R -- The Presidential Awards for Exellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program

The Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking a contractor to provide support to the White House sponsored program entitled "Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)", administered by NSF. The contractor shall be responsible for the conduct of programmatic activities from the beginning of the annual cycle through evaluation of applications and announcement and recognition of awardees. Not included are "management" related activities of the Program, which are the sole responsibility of NSF staff. The main task areas consist of the following: a) the application phase: development and dissemination e all necessary announcements, application forms and materials; b) the recruitment phase: coordination and standard setting for state efforts; c) the state competition phase: arrangement for and conduct of the merit review of applications; d) National Selection Committee Phase: design and implementation of the national selection process; e) recognition week phase: planning and executing recognition events for national awardees; f) analysis phase, which is : developing and maintaining a database with relevant awardee information and planning and executing a research agenda about the effectiveness of the program; (g) Publicity, which is on-going: developing and executing a plan for publicizing the PAEMST program, for informing the media about the competition, Recognition Week events, and activities of award recipients following Recognition Week; and h) reporting which is : provide timely, thorough, and accurate reporting on tasks undertaken. Contractor shall possess a strong knowledge of science and mathematics as well as the fields of mathematics and science education. A three (3) year contract term with one (1) two (2) year option period is anticipated. A cost-pus-fixed-fee term type contract is anticipated. Full and open competition is sought under NAICS code 611710 "Educational Support Services." A phase-in process in anticipated in early - mid August. Award is anticipated by September 1, 2003. The solicitation as issued will include source selection factors including cost/price and non-cost/price evaluation factors. We anticipate solicitation release in late March 2003. It is expected that the solicitation will be posted to the NSF website (www.nsf.gov) and at the FEDBIZOPPS website www.fedbizopps.gov within 15 days of the posting of this synopsis. Telephone requests for this solicitation will not be accepted. There will be no hard copy (paper) copies of the solicitation or any subsequent amendments made available. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program was established in 1983 by The White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program, which is conducted annually, identifies and honors outstanding science and mathematics teachers, kindergarten through 12th grade, in each of the 50 states and the four U.S. jurisdictions. These teachers will serve as models for their colleagues and will be leaders in the improvement of science and mathematics education throughout the nation. Beginning in 2003, at most 108 teachers will be recognized each year: 54 mathematics teachers and 54 science teachers at different grade levels. Awards will go to secondary (grades 7-12) and primary (grades K-6) teachers in alternating years, respectively. Winners will be announced the President of the United States through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Awardees and their guests (216 total) will be brought to Washington, DC for a "Recognition Week" celebration that is typically held in March. Numbered Note 26 applies.