Secretary of War's Strategic Thinkers Program (STP)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or services for a master's degree program, the Secretary of War Strategic Thinkers Program (STP). The program provides graduate-level education for mid-career military officers and government civilians. This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns.

• A 12-month master's degree program (Master's in International Public Policy or equivalent) for up to 24 students per cohort.

• Provision of all personnel, equipment, supplies, books, facilities (including classroom and office space), and services.

• Computers for the Instructor and Administrator.

• Core curriculum including four STP-specific courses and four courses from the contractor's catalog.

• Two war game exercises per academic year.

• One staff ride in May of each academic year.

• Weekly assignments, discussions, and one-on-one engagements.

• STP graduates must possess advanced cognitive and analytical skills in military strategy and operations.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Base period plus three 12-month option periods.

• Estimated Value: $34.5 Million (Size Standard).

• Quotes are due January 28, 2026, 11:59 PM Central Time.

• Submit quotes to Paul.Hemenway@gsa.gov.

• Technical Questions due by January 13, 2026, 11:59 PM Central Time via email.

• Award will be made to the responsible Quoter whose quote is most advantageous to the Government, using a trade-off process.

• Evaluation Factors: Factor 1 (Technical Approach) is more important than Factor 2 (Price).

• Technical Approach will assess the degree program, facilities, accreditation, faculty, and curriculum, with a focus on regional specializations and military strategy topics.

• Offerors must identify Expected Learning Outcomes (ELOs) and Terminal Learning Objectives (TLOs) for electives.

• Price will be evaluated for reasonableness.

• Award is anticipated without discussions.

• Not set-aside for small business concerns.

• Quoters must be accredited institutions of higher education with experience delivering graduate-level instruction in relevant fields.

• Quoters must demonstrate capability to provide a facility within 20 miles of the Pentagon.

• Quoters must possess CMMC Level 2 Self-Certified status prior to award.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. Full text is available at www.acquisition.gov.

• Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA) may apply and require contractor compliance.

• Offerors must submit three separate PDF Volumes: Responsiveness Requirements, Technical, and General and Price.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY," outlines the performance standards, acceptable quality levels (AQLs), methods of surveillance, frequency of monitoring, and applicable CPAR factors for various tasks associated with the Strategic Training Program (STP).

• Semi-annual Report: Due by December 31 and June 30. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for timely submission (within one week late).
• Professor Evaluations: Due within 30 days of the end of each term. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for timely submission.
• Curriculum Outline: Due by July 15 annually. Includes key personnel and subject matter experts. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR.
• Weekly Activities Report: Due by close of business each Wednesday. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for content and timeliness.
• Staff Ride Report: Due within 30 days of conclusion. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for timeliness and content.
• War Game Report: Due within 30 days of conclusion. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for timeliness and content.
• Master’s in Public Policy (MIPP) or Equivalent: One submission per student due by June 1 annually. Surveillance is 100% inspection by the COR for timeliness and content.

This attachment details the specific performance expectations and reporting requirements that a contractor must meet. Bidders should review these requirements carefully to understand the quality standards, deliverables, and surveillance methods that will be used to evaluate contract performance. It highlights the frequency and nature of reports and submissions expected throughout the academic year.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination (WD) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations under contracts subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA).

• Wage Rates: Lists specific minimum hourly wage rates for a wide range of occupations, categorized by occupational groups (e.g., Administrative Support, Automotive Service, Health Occupations, Technical Occupations).
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing. Specific benefits like Health & Welfare, Vacation, and Holidays are detailed.
• Executive Orders: References Executive Orders 14026 and 13658, which set minimum wage requirements for federal contractors, and outlines their applicability based on contract award or extension dates.
• Applicability Notes: Clarifies that the determination does not apply to exempt computer employees and provides details on night pay, Sunday pay, hazardous pay differentials, and uniform allowances.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not listed in the determination.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders as it dictates the minimum labor costs that must be factored into their proposals for any contract subject to the Service Contract Act. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements to be compliant. It also informs potential bidders about the types of occupations and associated wage scales expected for the contract.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Exhibit D SSC Standards," outlines the Terminal Learning Objectives (TLOs) and Enabling Learning Objectives (ELOs) for the Strategic Thinking Program (STP). It details the expected outcomes and learning components for participants, including educational goals, required skills, and potential career placements. The document also describes the learning methodologies employed, such as the academic/Socratic model, experiential war gaming, and staff ride exercises, along with the role of elective courses.

• TLOs: Focus on developing graduates who can anticipate and adapt to strategic challenges, inform decision-making, and possess advanced cognitive and analytical skills for strategy development and operations.
• ELOs: Detail specific learning processes in war and strategy, joint/combined operations, leadership, critical analysis of scholarly works, adapting to changing conditions, and applying theories to practical problems.
• Learning Methodologies: Includes academic/Socratic model, experiential war gaming (strategic assessments, theory of victory, war plan execution), and staff ride exercises (examining historic battles and leadership).
• Elective Courses: Should relate to the history of war, national security, strategic studies, economics, analytics, regional environments, or diplomacy.

This attachment defines the educational standards and learning objectives for a program. Bidders should review these standards to understand the expected knowledge, skills, and capabilities that participants will acquire. This is crucial for understanding the context of the opportunity, particularly if it involves training, curriculum development, or advisory services related to strategic studies and military decision-making.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document is a template for submitting questions and receiving government responses related to Solicitation Number 47QFHA25K0010. It is intended to facilitate clarification of solicitation details for potential offerors.

This document is a template and does not contain specific questions or answers at this time. It outlines the expected format for submitting questions, requiring offerors to reference specific paragraph numbers (Section/Sub-Section) from the solicitation.

As this is a template for future Q&A, it does not currently impact the solicitation's requirements, due dates, or submission rules. It serves as a tool for bidders to seek clarification on the existing solicitation.

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

To provide a master’s degree granting program, the Secretary of War (SECWAR) Strategic Thinkers Program (STP), for mid-career military officers and government civilians. The program aims to develop strategic thinkers capable of operating in complex environments, adapting to challenges, and offering innovative approaches to national security strategy.

• Provide a 12-month Master’s Degree program for up to 24 professional students per cohort.

• Deliver a curriculum focused on strategy, warfighting, and leadership, including core courses, war games, and a staff ride.

• The program will award a Master's Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., international public policy, war and strategy).

• Contractor is responsible for providing facilities, personnel, and all necessary resources.

• Contractor must develop and maintain an effective Quality Control Program (QCP).

• Government will evaluate performance based on a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

• Deliverables include semi-annual reports, professor evaluations, weekly activity reports, war game reports, staff ride reports, and curriculum outlines.

• Specific performance standards and acceptable quality levels are detailed in Attachment 1/Technical Exhibit 1.

• Period of Performance: 12 months, with two option years.

• Place of Performance: Washington D.C., within a 20-mile radius of the Pentagon.

• Contractor must hire the current STP Director (Contractor) and negotiate terms.

• The STP Director (Contractor) is expected to work approximately 1872 hours annually.

• A full-time Program Administrator is required (approx. 1872 hours annually).

• Personnel are required to run war games and assist with teaching and staff rides (approx. 1176 hours annually).

• All courses are unclassified; no security clearances are required.

• Contractor shall cover all travel expenses for the STP Director and guest instructors/lecturers.

• A Post-Contract Student Completion Assurance period of twelve (12) months is required following contract expiration for students unable to complete the program due to specific circumstances.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Letter of Conditional Agreement between a potential offeror (referred to as "UNIVERSITY") and the Strategic Thinkers Program (STP) Director. It confirms the STP Director's willingness to provide instructor services for the "Art of War" curriculum should the UNIVERSITY be awarded Solicitation 47QFHA25K0010.

• Confirms the STP Director's availability to teach for the base year and two option years.
• Specifies that the STP Director will teach their proprietary "Art of War" curriculum.
• States that the STP Director may have other teaching commitments that do not conflict.
• Clarifies that this agreement is specific to Solicitation 47QFHA25K0010 only.
• Notes that specific employment terms will be negotiated between the UNIVERSITY and the STP Director.
• Prohibits the STP Director from disclosing similar agreements with other offerors.
• Becomes binding only if the UNIVERSITY receives the contract award.
• Requires the tentative offer to include tenure offered (Y/N), benefits package, and itemized compensation.
• Requests an itemized list of the Program Director under CLIN 0001.

This letter serves as a commitment from a key instructor for the Strategic Thinkers Program. Bidders responding to Solicitation 47QFHA25K0010 may need to secure similar conditional agreements for key personnel to demonstrate capability and availability. It outlines specific requirements for the instructor's curriculum, availability, and the information that must be included in the offeror's tentative offer regarding the Program Director.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel workbook serves as a pricing workbook for bidders to detail their proposed costs for the opportunity. It includes instructions for completion and outlines the structure for CLINs, labor categories, travel, and other direct costs (ODCs) across multiple option periods.

• Instructions Sheet: Provides guidance on filling out the workbook, including definitions of terms like SCLS, SOC, Pool, and Labor Category. It emphasizes that only unlocked cells should be filled and that CLINs must match the solicitation's structure. It also details how to handle basic CLINs, optional CLINs, and the 52.217-8 extension.
• Summary Sheet: A high-level overview of contract details and totals for each option period. It includes fields for Task Order ID, Contractor Name, Project Name, Period of Performance, Contract Type, IDV details, Business Size, UEI/DUNS, TIN, CAGE, NAICS, Pool, and contact information.
• Base Period, Option Periods 1-4, and 52.217-8 Extension Sheets: These sheets break down costs by CLIN for each period of performance. They detail labor categories, tuition & fees, travel, and additional ODCs, with columns for proposed rates, totals, and other relevant information. Specific CLINs like 'STP Professional Services', 'STP Professional Services 2', 'Tuition & Fees', and 'TRAVEL' are itemized.

This document is critical for bidders to accurately prepare and submit their pricing proposals. It dictates the format for cost breakdown, requires specific information for each CLIN, and provides the framework for calculating the total contract value across all periods. Bidders must carefully follow the instructions to ensure their pricing is compliant and correctly reflects their proposed costs for services, travel, and other expenses.