NASA 2019 TEAM II Grant for STEM Engagement in Museums and Informal Institutions

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled 2019 NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) solicits proposals from Informal Education Institutions (IEIs) for informal education opportunities in support of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the Mission Directorates, and in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of Communications and Mission Support Directorate.

Working in collaboration with other Federal agencies, NASA supports evidence-based, effective, NASA-unique activities that increase STEM capabilities at formal and informal educational institutions and organizations by incorporating content based on NASA’s missions.  Through this solicitation,NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and participate in NASA-based activities, and increase the capacity of institutions to utilize NASA resources and to provide students the opportunity to contribute to NASA’s mission.

This NRA solicits proposals for submitters to uniquely perform NASA education or research for inquiry- or experiential-based educational opportunities that directly align with major NASA missions for students and the public.  The proposed projects 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.

Subject to Congressional appropriation of sufficient funds in Fiscal Years 2020-2021, and also pending NASA’s receipt of proposals of adequate merit, NASA currently plans to select between one (1) and eight (8) proposals for award. NASA reserves the right to make a full or partial selection of any proposal. Successful proposals typically will be funded as cooperative agreements. An individual award will not exceed $1,000,000.  The lowest amount that may be proposed is $500,000.  All proposals submitted shall have a performance period with a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years.

Funding Opportunity Additional Description

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the 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 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. NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused on ultimately serving students. It is recognized that providing support and resources to educators and educational institutions are vital vehicles through which to effectively engage students. Through this solicitation, 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 using innovative tools and platforms.  In particular, this solicitation seeks projects that feature the most current NASA space exploration, missions,engineering, and technologies to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives, strategies, and outcomes. 

NASA TEAM II seeks to provide authentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and for their learning support systems of informal and formal educators that also support NASA STEM Engagement Core Principles, Objectives, and Strategies:

• Provide STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and priorities;
• Leverage NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; 
• Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project and address state and local needs;
• Provide a measurable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM;
• Enhance diversity and inclusion by better serving groups historically underrepresented and under served in STEM fields; and 
• Utilize partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs to magnify and maximize reach and impact;

For this solicitation, informal education projects shall target STEM engagement for youth (particularly those of upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 4-8), and their support systems of families and informal and formal educators and institutions. 

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.

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.

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.  In order to submit a proposal, all team members and their institutions shall first be registered in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com) system.  Proposers submitting through Grants.gov shall also register on Grants.gov.

WARNING:  The required NSPIRES Program Specific Data Form is not available via grants.gov.  Be sure to include your answers to the program specific data sheet (PSD) in grants.gov as an appendix.

Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.  Such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted at NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select “Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH19ZHA002N”. Prospective proposers shall regularly check this NRA’s homepage for updates concerning the activity(s) of interest. FAQs may be updated until the proposal due date. 

When new FAQs are posted, a notice will be sent via the NASA Education Express listserv.  To subscribe to NASA Express, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/education/express. 

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled 2019 NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) solicits proposals from Informal Education Institutions (IEIs) for informal education opportunities in support of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the Mission Directorates, and in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of Communications and Mission Support Directorate.

Working in collaboration with other Federal agencies, NASA supports evidence-based, effective, NASA-unique activities that increase STEM capabilities at formal and informal educational institutions and organizations by incorporating content based on NASA’s missions.  Through this solicitation,NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and participate in NASA-based activities, and increase the capacity of institutions to utilize NASA resources and to provide students the opportunity to contribute to NASA’s mission.

This NRA solicits proposals for submitters to uniquely perform NASA education or research for inquiry- or experiential-based educational opportunities that directly align with major NASA missions for students and the public.  The proposed projects 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.

Subject to Congressional appropriation of sufficient funds in Fiscal Years 2020-2021, and also pending NASA’s receipt of proposals of adequate merit, NASA currently plans to select between one (1) and eight (8) proposals for award. NASA reserves the right to make a full or partial selection of any proposal. Successful proposals typically will be funded as cooperative agreements. An individual award will not exceed $1,000,000.  The lowest amount that may be proposed is $500,000.  All proposals submitted shall have a performance period with a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years.

Funding Opportunity Additional Description

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the 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 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. NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused on ultimately serving students. It is recognized that providing support and resources to educators and educational institutions are vital vehicles through which to effectively engage students. Through this solicitation, 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 using innovative tools and platforms.  In particular, this solicitation seeks projects that feature the most current NASA space exploration, missions,engineering, and technologies to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives,strategies, and outcomes. 

NASA TEAM II seeks to provide authentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and for their learning support systems of informal and formal educators that also support NASA STEM Engagement Core Principles, Objectives, and Strategies:

• Provide STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and priorities;
• Leverage NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; 
• Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project and address state and local needs;
• Provide a measurable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM;
• Enhance diversity and inclusion by better serving groups historically underrepresented and under served in STEM fields; and 
• Utilize partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs to magnify and maximize reach and impact;

For this solicitation, informal education projects shall target STEM engagement for youth (particularly those of upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 4-8), and their support systems of families and informal and formal educators and institutions. 

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.

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.

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.  In order to submit a proposal, all team members and their institutions shall first be registered in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com)system. Proposers submitting through Grants.gov shall also register on Grants.gov.

WARNING: The required NSPIRES Program Specific Data Form is not available via grants.gov.  Be sure to include your answers to the program specific data sheet (PSD) in grants.gov as an appendix.

Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.  Such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted at NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/(select“Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH19ZHA002N”. Prospective proposers shall regularly check this NRA’s homepage for updates concerning the activity(s) of interest. FAQs may be updated until the proposal due date. 

When new FAQs are posted, a notice will be sent via the NASA Education Express listserv.To subscribe to NASA Express, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/education/express. 

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled 2019 NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) solicits proposals from Informal Education Institutions (IEIs) for informal education opportunities in support of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the Mission Directorates, and in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of Communications and Mission Support Directorate.

Working in collaboration with other Federal agencies, NASA supports evidence-based, effective, NASA-unique activities that increase STEM capabilities at formal and informal educational institutions and organizations by incorporating content based on NASA’s missions.  Through this solicitation,NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and participate in NASA-based activities, and increase the capacity of institutions to utilize NASA resources and to provide students the opportunity to contribute to NASA’s mission.

This NRA solicits proposals for submitters to uniquely perform NASA education or research for inquiry- or experiential-based educational opportunities that directly align with major NASA missions for students and the public.  The proposed projects 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.

Subject to Congressional appropriation of sufficient funds in Fiscal Years 2020-2021, and also pending NASA’s receipt of proposals of adequate merit, NASA currently plans to select between one (1) and eight (8) proposals for award. NASA reserves the right to make a full or partial selection of any proposal. Successful proposals typically will be funded as cooperative agreements. An individual award will not exceed $1,000,000.  The lowest amount that may be proposed is $500,000.  All proposals submitted shall have a performance period with a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years.

Funding Opportunity Additional Description

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the 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 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. NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused on ultimately serving students. It is recognized that providing support and resources to educators and educational institutions are vital vehicles through which to effectively engage students. Through this solicitation, 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 using innovative tools and platforms.  In particular, this solicitation seeks projects that feature the most current NASA space exploration, missions,engineering, and technologies to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives,strategies, and outcomes. 

NASA TEAM II seeks to provide authentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and for their learning support systems of informal and formal educators that also support NASA STEM Engagement Core Principles, Objectives, and Strategies:

• Provide STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and priorities;
• Leverage NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; 
• Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project and address state and local needs;
• Provide a measurable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM;
• Enhance diversity and inclusion by better serving groups historically underrepresented and under served in STEM fields; and 
• Utilize partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs to magnify and maximize reach and impact;

For this solicitation, informal education projects shall target STEM engagement for youth (particularly those of upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 4-8), and their support systems of families and informal and formal educators and institutions. 

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.

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.

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.  In order to submit a proposal, all team members and their institutions shall first be registered in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com)system. Proposers submitting through Grants.gov shall also register on Grants.gov.

WARNING: The required NSPIRES Program Specific Data Form is not available via grants.gov.  Be sure to include your answers to the program specific data sheet (PSD) in grants.gov as an appendix.

Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.  Such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted at NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/(select“Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH19ZHA002N”. Prospective proposers shall regularly check this NRA’s homepage for updates concerning the activity(s) of interest. FAQs may be updated until the proposal due date. 

When new FAQs are posted, a notice will be sent via the NASA Education Express listserv.To subscribe to NASA Express, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/education/express. 

This National Aeronautics andSpace Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled 2019 NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museumsand Informal Institutions (TEAM II) solicits proposals from InformalEducation Institutions (IEIs) for informal education opportunities in supportof NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the MissionDirectorates, and in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office ofCommunications and Mission Support Directorate.

Working in collaboration withother Federal agencies, NASA supports evidence-based, effective, NASA-uniqueactivities that increase STEM capabilities at formal and informal educationalinstitutions and organizations by incorporating content based on NASA’smissions.  Through this solicitation,NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver andparticipate in NASA-based activities, and increase the capacity of institutionsto utilize NASA resources and to provide students the opportunity to contributeto NASA’s mission.

This NRA solicits proposals forsubmitters to uniquely perform NASA education or research for inquiry- or experiential-basededucational opportunities that directly align with major NASA missions forstudents and the public.  The proposedprojects shall utilize partnerships with major networks of other IEIs,youth-serving organizations, libraries, and/or K-12 schools along withcommercial entities, higher education institutions, and/or other agencies thatsupport Federal STEM education goals.

Subject to Congressionalappropriation of sufficient funds in Fiscal Years 2020-2021, and also pendingNASA’s receipt of proposals of adequate merit, NASA currently plans to selectbetween one (1) and eight (8) proposals for award. NASA reserves the right tomake a full or partial selection of any proposal. Successful proposalstypically will be funded as cooperative agreements. An individual award willnot exceed $1,000,000.  The lowest amountthat may be proposed is $500,000.  Allproposals submitted shall have a performance period with a minimum of two yearsand a maximum of four years.

Funding Opportunity Additional Description

NASA’sOffice of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the Mission Directorates,and also in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of Communications andMission Support Directorate, solicits proposals led by Informal EducationInstitutions (IEIs) to provide inquiry- or experiential-based educationalopportunities with direct alignment with major NASA missions for students andthe public.  These opportunities shallutilize partnerships with major networks of other IEIs, youth-servingorganizations, libraries, and/or K-12 schools along with commercial entities,higher education institutions, and/or other agencies that support Federal STEMeducation goals. NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused on ultimatelyserving students. It is recognized that providing support and resources toeducators and educational institutions are vital vehiclesthrough which to effectively engage students. Through this solicitation, NASAseeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and participate inNASA-based activities, and to increase the capacity of institutions to utilizeNASA resources and to provide students with the opportunity to contribute toNASA’s mission using innovative tools and platforms.  In particular, this solicitation seeksprojects that feature the most current NASA space exploration, missions,engineering, and technologies to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives,strategies, and outcomes. 

NASA TEAM II seeks to provideauthentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and for their learningsupport systems of informal and formal educators that also support NASA STEM EngagementCore Principles, Objectives, and Strategies:

• Provide STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and priorities;
• Leverage NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; 
• Use or develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and implementing the project and address state and local needs;
• Provide a measurable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to participate in STEM;
• Enhance diversity and inclusion by better serving groups historically underrepresented and underserved in STEM fields; and 
• Utilize partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM education-related IEIs to magnify and maximize reach and impact;

For this solicitation, informaleducation projects shall target STEM engagement for youth (particularly thoseof upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 4-8), and their supportsystems of families and informal and formal educators and institutions. 

Organizations submitting aproposal under this NRA are certifying that they meet the following criteria topropose as the lead or managing organization: 

•       legally recognized by a federal, state or localauthority as a non-profit; 

•       located in the United States or its Territories;and 

•       provide STEM education programming, (such as butnot limited to exhibits) through leadership of or partnerships with majornetworks of other IEIs, youth-serving organizations, libraries, and/or K-12schools along with commercial entities, higher education institutions, and/orother agencies that support Federal STEM education goals.

An eligible institution is not required to have the words museum, visitorcenter, science, planetarium, youth, or library in its legal name. All types ofNASA Visitor Centers (e.g., private, state or federal entities) are eligible topropose.

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 SponsoredResearch, or similarly ranked executive from an eligible institution.  PIstatus is a key indicator that the proposal has sufficient institutionalengagement to be successfully implemented.

Not later than the due date for proposals, proposers to this NRA shallhave: 

1) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)number, 

2) a valid registration with the System forAward Management (SAM), 

3) a valid Commercial And Government Entity(CAGE) Code, 

4) a valid registration with NASA Solicitation and Proposal IntegratedReview and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) (this also applies to all entities thatare proposed for sub-awards or subcontracts.) 

Every institution that intends to submit aproposal to this NRA, including the proposed lead institution or any partnerwhether 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.  In order to submit a proposal, allteam members and their institutions shall first be registered in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com)system. Proposers submitting through Grants.gov shall also register onGrants.gov.

WARNING: The required NSPIRES Program Specific Data Form is not available viagrants.gov.  Be sure to include youranswers to the program specific data sheet (PSD) in grants.gov as an appendix.

Additional programmaticinformation for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.  Suchinformation will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formalamendment to this NRA and posted at NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/(select“Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH19ZHA002N”). Prospective proposers shallregularly check this NRA’s homepage for updates concerning the activity(s) ofinterest. FAQs may be updated until the proposal due date. 

When newFAQs are posted, a notice will be sent via the NASA Education Express listserv.To subscribe to NASA Express, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/education/express. 

Eligible institutions are established or chartered in order to enhance learning and/or engagement, including but not limited to: the study and display of STEM, or established to honor NASA history, personnel, and missions. The following are examples of the types of organizations eligible to compete under this NRA: air and space centers, aviation museums, children’s museums, natural history museums, observatories, planetariums, science-technology centers; aquariums, arboretums, aviaries, zoos; botanical gardens, nature centers; federal and non-federal NASA Visitor Centers and affiliates or Congressionally-authorized NASA memorials such as Challenger Centers based in the United States; theaters and auditoriums dedicated to astronomical shows; State, Local, or Federally-Recognized Tribal Government museums or planetariums; or associations of eligible institutions as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Eligible non-profit IEIs also include, but are not limited to: amateur astronomy groups, community-based organizations, libraries, out-of-school-time organizations, youth-serving organizations, scientific and or engineering societies, or associations that include both eligible institutions and ineligible institutions.

This National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled 2019 NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums
and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) solicits proposals from Informal
Education Institutions (IEIs) for informal education opportunities in support
of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the Mission
Directorates, and in cooperation with NASA Headquarters’ Office of
Communications and Mission Support Directorate.

Working in collaboration with
other Federal agencies, NASA supports evidence-based, effective, NASA-unique
activities that increase STEM capabilities at formal and informal educational
institutions and organizations by incorporating content based on NASA’s
missions.  Through this solicitation,
NASA seeks to enhance the ability of IEIs and partners to deliver and
participate in NASA-based activities, and increase the capacity of institutions
to utilize NASA resources and to provide students the opportunity to contribute
to NASA’s mission.

This NRA solicits proposals for
submitters to uniquely perform NASA education or research for inquiry- or experiential-based
educational opportunities that directly align with major NASA missions for
students and the public.  The proposed
projects 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.

Subject to Congressional
appropriation of sufficient funds in Fiscal Years 2020-2021, and also pending
NASA’s receipt of proposals of adequate merit, NASA currently plans to select
between one (1) and eight (8) proposals for award. NASA reserves the right to
make a full or partial selection of any proposal. Successful proposals
typically will be funded as cooperative agreements. An individual award will
not exceed $1,000,000.  The lowest amount
that may be proposed is $500,000.  All
proposals submitted shall have a performance period with a minimum of two years
and a maximum of four years.

Funding Opportunity Additional Description

NASA’s
Office of STEM Engagement, collaborating closely with the 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 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. NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused on ultimately
serving students. It is recognized that providing support and resources to
educators and educational institutions are vital vehicles
through which to effectively engage students. Through this solicitation, 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 using innovative tools and platforms.  In particular, this solicitation seeks
projects that feature the most current NASA space exploration, missions,
engineering, and technologies to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives,
strategies, and outcomes. 

NASA TEAM II seeks to provide
authentic STEM engagement opportunities for students and for their learning
support systems of informal and formal educators that also support NASA STEM Engagement
Core Principles, Objectives, and Strategies:

• Provide
  STEM engagement activities aligned with NASA mission-driven needs and
  priorities;
• Leverage
  NASA missions, content, people, and facilities to provide experiential
  authentic STEM opportunities that encourage innovation, critical thinking,
  and problem-solving skills; 
• Use or
  develop evidenced-based educational strategies in designing and
  implementing the project and address state and local needs;
• Provide
  a measurable impact on learner interest in and positive attitudes towards
  STEM topics and improve self-perception of the learner’s ability to
  participate in STEM;
• Enhance
  diversity and inclusion by better serving groups historically
  underrepresented and underserved in STEM fields; and 
• Utilize
  partnerships and regional and national networks of STEM- and STEM
  education-related IEIs to magnify and maximize reach and impact;

For this solicitation, informal
education projects shall target STEM engagement for youth (particularly those
of upper elementary and middle school age, in grades 4-8), and their support
systems of families and informal and formal educators and institutions. 

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.

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.

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.  In order to submit a proposal, all
team members and their institutions shall first be registered in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com)
system. Proposers submitting through Grants.gov shall also register on
Grants.gov.

WARNING: The required NSPIRES Program Specific Data Form is not available via
grants.gov.  Be sure to include your
answers to the program specific data sheet (PSD) in grants.gov as an appendix.

Additional programmatic
information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date.  Such
information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal
amendment to this NRA and posted at NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/(select
“Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH19ZHA002N”). Prospective proposers shall
regularly check this NRA’s homepage for updates concerning the activity(s) of
interest. FAQs may be updated until the proposal due date. 

When new
FAQs are posted, a notice will be sent via the NASA Education Express listserv.
To subscribe to NASA Express, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/education/express.