Summary

This document is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition for Solicitation 47QFHA25K0010, the DASW Strategic Thinkers Program (STP). The General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) is conducting a brand-name acquisition on behalf of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (DASW) for Strategic Readiness to execute a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. The estimated total value for the three-year effort is redacted in the document. The requirement is for curriculum development and instruction services specific to the "Art of War" program and instruction from the current STP director, described as the program's architect and professor. The procurement is being conducted as a firm-fixed-price contract under FAR 13.501(a)(2)(ii) authority, citing 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 12.102(b). The controlling contracting officer is Paul Hemenway at GSA AAS (Paul.Hemenway@gsa.gov), with the interagency agreement number 47QFHA20S0003.

The justification emphasizes that the STP director holds sole ownership of proprietary intellectual property in the "Art of War" curriculum, which he developed and refined through positions at Marine Corps University, Army Command and General Staff College, and Australian National University. The Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) validated the program's unique effectiveness through a two-year study (September 2022–September 2024), confirming that STP graduates develop superior strategic thinking capabilities and that no other curriculum has achieved comparable validated outcomes. Market research conducted January 29–February 20, 2025, identified 25 universities in the DC area, resulting in three statements of interest from Arizona State University, Institute for World Politics, and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (incumbent). The government intends to maximize competition by requiring universities to propose additional electives and degree programs incorporating the core "Art of War" curriculum requirements for equivalency with Senior Service College programs, with participation limited to institutions within 50 miles of The Pentagon. To overcome barriers to competition, the government will execute a Brand Name Only (BNO) agreement allowing universities to compete by offering the proprietary curriculum. No additional supporting facts were identified for the other-than-competitive approach.