Description
Organizations that are interested in additional information related to the NSF Builder Platform may attend an informational webinar that NSF will be hosting on January 12, 2022 at 3:30-5:00 PM EST. RSVP link: https://nsf.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-ipqTopHPd5Txm-e-hzvU7tlnzZdGY The National Science Foundation (NSF) is looking for an organization that can help develop, launch, and run a “Builder Platform” to support its NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) awardees, a signature initiative of NSF’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) directorate. The goal of the NSF Engines program is to spur the development of inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystems across the country, with an intentional focus on regions that have not fully participated in the tech boom of past decades. The NSF Engines Builder Platform (called “Builder Platform” hereafter) and accompanying team will be responsible for providing the tailored support structures, networks, and services needed by and vital to the growth of individual NSF Engines. The Builder Platform has been planned as a human-centered portfolio of support structures that empower awardees with the tools, skills, networks, and capital needed to thrive. The Builder Platform team will support the full portfolio of NSF Engines awardees spanning Type-1 and Type-2 awardees (at present, NSF anticipates up to 50 Type-1 awardees and up to five Type-2 awardees in the first phase of program). NSF anticipates making a significant initial investment in the form of a three-year award to jumpstart the Builder Platform effort. The purpose of this market intelligence is to begin identifying the types of organizations and capabilities needed to oversee the NSF Engines Builder Platform effort. The Builder Platform and the work of the team leading it should focus on developing interpersonal connections between NSF Engines awardees and the broader research, innovation, venture, workforce development, and economic development communities. Specifically, NSF is seeking one or more organization(s) who can help awardees across five major categories of support, namely: 1) Nurturing talent, 2) Building partnerships, 3) Creating sustainable ecosystems beyond NSF’s investment, 4) Developing metrics and data tools and 5) Embedding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) into all NSF Engines awardee strategies. To lead this effort, NSF is interested in organizations that have worked with early-stage entrepreneurial ecosystems, commercialization and/or tech transfer entities, venture studios, state and local government economic development agencies, tribal governments, and/or startup companies. Of particular interest are organizations that have helped these entities build their networks, develop cross-sector partnerships, and quickly and sustainably scale their growth. NSF is asking interested parties to: 1) Provide a two-page “Vision and Capabilities Statement” outlining their proposed vision for the Builder Platform as a lead organization and/or; 2) Provide feedback on the Statement of Objectives (SOO), using the Microsoft Excel template entitled “NSF Builder Platform Feedback.” Respondents are not required to submit a response to participate in a future solicitation. However, if organizations would like to respond, they are limited to a total of two responses (one response to each section). The two-page Vision and Capabilities document must comply with the following format requirements: Arial7 (not Arial Narrow), Courier New, or Palatino Linotype at a font size of 10 points or larger ; Times New Roman at a font size of 11 points or larger; or Computer Modern family of fonts at a font size of 11 points or larger. Please submit all responses to this market intelligence to the points of contact listed on this notice with the subject line "NSF Engines Builder Platform Market Intelligence". This market intelligence is not a request for competitive proposals, but rather for information purposes only.