Evaluation of the NRT and IGE Programs

This IS NOT a request for bids, quotes, or proposal. This is a sources sought announcement only. The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research and obtain information from qualified sources. No award may be issued from this Request for Information Notice. Interested parties of any size may submit a response to this notice. NSF encourages Small Business participation, including Teaming Arrangements and Joint Ventures. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. The Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), 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. 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. See the attachments for more details.