Module 1: Foundations of STEM Contracting

• Overview of government & industry funding mechanisms (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, SBIR/STTR).

• Key differences between R&D and commercial contracting.

• Why STEM innovation requires flexible contract structures.

Module 2: For STEM Professionals – Navigating the System

• How to read a solicitation (RFP, BAA, SBIR topic).

• Understanding FAR/DFARS basics that matter to scientists.

• Budgeting, cost realism, and indirect costs in STEM projects.

• Protecting IP and data rights in federal contracts.

Module 3: For Contracting Professionals – Managing STEM Projects

• Unique risks in STEM (technical failure, long timelines, TRL advancement).

• Evaluating proposals with uncertain outcomes (R&D vs. production).

• STEM-specific compliance issues (export control, human subjects, lab safety).

• How workforce development & STEM education tie into contract performance.

Module 4: Bridging Both Worlds

• Case studies: successful SBIR/STTR transitions.

• Collaborative contracting models (OTA agreements, CRADAs, consortia).

• Building communication skills between technical PI’s and contracting officers.

• Measuring STEM contract success (innovation impact, workforce growth, commercialization).

Module 5: Practical Workshop

• Mock orActual proposal evaluation (mentees write → C.O.).

• Simulation of contract negotiation (IP, deliverables, milestones).

• Role-reversal exercise: engineers learn to “think like COs,” and COs learn to “think like innovators.”