NASA’s Office of Education, collaborating closely with the NASA Mission Directorates, and also in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of Communications and Mission Support Directorate, solicits proposals led by Informal Education Institutions (IEIs) to provide inquiry- or experiential-based

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educational opportunities with direct alignment with major NASA missions for students and the public.

These opportunities shall utilize partnerships with major networks of other IEIs, youth-serving organizations, libraries, and/or K-12 schools along with commercial entities, higher education institutions, and/or other agencies that support Federal STEM education goals.

Through this solicitation, which transitions from its precursor (CP4SMPVC), NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and participate in NASA-based activities, and to increase the capacity of institutions to utilize NASA resources and to provide students with the opportunity to contribute to NASA’s mission.

In particular, this solicitation seeks projects that feature the most current NASA missions, science, engineering, exploration, or technologies in space exploration, space science, or microgravity (or a combination of these topics) to support NASA Engagement outcomes.

NASA TEAM II seeks to provide authentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and the public, and/or informal and formal educators serving these audiences that:
• Provide STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and priorities; • Utilize partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs to maximize reach and impact; • Leverage NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; • Better serve groups historically underrepresented and underserved in STEM fields; • Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project and address state and local needs; and • Provide a measureable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM.

For this solicitation, informal education projects shall target STEM engagement and advancement of STEM literacy for youth (particularly those in grades 4-8), families, and informal and formal educators serving those audiences.

Organizations submitting a proposal under this NRA are certifying that they meet the following criteria to propose as the lead or managing organization:
• legally recognized by a federal, state or local authority as a non-profit; • located in the United States or its Territories; and • provide STEM education programming, (such as but not limited to exhibits) through leadership of or partnerships with major networks of other IEIs, youth-serving organizations, libraries, and/or K-12 schools along with commercial entities, higher education institutions, and/or other agencies that support Federal STEM education goals.

An eligible institution is not required to have the words museum, visitor center, science, planetarium, youth, or library in its legal name.

All types of NASA Visitor Centers (e.g., private, state or federal entities) are eligible to propose (see Appendix G, Identification of Entities as NASA Visitor Centers Special Guidance:
STEM Engagement Activities and NASA Visitor Centers).

A Principal Investigator (PI) shall be the President, Vice President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chairman of the Board, Superintendent of Schools, Planetarium Director, Director of Sponsored Research, or similarly ranked executive from an eligible institution.

PI status is a key indicator that the proposal has sufficient institutional engagement to be successfully implemented.

For additional information for the detailed rationale and criteria for Principal Investigators, see Appendix J, Principal Investigator Criteria Details.

Not later than the due date for proposals, proposers to this NRA shall have:
1) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, 2) a valid registration with the System for Award Management (SAM), 3) a valid Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code, 4) a valid registration with NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) (this also applies to all entities that are proposed for sub-awards or subcontracts.) Every institution that intends to submit a proposal to this NRA, including the proposed lead institution or any partner whether an IEI, other non-profit institution, state and local Government agency, and any other organization that will serve as a sub-awardee or contractor, shall be registered in NSPIRES.

Every institution that intends to submit a proposal to this NRA, including the proposed lead institution or any partner whether an IEI, other non-profit institution, state and local Government agency, and any other organization that will serve as a sub-awardee or contractor, shall be registered in NSPIRES.

Electronic submission of proposals is required by the due date and must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization.

Such registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal.

All principal investigators and other participants (e.g.

coinvestigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of submission system.

Potential proposers and proposing organizations are urged to access the system(s) well in advance of the proposal due date(s) of interest to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information.

Electronic proposals must be submitted via the NASA proposal data system NSPIRES or via Grants.gov.

Organizations that intend to submit proposals via Grants.gov must be registered with Grants.gov and with NSPIRES.

Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.

If so, such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted on http://nspires.nasaprs.com.

It is the proposer’s responsibility to regularly check NSPIRES for updates to this NRA.

Awards to eligible applicants who are selected will be made as grants or cooperative agreements.