Academic Skills Testing (AST)

SOL #: H9821026RE002Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Defense Human Resources Activity

DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES ACTIVITY

ALEXANDRIA, VA, 223504000, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction (611699)

PSC

Education Services (U009)

Set Aside

Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) (SBA)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/fbff1b9a912347378af38ea832972bce/view

Timeline

Posted

Feb 5, 2026

Last Updated

Feb 25, 2026

Submission Deadline

Mar 25, 2026, 4:00 PM

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 Department of Defense (DoD), through the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), is soliciting proposals for Academic Skills Training (AST). This Total Small Business Set-Aside opportunity seeks a commercially available, computer-adaptive, asynchronous web-based course to enhance Service members' academic readiness. Proposals are due March 25, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST.

Purpose and Scope

The goal is to continue the DoD's capacity to deliver AST, enabling Service members to improve academic readiness for college-level course placement, reclassification, advanced training, and military advancement. The required web-based course must improve cognitive (math, English, science), metacognitive, and non-cognitive academic skills from basic through pre-college levels. Key features include:

Personalized learning paths, diagnostic and summative assessments, and video tutorials.
24/7 worldwide access for all active, reserve, and National Guard military members, including a mobile app for limited connectivity.
Comprehensive learner support, such as an early warning system, academic support (72-hour response), and optional tutor support.
VolEd workforce support, including administrative dashboards, reporting, and promotional materials.
Contractor personnel must be U.S. citizens, obtain DoD credentials (CAC), and undergo a Tier 1 background investigation, ensuring compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards.

Contract Details & Submission

Opportunity Type: Solicitation (RFP H9821026RE002)
Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
Period of Performance: A base period (May 30, 2026 - May 29, 2027) plus four one-year option periods.
Place of Performance: Contractor facilities or designated military bases.
Proposal Due Date: March 25, 2026, 4:00 PM EST.
Questions Due Date: March 05, 2026, 12:00 PM EST.
Submission Method: Electronically via email to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Proposals must be submitted in four volumes: Business Information (no page limit), Technical Capability (50 pages), Past Performance (15 pages), and Price (no page limit, using Attachment 6 - Pricing Table). Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov and ensure references complete Attachment 5 - Past Performance Questionnaire.

Evaluation Factors

Award will be based on a Best Value/Trade Off assessment, with the Government intending to award without discussions.

Technical Capability (understanding of PWS, technical approach, program management, staffing, transition plan) is more important than Past Performance.
Past Performance (recency, relevancy, quality) and Technical Capability combined are significantly more important than Price.
Price will be assessed for reasonableness, including the base period, all options, and half of the FAR 52.217-8 option year four price. Proposals rated "Unacceptable" for Technical Capability or "No Confidence" for Past Performance will be ineligible.