Prescreening Criteria Guidance (Rev 1) Agency Space Shuttle Program Artifacts Working Group National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 2 Pre-screening process The Agency Space Shuttle Artifacts Working Group will be asked to evaluate and weigh requests based on clear and open criteria. The criteria must be weighed against NASA needs, external factors and an understanding of the capabilities of the requester. A list of potential artifacts will be offered first to NASA technical programs, then NASA visitor centers and NASM The hardware then will be listed for prescreening for use by Federal and State agencies, non-profit museums, universities and other eligible groups The prescreening process will qualify requesters without committing the hardware Uncontested items will be tentatively assigned to allow the recipient time to make arrangements and seek funding Contested items will be reviewed against an established criteria set by the Shuttle Transition Artifact Working Group and then assigned

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 3 Prior to External Pre-screening Does NASA or NASM have a need for the hardware? Priority will be given in the following order: 1.NASA technical reuse (Category A) 2.NASA Visitor Center or NASM display purposes (Category B) 3.Other Federal Need (Category C) Per NASA policy: –NASA technical reuse must have priority over NASA Visitor Center displays –NASM should be considered as NASA HQ’s official visitors center –NASA traveling exhibits, education and other outreach functions may request hardware for their programs during external pre-screening Decision on competing requests will be made by the Agency Space Shuttle Artifacts Working Group, or elevated to the Agency Artifact Committee if necessary Arbitration considerations might include immediacy of use, ability to preserve/conserve item, relevance to requesting organization or community, ability to take immediate possession upon notification of availability Scoring: Weight: Depends on category 1.Category A – (300 points max) 2.Category B – (200 points max) 3.Category C – (100 points max)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 4 Category C: Other Federal Need Is the requester a Federal organization requesting the hardware for: 1.Federal technical reuse? 2.Federal museum or display, education or outreach purposes? Per NASA guidance: –Law requires other Federal agencies have priority access to NASA property once NASA declares it excess to NASA needs –Federal technical reuse should have priority over display or outreach use Decision on competing requests will be made by the Agency Space Shuttle Artifacts Working Group Decision considerations might include (in preferred priority order) immediacy of use, ability to preserve/conserve item, relevance to requesting organization or community, ability to take immediate possession upon notification, and potential viewing population Scoring: Weight: 100 points 1.High Reuse – (100 points) 2.Museum Display – (50 points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 5 Criteria # 1: Availability of Funds/Facilities Has the requester committed to provide the funds necessary to cover the costs AND will funding be in place by 2010 or sooner if the item becomes available? –Does the recipient have or plan to have adequate facilities for this hardware? –Are special development efforts needed to acquire this item and if so, is there a reasonable chance of a timely and adequate fundraising effort? NASA guidance: –Requesters will be asked to cover out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to transportation, shipping, dismantle preparation, labor, equipment rental, –Requesters will be given 14 days notice once item has been declared excess and available –Reimbursable Space Act Agreements may be possible to recover NASA expenses for special dismantling, shipping preparation, storage, etc. Tie-breaking considerations might include realistic cost estimates, demonstrated level of understanding of effort involved in Letter of Intent, demonstrated success in similar past efforts Scoring: Weight: 15 points 1.High – Confidence in ability to pay in timely manner is high; adequate existing facility (15 points) 2.Medium – Committed to providing resources, but some uncertainty/timing issues remain (7.5 points) 3.Low – Unable to pay and/or house or not addressed (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 6 Criteria # 2: Preservation & Conservation Can the requester adequately protect the artifact for future generations? –If NASA is to ensure good stewardship of potential artifacts in its care, recipients must demonstrate competence to provide reasonable care for national treasures –The ability to preserve an artifact directly affects the number of people exposed to it in coming decades and centuries Per NASA guidance: –NASA and Federal recipients should be held to Smithsonian-level conservation and preservation standards Considerations might include listed professional accreditations and affiliations (AAM, ASTC, NASM Affiliate member, etc.), evidence of a conservation program or Collections Manual. –Accredited Smithsonian affiliation ensures minimum standards are already being met. –Evidence of past preservation and conservation projects is assumed to demonstrate sensitivity to the need for special collections storage and display facilities –An in-house conservation capability may provide faster preparation of artifact for display Scoring: Weight: 15 points 1.High – Established organization and artifact conservation program (15 points) 2.Medium – Committed to appropriate stewardship of the asset (7.5 points) 3.Low – Unable to care for the asset (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 7 Criteria # 3: Relevance & Provenance Does the requester have a programmatic, economic, geographic, or other direct and relevant connection to the artifact? 1.Affinity between the requester and the artifact increases the value of the hardware to the requester and its serving community. Value = care + exposure. 2.Local ties build personal connections to space exploration 3.Acquiring an item to complete a set (of engines, suits, etc.) IS a relevant consideration; it adds value to the Shuttle artifact and other space hardware in the recipient’s collection Related NASA guidance: –Per NPR 310.1, artifacts should be grouped by their relationship to each other as much as possible. Components of a vehicle, though separately identified and controlled, would be grouped to show their relationship to the next higher assembly, to subsystems, to systems, and to the complete vehicle. Tie-breaking considerations might include immediacy of use, ability to preserve/conserve item, ability to take immediate possession and potential viewing population Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Established organization and artifact conservation program (10 points) 2.Medium – Committed to appropriate stewardship of the asset (5 points) 3.Low – Unable to care for the asset (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 8 Criteria # 4: Stevenson Wydler Act Eligible Is the hardware authorized research equipment eligible for donation under this act AND is the requesting organization an authorized recipient? –GSA-designed prescreening registration and supplementary questionnaire will automatically identify recipients eligible for excess research equipment under the Stevenson Wydler Act (SWA) –The TPA should specify an item as SWA-eligible hardware Per NASA guidance: –NPR , Chapter 4 encourages “establishing and maintaining a program to allow NASA to assist the National Education Goals” through equipment transfers under SWA –The NPR requires the disposal process equally support donations via GSA and SWA Considerations might include (in preferred priority order) intended use, relevance to requesting organization or community, and ability to take immediate possession upon notification Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Clear research and/or educational purpose of acquiring the item (10 points) 2.Medium – Eligible to receive under S-W; purpose unclear (5 points) 3.Low – Not eligible to receive or inappropriate purpose (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 9 Criteria # 5: Underserved Population Does the requester service a traditionally underserved community as defined by NASA’s Equal Opportunity Office and Office of Strategic Communication? NASA guidance: –Targeting underserved communities help demonstrate NASA’s commitment to inspire and motivate youth of all backgrounds; cultivate diverse perspectives and engage new public audiences to the widest and broadest extent possible –NPD F: “Exhibits will be displayed, to the maximum extent possible, at selected offsite venues comprising nontraditional as well as traditional audiences.” –Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub. L defines empowerment zones Decision considerations might include Federal enterprise communities and empowerment Zones, communities with high minority populations, female audiences, inner city or rural communities –All museums in urban settings serve minority audiences to some degree so the Working Group may wish to visit the requester’s public Web site for evidence of an underserved or minority focus in the organization’s charter Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Underserved population need valid and well explained (10 points) 2.Medium – Arguable case for supporting underserved population (5 points) 3.Low – Underserved population not addressed or unconvincing explanation (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 10 Criteria # 6: Viewing Population Will placement at this institution reach the maximum number of people?? –The recipient’s annual gate attendance, including exposure at special events, may be used as a metric since in indicates viewing population –Exposure in published materials and research papers; use in educational outreach programs; Web exposure; as components in traveling exhibits or through temporary loans to other museums legitimately leverage public interest in space and increase viewing opportunities. Per NASA guidance: –Space Act of 1958 tasks NASA to “provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.” Storing, hoarding or other such actions that prevent public access to Shuttle artifacts is not consistent with the intent of this Act. Tie-breaking considerations might include (in preferred priority order) immediacy of use, ability to preserve/conserve item, relevance to requesting organization or community, intended use Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Large viewing population in close proximity; historically high visitation rates to recipient’s facility (10 points) 2.Medium – Large viewing population in close proximity; moderate visitation rates (5 points) 3.Low – Remote location; low visitation rates (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 11 Criteria # 7: Presentation Does the requester have the means and intention to adequately display the item and when do they expect to do so? –Barring extenuating circumstances associated with the physical condition or size of the artifact, the requester should intend to place this item on display within one year of receipt –The requester should demonstrate the ability to display the item consistent with Smithsonian preservation, safety, and handicap-accessibility standards NASA guidance: –Space Act of 1958 tasks NASA to “provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.” Storing, hoarding or other such actions that prevent public access to Shuttle artifacts is not consistent with the intent of this Act. Tie-breaking considerations might include proof of current accreditation, ability to protect the item while on display, relevance to requesting organization or community Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Venue well known for presentation excellence; credible commitment to putting the asset into use within one year or receipt (10 points) 2.Medium – Established venue; stated commitment to putting the asset into use within one year or receipt (5 points) 3.Low – Unknown presentation capabilities; no commitment to put into use or display within one year (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 12 Criteria # 8: Historic Research & Records Has the requester already received historic records and documentation on this item? –Funding will not be available for extensive documentation and records research for potential artifacts. –Museums may already have extensive records, video tapes, archives and supporting material that would make it a logical candidate for related artifacts Per NASA guidance: –Per NPR , “artifacts should be grouped by their relationship to each other as much as possible. Components of a vehicle, though separately identified and controlled, would be grouped to show their relationship to the next higher assembly, to subsystems, to systems, and to the complete vehicle.” –Matching documentation with hardware enhances understanding and is in NASA’s best long-term interest. Decision considerations might include mention of such records in Letter of Intent Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Requester already possesses extensive documentation and records related to the asset (10 points) 2.Medium – Requester has completed or has credible plans to conduct extensive research on the asset (5 points) 3.Low – Requester has not completed nor plans to conduct research on the asset; not addressed (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 13 Criteria # 9: Location What other Shuttle artifacts are geographically close by and what hardware reservations has the requester already received from the Working Group ? –Dispersed ownership does not necessarily equate to increased public viewing: some items may take longer to restore; may be held back for themed exhibits; may be stored, sold, traded, or traveled. –Presumably, the Working Group will not be familiar with pre-Transition Shuttle items on display in a given geographical area. –However, all other criteria being equal, striving to locate Shuttle artifacts around the country may help ensure wider exposure. Tie-breaking considerations might include stated intended use; size, value or relevance to Shuttle artifacts previously received; relevance to requesting organization or community, gate attendance Scoring: Weight: 10 points 1.High – Requester’s location is nearby many related assets on public display (10 points) 2.Medium – Requester’s location is nearby some related assets on public display (5 points) 3.Low – Not addressed or no related assets nearby (no points)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 14 Limiting Factor: Legal/ITAR considerations Can this hardware legally be given or sold to the requester? –Prescreening registration and supplementary questionnaire will be designed to automatically filter for disqualified users. For example, organizations must be U.S. owned and non-profit. –The Working Group is still accountable and should apply the “Washington Post” test to all requests Per NASA guidance: –At time of physical transfer, GSA will administer required ITAR certifications –Federal technical reuse should have priority over display or outreach use Considerations might include recipient’s employment of foreign nationals, non profit but non- eligible organizations (Scouts, youth groups, etc) Scoring: This is a Yes/No gate that all requestors must pass 1.Yes – Meets requirements for transfer (Pass) 2.Low – Does not meet requirements for transfer (Does not pass)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 15 Limiting Factor: Capacity to Perform Has the recipient defaulted on previous commitments or is there reasonable doubt about their ability to follow-through on this one? GSA-built database will be designed to establish a track record of a recipient’s accomplished commitments –Database should automatically flag users that have not followed through on previous actions, due dates, milestones, etc. –Objective score should weigh for defaults –The Working Group should use scoring weights and total objective score as a guide only, applying experience and judgment to make final decisions Considerations might include missed deadlines for Letters of Intent, defaults on or late pickups, disingenuine intent, grossly inaccurate information, recent activities or negative publicity that cast doubt on future ability to perform (lawsuit, or insolvency, for example) Scoring: This is a Yes/No gate that all requestors must pass 1.Yes – Requester has not consistently defaulted on prior commitments (Pass) 2.Low – Requester routinely defaults on prior commitments (Does not pass)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Visitors Center Meeting 16 Scoring Summary Chart Automatically gets medium score if factor addressed on Recipient’s GSA application form; AWG reviews all conflicts to adjust scores (H/M/L) as required based on manual review Limiting weights: Does not meet = automatic zero total points c c

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