The US Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (CCNJ), on behalf of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (CCDC AC) seeks to enter into a Grant for a Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is considered a competitive combined synopsis/solicitation, therefore, this announcement constitutes the only synopsis or solicitation that will be released.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest employer of scientists and engineers in the United States and employs nearly half (46%) of the scientists and engineers in the Federal government. Under the Federal STEM strategic plan, the Department is charged with developing STEM initiatives that are unique to the DoD mission and also help meet national goals of: improving instruction; increasing engagement; growing the pool of STEM degree holders; broadening the participation of historically underserved groups; and improving the graduate school experience. DoD STEM represents the Department’s mission to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the educational continuum to sustain the Department’s technological edge. It is estimated that 80% of the jobs in the United States will require STEM skills in the next decade.

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides learning opportunities from elementary school through graduate school to inspire and cultivate a diverse pool of exceptional STEM talent. DoD programs connect STEM education in the classroom to the excitement, skills, and challenges that some with safeguarding the United States. For example, DoD STEM scholarships provide awards to students who have demonstrated ability and aptitude for excelling in STEM fields in disciplines of importance to DoD. DoD STEM internships allow high school and college students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research, solving real world problems at DoD laboratories and facilities

The objective of this FOA, which is being issued in accordance with 10 USC §2192, is to seek application packages from Applicants capable of engaging and improving Grades K-12 Plus (to include colleges, universities, and vocational schools) STEM skills through outreach programs and support services on a national level. The requirement for increased STEM professional development is necessary to meet the long term national defense needs of the United States for personnel proficient in such skills.

It is expected that the Applicant will review all attachments and amendments to this notice prior to Application package preparation and submission. 

Each Applicant responding to this notice shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. The representations and certifications made by your Company, including those completed electronically via the SAM shall be incorporated by reference into any resulting Grant that is awarded from this notice.

All application packages shall be submitted through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov). Required application package documentation is identified within the FOA. Forms for completion can be found on the Grants.gov website under the Research and Related (R&R) section of the forms repository.

The Government will review all submissions and perform an integrated assessment of each submission in accordance with the evaluation criteria and relative order of importance of the criteria as listed in the FOA. The Government intends to make a single award as a result of this FOA. The Government reserves the right to select for award, one or none of the application packages received. An award is anticipated to be made to the Applicant whose application package contains a proposed solution that is most advantageous to the Government’s identified STEM program objectives and tasks. The Government reserves the right to award to other than the most highly rated application package.

The Government intends to award a contract without exchanges (except for clarification), therefore, each Applicant is urged to provide an application package that contains its most favorable terms in order to reflect its best possible potential in fulfilling the program objectives and tasks. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct exchanges to permit Applicants to revise their application packages, if necessary. A notice of the Government’s award selection decision will be announced on FedBizOpps upon the conclusion of the evaluation process.

Any questions related to this FOA must be directed to the Government point of contact identified below by 4:00pm Eastern time on 08 May 2020:

David Grimes – Grants Specialist, CCNJ-ET – david.m.grimes2.civ@mail.mil

Edward Gorsky – Grants Specialist, CCNJ-ET – edward.a.gorsky.civ@mail.mil

Morgan Ziatyk – Grants Officer, CCNJ-ET – morgan.f.ziatyk.civ@mail.mil

All information submitted in response to this FOA will be at no cost or obligation to the Government. No sensitive or classified information will be discussed.