SATPC0031385 Tab 04 4 SOW.pdf

Statement of Work Earth Information Center Exhibition at

Smithsonian National Museum of National History Requestor: Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters

Created: April 11, 2023

A. Introduction NASA and National Museum of Natural History Partnership NASA maintains an extensive fleet of observing systems to collect global environmental data about the planet. NASA supports research with this data and associated models to characterize changes, understand trends, and improve predictions about the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, and land.

NASA also supports direct applications of the data to improve decisions across a range of fields, such as water resources, agriculture, health, ecosystems management, and disasters.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, is the most-visited natural history museum in the world with between 4 and 5 million on-site visitors and about 16 million online visitors annually. Its mission is “to better understand the natural world and our place in it.” The museum is regarded as a global leader in natural history collections, collections-based research, scientific discovery, and natural history exhibition.

To further the synergies across the two entities and extend knowledge to society, the Smithsonian Institution and NASA have partnered to bring a NASA exhibition, titled the Earth Information Center (EIC), to the NMNH.

The Earth Information Center Exhibition NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced a concept for NASA’s EIC, an opportunity for the agency to leverage its data and modeling capabilities to work with trusted government and state, local, and tribal partners in communities most affected by climate change. A component of the EIC will be a public-facing Exhibition at the NMNH that will provide awe-inspiring visualizations to demonstrate the interconnectedness between everyday human life and our living planet and why they matter to better understanding our home planet.

The Exhibition will consist of a 32’ x 9’ video screen and two flanking 85” monitors (known as a hyperwall). Interpretive panels and associated signage and text will accompany the hyperwall in the 1,000-square-foot space, tentatively scheduled to have a preliminary opening in late summer 2023 with a full public opening by the end of calendar year 2023. The intent is to provide a whole Earth view down to regional information to visualize our changing planet – from temperatures in our cities to sea level rise, greenhouse gas emissions to agricultural productivity. The goal of The Exhibition is to engage and amplify the importance of Earth system science – to show people our Earth as we see

it. The intent is to inspire communities to explore and provide opportunities for connecting science to action.

Target Audiences To foster change, we need to engage those who have the most at stake and are the most likely to create change—America’s youth. The Exhibition will be developed with a target audience of 13- to 18-year-olds and their trusted adults – teachers, parents, chaperones, tour guides, role models, and influencers.

The Earth Information Center Exhibition will showcase large, awe-inspiring visualizations, as well as interactive media, stories, and narratives to inspire action. The intent is to stimulate communities to explore and provide opportunities for connecting science to action.

Youth usually come to the museum with trusted adults who are seeking support and tools to help the youth get the most out of their visit. These teachers, parents, chaperones, and youth leaders come with different expectations, motivations, and degrees of familiarity with the museum and the themes of an interconnected Earth and NASA’s role. For some adults this can be stressful, for others exciting. We must enable this secondary audience to support the youth, enhance their on-site engagement, and create a holistic experience that extends beyond their visit.

While engagement with these audiences is the focus, the Exhibition will be accessible and compelling for all visitors.

Purpose The purpose of this contract is to develop and implement interpretive wall text via display panels and other related exhibition elements, signage and wayfinding for The Earth Information Center Exhibition. NASA and NMNH require a design firm to work with the project teams to develop an exhibition design strategy, concepts and language for wall panels to accompany the hyperwall. The design strategies and panel text will initially be created as prototypes. All exhibition elements and text will be tested with representative target audience members by a separately procured evaluation firm. This firm will work with NASA and NMNH to evaluate all project elements to ensure that the project meets its goals. Additionally, the design firm will develop a graphic identify for the Exhibition and create assets to be integrated into the NMNH wayfinding system.

B. Scope of Work The contractor shall provide professional, technical, and non-personal services to develop a comprehensive design strategy, draft wall panel text and suggest other exhibition elements to complement the hyperwall content to create The EIC Exhibition. Additionally, the contractor shall provide a graphic identity for the exhibition to be included in all NMNH wayfinding. The project scope includes multiple iterations of exhibit designs and wall panels-both text and design. All final design and text elements will be developed with input from the exhibition evaluation feedback.

All exhibition elements will be developed by the contractor in collaboration with and approved by both NASA and NMNH. NASA personnel will work with the contractor to develop draft wall text and all related content. NASA and NMNH will review all material proposed for the museum floor.

C. Tasks The contractor shall meet with the NASA Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) and internal NASA project team, at a mutually convenient time within one week of the contract being awarded to discuss project goals, scheduling, and deliverables. Then, a broader meeting with both NASA and NMNH representatives will be established to better understand NMNH design guidelines and fabrication/installation capabilities. All design elements are subject to NASA/NMNH design standards and policies. The contractor shall work with NASA and NMNH staff on any facility requirements determined by Smithsonian and make any required modifications following the Smithsonian extensive review process, if required. This will be accomplished with support from the NASA project team.

This work shall be divided into phases of work to be completed by the contractor in consultation with NASA. Throughout each phase of the contract, the contractor shall meet with the NASA COTR and/or team on at least a bi-weekly basis to determine next steps.

Base Contract

Contractor shall create a design strategy and draft exhibition panel content for an initial prototype exhibition. Following input from an evaluation vendor, final exhibition design and panels will be developed.

Option 1

Contractor shall continue to develop panels and other exhibit elements based on evaluation input after the final installation. Contractor will work with NASA and NMNH to update panels as additional hyperwall content is added. At key stages of the development of the project, the contractor shall test prototypes and components under development with target audiences in coordination with evaluation firm. The goal is to determine how the visitors are interacting with an understanding all exhibition content.

D. Deliverables and Submittals The contractor shall deliver the following to NASA for the base contract.

Project Schedule: The schedule identifies milestones, responsibilities, and how deliverables for the project will be met. The project schedule should include at least one week (5 calendar days) for each NASA review of relevant materials for key deliverables. Following NASA’s review, contractor will have an opportunity to make required modifications for NMNH review. NMNH will be given an additional week for their review.

Content Development, Design and Design Detailing

• With collaboration from NASA, complete the intellectual development of the EIC exhibition at

NMNH. This may include additional meetings with subject matter experts and other NASA personnel.

• Develop a turnkey design for the EIC exhibition that features the hyperwall in the gallery identified at NMNH. Exhibition elements include but are not limited to the exhibition graphics, text, images, physical structures, and potential objects and display systems. Additionally, contractor shall develop a graphic identity for the exhibition to be incorporated into all NMNH wayfinding systems. Not all may be selected for development, but contractor shall deliver a range of options.

• In collaboration with the fabrication shop at NMNH, develop a technical drawing package for exhibition elements that can be produced onsite at the museum. Included in the technical drawings shall be recommendations for materials, structures and other commercial products.

Dimensions of all exhibit components shall be specified, and production ready files shall be delivered for both prototype and final exhibition elements.

• In coordination with NASA and NMNH, develop set up installation plans for exhibit space to include structure, signage and content and interaction with the NMNH gallery.

• Provide design renderings and fabrication drawings for internal presentations and review and approval by NASA and NMNH leadership.

Project Management:

Provide project management and coordination for iterative design.

• Provide regular updates in meetings with NASA and NMNH personnel.

• Provide coordination with all relevant offices at NMNH including exhibition production and installation.

• Provide coordination and support for NMNH during the facilities review process, as required by Smithsonian.

• Appear onsite at installation to support NMNH team.

E. Specifications

NASA will furnish the following to the contractor upon request:

• Content and vision documents that define the goals and objectives of the Exhibition

• Access to project experts as needed to support the contractor’s work, NASA will coordinate with the museum to provide the following as needed:

• Access to public gallery space and meeting space for design and installation phases

• Access to working with fabrication and installation department

G. Period of Performance The period of performance for this effort shall be through the first quarter of calendar year 2024; with an option to extend for an additional year.

H. Place of Performance The contractor shall work with the NASA and NMNH project teams both remotely and in-person at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA, and virtually via Teams or other client-approved virtual meeting platforms. Meetings with the client may be held in-person or virtually, as agreed upon by the contractor and client. All other work will be done at the contractor’s facility.

I. Travel All travel will occur in the metropolitan Washington, DC region.

J. Media Usage Guidelines

Contractor shall follow all elements found in NASA Media Usage Guidelines. NASA material may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA or by any NASA employee or contractor of a commercial product, service, or activity, or used in any manner that might mislead. Please see Media Usage Guidelines | NASA NASA Advertising Guidelines and Merchandising Guidelines for more information.

Requests to use any images from the Exhibition or materials related to exhibition development for any purpose outside of the contract shall be submitted in writing no less than two weeks prior to intended use to allow for ample time for review by NASA Office of General Counsel.

Contractor shall also follow any relevant Smithsonian guidelines related to media usage.

K. Proposed Milestones and Timeline

Proposed Exhibition Development Schedule for Prototype Phase

• Project kickoff within one week of contract award-to be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.

• Walkthrough of NMNH gallery to occur at mutually convenient time within the first two weeks of the contract award.

• NASA to arrange for contractor to connect with all relevant parties within NASA (e.g. SMEs) and NMNH within first two weeks of contract award. Contractor may contact NASA personnel for subsequent inquiries/interviews.

• Contractor will participate in weekly project meetings. Exhibition prototype elements shall be developed within seven weeks of project kickoff for review by NASA. Comments will be submitted to contractor within one week of receipt of draft plan.

• Following NASA comment period, contractor will modify exhibition prototype elements per NASA feedback and develop updated package for review by NMNH allowing for a one-week comment period.

• Contractor updates prototype package and completes production ready files for NMNH NLT award plus 8 weeks https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/Advertising_Guidelines.html http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/Merchandising_Guidelines.html

• NMNH installs prototype elements NLT plus 10 weeks. Contractor awaits feedback from evaluation firm on response to content and presentation.

• Report from evaluation firm due NLT September 15, 2023. Contractor meets with NASA and NMNH to determine next steps and modifications to both content and exhibition elements.

Final exhibition phase milestones to be developed by NASA with input from NASA and NMNH.