Academic Skills Training (AST)

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To continue the Defense Department's capacity to deliver the Academic Skills Training (AST) program, which is designed to improve Service members' academic readiness for college-level course placement, qualification for reclassification or advanced training, and military advancement.

• Provide a commercially available, computer adaptive, asynchronous web-based course that improves cognitive, metacognitive, and non-cognitive academic skills from basic through pre-college level learning.

• The course must be accessible 24/7 worldwide to all active, reserve, and National Guard military members.

• Offer a range of diagnostic, formative, interim, and summative assessments to drive individualized learning paths.

• Include instructional modules arranged into customized learning pathways, interactive elements, and video tutorials.

• Provide learner support, including a help desk, early warning system, academic support (response within 72 hours), and optional tutor support.

• Offer VolEd workforce support, including administrative dashboards, reporting, and promotional materials.

• System Availability: 98% system availability.

• Cognitive Skills: Content distribution as follows - Math (40-50%), English (30-40%), Science (10-20%).

• Metacognitive and Non-Cognitive Skill Content: No more than 10% of the entire course curriculum.

• Assessments: Minimum of 95% predictive of course content learner competency.

• Instructional Delivery: Acceptable when instruction is delivered as scheduled for 95% of training events.

• Technical/Learner Support: Response to all support inquiries within 24 hours (business hours); website includes troubleshooting information.

• VolEd Workforce Support: 100% participation and delivery of materials.

• Reporting: Reports received when scheduled and contain prescribed data; no greater than 5 customer-substantiated complaints per quarter.

• Performance will be at contractor facilities or designated military bases. Program discussions and reviews may be held at Government facilities, designated military bases, or virtually.

• Contractor personnel must obtain DoD credentials (CAC) and undergo a Tier 1 background investigation.

• All contractor personnel must be U.S. citizens.

• Mandatory training for contractor employees, including OPSEC, CUI, Insider Threat, Privacy Act, and IT Security Awareness.

• Compliance with all applicable records management laws and regulations.

• Adherence to cybersecurity requirements, including incident reporting and protection of nonpublic Government data.

Amendment / Modification

This document is an addendum to FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Services. It modifies specific paragraphs of the provision and deletes others:

• Paragraph (b) Submission of offers: Tailored to require proposals to be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Proposals can be on SF1449 or letterhead stationery and must be submitted in four volumes.

• Paragraph (c) Period of acceptance of offers: Offerors agree to hold prices for 120 calendar days from the receipt date.

• Deleted Paragraphs: Paragraphs (d) Product samples, (e) Multiple offers, and (h) Multiple awards are deleted.

• Proposals will be evaluated on price and technical factors.

• Offerors must thoroughly read and understand the solicitation. Failure to provide requested information may lead to technical unacceptability.

• Proposals must be factual, accurate, and complete.

• This acquisition will be negotiated under FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 15.

• Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted via email by 12:00 PM EST on March 05, 2026. Answers will be posted on SAM.gov.

• Proposals must be submitted electronically by the date and time specified in Block 8 of the SF1449.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.

• The solicitation is an "all-or-none" requirement; failure to include all requested items may result in elimination.

• Proposals must be clear, concise, and provide rationale for meeting requirements.

• Proposals must be stand-alone within each volume.

• Use letter-sized pages, single-spaced, 11-point font, with one-inch margins. Specific exclusions apply to page counts.

• Proposals must be submitted in four volumes: Business Volume (No page limit), Technical Capability (50 pages), Past Performance (15 pages), and Price (No page limit).

• Specific formatting and marking requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Source Selection Information are detailed.

• Volume I: Business Information: Includes company details, executive summary, teaming arrangements, POCs, and acknowledgement of amendments/certifications.

• Volume II: Technical Capability: Requires demonstration of technical capability, program management approach, staffing plan, and transition planning.

• Volume III: Past Performance: Requires information on at least one and up to three most relevant contracts within the last five years. Includes specific details on scope, magnitude, and complexity.

• Volume IV: Price: Requires completion of Attachment 6 – Pricing Table, including labor and associated materials, and travel costs. The Option to Extend Services will be evaluated based on 50% of the total price for Option Year Four CLINs.

• Funds are not presently available; no award will be made unless funds are available.

• The Government reserves the right to cancel the solicitation.

• Offerors are responsible for all proposal preparation costs.

• Submissions may be sent in multiple emails, each not exceeding 30 MB.

• FAR Provision 52.212-1 (paragraphs b, c, d, e, h)

• Proposal submission process and format

• Proposal volume structure and page limits

• Evaluation criteria and factors

• Proposal submission deadline and method are specified.

• The structure and content requirements for proposals are detailed, with strict adherence required to avoid non-compliance.

Amendment / Modification

This document is an addendum to FAR 52.212-2, "Evaluation - Commercial Items," and provides specific details on the evaluation approach and basis for contract award for this solicitation.

• Evaluation Approach: The Government intends to award without discussions, but may establish a competitive range if necessary. Discussions, if held, will be conducted per FAR 15.306(d), followed by a written reiteration and potential Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs).

• Ineligibility for Award: Proposals rated "Unacceptable" for Technical Capability or "No Confidence" for Past Performance will be ineligible for award.

• Basis for Contract Award: Award will be based on a Best Value/Trade Off assessment, considering Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price. Technical Capability is more important than Past Performance, and both combined are significantly more important than Price.

• Evaluation Factors:

  • Factor 1: Technical Capability: Evaluated based on understanding of PWS requirements, Technical Approach and Evaluation Methodology, Program Management, Staffing Plan, and Transition and Execution Plan. Risk is also assessed as part of this factor.
  • Factor 2: Past Performance: Evaluated based on recency, relevancy, and quality of past performance, using various data sources. Ratings include Substantial Confidence, Satisfactory Confidence, Limited Confidence, No Confidence, and Neutral Confidence.
  • Factor 3: Price: Assessed for reasonableness. Price proposals will not receive an adjectival rating. The total evaluated price will include the base period, all options, and half of the FAR 52.217-8 option year four price.

• Proposals must contain the Offeror's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint initially, as discussions are not intended.

• Offerors must provide a signed commitment for major subcontractors for their past performance to be evaluated.

• The evaluation methodology and factors outlined here will be used to assess proposals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Section 508 Determination form, used to document compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the associated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility standards. It is required for all acquisitions of ICT supplies and services.

• Requirement Title: Academic Skills Training
• Customer Agency/Organization: DSSC-DANTES
• Technical Standards: Checkboxes for applicable standards including Functional Performance Criteria, Electronic Content, Hardware, Software, and Support Documentation and Services.
• Exceptions: Checkboxes for Legacy ICT, National Security Systems, Incidental contract items, and Maintenance or monitoring spaces.
• Exemptions: Checkboxes for Undue Burden, Fundamental alteration, Non-availability of conforming commercial products and commercial services, and Alternative means of access.
• Signature block for the Requiring Official to confirm the determination.

Bidders should be aware that this determination is part of the procurement package. While this specific document is an internal government form, the selections made within it will dictate the accessibility requirements for any ICT products or services procured under this opportunity. Vendors should ensure their offerings meet the applicable Section 508 standards as indicated by the agency's determination.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Contractor Present/Past Performance Questionnaire. It is provided to companies interested in responding to the Request for Proposal (RFP) referenced as H9821026RE002 on SAM.gov. The questionnaire is used to gather feedback on a contractor's past performance, which is a factor in the government's evaluation of offers.

• Background: Provides context on the need for Academic Skills Training (AST) for Service members, referencing relevant DoD directives and policies.
• Point of Contact: Lists government POCs (Joel Auer and Mike Carnley) for submitting completed questionnaires.
• Previous Contract General Information: Fields for the evaluator to complete regarding the contractor's past contract (Name, Agency, Contract Number, Period of Performance, Price, Description of Service).
• Questionnaire Instructions: Defines performance ratings (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory) with specific criteria and justification notes.
• Performance Assessment: Sections for the evaluator to rate the contractor on Quality, Timeliness, Cost Control, Business Relations, Management of Key Personnel, and Regulatory Compliance, with space for justification.
• Evaluator Information: Fields for the evaluator's name, title, agency, and signature.

Bidders responding to the RFP H9821026RE002 must ensure that their past performance is documented and that their references are aware of this questionnaire. Companies that have previously worked with potential offerors are requested to complete this form to provide their assessment. The ratings and justifications provided in this questionnaire will contribute to the government's evaluation of the offeror's past performance, a critical component in determining the best value to the Government. Completed questionnaires must be submitted via email to the specified government POCs by the proposal due date.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Attachment 6, a Pricing Table for the DANTES ACADEMIC SKILLS TRAINING opportunity. It provides the structure for bidders to submit their pricing for the base period and four option years.

• Base Period (5/30/2026 - 05/29/2027): Includes CLIN 0001 for a web-based course (FFP, 12 Months) and CLIN 0002 for travel (T&M, Not-to-Exceed $6,000.00).
• Option Year 1 (05/30/2027 - 05/29/2028): Includes CLIN 1001 for a web-based course (FFP, 12 Months) and CLIN 1002 for travel (T&M, Not-to-Exceed $6,000.00).
• Option Year 2 (05/30/2028 - 05/29/2029): Includes CLIN 2001 for a web-based course (FFP, 12 Months) and CLIN 2002 for travel (T&M, Not-to-Exceed $6,000.00).
• Option Year 3 (05/30/2029 - 05/29/2030): Includes CLIN 3001 for a web-based course (FFP, 12 Months) and CLIN 3002 for travel (T&M, Not-to-Exceed $6,000.00).
• Option Year 4 (05/30/2030 - 05/29/2031): Includes CLIN 4001 for a web-based course (FFP, 12 Months) and CLIN 4002 for travel (T&M, Not-to-Exceed $6,000.00).
• Bidders are expected to fill in the 'Unit Price' and 'Amount' fields for each CLIN.

This pricing table is critical for bidders to understand the cost structure expected for the DANTES ACADEMIC SKILLS TRAINING. Bidders must use this template to provide their proposed pricing for the services, including the core web-based course and associated travel, across the base period and all potential option years. Failure to complete this table accurately may impact proposal evaluation.