26RFI0005_DualEnrollment_041426.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - HE125426RFI0005

Dual Enrollment

1.0 Description

The Department of War Education Activity (DOWEA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to obtain information from eligible institutions of higher education regarding potential approaches, capabilities, and standard practices related to the establishment of formal, industry‑standard Memorandums of Understanding

(MOUs) or Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) to support dual or concurrent enrollment opportunities for

DOWEA high school students.

In accordance with Section 2164c of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, the

Secretary of War, acting through the Director of the Department of War Education Activity, is authorized to enter into arrangements with institutions of higher education to provide students of Defense Dependent Schools access to postsecondary course credit through dual or concurrent enrollment programs. Eligible institutions must maintain an active Program Participation Agreement under section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20

U.S.C. 1094) and must not be provisionally or temporarily certified.

This RFI is intended to support planning and coordination associated with the potential development of a system‑wide dual enrollment program and to better understand institutional models, agreement structures, and implementation considerations. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a request for quotations or proposals, nor does it obligate the Government to enter into any agreement.

2.0 Overview

2.1 Agency Overview: The Department of War Education Activity is one of only two federally operated school systems and directs, coordinates, and manages pre‑kindergarten through grade 12 educational programs for dependents of military and civilian employees worldwide. DOWEA operates 161 fully accredited schools, serving approximately 66,000 students.

DOWEA schools are organized into three geographic regions:

• Americas: 50 schools located in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba

• Europe and the Middle East: 64 schools located in Germany, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Bahrain

• Pacific: 46 schools located in Korea, Japan (mainland and Okinawa), and Guam

DOWEA also operates one fully accredited virtual high school with teaching hubs in the Americas, Europe, and Pacific. DOWEA is a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of War (Personnel and Readiness) and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

2.2 Agency Background: DOWEA currently supports student participation in dual enrollment opportunities on an ad hoc, student‑initiated basis. Students seeking dual enrollment submit course requests for individual review to determine whether the postsecondary course satisfies applicable graduation or academic requirements. Each request is evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and DOWEA does not currently maintain systemic dual enrollment partnerships or agency‑wide formal agreements with institutions of higher education.

Military‑connected students experience frequent transitions across school systems, states, and countries. To mitigate transitional barriers and promote equitable access to postsecondary opportunities, DOWEA seeks to explore scalable and consistent approaches to dual or concurrent enrollment that can be implemented across its global school system.

2.3 Summary: Through this RFI, DOWEA seeks information that will help inform planning for a potential system‑wide dual enrollment program and the possible future execution of formal MOUs or MOAs with institutions of higher education. Information received will assist DOWEA in understanding institutional approaches related to academic alignment, credit transferability, instructional models, student support, and agreement frameworks consistent with NDAA requirements.

3.0 Requested Information

3.1 Institutional Capabilities, Program Approaches, and Partnership Information: Institutions are requested to provide information responsive to the following topic areas. Responses may be concise and reference existing materials where appropriate.

i) Institutional Integrity: Provide the institution’s program participation agreement in effect under section

487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094). A temporary or provisional certification does not meet this requirement (NDAA 2026).

ii) Introduction to the Institution: Brief overview of the institution, not to exceed one paragraph.

iii) Collaboration Plan: Provide a plan to work with DOWEA to design and implement a systemic dual enrollment program for its worldwide student population.

• Course Sequence Alignment: Include a strategy for faculty members from the partnering institution of higher learning in consultation and collaboration with representatives from DOWEA to design a sequence of courses to match the academic content standards and level of rigor of the corresponding postsecondary courses (NDAA 2026).

• Outreach and Information Dissemination: Include resources that can be utilized by DOWEA to support outreach and awareness efforts targeted toward elementary and secondary students, particularly those in the middle grades and their families, educators, school counselors, and principals (NDAA 2026).

• Meetings: The institution of higher education will include a plan for a virtual kickoff and subsequent virtual meetings with representatives from DOWEA to ensure seamless implementation of the dual enrollment program.

• Point of Contact: The institution of higher education will include a primary point of contact for

DOWEA to provide initial and ongoing support for the dual enrollment program.

iv) Service to a Global Agency: Detail the strategy and infrastructure in place to serve a worldwide agency with students located on military installations in multiple countries and time zones.

v) Experience with Military Communities: Provide evidence and examples of experience working with military-connected communities and families.

vi) Active Agreements: Provide a list of all schools and/or school districts that currently hold dual enrollment and/or concurrent MOAs or MOUs with your institution.

vii) Credit Transferability: Share the specifics on the transferability of credits to other post-secondary institutions, including a list of institutions that accept course credit and any articulation agreements

(NDAA 2026).

viii) Eligible Courses: Explanation of how dual enrollment courses are selected and offered.

ix) Teacher Certification, Professional Development, and Expectations: Describe the process and criteria for determining the qualifications necessary for DOWEA teachers to teach the institution’s courses for dual enrollment credit and the application process (if applicable) for eligible teachers (NDAA

2026).

• Provide validation that post-secondary faculty members teaching the courses to DOWEA students are employed by a two-year or four-year institution of higher education (which may include a community college) and meets the applicable post-secondary accreditation for instructional staff

OR a qualified teacher in accordance with applicable law; and has received training or certification to deliver the dual or concurrent enrollment course curriculum in alignment with the standards of the partnering institution of higher education (NDAA 2026).

• Describe the professional development that will be provided to qualified DOWEA teachers who are teaching a dual enrollment course (NDAA 2026).

• Expectations of dual enrollment faculty teaching dual enrollment classes.

x) Flexible Course Delivery: Describe the options available for course delivery (e.g. synchronous, asynchronous, in-person, on-demand, session-based, etc.)

xi) Technical Support and Requirements: Include any technological or logistics requirements for the dual enrollment program and the technological support provided by the institute of higher education. NOTE:

DOWEA’s current learning management systems are Schoology and Google Classroom.

xii) Cost Per Course: Include per course pricing and itemized list of additional fees.

xiii) Student Admission Qualifications: Describe the institution’s eligibility requirements, academic expectations, and preparatory coursework for student enrollment in the dual enrollment program

(NDAA 2026).

xiv) Student Enrollment Process: Explain how a student enrolls in a course or courses for the dual enrollment program.

xv) Academic Support: Describe the academic support structure provided to students enrolled in the dual enrollment program.

xvi) Degree Pathways and Certificates: Detail any programs that provide a degree plan and/or allow students to obtain an associate degree or certification.

3.2 Sample Agreements: Respondents are requested to submit sample or draft Memorandums of Understanding

(MOUs) or Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) for DoWEA that reflect their standard institutional approach to dual or concurrent enrollment partnerships and NDAA-aligned requirements.

4.0 Industry Discussions

DOWEA may elect to engage respondents for clarifying discussions or informational exchanges. Such engagements are not guaranteed and do not constitute negotiations.

5.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted by email to Contract Specialist, Andrew Johnston, at andrew.johnston@dodea.edu and Alim Koroma, Contracting Officer, at alim.koroma@dodea.edu. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Questions will be answered via email and will not contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 1PM EST on 25 May 2026 will be answered.

6.0 Summary

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning and does not constitute an RFQ/RFP. The information herein is subject to change and not binding on the Government. Release of this RFI is not a commitment that

DOWEA will issue an RFQ/RFP in the future or that it authorizes costs to be incurred for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

SUSPENSE

Submit your RFI response no later than 1PM EST on Monday, 01 June 2026. Please email your responses to the Contract Specialist, Andrew Johnston and Contracting Officer, Alim

Koroma at andrew.johnston@dodea.edu and alim.koroma@dodea.edu, respectively.