Blake Ratcliff

Blake Ratcliff serves as the NASA HUNCH (High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware) Program Manager, overseeing the development and execution of educational partnerships that bridge classroom learning with real-world aerospace engineering challenges. In this role, he manages a portfolio of procurement actions designed to support student-led hardware development initiatives aligned with NASA’s STEM engagement goals. His acquisitions typically involve research and development services, prototyping, and educational technology solutions, often structured as cooperative agreements or small business set-aside contracts to foster innovation among academic and emerging technical partners. Ratcliff plays a critical role in translating NASA’s technical objectives into accessible, curriculum-integrated projects that cultivate the next generation of aerospace engineers. While no specific contractor relationships are currently identified in the procurement record, Ratcliff’s program consistently engages educational institutions, STEM-focused nonprofits, and small technology firms with expertise in mechanical design, electronics fabrication, and educational payload development. His working relationships are characterized by collaborative, mission-driven partnerships rather than traditional vendor contracts, emphasizing capacity-building and hands-on learning over commercial delivery. These engagements often involve iterative prototyping cycles and student mentorship frameworks, requiring agile contracting approaches tailored to academic timelines and educational outcomes. Ratcliff’s procurement patterns show a 100% preference for non-set-aside contracts, indicating a focus on technical merit and educational alignment over socioeconomic categorizations. While he does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his program inherently supports small business participation by partnering with startups and local innovators that provide specialized engineering support to student teams. His approach reflects a mission-first philosophy, prioritizing capability and educational impact over socioeconomic targeting. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—reflecting his deep alignment with applied engineering R&D. He procures services related to mechanical systems prototyping, avionics integration, materials testing, and educational STEM tooling, often requiring expertise in aerospace standards, NASA technical specifications, and hands-on fabrication environments. His domain expertise lies in translating complex engineering requirements into scalable, student-accessible projects that reinforce NASA’s educational and innovation missions.