Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL) Academic and Analytical Wargame Development FY26-30
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 Department of the Army, through MICC-CARLISLE BARRACKS, is soliciting proposals for Academic and Analytical Wargame Development for the Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL) at the U.S. Army War College. This Total Small Business Set-Aside opportunity seeks contractors to provide wargame design, development, and execution services to support experiential learning and problem-solving for Army Service Component Commands (ASCCs) and other government agencies. Quotes are due April 28, 2026, by 8:00 AM EDT.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide non-personal services, including personnel, equipment, and supervision, to meet the growing demand for academic and analytical wargames. Key tasks include:
- Wargame Design and Planning: Requirement analysis, concept development, research, rules/mechanics design, scenario development, and documentation.
- Wargame Development and Testing: Component creation, prototyping, playtesting, quality control, and data collection plan development.
- Wargame Execution and Analysis: Facilitation, data collection oversight, observation, feedback, and reporting.
- Specific Services: Graphic Design Services (rules writing, scenario, component creation, map/board production, prototype prep) and Educational Support Services (briefing development, facilitation, adjudication). The government anticipates requiring two Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for these services.
Key Requirements
- Security: Offerors must possess a SECRET Facility Clearance at the time of offer submission and maintain it. Personnel performing work must have at least an interim Secret clearance. Compliance with NIST SP 800-171, OPSEC, and CUI safeguarding procedures is mandatory.
- Personnel: Key Personnel must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in game design, computer software design, or a related field, and possess three years of experience in designing, developing, and facilitating strategic-level wargames.
- Training: Required training includes Anti-Terrorism (AT) Level I, iWATCH, OPSEC Level I, Information Assurance (IA) awareness, IA/IT certifications, TARP, and PII.
- Place of Performance: Carlisle Barracks, Collins Hall Building 650, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Contractor travel to and from Carlisle Barracks is at the contractor's expense.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price.
- Period of Performance: FY26-30, consisting of a base year (May 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027) and multiple option years extending through April 30, 2030.
- NAICS Code: 541430 (Professional and Commercial Graphic Design Services) with a $9M size standard.
- Product Service Code: U008 (Training/Curriculum Development).
Submission & Evaluation
- Submission: Quotes must be emailed to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Submissions require four separate volumes: General, Technical, Past Performance, and Price.
- Evaluation Criteria: Technical, Past Performance, and Price. Technical and Past Performance are approximately equal in importance and, combined, are more important than price. An "Acceptable" rating in all non-price factors is required. The government intends to award without discussions.
- Pricing: Bidders must use the provided quote template and are explicitly instructed NOT to quote for travel in any CLIN, as travel will be authorized and funded separately.
Deadlines
- Questions Due: April 20, 2026, by 5:00 PM EDT.
- Quotes Due: April 28, 2026, by 8:00 AM EDT.
Additional Notes
Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov and have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The work will primarily involve analog games with limited hybrid games, where the government will provide digital assets.