NASA/MSFC Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience (NPWEE)

As an agency, NASA receives a large number of innovative proposals for new technologies and concepts to enable agency objectives and enhance mission capabilities. Proposals are generally assessed using a structured review process with predefined and explicit scoring criteria to minimize subjectivity. In some cases, a well written and compliant proposal for a concept with low probability of success may outscore an ingenious and effective technical solution poorly articulated and without regard to the stated selection criteria. While one approach proposed is to allow the review team greater freedom and subjectivity, it is highly desirable for both NASA and the submitting institutions to have the highest quality proposals. While proposal feedback is provided after the selection process, engaged discussion with the full review team is limited. Notional implementation of the NASA/MSFC Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience opportunity: 1) Institutions will establish a project team for engagement with the NPWEE opportunity. - We are anticipating approximate eight (8) teams per opportunity. 2) Week 1: NASA/MSFC will provide an introduction to proposal writing 3) Week 2: NASA/MSFC will provide a solicitation to the participating teams 4) Weeks 3-4: NASA/MSFC will host a Question and Answer session and website 5) Week 5: Teams will submit proposals and New Technology Reports 6) Weeks 6-7: The teams transition to serve as review teams and conduct independent assessment 7) Weeks 8-10: Panels chaired by a NASA subject matter expert are convened by the teams for final proposal ranking. 8) Week 10: The winning proposal is announced and funded to mature the concept. - Anticipated value for award is $10,000. NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is hereby soliciting institutions interested in participating in this NPWEE opportunity. The project will be based on the academic year, allowing the experience to fit within a traditional spring or fall semester project course. The response format is as follows: 1. E-mail response Responses to this notice must include: 1. Institution Point of Contact 2. Interest in NPWEE opportunity to being January or August 2019 (Spring or Fall Semester) 3. Indicate the resources (skills and time) that would be allocated and implementation approach Examples may include: - Informal project team of volunteer undergraduate and graduate students from the school of mechanical engineering - Formal 1 credit project course open to graduate and undergraduate students within the school of aerospace engineering - Formal 1 credit course lead by the school of business with a technical writer upperclassman and partnered with the engineering department and small businesses within the university research park MSFC will evaluate the responses based on the following criteria: 1. Implementation approach to formulate and coordinate team activities Participation in this opportunity is currently open to all U.S. educational institutions. All responses shall be submitted to MSFC electronically via email by 2:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, October 26, 2018, to Melinda E. Swenson (melinda.e.swenson@nasa.gov) and John W. Dankanich (john.dankanich@nasa.gov). Please respond with "NASA/MSFC Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience" in the subject line when submitting. This partnering opportunity sources sought does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts or other agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for the information solicited. If selected for consideration through this notice, the prospective partner(s) will work closely with a NASA MSFC representative to implement the NPWEE opportunity. Note that a requirement will be for the participating teams to submit a NASA New Technology Report (NTR). The student(s) and/or institution will retain all commercial rights to the concepts developed. However, the government intends to retain government use rights to concepts developed through the NPWEE opportunity. Technical and programmatic questions should be directed to John Dankanich (john.dankanich@nasa.gov) and procurement questions should be directed to Melinda E Swenson (melinda.e.swenson@nasa.gov. All questions should be submitted electronically.