STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application

STEM Scale-up
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RFP Open

STEM Scale-Up Program Provider RFP

The program provider application window is open. RFPs must be submitted through the State of Iowa Bid Opportunities website by Oct. 22. 

Check here for official RFP

Iowa STEM seeks prospective program providers to offer STEM Scale-Up programs. Through a proposal and selection process, program providers offer evidence-based STEM programs for Iowa STEM Scale-Up educators to use in their classrooms and out of school learning spaces.

STEM Scale-Up programs align with Iowa STEM’s strategic priorities on workforce needs in agricultural science, computational thinking, early learning, ecology and energy education, mathematics, STEM and arts integration, STEM careers, integration into existing curriculum and transdisciplinary learning.  

STEM Scale-Up uses a combination of state and private funds to invest in evidence-based STEM programs for Iowa learning environments. The intent of the program is to develop or expand exemplary STEM programs that have future sustainability and the power to inspire and educate PK-12 students.

 

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Timeline

For the 2025-26 STEM Scale-Up Program

  • July 2025 - April 2026: Scale-Up program implementation

     

For the 2026-29 STEM Scale-Up Program

  • Sept. 17 - Oct. 22, 2025: RFP for Program Providers open on State of Iowa Bid Opportunities website
  • Oct. 1, 2025, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Central time: Virtual non mandatory, pre-proposal conference
  • November 2025: Selected program providers notified, *subject to change
  • January 2026: Educator application opens

  • July 1, 2026: Implementation period begins

     

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Eligible Applicants

STEM programs that serve PK-12 students in or out of school with the capacity to deliver professional development/training and materials in Iowa are eligible to apply to provide programs for STEM Scale-Up. Professional development/training is appropriate for Iowa STEM Scale-Up programs when preparing an educator to implement a student kit, curriculum, activity, lesson or new course of study in STEM.

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Process Overview

Iowa STEM Scale-Up process has three stages:

  1. Providers will be reviewed and selected according to State of Iowa bid opportunities listing.
  2. Programs selected for STEM Scale-Up are offered to Iowa educators. Iowa educators apply to bring the program(s) to their students during the 2026-2027 academic year. Implementation training will begin summer 2026.
  3. Advisory boards in each of the six STEM Regions in Iowa determine which of the STEM Scale-Up educator applications they will award in their regions. Not all eligible programs are equally implemented in all six STEM Regions of Iowa.
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Terminology

PK-12 Educator

Eligible educators may be associated with organizations in Iowa such as: public and private PK-12 schools, childcare centers, county conservation, libraries, county extension offices, home school associations and other formal and informal youth organizations that deliver STEM education programming for PK-12 youth.

Program Provider

A program provider is an organization providing a high-quality STEM education program, and the program is selected to be offered to Iowa educators through the Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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