Rob Betts requested that the following announcement from NASA Headquarters be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.

NASA’s public meeting to discuss its recently issued request for information (RFI), entitled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities in NASA Programs, Contracts and Grants, will take place at 1:00 PM EDT Tuesday, July 13.

The RFI is part of NASA’s Mission Equity, a comprehensive effort to assess agency programs, procurements, grants, and policies, and examine what potential barriers and challenges may exist for communities that are historically underrepresented and underserved.

The public meeting will begin with opening remarks from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other agency officials and guests who will discuss the many ways the public can participate in NASA’s mission. This portion of the event will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.

Following this, at 2 p.m., NASA will host five breakout sessions that address specific avenues of participation and partnership with the agency. Registration is required for participation in a breakout session.

• NASA’s Internship Program (register here)
• Science Competition Process (register here)
• Grants & Cooperative Agreements (register here)
• Procurement/Contracting Strategies (register here)
• Early-Stage Innovations & Partnerships (register here)

NASA is seeking public feedback as it conducts a thorough review of its programs, practices, and policies to assess:

• Potential barriers that underserved and underrepresented communities and individuals may face in agency procurement, contract, and grant opportunities.
• Whether new policies, regulations, or guidance may be necessary to advance equity and opportunities in agency actions and programs.
• How agency resources and tools can assist in enhancing equity, to include increasing access to critical environmental data that help increase quality of life for all.

Areas in which the agency would like to receive comments include:

• Opportunities for NASA to Leverage its Data, Expertise, and Missions to Help Underserved Communities.
• Barriers/Gaps to Accessing Current NASA Grants, Programs, and Procurements.
• Engagement and Outreach with Organizations and Individuals from Underserved and Underrepresented Communities.

On January 20, the White House issued Executive Order 13985, entitled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, asking federal agencies to assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and policies perpetuate barriers to opportunities and benefits underserved groups.

In response, NASA’s Mission Equity and the public comments submitted in response to this RFI will help foster NASA’s vision to benefit the quality of life for all on Earth; NASA’s mission to explore, use and enable the development of space for human enterprise through research, development and transfer of advanced aeronautics, space and related technologies, economic growth and security, and educational excellence; and NASA’s goal to enrich our nation’s society and economy with a fair and equitable approach.

Underserved and underrepresented communities include: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; LGBTQ+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. For more information about NASA’s Mission Equity, please visit https://www.nasa.gov/mission-equity.

NASA Release 21-089 Mission Equity Public Meeting

Rob Betts requested that the following marketing opportunity be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.

Attention all Small Businesses!

Over the previous 3 fiscal years, NASA has awarded approximately six billion dollars each year as prime and subcontracts to small businesses.

To learn how to be a part of this success, please join us at the NASA Small Business Town Hall!

Tune in as the NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and its team of experts, weigh in on NASA’s proposed legislation, product service lines (PSLs), mentor-protégé program, and other urgent topics small businesses need to understand during this extraordinary time. This month’s OSBP Learning Series webinar features NASA OSBP Associate Administrator Mr. Glenn A. Delgado along with OSBP program managers and small business specialists. Mr. Delgado and the team will discuss best practices for small businesses and updates in the organization.

Of course, we’ll do our best to answer your questions, submitted in advance, and live.

Join us on Wednesday, June 16^th at 1:00 PM ET.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Please RSVP! Log-in information for this online class will be sent after individual register, and reminders will be sent the day before and the day of the webinar. If you have questions about this topic, email them in advance to smallbusiness@nasa.gov and type “OSBP Learning Series Question – Town Hall” in the subject line. 

Please click here to register via EventBrite.

Rob Betts requested that the following marketing opportunity be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.

NASA Headquarters Office of Procurement is hosting an Industry Day where we will discuss our new role across the Federal Government pursuant FAR 42.003, as Cognizant Federal Agency (CFA) and how this role will impact NASA’s current and future engagement with Industry.  Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) functions, Contract Audit Services, and Contract Closeout will be discussed. See you there!

Register on Eventbrite by clicking here.

Questions related to the event? Please contact Rochelle Overstreet, NASA Lead ACO, Audit Services, and Contract Closeout at NASA HQ, Office of Procurement, telephone: (202) 358-1279 or e-mail rochelle.n.overstreet@nasa.gov.

Rob Betts requested that the following marketing opportunity be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) continues to innovatively lead in space exploration, scientific, and research industries. Small business is critical to the Agency’s success.

Congressman Matt Cartwright, 8th District of Pennsylvania, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and NASA Office of Small Business Programs Associate Administrator Glenn A. Delgado invite you to join a virtual event focused on small business contracting in support of space exploration technology research and the Artemis Lunar Exploration Program.

Register on Eventbrite by clicking here. Questions related to the event? Send an email to smallbusiness@nasa.gov.

Artemis Supplier and Northeastern Pennsylvania Small Business Industry Day flyer (PDF)

Rob Betts requested that the following training opportunity be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.

The Small Business Administration has some key changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which will be available for a limited amount of time to ensure America’s smallest businesses get exclusive access. If you are a small business owner with fewer than 20 employees, or are self-employed; there is new information for you. Please join us for a series of webinars hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Public Private Strategies Institute, & other stakeholders to hear about:

• What steps you can take now to take advantage of this special opportunity, which closes at 5:00 P.M. EST, Tuesday, March 9th, 2021.
• Additional changes and recent policy announcements made by Biden-Harris Administration
• Have your questions answered by SBA Leadership

Schedule

Mar. 3, 12:30 p.m. ET, Women Business Owners.

Mar. 4, 3:00 p.m. ET, Asian-American + Pacific Islander, Native American + Tribal Small Business Owners.

Mar. 5, 1:00 p.m. ET,  Black + African-American Small Business Owners.

Mar. 5, 3:00 p.m. ET, Hispanic Small Business Owners.

Mar. 6, 2:00 p.m. ET, Veterans, Self-Employed Business Owners.

Mar. 8, 3:00 p.m. ET, LGTBQ Business Owners, Youth Entrepreneurs, Restaurant Owners.