STARBASE RFP CAO 6 May 2025 v1 Final.pdf

Department of Defense STARBASE STEM Initiative

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Nonprofit Oversight and Management of DoD STARBASE STEM Initiative

Department of Defense STARBASE STEM Initiative Point of Contact: Chief Master Sergeant Adreana Freeman-Irons, Program Manager, 19th Mission Support Group

Proposal Schedule (Eastern Time)

RFP Issue Date: 8:00 am on Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline: 4:00 pm on Thursday, June 5, 2025

Award Announcement: 4:00 pm on Monday, June 16, 2025

The Department of Defense (DoD) seeks proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to manage, oversee, and enhance the STARBASE STEM initiative. The selected nonprofit will be responsible for delivering hands-on STEM educational experiences in compliance with STARBASE standards, engaging students through advanced technology, simulations, and scientific exploration.

Adreana Freeman-Irons, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF Program Manager, 19 Mission Support Group, Little Rock AFB 1250 Thomas Avenue, Suite 160 Little Rock AFB, AR 72099 Duty Ph: 501-987-3770 DSN 731-3770 Duty Cell: 501-457-3665 Adreana.freeman_irons@us.af.mil

19msg.cce@us.af.mil

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page Number

About STARBASE 3

Overview and Purpose 3

Deliverables 3-4

Proposal Requirements 4

Proposal Schedule 4-5

Instructions for Proposers 5

Selection Criteria 5-6

General Information 6-8

About STARBASE

STARBASE is a DoD program that serves Title 1 local school districts within the surrounding area of Little Rock AFB. The program houses 3 funded classrooms and 2 unfunded classrooms hosting 90 scholars each week exposing each to high yield STEM concepts through hands-on instruction and innovative curriculum during the school year. Enrichment activities include 6, 1 week summer camps and 4 community outreach activities and instructional programming.

This initiative aims to inspire students to pursue STEM careers, especially in areas relevant to national security.

Key program goals include:

- Enhancing student engagement in STEM subjects

- Promoting an understanding of DoD missions

- Aligning with national STEM standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

**Please see full details as outlined in AF DoDI 1025.07 dated 15 Jan 2021

Overview and Purpose

The purpose of this RFP is to identify a nonprofit with demonstrated success in STEM education and outreach, particularly in supporting Department of Defense-affiliated STEM programs. The selected nonprofit will provide oversight, staffing, curriculum management, and continuous improvement for the STARBASE program.

The transition must be fully implemented by August 1, 2025, to ensure the program is ready for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Deliverables

The selected nonprofit will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Program Management and Staffing

- Recruit, train, and supervise qualified educators and administrative staff.

- Ensure all personnel meet DoD and STARBASE program requirements.

• Curriculum Delivery

- Implement and continuously enhance DoD-approved STARBASE curriculum.

- Deliver engaging, hands-on STEM lessons aligned with NGSS and STARBASE standards.

• Performance Tracking and Reporting

- Establish metrics and benchmarks for assessing program success.

- Provide regular performance reports to the 19th Mission Support Group Program

Manager, Mission Support Group Commander, and Wing Commander.

• Community Outreach and Partnerships

- Develop outreach strategies to increase program visibility within the community.

- Collaborate with local schools, other nonprofits, and STEM-focused organizations to expand program reach.

• Quality Assurance and Compliance

- Conduct regular evaluations to ensure program quality and compliance with DoD regulations.

- Address any identified performance issues promptly.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals must include the following sections:

1. Organizational Background and Experience

- A brief history of the organization, including relevant experience in STEM education and any previous DoD partnerships.

2. Project Approach

- Detailed plan for meeting the scope of work outlined above.

- Strategies for onboarding and training staff, implementing STARBASE curriculum, and ensuring compliance.

3. Staffing Plan

- Overview of the key personnel who will be involved, including their qualifications and roles.

- Outline of recruitment and training procedures for educators.

4. Evaluation and Reporting Methods

- Description of metrics and benchmarks for program success.

- Proposed methods for data collection, performance tracking, and reporting.

5. Timeline

- A timeline for each phase of the transition and program implementation, from MOA start to full operational capacity by August 1, 2025.

6. Budget

- Knowledge of budget concepts outlined in DoDI on staffing structure, DoD payment timelines and mission essential allowances of funding.

Proposal Schedule

RFP Issue Date 8:00 am on Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline 4:00 pm on Thursday, June 5, 2025

Panel Member Board Meeting 1:00 pm on Friday, June 6, 2025

Panel Review of Proposals 4:00 pm on Monday, June 9-12, 2025

Notification of Selection 4:00 pm on Monday, June 16, 2025

Award Conference 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 18, 2025

MOA Start Date 8:00 am on Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Full Operational Transition Complete 4:00 pm on Friday, August 1, 2025 Instructions for Proposers

Terms and Conditions

1. Confidentiality: All information provided in response to this RFP shall be considered confidential.

2. No Obligation: The release of this RFP does not obligate DoD to make an award.

3. Right to Amend: DoD reserves the right to amend this RFP as necessary.

II. Questions

Questions for the purposes of clarifying the RFP must be submitted in writing by email to, Chief Master Sergeant Adreana Freeman-Irons, adreana.freeman_irons@us.af.mil and must be received no later than 4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

*Please note that submission of questions for response does not in any way enhance or guarantee the chances of receiving a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) through this proposal.

III. Proposal Submission

• All responses to this solicitation must be received in single pdf format at adreana.freeman_irons@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

• Your organization may be requested to schedule an oral presentation as an additional response to this RFP.

Selection Criteria

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals Percent of Score

1. Relevant Experience 25%

a. Demonstrates experience in STEM education and familiarity with DoD or similarly structured programs.

b. Showcase examples of successes in similarly structured programs

0-10 Points

2. Project Approach 25%

a. Provides a clear, practical approach for managing and delivering the STARBASE program.

0-10 Points

b. Includes a detailed plan for the transition phase and addresses each aspect of the scope of work (program management, curriculum delivery, etc.).

0-10 Points

3. Staffing and Qualifications 15%

a. Describe a plan with a clear execution for recruitment, training, and retaining experienced personnel to lead STARBASE.

0-10 Points

4. Community Engagement & Outreach 10%

a. Demonstrates a proactive approach to building relationships with local schools, parents, and the wider community to enhance program visibility and access.

0-10 Points

5. Evaluation and Reporting Methods 10%

a. Outlines effective performance metrics and evaluation strategies to track program success and address any performance issues promptly.

0-10 Points

b. Reporting methods are comprehensive and align with DoD expectations.

0-10 Points

6. Cost-Effectiveness 15%

a. Budget is realistic, transparent, and justified for the scope of work.

0-10 Points

b. Demonstrates cost-efficiency while meeting quality standards

TOTAL 100%

I. Memorandum of Agreement Period

The MOA period shall begin on 1 July 2025 for a 3-year period with annual reviews. The Department of Defense and the selected Non-Profit Organization reserve the right to terminate this Memorandum of Agreement with a 180-day notice.

II. Agreement Award The Department of Defense reserves the right to award the MOA in a manner deemed to be in the best interests of STARBASE to meet its legislative requirement.

III. Amendment or Cancellation of the RFP The Department of Defense reserves the right to cancel, amend, modify, or otherwise change this RFP at any time if it deems it to be in the best interests of the STARBASE Program to meet its legislative requirement.

IV. Proposal Modifications No additions or changes to any proposal will be allowed after the proposal due date, unless such modification is specifically requested by the Department of Defense. The Department of Defense, at its option, may seek proposer retraction and clarification of any discrepancy or contradiction found during its review of proposals.

V. Proposer Presentation of Supporting Evidence Proposers must be prepared to provide any evidence of expertise, experience, performance, ability, and/or financial surety that the Department of Defense deems to be necessary or appropriate to fully establish the qualifications represented in proposal.

VI. Proposer Demonstration of Proposed Services and/or Products Proposers must be able to confirm their ability to provide all proposed services.

VII. Erroneous Awards The Department of Defense reserves the right to correct inaccurate awards. This includes revoking the awarding of a MOA to a proposer and subsequently awarding the MOA to a different proposer. Such action shall not constitute a breach of the MOA on the part of the Department of Defense because the MOA with the initial proposer will be deemed voided as if no MOA were ever in place.

VIII. Proposal Expenses Proposers are responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in the preparation of proposals and for any subsequent work on the proposal that is required.

IX. Ownership of Proposals All proposals shall become the property of the Department of Defense.

X. Oral Agreement or Arrangements Any alleged oral agreements or arrangements made by proposers with the Department of Defense, STARBASE employees, Mission Support Group Program Manager, and School Liaison Program Manager will be disregarded in any proposal evaluation or associated award.

XI. Not a Contract This RFP is not a contract and, alone, shall not be interpreted as such. Rather, this RFP serves only as the instrument through which proposals are solicited. The Department of Defense will pursue negotiations with the highest-scoring proposal. If, for some reason, the Department of Defense and the selected proposer fail to reach consensus on the issues relative to a contract, then the Department of Defense may commence contract negotiations with other proposers.

The Department of Defense may decide at any time to start the RFP process again.