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Prekindergarten through Grade 12 Education


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Announcement of Funding Opportunity
RFP #: GC20-005

Science and Technology Entry Program 2020-2025

RECENT UPDATES

Grant Application Documents

Application in PDF Adobe PDF | Application in Word Word document
Master Grant Contract Template in PDF Adobe PDF | Master Grant Contract Template in Word Word document
Questions and Answers Adobe PDF – Posted 10/18/19

Background

The New York State Education Department is pleased to announce competition for Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) grant contracts for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025, pending annual appropriations in the New York State Budget.

Legislative Authority

In 1985, the New York State Legislature passed an amendment to Education Law Chapter 31, Article 130, § 6454, to authorize the use of funds under the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP).

Purpose/Goal

The purpose of the Science and Technology Entry Program is to prepare secondary school students, who are either economically disadvantaged or minorities historically underrepresented in scientific, technical, health, health-related and licensed professions, for entry into postsecondary degree programs in scientific, technical, health-related fields, and the licensed professions.

Eligible Applicants

According to § 145-6.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations, eligible applicant means a New York State degree granting postsecondary institution or consortia of such institutions with registered scientific, technical, or health related professional or pre-professional programs that lead to professional licensure or to employment in scientific, technical, and health related fields may submit proposals. The institution submitting the proposal, or if the applicant represents a consortium then at least half of the institutions in the consortium must be located within a school district with an enrollment that is at least 20 percent Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian/Alaska Native, or located near such a district that is easily accessible by public transportation.

Important Dates

Project Period: July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025

September 27, 2019: An informational webinar will be posted on the STEP website.

October 4, 2019: Deadline for questions to be submitted to steprfp@nysed.gov

October 18, 2019: A Question and Answer Summary will be posted on the STEP website.

October 25, 2019: Non-Mandatory Notice of Intent due. See Non-Mandatory Notice of Intent section below.

Applications Due: Postmarked no later than November 8, 2019

Funding

During the 2019-2020 program year, $15,811,180 was awarded to 59 projects. Future awards depend on annual legislative appropriation, but it is anticipated that funding will continue at the same approximate levels. This RFP covers a five-year funding cycle from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. There is a 25% match required for each year of funding from a combination of institutional and/or other non-NY state funds. The maximum award for an individual STEP project funded during the 20-25 cycle will be $450,000 per year. The maximum award for any newly funded individual STEP project will be $300,000. The maximum award for a consortium STEP project will be $1,000,000 per year.

Application Submission

Non-profit applicants must submit one original and two (2) paper copies (both the narrative application and the budget/budget narrative) as well as a flash drive containing a complete electronic copy (including attachments) of the proposal in one Word file and a copy of the budget documents (FS-10 and Budget Narrative/Composite) in separate files, in a sealed envelope labeled “Science Technology Entry Program Application GC#20-005.”

Non-profit applications must be sent to the following address:

Attn: STEP RFP GC#20-005
Office of Postsecondary Access, Support and Success
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue, Room 960 EBA
Albany, NY 12234

For-profit applicants must submit one original and two (2) paper copies of the Narrative Application in a sealed envelope labeled “Science Technology Entry Program Narrative Application, GC#20-005—DO NOT OPEN”; one original and two (2) paper copies of the Budget/Budget Narrative in a separately sealed envelope labeled “Science Technology Entry Program Budget, GC#20-005—DO NOT OPEN”; a flash drive or CD/DVD containing a complete electronic copy of the proposal in one Word file and the budget documents in a separate file in a separately sealed envelope labeled “Science Technology Entry Program Electronic Copy, GC#20-005—DO NOT OPEN”

For-profit applications must be sent to the following address:

Attn: Samuel Rose, RFP GC#20-005
New York State Education Department
Bureau of Fiscal Management
Contract Administration Unit
89 Washington Avenue, Room 501W EB
Albany, NY 12234

Prequalification Requirement

The State of New York has implemented a statewide prequalification process designed to facilitate prompt contracting for not-for-profit vendors. All not-for-profit vendors are required to pre-qualify by the grant application deadline in order to be eligible for this grant. This includes all currently funded not-for-profit institutions that may have previously received an award and are in the middle of the program cycle. Please review the additional information regarding this requirement in the Prequalification for Individual Applications section of this RFP.

Non-Mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI)

The Notice of Intent is not a requirement for submitting a complete application by the application date; however, NYSED strongly encourages all prospective applicants to submit an NOI to ensure a timely and thorough review and rating process. A non-profit applicant’s NOI will also help to facilitate timely review of their prequalification materials. The notice of intent is a simple email notice stating your organization’s (use the legal name) intent to submit an application for this grant. The due date is October 25, 2019. Please send the NOI to STEPrfp@nysed.gov.

State Education Department Contacts

 
Program
M/WBE
Fiscal

Dr. Kim Overrocker

Brian Hackett

Dr. Samuel Rose

Grant Application Documents

Application in PDF Adobe PDF | Application in Word Word document
Master Grant Contract Template in PDF Adobe PDF | Master Grant Contract Template in Word Word document
Questions and Answers Adobe PDF – Posted 10/18/19

Last Updated: October 18, 2019