS Codes that may be applicable to any potential future requirement ***

NAICS Code Description 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

3. RFI Due Date and Contact Info for Submission: All Interested parties should provide responses to the contact representative below by email.

Contact Information: Angela Johnson anjohnso@nsf.gov

Responses must be received by: 10:00 a.m. ET November 7, 2024

Subject line shall reference RFI no. 49100425K0002