Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement (4-16-2026).pdf

Solicitation H9821026QA001

Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement

CENTCOM-AFRICOM DEGREE PROGRAM

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

16 March 2026

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training (DASD

FE&T) implements policies and procedures for Career Investment Programs (CIP) that are critical for war-fighting readiness as well as to ensure that service members are prepared for transition to the civilian workforce following military service. As a CIP, Voluntary Education

(VolEd) programs enable Service member access to quality postsecondary educational opportunities, empower informed Service member decision-making, shape meaningful personal and professional pathways, and drive military student success in higher education. On behalf of the DASD FE&T, the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), a component of the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), manages a portfolio of Defense voluntary education programs that help Service members achieve their personal and professional career goals.

The U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, National

Guard, and Reserve) and Coast Guard require undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate (credit and non-credit) degree programs, delivered in face-to-face and alternative learning formats, to military personnel serving in the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and United

States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Areas of Responsibility (AOR). Service locations for this contract are subject to change and may include any country within the CENTCOM and

AFRICOM AORs as established in the Unified Command Plan issued pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §

161. Appendix A lists the countries currently in the CENTCOM and AFRICOM AORs and the military bases where services are currently required, including Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. Services under this contract may be required at any military location in the CENTCOM and AFRICOM AORs. The U.S. Armed

Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, National Guard, and Reserve) and

Coast Guard require academic and student support services for undergraduate and graduate

(credit and non-credit) degree programs in APPENDIX H, delivered in face-to-face traditional and alternative learning formats, to military personnel serving outside of the Continental United

States (OCONUS).

Areas may include:

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and United States Africa Command

(AFRICOM) Service locations for this contract are subject to change and may include any country within the overseas AORs.

Appendix A lists the countries currently in the AORs and the military bases where services are currently required. Services under this contract may be required at any military location in the

AORs.

2.0 BACKGROUND

This program operates in accordance with DoD Directive 1322.08E, “Voluntary Education

Programs for Military Personnel”; DoD Instruction 1322.19, “Voluntary Education Programs in

Overseas Areas”; and DoD Instruction 1322.25, “Voluntary Education Programs.” In accordance with these directives and instructions, educational programs and services comparable to those

Service members receive in the Continental United States (CONUS) must be provided in overseas areas as well. Programs and education support services enable Service members to achieve their educational and vocational goals, advance in their professional responsibilities, and transition to the civilian workforce upon completion of their military careers. For almost 75 years, public academic institutions have provided US Armed Forces serving overseas with accredited college degree programs. This program has evolved to where Service members deployed to remote locations within contingency areas also receive a variety of educational services in a variety of delivery formats to include traditional face-to-face classroom instruction, and course delivery using a variety of technology-based solutions (e.g., online learning, streaming, hybrid, etc.). The number of courses requested by the local Education Services Office

(ESO) may vary according to troop population, mission, and geographic considerations.

3.0 SCOPE

The Contractor shall provide the personnel, management and materials necessary to deliver a variety of education programs and services to US Armed Forces serving in OCONUS

(CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR). In coordination with DoD’s existing network of military education and learning resource centers, the contractor shall provide accredited college instruction leading to the award of undergraduate and graduate degrees, academic, financial assistance advisement, and testing support services at National Test Centers and forward deployed locations. The contractor awarded the undergraduate liberal arts degree program will also provide testing support services at National Test Centers (NTC). Academic degree programs shall be delivered via face-to-face instruction and alternative learning formats. The objective of this requirement is to provide Service members with educational opportunities comparable to what are available to CONUS- based Service members. The contractor shall ensure educational programs, courses, and content are the same as those provided through formal academic processes on the home campus. The purpose of this contract is to obtain post-secondary (credit and non-credit) programs needed to enable Service members to achieve their educational goals.

This contract is not a guarantee of program enrollments by Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and other eligible personnel in an educational institution’s academic programs, and the government is not requesting online-only programs. The contractor must be capable of delivering required services onsite. Abbreviations used in this PWS are contained in PWS Appendix I.

No Obligation of Government Funds: The contract explicitly states that the Department of

Defense (aka Department of War) will not pay the educational institution. This means the agency is not creating an obligation “in excess of an appropriation” or “in advance of an appropriation.”

Third-Party Payment: The contractor’s compensation comes from a third party, namely the students, through their tuition assistance funding and/or reimbursements.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide non-credit, certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs, educational services, and testing services at military locations in OCONUS (CENTCOM and AFRICOM

AORs) as follows:

4.1 Degree Programs

4.1.1 Accreditation and Institutional Requirements

4.1.1.1 The contractor shall be an accredited institution recognized by the US Department of

Education for face-to-face undergraduate and graduate courses, and regionally or nationally accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education for distance learning courses and course delivered via alternative learning formats. Accreditation is neither divisible nor transferable. A non-accredited institution or organization cannot claim accredited status solely because of any affiliation or arrangement with an accredited institution. Only accredited institutions may provide course offerings.

4.1.1.2 Regional accreditation is required for face-to-face instruction. Per DoDI 1322.19, to receive tuition assistance (TA), Service members in the overseas duty location who are not already enrolled in a postsecondary course may not receive TA unless they enroll in courses offered by contracted universities. The course can be face-to-face, hybrid, online, or other alternative delivery format. This restriction is for the first course only. To preserve federal resources and students' time, credit received in face-to-face courses must be widely transferable to other regionally accredited institutions and must count toward an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Given the transient nature of military students, it is especially important that credits earned by students be portable to other educational institutions. The requirement for regional accreditation for face-to-face courses will, in no way, impact a school’s eligibility for government funded tuition assistance. The requirement for that support lifelong learning by

Service members and other authorized adult learners within the U.S. military communities served by the voluntary education organizations of each of the U.S. Forces in

CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR.

4.1.1.3 The contractor shall be in compliance with voluntary education program directives and instructions. The contractor shall ensure it has taken the necessary steps to comply with the following programs and principles:

a. Be in compliance with DoD Directive 1322.08E, Voluntary Education for Military Personnel, DoD Instruction 1322.19, Voluntary Education Programs in Overseas Areas, and DoD

Instruction 1322.25, Voluntary Education Programs.

b. Agree to sign the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of

Understanding; and

c. Contractors shall adhere to the Principles of Excellent for Education Institution Serving

Service members.

4.1.1.4 The contractor shall maintain the same admission and graduation standards that exist for the same programs at the main administrative and academic office. The Contractor shall include credits from courses taken in the CENTCOM and AFRICOM AORs in establishing academic residency to meet degree requirements. The contractor will conduct on-installation courses that carry identical credit values, represent the same content and experience, and use the same student evaluation procedures as courses offered through the main campus.

4.1.1.5 The Contractors shall comply with requirements of Military Services Academic Portals

(Air Force Automated Education Management System (AFAEMS), Army IgnitED, Navy

College Management Information System (NCMIS). These portals provide centralized methods of applying for TA and in which academic institutions post enrollments, invoice for student enrollment, post class schedules, and provide grades for Service members.

4.1.1.3 Within one year after contract award, the Contractor shall have the same accreditation granting body reevaluate the Contractor’s degree programs to ensure that those programs continue to comply with the accreditation standards. The Contractor shall coordinate with its accrediting agency to determine evaluation requirements. If an on-site accreditation evaluation is required at downrange installations, the Contractor must request and obtain preapproval from the COR who will coordinate the evaluation schedule and logistical arrangements with installation officials. The COR, Alternate COR (ACOR), Education Services Officer, or Site

Specific Technical Assistant (SSTA) will accompany the contractor and accrediting agency personnel on all on-site evaluations at downrange locations. The Contractor is responsible for all costs associated with installation visits deemed necessary for accreditation or base-wide review.

If contract award is to an incumbent institution, evaluation shall be in accordance with the accrediting agency schedule. If the accrediting agency cannot provide confirmation that local programs comply with the accreditation standards by the suspense date, the Contractor must contact the accrediting agency to request a tentative date for review or visit, then notify the

Contracting Officer (CO) and the COR of the tentative review date. The contractor shall furnish a copy of its most recent accreditation reports, and associated written communications related to the degree programs provided herein, to the COR within 45 days of receipt. If a contracted institution’s accreditation changes during the contract period of performance, the contractor must immediately notify the CO and COR and must regain accreditation within 120 days of the effective date of change. The contractor shall be in compliance with voluntary education program directives and instructions.

4.1.1.4 The Contractor shall participate in all Third Party Review assessments conducted by the Government or organizations under contract with the Government. The purpose of the Third

Party Assessment contract is to assess the quality of off-duty postsecondary educational programs and services used by Service members regardless of location or duty assignment and to assist in the improvement of these education programs and services. Periodic assessments will ensure the education programs provided to Service members funded by a tuition assistance program are of the same high quality and meet the same academic criteria as that of other quality higher educational programs (See 32 C.F.R. Subpart A, Ch. 1, Subchapter D, Part 68). The contractor's participation in these assessments will be limited to providing factual data and information about their programs, responding to specific questions from the reviewers, and implementing changes directed by the Government. The Contractor will have no authority to influence the assessment criteria, conduct independent evaluations, or make final decisions regarding program improvements.

4.1.1.5 The Contractor shall sign the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding (dodmou.com) and described in DODI 1325.25 (link provided in paragraph 13.0). To be eligible for award and to perform the requirements of the contract, the

Contractor must be approved for VA funding and certified to participate in federal student aid programs under Title IV of Public Law 89-329 by the U.S. Department of Education prior to the start of the contract. As part of the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding, the Contractor must agree to the Third Party Review Process and adhere to the Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members per Executive Order 13067. These programs and principles form critical elements of the adult, voluntary education programs that support lifelong learning by Service members and other authorized adult learners within the U.S. military communities served by the voluntary education organizations of each of the U.S. Forces in the CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR.

4.1.1.6 The Contractors shall comply with requirements of Military Services Academic Portals

(Air Force Automated Education Management System (AFAEMS), Army IgnitED, Navy

College Management Information System (NCMIS). These portals provide centralized methods of applying for TA and in which academic institutions post enrollments, invoice for student enrollment, post class schedules, and provide grades for Service members.

4.1.1.7 The contractor shall maintain the same admission and graduation standards that exist for the same programs at the main administrative and academic office. The Contractor shall include credits from courses taken in the CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR in establishing academic residency to meet degree requirements. The contractor will conduct on-installation courses that carry identical credit values, represent the same content and experience, and use the same student evaluation procedures as courses offered through the main campus.

4.1.1.87 In AORs where more than one university is providing academic services, the

Contractors shall jointly develop a Cooperation Agreement that outlines the programs awarded pursuant to each contract and the courses to be offered by each Contractor.

a. The Cooperation Agreement shall be provided to the CO and COR thirty (30) business days after the start of the contract transition period.

b. The Cooperation Agreement shall be reviewed every two years, unless an earlier review is requested. If the Cooperation Agreement is amended, the amended version of the

Cooperation Agreement shall be provided to the CO and COR within thirty (30) business days of completion.

4.1.2 Academic Programs Offered

The contractor shall:

4.1.2.1 Provide accredited courses supporting the degree programs identified in Appendix B, Academic Programs, to include:

a. Lower Level Liberal Arts courses leading to award of Certificates, and Associate of

Arts Degrees, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Arts Degrees a.

b. Upper Level Liberal Arts courses leading to award of

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degrees c.b. Graduate courses leading to award of a Graduate

Certificate or Master Degree

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Degree programs shall be consistent with the degree programs available at the Institution of

Higher Education’s home campus. Students' participation in the degree programs shall be funded through military tuition assistance (TA) based on service policy, under the GI Bill, U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs, or funded individually by an eligible student. The Government will not provide funding for student tuition for academic courses through this contract. TA funding used by Service members taking courses under this contract requires military service approval via separate processes in accordance with each military services’ education policy. The

Contractor is not responsible for obtaining TA approval for Service members enrolled in courses under this contract.

4.1.2.2 Enroll students, provide institutionally related advisement, provide administrative/clerical support services for the program, deliver instruction in the programs, assess first time college students, and implement a system to determine appropriate academic placement. The services, supplies, and support provided in-theater shall be consistent with home campus support.

Contractor shall utilize home campus support services only when feasible and without jeopardizing face-to-face, on-ground student support and guidance services.

4.1.2.3 Develop an unofficial Degree Plan by the end of the student’s second course for all students pursuing a degree with the contractor. The Degree Plan shall project and schedule courses annually and by term, include a variety of delivery formats, and account for irregular military work schedule and unanticipated changes in the mission. At a minimum, the Degree

Plan shall include the number of credit hours and/or courses needed to successfully complete the

Contractor’s residency requirement.

4.1.2.4 Provide an electronic degree completion report listing all individuals (to include military personnel, family members, DoD civilians, and DoD Contractors), by name and service affiliation, who have completed the requirements for a certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s, or

Graduate degree to the appropriate Education Center listed in Appendix C and the COR. The report shall include, but is not limited to, source and total amount of tuition (TA, GI Bill, student self-pay, Military Spouse Career Advancement Account, etc.) military affiliation, type of degree awarded, date of degree, degree program, and location. The Contractor shall submit the report within thirty (30) days after the end of each term that comprises the academic year (e.g. fall, winter, spring, summer terms, etc.).

4.2 Education Program Requirements

4.2.1 Education Program Instruction

The Contractor shall deliver the program(s) awarded as follows:

4.2.1.1 Degree programs described in Appendix B at the location specifics in Appendix A. If degree programs are required at additional sites within the CENTCOM AOR, the on-site

Education Services Officer (ESO) or Site-Specific Technical Assistant (SSTA) will request services through the COR. The Contracting Office is the only Government representative authorized to add performance locations to the contract.

4.2.1.2 The course quantities requested by local ESOs will vary according to troop population, mission, operation tempo, and geographical considerations. Changes to set term dates may be expected and shall be accommodated based on exercises and deployments and other events impacting installation populations. Modification of term lengths requires approval by the COR with coordination of the local ESO or SSTA. All credit awarded under this contract for traditional and hybrid instruction shall be resident credit.

4.2.2.1 The Contractor’s instructional delivery shall be consistent with the instructional methods used at the home campus. Instructional delivery methods shall include face-to-face on-site instruction, hybrid instruction, and alternative delivery methods offered by the contractor utilizing latest technology advancements and the most recent delivery methods used in higher education.

4.2.2.2 Instructors shall be available to teach all awarded programs at all sites as indicated in

Appendix B. Face-to-face class instruction is considered traditional education in a physical classroom or other live synchronous video and audio learning technology format. With the live synchronous video and audio learning technology format, students shall meet in a classroom and have live synchronous audio and video communication with the instructor. Instructors shall be in a classroom with other students. Distance learning is a field of education that delivers on-line instruction to students who are not physically present in a traditional education setting such as a classroom. Hybrid instruction is a combination of distance learning and face-to-face classroom instruction. For this contract, hybrid instruction is when instruction is delivered face-to-face at least fifty (50) percent of the time. The Contractor shall have the exclusive right to teach On-site classroom courses on US military installations within the geographical areas. This exclusive right does not limit the access of students to alternative instruction delivered by non-contracted schools originating from the United States. Students may participate in distance learning programs of their choice. No restriction on access to alternative instruction is implied or authorized under this contract.

The Contractor shall deliver the program(s) awarded as follows:

4.2.1.1 Degree programs described in Appendix B at the location specifics in Appendix A. If degree programs are required at additional sites within the CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR, the on-site Education Services Officer (ESO) or Site-Specific Technical Assistant (SSTA) will request services through the COR. The Contracting Office is the only Government representative authorized to add performance locations to the contract.

4.2.1.2 The course quantities requested by local ESOs will vary according to troop population, mission, operation tempo, and geographical considerations. Changes to set term dates may be expected and shall be accommodated based on exercises and deployments and other events impacting installation populations. Modification of term lengths requires approval by the COR with coordination of the local ESO or SSTA. All credit awarded under this contract for traditional and hybrid instruction shall be resident credit.

4.2.1.3 The Contractor shall provide all instructional equipment, including hardware and software necessary to support on-site, face-to-face course delivery and instruction in all other alternate learning formats. Delivery shall be consistent with the instructional methods used at the home campus. Instructional delivery shall include face-to-face on-site instruction, hybrid instruction, and alternative delivery methods offered by the contractor utilizing latest technology advancements and the most recent delivery methods used in higher education.

4.2.1.4 When scheduling courses, the Contractor shall ensure that the course format is considered in the following order of precedence: 1) Face-to-face/traditional classes 2) Hybrid classes, and 3)

Alternative Delivery Methods. Contractor capacity to provide alternate delivery via computer based/electronic means is required. At least 75 percent of courses required for a degree program must be available via alternative delivery. Alternative delivery courses must represent and duplicate the courses and degree areas offered through traditional methods (classroom instruction or mixed format). Alternative delivery is required to ensure access to education opportunities for eligible personnel regardless of their location. The approach must make it possible for the military member in the CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR to continue to pursue education despite irregular work schedules, interrupted activities, and unanticipated mission changes, The source of alternat delivery courses offered by the contractor may be from within or outside the

CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR. In order to assist the CENTCOM/AFRICOM students in the transfer of credit and/or degree completion, the contracted institution shall engage with other institutions to ensure full articulation of course work. An articulation agreement agreed to by the institutions and approved by the COR shall be completed within 120 days after award. The agreement will be reviewed, updated if necessary, and signed every two years.

4.2.1.5 Instructors shall be available to teach all awarded programs at all sites as indicated in

Appendix B. Face-to-face class instruction is considered traditional education in a physical classroom or other live synchronous video and audio learning technology format. With the live synchronous video and audio learning technology format, students shall meet in a classroom and have live synchronous audio and video communication with the instructor. Instructors shall be in a classroom with other students. Distance learning is a field of education that delivers on-line instruction to students who are not physically present in a traditional education setting such as a classroom. Hybrid instruction is a combination of distance learning and face-to-face classroom instruction. For this contract, hybrid instruction is when instruction is delivered face-to-face at least fifty (50) percent of the time.

4.2.1.6 The Contractor shall have the exclusive right to teach Face-to-Face, on-site classroom courses or Hybrid classroom courses on US military installations within the geographical area and for the degree programs. This exclusive right does not limit the access of students to alternative instruction delivered by non-contracted schools originating from the United States.

Students may participate in distance learning programs of their choice. No restriction on access to alternative instruction is implied or authorized under this contract.

4.2.1.7 The Contractor shall ensure that the quality, sequences, and the content of educational program courses are the same as those determined through formal academic processes on the home campus. Programs and courses, to include multi-media electronic delivery modes, conducted under the contract shall be taught by fully qualified faculty and shall carry identical academic credit and course content as is provided on the home campus. The Contractor shall also ensure faculty members in theater possess the same qualifications required on the

Contractor’s home campus.

4.2.1.8 At least twenty-five (25) percent of the courses in any Contractor offered degree program must be offered in the traditional face-to-face classroom format. The Contractor shall not require any student to complete any core/required course under this contract via alternative delivery.

Required courses are: 1) courses needed to complete the general education curriculum and 2) specialized core courses required to complete a degree program.

4.2.2 Instructional Delivery

4.2.2.1 The contractor’s instructional delivery shall be consistent with the instructional methods used at the home campus. Instructional delivery methods shall include face-to-face onsite instruction, hybrid instruction, and alternative delivery methods offered by the contractor utilizing latest technology advancements and the most recent delivery methods used in higher education.

4.2.2.2 Instructors shall be available to teach all awarded programs at all sites. Face-to-face class instruction is considered traditional education in a physical classroom or other live synchronous video and audio learning technology format. With the live synchronous video and audio learning technology format, students shall meet in a classroom and have live synchronous audio and video communication with the instructor. Instructors shall be in a classroom with other students.

Distance learning is a field of education that delivers on-line instruction to students who are not physically present in a traditional education setting such as a classroom. Hybrid instruction is a combination of DL and face-to-face classroom instruction. For the purpose of this contract, hybrid instruction is when instruction is delivered face-to-face at least fifty (50) percent of the time.

4.2.3 Student Enrollments and Class Size

4.2.3.1 Course Registration and Enrollments – All enrollments shall be in conformance with the applicable guidance listed below:

a. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

b. Host Nation Agreements

c. DoD, Military Service and Command Policies

The Contractor shall only enroll those academically qualified individuals who have a valid

Identification and Privilege Card issued by the Military Services and who meet the eligibility required herein. With written authorization of the CO or the COR, the Contractor may enroll other individuals. The Contractor shall only enroll those individuals who meet the requirements of the country’s SOFA or other formal Host Country Agreements.

4.2.3.2 The Contractor shall receive and review class enrollment and drop/withdrawal requests in accordance with Military Service requirements as directed by Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine

Corps, Space Force, National Guard, and Reserve and Costa Coast Guard policies. The

Contractor must establish a record for the Service member in the Contractor’s student information system, unless such a record is already established. The Contractor may register military TA students only after the students receive approval for TA for the applicable course.

4.2.3.3 The Contractor shall register all students in the same manner, subject to the same academic regulations, and with the same support as those students would receive on-campus.

4.2.3.4 For each term of the academic school year, the Contractor shall report Face-to-Face and

Alternative Learning enrollments per CLIN per site for each Military Service in an Excel compatible spreadsheet format. The Contractor shall provide a summary page and list of all enrolled non-SOFA students, identified in paragraph 4.2.4 f though h below, by category for each enrollment period no later than 10 business days following the end of the enrollment period.

4.2.3.5 Class Size – The Contractor shall establish minimum and maximum class size for any single location and will coordinate with the ESO on available space and facilities. Minimum

Class Size – The minimum class size shall be nine students per class at a single location. If approved by the COR, the contractor, at its discretion, may conduct a scheduled course with less than nine students to accommodate student needs but must notify the COR at least five days prior to the course start date if it plans to allow the course to continue with fewer than nine students.

Once the Contractor obtains permission to proceed with fewer than nine students, the Contractor shall not cancel course based on enrollment. When there is a minimum of nine eligible students available for a course not currently listed on the schedule, a class may be requested by the ESO and coordinated with the Contractor and COR. For graduate academic programs, the contractor shall conduct the program by any available course delivery format when a cohort of at least six students have enrolled in the program at the site, For undergraduate and graduate academic programs at small remote locations, the Contractor shall conduct a scheduled course with less than the specified minimum course enrollments when the COR determines it to be required to meet special student needs. Prior written authorization of the COR is required.

a. When the demand for an on-site course has exceeded capacity, the Contractor and ESO shall make a good faith effort to provide a duplicate course at the same location in the same term. Considerations regarding offering a duplicate on-site course include but are not limited to faculty and space availability.

b. For locations where course delivery is received via live-stream (no instructor physically in the room), the minimum enrollment shall be three students in order to create a classroom environment for students and to support team activities at the remote location.

The Contractor may make exceptions to this enrollment minimum on a case-by-case basis depending upon student’s course needs for degree progression.

4.2.3.6 Maximum Class Size - For classroom instruction, the maximum enrollment in a scheduled course shall be determined by the size and seating capacity of the facility. The maximum class size shall not exceed 30 students without the approval of the COR. When enrollment in a scheduled course exceeds the maximum number of students, or when students cannot feasibly be accommodated in a classroom, the Contractor shall, subject to the availability of a certified faculty member, provide a duplicate course at the same location in the same term.

Due to a greater need for individualized instruction, maximum enrollment in certain subject matter courses shall be 20 students. These courses include, but are not limited to, Introductory

Remedial classes, Speech, Introductory Algebra, or as specified by the ESO. The Contractor may register military Tuition Assistance funded students only after the students have been approved for Tuition Assistance for the applicable course.

4.2.3.7 For locations where course delivery is received via live-stream (no instructor physically present), the minimum enrollment shall be three students in order to create a classroom environment for students and to support team activities at the remote location. The COR has authority to approve exceptions.

4.2.3.8 The Contractor shall notify the COR and ESO of course cancellations two days prior to term start date and must submit a course cancellation report no later than fifteen (15) working days after the start of each term.

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4.2.3.9 For each 8-week term of the academic school year, the Contractor shall report Face-to-

Face and Alternative Learning enrollments per CLIN per site for each Military Service in an

Excel compatible spreadsheet format. The Contractor shall provide a summary page and list of all enrolled non-SOFA students, identified in paragraph 4.2.4 f through h below, by category for each enrollment period no later than ten (l0) business days following the end of the enrollment period.

4.2.4 Student Eligibility

Eligible students include:

a. U.S. Military Personnel

b. U.S. DoD Civilians

c. Dependent Family Members

d. U.S. DoD contractors and United States Government (USG) sponsored citizens

e. United States Armed Forces Retirees, Widows, and their dependents

f. Non-USG sponsored citizens

g. Local Nationals

h. Third-Country Nationals

Priority for enrolling for all courses shall comply with DoDI 1322.19 and will be given in the following order: Service members, U.S. DOD Civilians, dependent family members of service members and DoD Civilians, military retirees, U.S. non-DOD personnel, local nationals, third country nationals. The Contractor, in coordination with the COR, shall formulate a system to provide such priority and it shall be published and provided to each ESO and COR prior to the initial commencement of contracted services.

4.2.5 Student Withdrawals and Refunds

The Contractor Shall:

4.2.5.1 Report student course withdrawal to each service’s centralized portal or main campus for students using TA.

4.2.5.2 Pay proportionate refunds to the Government and the students in accordance with DoDI

1322.25.

4.2.5.3 Make appropriate refunds to the applicable Service or student within 30 days after the withdrawal date. The Contractor shall write the appropriate annotation indicating the percentage of refund with total dollar amount on the application for withdrawal.

4.2.5.4 Traditional Classroom/Hybrid Delivery - students who exceed the number of authorized absences from class meetings, as specified in the contractor catalog or course syllabus, must have the faculty member's approval to continue in the course. Otherwise, the student must submit an

Application for Withdrawal, giving the reason(s) for absences and withdrawal. A student who has excessive unexcused absences and does not formally withdraw may receive a failing grade of

"F" (failure) in the course(s) that award credit.

4.2.5. Alternative Education Delivery - If satisfactory progress is not made, the student must submit an Application for Withdrawal, giving reason for failure to maintain satisfactory progress.

A student who fails to maintain satisfactory progress and who does not formally withdraw shall automatically receive a failing grade of "F".

4.2.6 Course Schedule

4.2.6.1 The Contractor, after consulting and coordinating with the COR, shall develop annual and term course schedules to ensure courses are projected and available to permit degree/program progression. The Contractor shall not deviate from schedules without approval of the COR.

a. Annual Schedule: The annual course schedule shall be the masterplan for all term schedules. The annual course schedule shall be finalized thirty (30) calendar days prior to commencement of each academic year’s first term and published at least three (3) weeks prior to commencement of each academic year’s first term registration on the institution’s website. The first annual course schedule shall be developed during the

Contractor’s phase-in period. The annual schedule shall ensure that range of course offerings facilitate student progression towards degree completion, considers historical data on course offerings and student enrollment patterns, and takes into consideration scheduled military training activities and other military related factors that might impact course participation and enrollment. Annual schedule shall be routed to all ESOs, SSTAs, and receive approval from the COR.

b. Term Schedule: Each term, the Contractor shall finalize the schedule listing courses and instructors no later than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the term start date. The

Contractor shall publish the finalized course schedule for each term by location on the institution’s website.

c. Contractors that enroll students at any time during the year and do not operate within set terms shall provide the ESO with general a course schedule and report contract requirements by utilizing business quarters as a delivery timetable rather than the term system.

The Quarters are:

1st Quarter: August 1- October 31

2nd Quarter: November 1 -January 31

3rd Quarter: February 1 – April 30

4th Quarter: May 1 – July 31

4.2.6.2 Undergraduate classroom instruction shall generally not exceed eight (8) weeks in duration. Adherence to these guidelines is at the discretion of the Contractor. Courses less than six (6) weeks long will not be authorized without COR approval.

4.2.7 Course Syllabus

4.2.7.1 The Contractor shall develop and produce a course syllabus listing learning outcomes, instructional and reference materials, examination information, grading procedures, incomplete policy, involuntary withdrawal policy, and student requirements for each course.

4.2.7.2 The Contractor shall make a copy of the course syllabus available three weeks before the start of classes. The syllabus shall also be available on the institutional website one week prior to the term start date. The syllabus shall be specific and current to the course content provided in theater.

4.2.7.3 A copy of the course syllabi shall be provided electronically to the COR, local ESO/Navy

College Director, and the Site Specific Technical Assistant (SSTA) at least three (3)weeks prior to the starting date of a scheduled course.

4.2.8 Student Services

4.2.8.1 Veterans Administration (VA) Education Benefits – the Contractor shall:

a. Secure a determination from the VA (no later than 45 days before registration for the first course of the Contractor approved programs) concerning full-time course load for purposes of financial benefits granted to a student.

b. Process and certify applications for VA Benefits.

c. Notify the VA of ineligible veterans.

4.2.8.2 Advisement – The Contractor shall be responsible for advisement to all students and prospective students for all programs and shall:

4.2.8.2.1 Provide all Service members an unofficial education plan before enrolling in the first class.

4.2.8.2.2 Inform students of federal and institutional financial aid for which they qualify and assist in applying for the aid. Assist students with completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

4.2.8.2.3 Provide students with a formal degree plan after completion of six semester hours of credit.

4.2.8.2.4 Provide the student an official evaluation of all prior learning after six (6) undergraduate hours of study and the student has arranged for all prior college transcripts and Joint Service Transcripts.

4.2.8.2.5 Have on-line communication services, i.e., email and other internet capabilities between sites and home campus to facilitate rapid communications with faculty, students, and program administrators.

4.2.8.2.6 Ensure the faculty is available to students for consultation outside of class time. The Contractor shall require its faculty establish and publish a schedule of these consultation hours, no later than the second day after the beginning of a course. Consultation can be face-to-face or through electronic format.

4.2.9 Financial Aid Resources

The Contractor shall make available to all students and prospective students, military and non-military, information on available financial aid. Information shall include the following resources per DoDI1322.25: College Scorecard (http://collegecost.ed.gov/scorecard), The College

Navigator (http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator), Financial Aid Shopping Sheet

(http://www2ed.gov/policy/highered/guid/aid-offer/index.html), and CFPB Paying for College webpage (http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college).

Alternative Education Delivery Progress

The Contractor shall publish guidance and procedures concerning how to register for the initial use of alternative delivery. Students who are first time undergraduate students shall be systematically assessed for placement. The Contractor shall establish standards and monitor

Student work required to maintain satisfactory progress. If the Contractor determines the student is not making satisfactory progress, the Contractor shall advise the student of the work required and give a reasonable deadline to achieve satisfactory progress.

4.2.10 Library Services

4.2.10.1 The Contractor shall ensure students have access to the resources that meet both the

Contractor’s standards and the accreditation standards for the subject courses offered. This shall include access to home campus library system, electronic databases and librarian services at a distance. The Contractor shall meet this requirement by placing reference materials in local libraries and/or through the internet and other emerging technologies.

4.2.10.2 Institutional Support of Research for Degree Programs

The Contractor shall ensure that research and other source materials are readily available. The

Contractor shall ensure faculty and students have access to the home campus library system, including research support. This requires access through internet to virtual text databases and research librarian assistance.

4.2.11 Grades

4.2.11.1 The Contractor shall provide grades to each student no later than 14 days after course completion. Students shall have access to grades via academic website.

4.2.11.2 Specific requirements for providing grades, by Service, are:

a. Army, National Guard, Army Reserves: The contractor shall submit grades no later than

14 days after the published term end date via the Army's ArmylgnitED portal using the web-grading tool or by sending a flat file via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), configured to specifications provided by the Army.

b. Air Force, Space Force, and Air Force Reserve Components: The contractor shall submit grades no later than 15 days after the published term end date via the Air Force Academic

Institution Portal (AI Portal).

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c. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Navy Reserve Components.: Contractor shall submit grades no later than 15 days after the published term end date via the Navy College

Management Information Systems (NCMIS) Grade Entry Portal.

4.2.11.2 Follow Service guidance on each Services portal to submit grades. Submit grades no later than 14 calendar days to each services’ portal (Air Force, Space Force, and Air Force

Reserve: Air Force Academic Institution Portal; Army National Guard, Army Reserves: Army

IgnitED portal; Navy, Marine Corps, and Navy Reserve Components: Navy College

Management Information System (NCMIS) Academic Institution Module).

4.2.11.3 The Contractor shall issue grades of "I" (incomplete) in accordance with institutional policy. Institutional policy may prescribe a greater period of time to remove the incomplete grade than service's directives allow. However, the service directives related to reimbursement still apply to students using Tuition Assistance.

4.2.12 Transcripts

4.2.12.1 The Contractor shall provide official transcript upon student’s request.4.2.12.1 The

Contractor shall provide a complete, first time official no fee transcript (unless prohibited by state law) upon student's written request, whether submitted via mail, electronically, or in person.

4.2.12.2 Ensure all student requests for transcripts or official academic standing are processed within 15 days of receipt by the Contractor’s issuing office. The Contractor shall work with the appropriate Service organizations to establish an electronic transfer system compatible with the

Joint Services Transcript System.

4.2.12.3 Honor the institution's established transcript fee for any other request for transcript(s).

4.2.13 Tuition Assistance

4.2.13.1 Tuition Assistance (TA) is Government funding provided to Service members for payment of tuition. TA and enrollments cannot be guaranteed by the Government and are not considered for this contract. The exact percentage of Government TA liability will be determined by each service in accordance with applicable directives. The Government retains the option to pay 100% of the unit cost for each enrollment/course designated as mission essential training.

4.2.13.2 If the Contractor is enrolling a Military student, the Contractor shall only process students add, drop or withdrawal requests using TA funding IAW Military Service policies and procedures. The Contractor shall process drop/withdrawal requests through the appropriate

Service portal, when applicable. Contractor shall process drop/withdrawal requests through the appropriate Service portal, when applicable. The Contractor shall date any drops or withdrawals to match the transaction date indicated in the Service portal. If the student submitting the drop/withdrawal request utilized tuition assistance, the Contractor shall make an appropriate refund to the applicable Service within thirty (30) calendar days after the event. Likewise, if the student submitting the drop/withdrawal request did not utilize tuition assistance, the contractor shall make an appropriate refund to the student within thirty (30) calendar days after the event.

4.2.13.3 The Contractor shall follow current applicable TA management processes as outlined by

U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Space Force, or U.S. Coast

Guard policies for TA payment for tuition, student withdrawals and refunds.

4.2.13.4 The Contractor shall only enroll a Service member as a TA student if the student has

TA approval IAW Military Service TA policy. This restriction does not apply to Service members paying for the enrolled course with non-TA funds.

4.2.13.5 When supporting Army students, the contractor will follow ArmyignitED procedures.

(https://www.Armyignitlogin.aspx)

4.2.13.6 When supporting Air Force students, the contractor will follow AFAEMS procedures.

(https://afaems.langley.af.mil/webesp/)

4.2.13.7 When supporting Navy students, the Contractor will follow Virtual Education Center

(VEC) procedures. (https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ncpasmnt/nccasmnt.cfm)

4.2.13.8 When supporting Marine Corps students, the Contractor will follow Marine Corps procedures. (http://www.usmc-mccs.org/education/mta.cfm)

4.2.13.9 When supporting Coast Guard students, the Contractor will follow Coast Guard procedures.

(http://www.uscg.mil/yotf/cgi/active_duty/pay_for_college/ta/eligibility.asp)

4.2.14 Military Service Education Portals

Each branch of military service maintains a service unique education portal as follows:

4.2.14.1 ArmyIgnitED is the education system for the United States Army. ArmyIgnitED provides a centralized method of applying for TA for the students, and through the ArmyIgnitED

Institutional Portal, institutions can post class schedules, invoice for student enrollment and provide grades at the end of each term. Institutions must use ArmyIgnitED to submit invoices and grades for U.S. Army students.

4.2.14.2 Air Force Automated Education Management System (AFAEMS) - AFAEMS is the education system of record for the United States Air Force/Space Force.