Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development (A.S.C.E.N.D) Cohort Development Program

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) solicits proposals for the "Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development (A.S.C.E.N.D)" pilot leadership development program. The program is a six-month, cohort-based professional development experience for mid-career supervisors with 5-10 years of experience across NASA. It aims to strengthen core supervisory capabilities, advance leadership readiness, and serve as a model for future supervisory development efforts.

• Develop and deliver three (3) cohort programs.

• Content must align with OPM Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), NASA Administrators Leadership Expectations, and NASA Supervisor Core Competencies.

• Program structure includes a hybrid format with virtual and in-person sessions (two in-person modules and four virtual sessions).

• The contractor must support an experiential learning module delivered by a third-party contractor, including observational attendance and integration assessment.

• Deliverables include agenda design, instructional materials, facilitation, coordination of speakers, and execution of virtual and in-person sessions.

• Administer pre- and post-program assessments and provide reporting.

• Expertise required in learning and development, game theory, human-centered design, and science of wellbeing.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Priced.

• Period of Performance: Begins one week after award and active through December 2028. Includes one base program with an option for two additional offerings.

• Payment Schedule: Milestone-based, with payments tied to program design, orientation, module completion, intersessions, and final deliverables.

• Quotes are due by 4/30/2026, 12 p.m. CT.

• Contractual and technical questions due by 4/27/2026, 12 p.m. CT via email only.

• Award will be made to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation is the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA).

• Offerors must be registered at www.sam.gov.

• Delivery is FOB Destination.

• This procurement is set aside for small business.

• NAICS Code: 611430.

• Facilitators must be US citizens and have a valid passport or REAL ID for in-person access.

• The solicitation includes five sections: Statement of Work/Bid Schedule, Instructions to Offerors, Solicitation Provisions/Representations and Certifications, Clauses/Terms and Conditions, and Quote Evaluation Criteria.

• Travel costs for in-person modules must be included in the proposed price.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the RFQ and Statement of Work (SOW) for a training program.

• Intersessions: Specific contents will be determined during the design phase.

• Experiential Module: This module will be included once per cohort. The duration is a day and a half (excluding travel). The vendor for this experience has not been finalized, and it will be an in-person session in Gettysburg, PA. The primary facilitator will be determined during the design phase.

• Guest Speakers: NASA wants speakers on topics relevant to the cohort. The frequency and number of speakers per cohort are to be determined. Qualification requirements and engagement methods (in-person/virtual) are also to be determined.

• In-Person Training Locations: Locations for the two in-person sessions are TBD and will rotate between host centers based on availability. NASA will provide A/V equipment. Contractors are not responsible for travel costs beyond instructors/guest speakers. NASA will not provide locations until the Design Phase, and additional costs due to location changes will not be invoiced.

• Wellness/Resilience Activities: Specific activities are TBD in the program development phase.

• Assessments: NASA will bear the costs of procuring assessment tools from its existing inventory.

• Human-Centered Design Framework: Inter-module activities are for encouraging adoption of concepts and skills, not for formal evaluation. Facilitator involvement during the design phase may be more involved, but ongoing involvement is limited to planning/scheduling meetings and agenda updates.

• WellQ 360: Details regarding access, procurement, and administration of this assessment tool are to be clarified, especially if it's a commercially available instrument.

• Due Date Extension: Bidders requested an extension of at least 10 business days after question answers are distributed due to the impact on pricing and approach.

• Proposal Instructions: No specific instructions were provided regarding information NASA wants bidders to include in their proposals.

• Pricing: Bidders requested clarification on the format or specific information required for pricing submissions, including whether a pricing sheet is preferred.

• Set-Aside: The document indicates a small business set-aside, but this is not reflected elsewhere. Bidders recommended a full and open procurement with a subcontracting requirement for small businesses.

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

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the requirements for developing and delivering a pilot leadership development program called A.S.C.E.N.D. (Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development). The program aims to strengthen core supervisory capabilities and advance leadership readiness for mid-career supervisors at NASA.

• Develop and deliver three six-month, cohort-based leadership development programs for NASA supervisors with 5-10 years of experience.

• The program will build on prior supervisory development efforts, incorporate refreshed content and delivery methods, and align with NASA's mission, culture, and strategic priorities.

• The program includes an experiential learning module delivered by a third-party contractor, which the selected contractor must observe and integrate.

• The contractor will be responsible for program design, module sequencing, content development, facilitation, and post-program measurement.

• The program must align with OPM Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), NASA Administrators Leadership Expectations, and NASA Supervisor Core Competencies.

• The contractor will provide comprehensive reporting and evaluation tools to assess participant engagement and measure learning outcomes.

• Pre- and post-program assessments will be used to demonstrate measurable participant growth.

• The Period of Performance begins one week after award and extends through December 2028.

• The base requirement includes one pilot program, with an option for up to two additional offerings.

• The program will be delivered in a hybrid format (virtual and in-person) on-site at host NASA Centers (TBD).

• Facilitators must be US citizens and possess a valid passport or REAL ID.

• A signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is required.

• Instructional materials must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

• The contractor must demonstrate expertise in leadership development, adult learning, game theory design, human-centered design, and the science of wellbeing.

• The contractor must account for travel costs for two part-time FTEs for each in-person module.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions submitted by potential offerors regarding a solicitation for curriculum development and leadership training.

• Existing Contract: The requirement is not a follow-on to an existing contract.

• Curriculum Customization: The expectation is for fully customized curriculum, influenced by ECA and NASA competencies, with an initial development phase of 30% tailored and 70% standardized content.

• Experiential Module: Timing for the third-party experiential module is during month 3 or 6. The contractor is expected to travel with the group to support the experience and integrate case studies into the curriculum. The contractor will review case studies with NASA to determine suitability for the program.

• Session Locations: Two sessions will be held at NASA Centers (ARC, GRC, GSFC, HQ, JSC, KSC, LARC, MSFC, or SSC). Experiential learning will be in the Pennsylvania/DC area.

• Participant Coordination: NASA will provide support, but the vendor is responsible for developing timelines, communications, and materials. Vendors must bring physical materials to in-person sessions.

• Assessment Tools: NASA will provide DiSC and TKI assessment tools, but not debriefers. The vendor must provide the WellIQ 360 assessment tool and qualified debriefers for all assessments.

• Proposal due date extensions are not being considered due to a tight deadline for program design and launch.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding a solicitation for curriculum development and leadership training.

• Existing Contract: The requirement is not a follow-on to an existing contract.

• Curriculum Customization: The curriculum is expected to be fully customized, influenced by ECA and NASA competencies, with an initial expectation of 30% tailored and 70% standardized content after development.

• Experiential Module: Timing for the third-party experiential module is during month 3 or 6 of the program. The vendor is expected to travel with the group to support the cohort and integrate case studies into the curriculum. The contractor will review available case studies with NASA to determine suitability for the program.

• In-Person Sessions: Two sessions will be held at a NASA Center (ARC, GRC, GSFC, HQ, JSC, KSC, LARC, MSFC, or SSC). Experiential learning will occur in the Pennsylvania/DC area.

• Participant Coordination: NASA will provide support, but the vendor is responsible for developing timelines, communications, and materials. The vendor must bring physical materials to in-person sessions.

• Assessment Tools: NASA will provide DiSC and TKI assessment tools, but the vendor must provide qualified debriefers. The vendor will provide the WellIQ 360 assessment tool and its debriefers.

• Proposal Deadline: The customer is not considering extending the proposal due date, citing a tight deadline for program design and launch.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) 80NSSC26930347Q solicits proposals for the "Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development (A.S.C.E.N.D)" Cohort Development Program. This is a pilot program designed to strengthen core supervisory capabilities and advance leadership readiness for mid-career supervisors within NASA.

• Develop and deliver three (3) six-month, cohort-based leadership development programs.

• Program content must align with OPM Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), NASA Administrators Leadership Expectations, and NASA Supervisor Core Competencies.

• The program will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining virtual and in-person sessions.

• Key activities include program orientation, kickoff sessions, two in-person modules, and two virtual intersessions.

• Contractor must support post-program measurement, sustainment, and reporting.

• Instructional materials must be 508 compliant.

• Contractor must provide qualified personnel with expertise in leadership development, adult learning, and program delivery.

• Contractor must administer and debrief assessments (e.g., CliftonStrengths, DiSC, TKI, WellQ 360).

• The program focuses on enabling participants to apply core leadership principles, lead teams effectively, navigate organizational systems, and build cross-functional relationships.

• Contract type: Firm Fixed Price (TBD).

• Period of Performance: Begins one week after award and remains active through December 2028. Includes one pilot program with an option for up to two additional offerings.

• The program is designed for mid-career supervisors with 5-10 years of supervisory experience.

• Each cohort will consist of up to 50 participants.

• Quotes are due by 4/20/2026, 12 p.m. CT.

• Contractual and technical questions are due by 4/16/2026, 12 p.m. CT, via email only.

• Quotes will be evaluated using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process.

• Award will be made to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation, is technically acceptable, and represents the best value to the Government.

• Delivery is FOB Destination.

• This procurement is set aside for small business.

• Offerors must be registered at www.sam.gov.

• In-person access to Government facilities requires a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Facilitators must be US citizens with a valid passport or REAL ID.

• An experiential learning module will be delivered by a separately awarded third-party contractor and is outside the scope of this award for content development and facilitation, but the selected contractor must attend in an observational capacity.

• Travel costs for in-person modules must be incorporated into the total proposed price.

• The NAICS Code for this procurement is 611430.