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RFP - Scale Shop Training Content Creation

Innovation Works and the Robotics Factory Scale Program are seeking an experienced content writer to develop training course materials for the Scale Shop. These materials will cover general principles, safety protocols, and basic operation for specific machines and processes. Course content will be formatted such that it can be adapted for a Learning Management System (LMS) with modular lessons and associated review quizzes.

Innovation Works is one of the nation’s most active seed-stage investors and serves as a leading innovation and startup engine for Southwestern Pennsylvania. Through its Robotics Factory programs, Innovation Works supports regional hardware and robotics companies with educational programming, technical consulting, connections to local manufacturers, and access to the Scale Shop—its in-house professional prototyping facility.

The Scale Shop enables employees of member companies to receive training on a wide range of advanced prototyping equipment while also learning best practices in engineering design and fabrication.

Link to Scale Residency program info/ equipment: https://roboticsfactory.org/scale-program

Scale Shop Equipment Inventory: https://airtable.com/appuVtnWgRfAIJl2v/shr9QFrcOOtOdbals

The Scale Shop serves a diverse user base with varying levels of experience, including manufacturing professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and college interns. A small team of Innovation Works technical staff supports these users by managing shop operations, providing direct fabrication assistance, offering engineering and technical guidance, and, perhaps most importantly, empowering users to effectively leverage the shop resources and equipment.

Currently, users gain access to equipment by completing a 1.5-hour general safety orientation, followed by a 1-2 hour, machine-specific training session covering safety, foundational concepts, and operation. Content development, training delivery, and oversight of proper equipment use have largely been the responsibility of a single technical staff member. This resource constraint has made it challenging to ensure consistency and effectiveness in training, expand beyond basic instruction, and provide users with opportunities to revisit material as needed.

To address these challenges, Innovation Works is developing standardized training content that can be delivered online. This approach will allow users to engage with material at their own pace while allowing IW staff to be more focused and efficient during in-person training sessions.

For the first phase of this project, we are looking to create material for 5-10 courses, covering our most-used machines and processes. We estimate the content writer will devote a few hours to familiarize themselves with the project as a whole and then approximately 15-25 hours of work for each course, depending on process complexity. After completion of the first phase deliverables, a second phase will be put out for bid for an additional 10-15 courses.

Content Priorities
For Phase 1, the contractor will be expected to develop up to 10 initial pieces of training content. The preliminary list of priority topics includes:

1. CO2 Laser Safety and Basic Use (Epilog Fusion Pro36)
2. Manual Mill Safety and Basic Use (Sharp LMV 49)
3. Formlabs Form 3/4 Safety and Basic Use
4. Manual Lathe Safety and Basic Use (Sharp Lathe 1640LV)
5. FDM Printing Basics
6. Electronics Lab Basic Intro
7. Compact CNC Mill (Haas Super MiniMill)
8. Machining Fundamentals
9. Fusion 360 CAM
10. Shop Sabre Safety and Basic Use (ShopSabre IS408)

This list is intended to establish the initial scope of work for Phase 1 and may be refined at contract kickoff based on priorities, sequencing, and contractor capacity. A full list of our equipment and additional specifications can be found on the Robotics Factory website: https://www.roboticsfactory.org/equipment

Process and Deliverables for each course

• The content writer will start from a template and a pre-existing example training course, and work with IW Technical staff to create a content outline for each course
• The content writer will write course content using interviews with IW technical staff and external references
• The content writer will create the final written course content in an editable format after at least one revision
• Content writer will source or create supporting pictures/diagrams with appropriate usage rights as needed
• The content writer will create a review quiz with questions and an answer key in an editable format
• The content writer will elicit feedback from IW Technical Staff and implement edits
• All work products created under the contract become the property of Innovation Works, including written content, quizzes, diagrams, images created by the contractor, and any optional video-related materials, unless otherwise agreed

Optional Scope Addition

Some course content may benefit from video demonstrations rather than purely written/static content. We would be open to expanding the project scope to include assistance in creating video course content, such as script writing, video recording, and editing. The scope would be negotiated and agreed upon with the Manufacturing Project Manager.

The anticipated period of performance for this phase will begin in April 2026 and conclude no later than August 14, 2026. During this period, the contractor will be expected to deliver the agreed-upon 5-10 pieces of content on a regular production schedule established at the start of the contract. Each deliverable will include at least one feedback and review cycle before final submission. Delivery intervals and milestone expectations will be finalized during project kickoff, and progress will be tracked and managed through an Asana project management tool.

• Demonstrating experience with creating training/ course materials for adult professionals
• Familiarity with relevant topics such as prototyping/manufacturing equipment, STEM education, workshop/ makerspace environments, preferred
• Experience with content creation for online asynchronous courses/ LMS preferred but not required

• Name, email, phone, and website (if applicable)
• Years of experience, relevant past projects/ skills, and professional references
• Relevant examples of past work
• Quote for full project scope as flat-rate or hourly rate + total hour estimate
  • If the applicant would like to assist in the creation of video content, please provide an estimate for additional hours/ rate and relevant work examples
• Confirmation of availability during the project timeline

Submit proposals to IWManufacturingTeam@innovationworks.org. Proposals are due by April 29, 2026. Selection will be made by May 1, 2026, with a target start date no later than May 8, 2026.

Proposals Evaluation Criteria

• relevant training/content development experience
• familiarity with technical subject matter
• quality of work samples
• proposed cost
• availability and ability to meet the timeline

Innovation Works provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

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