Academic Skills Testing (AST)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), on behalf of the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), intends to solicit for a single award contract for Academic Skills Testing (AST). This requirement aims to prepare Service members for transition to the civilian workforce by enhancing their academic skills. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside. Proposals are anticipated to be due mid-March 2026, specifically by March 25, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contractor shall deliver a commercially available, computer-adaptive, asynchronous web-based course designed to improve cognitive, metacognitive, and non-cognitive academic skills for Service members, from basic to pre-college levels. Key requirements for the courseware include:
- Formative, interim, and summative assessments.
- Interactive and immersive instructional modules with customized learning pathways.
- Varied instructional and delivery methods (e.g., self-directed, videos).
- Milestones for measuring readiness based on ASVAB scores and college placement.
- Course collaboration tools (e.g., message boards).
- Integration of open-source or contractor-developed videos.
- Non-cognitive and meta-cognitive skills development modules.
- Progress-based or time-based motivational prompts.
- At least 50% of instructional examples relevant to Service members.
- Student dashboard for navigation, progress tracking, and skill improvement.
- Pre-tests to identify skill needs and inform customized learning pathways.
- Self-assessment of goals, meta-cognitive, and non-cognitive skills, with a minimum 20% improvement in normalized pre and post-test scores.
- Access to a live course mentor/tutor for content inquiries.
- Administrator dashboard for education counselors/program managers.
- Customer service support for technical issues.
- Regular content and feature updates.
- Improvement in Service members' math and English scores (ASVAB/GT/TABE).
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Single Award Contract
- Period of Performance: A twelve-month base period (May 30, 2026 – May 29, 2027) and four, twelve-month option periods, totaling an overall period of performance from May 30, 2026, through March 29, 2031, if all options are exercised.
- Set-Aside: 100% Small Business Set-Aside (Full and Open Competition)
- NAICS Code: 611699 (All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction) with a size standard of $16.5M.
- PSC: U009 (Education Services)
- Anticipated Solicitation Issuance: Mid to end of February 2026.
- Anticipated Proposal Due Date: Mid-March 2026 (Official response date: March 25, 2026).
Evaluation
This acquisition will be conducted as a full and open competition, set aside 100% for small businesses, utilizing FAR Parts 12 and 15.
Points of Contact
- Contract Specialist: Joel Auer (joel.d.auer.civ@mail.mil)
- Contracting Officer: Charles M. Carnley (charles.m.carnley.civ@mail.mil)