BACKGROUND: STARBASE is a Department of Defense (DoD) program which serves the local community youth across the country by offering students an opportunity to participate in a variety of learning experiences designed to increase interest in and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Activities also help students to develop positive self-esteem, provide goal setting/achievement skills and tools to lead a drug free life-style. Hands-on approach and participatory learning experiences provide a strong motivation to learn. Teamwork is emphasized throughout the curriculum, teaching students to work effectively with others. Typical STARBASE Program is for 5th grade students from area schools who attend classes one day a week over a 4 or 5-week period. Program is targeted for at-risk youth. Students are identified and selected by the school system. Participating teachers from each class are provided supplementary materials designed to sustain student excitement between visits. Special programs can be offered for teachers and students year-round. STARBASE curriculum includes (but is not limited to) astronomy, model rocketry, physics of flight and can be customized to include local facilities and areas of expertise. Complete lesson plans corresponding to state math and science requirements have been developed for all activities. Evaluation of program impact is based upon pretest and post‑test score comparisons and questionnaires returned from students, teachers, parents, and participating personnel. STARBASE Wright-Patt received approval and funding from the Department of Defense Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs OSD-RA in December 2003 and began operations in September 2004. It is the only STARBASE Academy in Ohio and it joins 66 other established STARBASE Academies across the United States and Puerto Rico at active duty, Guard and Reserve military installations. STARBASE Wright-Patt is part of the existing Wright-Patterson AFB Educational Outreach (EO) program. STARBASE Wright-Patt is currently operating at full capacity and hosts approximately 1500 students per year. NEED: Community Partnerships are allowed and encouraged under the STARBASE concept and private donations may be accepted Hiring of STARBASE Staff is through a local academic institution that receives a grant to act as a fiscal agent for the program receiving reimbursement for staff salaries and benefits. Staff works at STARBASE Wright-Patt under supervision of the STARBASE Executive Director WPAFB retains right to determine rates of pay and to make all decisions regarding employee recruitment, selection, performance evaluation and retention. Applicable Federal and State laws and regulations apply REQUIREMENTS: Provide a budget mechanism for hiring and paying STARBASE WRIGHT-PATT staff and such other financial transactions as agreed to by the parties. School districts within a 10 mile radius of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are eligible to submit proposals. Funds for the contract recipient will be provided as follows: For salary (including all benefits, FICA, Workman's Comp, etc.) Funds will be repaid for the applicable pay periods advanced by the contract recipient Ensure that all federal and state requirements for employees are met. All pay and benefits services for STARBASE Wright-Patt personnel, which include withholdings for retirement, FICA, federal and state taxes, health insurance, etc. will be made by the contract recipient with funding provided by AFRL through the DoD that is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the STARBASE WRIGHT-PATT program SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS and FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS: Responses to this RFI are due 30 days after the posting date to the following email address:
[email protected] . Any response received after this date will also be considered but may not be included in initial reporting or assessments. All responses should be in PDF or MS Word format and emailed to the technical point of contact Mr. Daniel Andrews. The subject line of the email should read, "STARBASE Wright-Patt RFI" Unclassified/Classified RFI Responses: All responses should be unclassified. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice will not be returned. Format specifications include 12-point font, single-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches paper, with 1-inch margins in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Responses should not exceed 5 pages. Submission of Documentation Cover Page (1 page) with RFI number and name, address, company / institution, technical point of contact, with printed name, title, email address, phone, and date. The Cover page shall also specify business type (i.e. small business, small disadvantaged business, women owned small business, veteran owned small business, HUBZone, large business, educational institution, etc.) Technical data and approach (4 pages) No cost or pricing information should be provided. Any received will be deleted and destroyed. vi. Due to email constraints, the size of the submission is limited to 10 MB. VI. QUESTIONS AND POINT OF CONTACT: All correspondence and technical questions related to this matter should be e-mailed (preferred) or mailed to the Program Lead at: Daniel J. Andrews II AFRL/EN EZE STEM Division Chief Director, STARBASE Wright-Patt 2261 Monahan Way WPAFB, OH 45433
[email protected]