Attachment VIII USNCC CIAS PWS.pdf

UNITED STATES NAVAL

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Consortium for Integrated Academic Solutions

Performance Work Statement

(PWS)

1.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

1.1 Introduction. This is non-personal services Multiple Award Contract (MAC). The contracts are for the continued development and expansion of the USNCC Consortium for Integrated Academic Solutions (CIAS), supporting the strategic growth and outreach of USCC. The contracts awarded are also performance-based, firm-fixed price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) awards and support a broad range of academic offerings. Further, USNCC will award IDIQ contracts to contractors with both capability and fit at the institutional level as well as excellence within the fields that USNCC has identified as relevant. IDIQ award and associated membership in USNCCs Consortium constitutes the Contractor (here forward partner institution) as a preferred provider of integrated academic solutions.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide academic programs and services as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Contractor shall perform to the standards outlined in this contract.

1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this requirement is for the USNCC to continue growth of high-quality, naval-relevant programs for the maritime services that are readily accessible, low cost, and scalable.

Under this contract, the USNCC envisions providing academic programs and services leading to approximately 15-20 different associate degrees, as well as embedded and stand-alone certificates, micro-credentials, and courses in both technical and non-technical fields of study. The USNCC will accomplish this goal by expanding the USNCC Consortium with higher education institutions across the United States.

1.3 Background. USNCC is the official community college of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Mission The U.S. Naval Community College mission is to advance warfighting advantage and enhance operational readiness by providing world-class, naval relevant education to a globally deployed force.

Vision

The United States Naval Community College will develop warfighters across the force who are committed to lifelong learning, are steeped in Naval traditions and values, have sound leadership qualities and ethical decision-making ability, possess improved critical thinking and technical skills and have a deep understanding of the complex maritime environment in which they operate.

1.3.1 History

On February 5, 2019, the Secretary of the Navy issued the Education for Seapower (E4S) Decision Memorandum calling for a bold new direction for naval education. The E4S Decision Memorandum ordered, among other things, the development of a comprehensive naval education strategy. A primary objective of the Strategy was the creation of the United States Naval Community College (USNCC).

The images below provide an overview of the USNCC’s history and timeline.

USNCC Journey Part I (image 1)

USNCCs Journey Part II (image 2)

Since opening our doors in 2018, current enrollment in USNCC programs has reached over five thousand across twelve degrees and seven Consortium members. Over the span of this contract, USNCC plans to actively enroll thousands of students into current, projected, programs. Upon reaching full operational capacity and funding, USNCC will have the institutional capacity to serve ~25,000 personnel serving the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

1.3.2 Naval Services Alignment and Relevance A fundamental tenet of the USNCC is its alignment to the missions and requirements of the Naval Services USNCC has established an Executive Steering Committee and advisory groups and sought out subject matter experts to provide strategic oversight and guidance, support “naval-ization” of learning outcomes; and ensure program outcomes align to USNCCs mission and vision.

1.3.3 Program Design USNCC programs are designed in a modular fashion with certificates, offered as stand-alone credentials and stackable towards an associate degree, built into each program. These credentials align with each student’s chosen professional interests while also fostering the intellectual skills needed to ensure the US remains at the forefront of the world’s maritime forces.

1.3.3.1 All USNCC associate degree programs consist of the following three main components:

a. A Naval Studies Certificate (taught by the USNCC) which counts as 15 of the 60-65 credits required for the associate degree to support ethical decision-making, naval history, geopolitics, and civil-military relations.

b. Intellectual Skills (taught by USNCC or by the USNCC’s partner institution) which includes, but is not limited to, general education courses such as English and math.

c. Professional certificates, taught by the USNCC’s consortium partner institution, which include coursework in a particular concentration.

1.4 USNCC Consortium.

The USNCC is an educational association created with private and public, two and four-year, higher education institutions that offer accredited undergraduate degree programs. USNCC aims to achieve its mission through the continued growth of the Consortium which includes contracting with exceptionally qualified civilian higher education institution(s) to provide a broad range of educational services to USNCC students.

1.4.1 Consortium Agreement. The USNCC Consortium Agreement clearly defines institutional roles and responsibilities, mutually agreed upon program plan(s), credit transfer and articulation, assessment and oversight, faculty requirements, admissions, and academic recourse for students who leave USNCC or the services prior to degree attainment.

1.4.2 Directionality. The current Consortium Agreement consists of terms for bilateral transfer of credit, i.e. transfer of credit between USNCC and a single institution. In the future, USNCC plans to evolve the Consortium into a multi-lateral model which will include transfer of credit(s) between USNCC and partner institutions as well as transfer of credit between partner institutions.

1.4.3 Credit Articulation. The current Consortium Agreement consists of terms for bilateral articulation of credit between USNCC and one partner institution. As part of the Consortium Agreement, USNCC

Commented [CU1]: @Winn CIV Spencer R US I'd update to five thousand

Commented [CU2]: @Winn CIV Spencer R US add into this list - mutually agreed upon program plan and the institution will also agree and sign a bi-directional articulation agreement that will govern bi-directional transferability between the institutions.

1.4.4 Consortium Membership. The Consortium is a critical component of USNCCs programs.

Award of the IDIQ assumes alignment with the tenets and agreement to participate in the Consortium.

1.5 Partnership Model.

Key features of the USNCC partnership model include the following:

1.5.1 Shared Vision and Goals – share USNCCs mission, vision, and goals, ensuring that all parties are working towards the same outcomes.

1.5.2 Planning and Decision – contribute their expertise and resources to inform the partnership’s direction and initiatives.

1.5.3 Integrated Operations – blend of necessary operations to function more efficiently, such as sharing administrative tasks, coordinating schedules, and sharing data.

1.5.4 Flexibility – responsive to changing needs, customizing programs or services to meet the specific needs of the USNCC and services unique context.

1.5.5 Coordinated Support – all facets of the student learning journey, e.g. admissions, enrollment student support, academic advising, and communications, are coordinated across institutions.

1.6 Partner Profile

USNCC will contract with institutions that have the following attributes:

1.6.1 High-Quality, Innovative Programs and Approaches – offer exceptional, cutting-edge educational programs. This involves adopting modern teaching methods, incorporating technology, and creating innovative curricula that align with the needs of the military and evolving industries. Programs will be predominantly delivered remotely to globally deployed service members, so digital-first, online-delivery and support is critical.

1.6.2 Leverage Latest Military and Industry Trends – continuously update programs to reflect the latest developments in both military and civilian industries. This includes integrating current trends in technology, policy, and operational practices into the curriculum.

1.6.3 Recognized as Exceptional in Their Fields – recognized for their excellence in specific fields of study that are highly aligned to industry requirements, government and non-government certifications, and competencies. which includes holding specialized accreditations, such as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); industry certifications such as those offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (COMPTIA); and DOD recognition such as designation as a Center for Excellence (e.g. Cybersecurity, Military Health Systems).

1.6.4 Committed to Student Access and Success – Have exceptional academical outcomes while firmly committed to expanding student access. his includes flexible learning options, comprehensive student support services, and clear pathways to academic achievement.

1.6.5 Comprehensive Student Support – provide holistic support to help students succeed, including academic, career, and personal support services. This ensures that military students are guided through every aspect of their educational journey.

1.6.6 Military-Forward and Friendly – go beyond simply accommodating military students— they actively prioritize their needs and recognize the unique value they bring. This includes valuing military training, providing pathways to degree completion as well as educating campus departments on the diverse profiles of USNCC Students.

1.6.7 Robust Credit for Training and Experience – processes for recognizing and awarding credit for prior learning (CPL), military training and experience.

1.6.8 Four-year Pathways – established, pathways to earning bachelor’s degrees that are fully online and asynchronous at accredited institutions.

1.6.9 Student-first Philosophy – share USNCC’s student-first philosophy:

1.6.9.1 Building Accessibility and Transparency into All Aspects of the Student Experience.

Institutions must make every step of the educational journey accessible and clear, from admission to graduation.

1.6.9.2 Meeting the Unique Needs of Students with Empathy and Problem-Solving. Military students often face unique challenges, such as deployments or service-related stress. USNCC values partners who are empathetic and proactive in addressing these issues.

1.6.9.3 Creating Equitable Environments by Removing Barriers. Actively work to remove unnecessary barriers, whether financial, academic, or administrative, to create an inclusive environment for all students.

1.6.9.4 Tracking the Working Adult Student Experience. Closely monitor adult students as a unique population - tailoring services to help them balance work, education, and personal responsibilities.

1.6.9.5 Working Toward Debt-Free Graduates. Firmly committed to minimizing student debt.

1.7 Data Sharing

Comprehensive data collaboration between USNCC and each partner institution is key to maximizing program outcomes and scalability. To support USNCCs data sharing goal while allowing those higher education institutions with smaller information technology teams to succeed as members of the USNCC Consortium, the USNCCs IDIQ contract will include Data Sharing Tiers (Reference Attachment I: CIAS Data-Sharing Technology Requirements) that reflect the partner institution's data sharing capabilities at the time of award. USNCC will base student enrollment and task order credit allotment on these Tiers.

Commented [GU3]: need one more review of this doc

2.0 SCOPE AND ORDERING

USNCC will build a Consortium of partner institutions to support USNCC’s strategy. The scope of this contract includes ongoing efforts to enhance the consortium’s infrastructure, ensure the offering of high-quality academic offerings and associate student support, integrate academic technologies, and facilitate the scalability of solutions to meet the evolving needs of member institutions. The IDIQ award will encompass preferred providers that USNCC determines have academic rigor; innovative programs and programming; and can successfully perform the functional, data, and service requirements outlined in the performance work statement. The scope of the services that the Contractor will provide include the following:

2.1 Definitions.

Academic Advisory Report (AAR): An individualized official academic document provided by institutions of higher education that:

a. identifies all courses required for graduation in the individual’s intended academic discipline and level of postsecondary study; and

b. includes an evaluation of all successfully completed coursework, evaluated credit for military training and experience, and other credit sources applied to the institutional degree requirements.

The AAR is also known as an academic degree plan (ADP),degree audit report (DAR), evaluated education plan (EEP), military degree plan (MDP), or by other variations that may vary by institution.

Academic Calendar: A period designated by a college or university that includes dates for registration, additions, and deletions to students’ class schedules, beginning and ending of semesters/terms, mid-term and final exams, application for graduation, and other key activities.

Academic Program: A legally authorized postsecondary program of organized instruction or study that leads to a certificate, an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctor’s degree, resulting in credits that can be applied to one of these degrees. An Academic Program is also known as an educational program, academic offerings, and educational offerings.

Academic Services: Educational or educationally related activities that support students in achieving higher educational goals.

Academic Year: The annual period of instruction at an educational institution. An academic year is one complete school year at the same school, or two complete, half years at different schools.

For schools that have a year-round program of instruction, nine months is historically considered an academic year.

Admission Policy: The criteria by which an institution determines which applicants will be

Commented [GU4]: HOLD - let me align these with our updated STS / All Hands Glossary Definitions. I'll update or align by end of week.

Commented [GU5R4]: @Winn CIV Spencer R US done reviewing and updating glossary definitions. All are aligned with our most current All Hands Glossary.

admitted.

Articulation Agreement: An agreement between or among institutions of higher education that specifies the acceptability of courses in transfer toward meeting specific degree or program requirements.

Assessment of Student Learning: A process which shows that, at graduation or other appropriate points, an institution’s students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with institutional and appropriate higher education goals.

Asynchronous Learning: A general term used to describe forms of education, instruction, and learning that do not occur in the same place or at the same time.

Award: The degree or certificate granted for completion of an academic program.

Calendar Year: A calendar year is a one-year period between January 1 and December 31, based on the Gregorian calendar

Census: A complete count of all USNCC students reporting includes the term, branch of service, courses enrolled, and all data related to these demographics.

Certificate/Professional Certificate: A credential based on a coherent course of study. Completion of a college credit certificate generally is related to a specific field, and usually associated with a set of occupations. For USNCC programs, certificate courses are offered at the undergraduate level and all courses within the certificate are offered as a stand-alone program and embedded within an associate degree.

Credential: Official documented credit that verifies an individual's qualification or competency in a specific skill. Credentials are earned and awarded by completing a course of study, successfully passing an assessment, or meeting specified requirements that verify competency. Associate degrees and certificates are USNCC credentials.

Curriculum: Curriculum or program is the formal educational requirements necessary to qualify for certificates or degrees. A curriculum includes intellectual skills (commonly referred to as general education) or specialized study in a particular field, or both.

Degree: An academic qualification given to a student who has finished a course of study at a college or university.

Degree-Granting: A post-secondary educational institution that awards accredited associate's, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees. Prior to USNCC becoming a degree-granting institution, the partner institution will be the primary associate degree grantor. Once USNCC becomes a degree-granting institution, USNCC will become the primary associate degree grantor for new students, but will continue to operate in consortium in the delivery of the program.

Degree-seeking: An admitted and enrolled student who has formally indicated the intent to complete a program of study (i.e., AAS, AA, AS degree or certificate only.)

Eligibility: A set of requirements, defined by USNCC, that a student must meet prior to beginning a course at a Partner Institution.

Eligibility List: The list of those students who meet the requirements to enroll in a course at the PI. The government will pay only those students who are on the Eligibility List.

Experiential Learning: Knowledge gained through practical work experience or training for which an institution, through a formalized process, may analyze and award related academic credit to a student.

Field (of Study): A general area of knowledge, learning, or research taught as an accredited part of higher education institutions. Also called discipline.

Financial Data Feed: the raw data exchange that occurs on a scheduled basis from the PI to

USNCC.

Financial Lock Date: A USNCC determined at a point in time during the term in which all related refunds (as applicable) have been applied, and Financial Reconciliation/Invoicing processes begin.

Fiscal Year: A year as reckoned for taxing or accounting purposes that consists of a one-year period from October 1 to September 30 and recognizes all federal holidays.

Joint Services Transcript (JST): An official education transcript tool for documenting the recommended college credits for professional military education, training courses, and occupational experiences of Service Members across the services. The JST incorporates data from documents such as the Army/ACE Registry Transcript System, the Sailor/Marine ACE Registry Transcript System, the Community College of the Air Force transcript, and the Coast Guard Institute transcript.

Naval Studies (NS) Certificate: a USNCC taught certificate program comprised of five courses, totaling 15 semester credit hours. These courses are: Naval Ethics and Leadership, Modern Naval History, Naval Force Design and Concepts, Civil/Military Organization and Policies, and Introduction to the Geopolitical Environment (capstone).

Commented [CU6]: ...grantor for new students, but will continue to operate in consortium in delivery of the program @Winn CIV Spencer R US

Naval Studies (NS) Course: Any course comprised within the Naval Studies Certificate.

Non-degree Credential: A formal award other than an associate degree or certificate, which includes certifications and licenses (with increasing attention to new types of awards, such as badges and other “micro-credentials”).

Non-Degree, Non-Program Student: A student who is enrolled in courses for personal or professional enrichment without the intent to pursue a certificate or degree from the institution. Non-degree students—also referred to as visiting students, transient students, or non-program participants—must submit a non-degree application and are subject to eligibility requirements and course availability.

Academic departments may impose restrictions on course enrollment, and non-degree students are limited to a maximum of 12 semester hours.

Certain courses may be reserved for command-nominated or command-directed students, who receive enrollment priority. Non-degree students do not earn academic credentials for their coursework;

however, they may later apply for formal admission to a certificate or degree program offered by the institution. If accepted, previously completed coursework may be evaluated for applicability toward the chosen program.

Partner Institution (PI): USNCC contracted university or college providing academic services to

USNCC.

Professional Concentration: A group of courses taken within an academic program that focuses on a particular area of that field.

Program Learning Outcomes Report: Template that is used to track the progress of each program's learning outcomes, as defined by the USNCC partner during implementation. The frequency of reporting is established in the implementation phase and follows the partner institution’s accreditation reporting calendar.

Program Area: General subject area in which one or more-degree programs and/or certificates may be offered

Program Plan: A comprehensive view of the program of study that includes details of the program and awards conferred; the academic degree plan; the specific courses required for degree and/or Professional Certificate completion; articulation of Naval Studies courses; teach-out plan;

and bachelor degree pathway(s).

Residency: The number of credits a student must complete at an institution for a credential to be awarded.

Shall: Specifies that the requirement or task is contractually binding, must be implemented and verified, and completion of such will be measured as part of performance management.

Should: Indicates a goal or expected course of action that is to be followed unless inappropriate for a particular circumstance. It is not formally verified or measured as part of performance management.

Standards: Expectations for what PIs are expected to know and to be able to do with what they know in the content areas included in the educational program and the tasks and deliverables in the PWS.

Teach Out: a process during which:

a program, institution, or institutional location that provides 100 percent of at least one program engages in an orderly closure; or following the closure of an institution or campus, another institution provides an opportunity for the students of the closed school to complete their program, regardless of their academic progress at the time of closure. (from: studentaid.gov)

Teach-out agreement: A written agreement between accredited institutions that provides for the equitable treatment of students if one of those institutions stops offering an educational program before all students enrolled in that program complete the program.

Teach-out plan: The written plan and subsequent process by which the institution provides institutional and academic support services to students enrolled in an educational program that has been discontinued. The teach-out process often extends well beyond the termination date (the date on which the site or program is closed permanently to admissions) to allow time for enrolled students to complete their program in a reasonable amount of time. The plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students in an institution.

Transitioning Consortium Students: A student who was enrolled in a USNCC consortium program and later becomes ineligible to continue through USNCC (due to separation from military service), but had already been accepted or admitted by the partner institution before losing USNCC eligibility. These students may continue their studies in the consortium program and retain the program benefits outlined in the Consortium Agreement. However, they are fully responsible for covering all tuition and fees.

Transfer Credit: Transfer credit refers to units (hours) of academic credit awarded at an institution in recognition of college level credit earned at another institution.

USNCC Student: An individual learner who is enrolled at USNCC either as a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking student.

Will: A task or action required by the Government or to describe an action or event expected to take place or exist in the future.

2.2 Degree Granting. USNCC offers associate degrees and certificates in conjunction with its partner institutions.

2.2.1 Associate Degree. USNCC is currently in the process of pursuing accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Commission. Prior to USNCC achieving accreditation, the partner institution will be the degree granting institution. Upon achieving degree-granting authority, USNCC will become the primary associate degree grantor for new students. Continuing students will continue in their initial program, unless they select otherwise. Regardless of degree-granting status, USNCC intends to offer its degree programs via consortium.

2.2.2 Certificate. During the entire contract period, the partner institution will be the grantor of professional certificates in the concentration. USNCC will award the Naval Studies certificate.

2.3 Academic Offerings. During the contract period, USNCC will provide a full range of academic offerings at USNCC and via the Consortium.

2.3.1 Degrees. The degrees awarded will be as follows:

2.3.1.1 Associate Degree. USNCC will offer the associate degree via the partnership institution until such a time as USNCC becomes a degree granting institution as outlined above. Following is the current, and anticipated associate degree types:

2.3.1.1.1 The Associate of Science (AS) highly rigorous in nature, sets the students on transfer paths to bachelor's degree programs in associated program areas. Aptitudes and skills gained should meet professional requirements and lead from an AS seamlessly to four-year programs (with at least one online pathway) at accredited transfer institutions in appropriate bachelor's level degrees. Preference will be given to Contractors with bona fide online four-year pathways from the AS.

2.3.1.1.2 The Associate of Arts (AA) highly rigorous in nature, sets the students on transfer paths to bachelor's degree programs in associated program areas. Aptitudes and skills gained should meet professional requirements, if any, and lead from an AA seamlessly to four-year programs (with at least one online pathway) at accredited transfer institutions in appropriate bachelor's level degrees. Preference will be given to Contractors with bona fide online four-year pathways from the AA.

2.3.1.1.3 The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) focuses on applied concentrations and job readiness. Aptitudes and skills gained should meet professional requirements that lead to an AAS degree and professional or industry certifications. All parties understand that transfer from AAS programs to bachelor’s level degrees (including at least one online pathway) may entail additional coursework to meet bachelor’s degree requirements. Preference will be given to Contractors with bona fide online four-year pathways from the AAS.

2.3.1.1.4 Other Associate Degrees USNCC will consider associate degree type and nomenclature outside those listed above (e.g. Associate of Engineering) on a case-by-case basis.

2.3.2 Certificate. The Certificate consists of a targeted set of courses that lead to a credential.

These professional and occupational courses will also provide a basis for the degree concentration. For USNCC programs, all certificates will be available as stand-alone programs and embedded within an associate degree

2.3.3 Non-degree programs and courses USNCC expects that non-degree courses and non-degree programs will be offered by USNCC and via the partner institution.

a. Courses for degree-seekers. Partner institutions and USNCC may deliver intellectual skills (gen ed), elective, and concentration courses as part of the associate degree curriculum.

b. Non-degree Programs. USNCC non-degree programs will consist of single, stand-alone courses and suites of courses leading to emergent achievement artifacts such as micro-credentials and badges awarded by the partner institution or USNCC (post-accreditation).

2.3.4 USNCC will evaluate and implement academic offerings submitted in the proposal, as well as any offerings deemed viable by USNCC during the contract, based on individual merits and needs of the USNCC and the services.

2.3.5 USNCC will consider launching additional programs with partner institutions throughout the contract.

2.3.5.1 In the event that a specific program (i.e. degree, certificate, course or suite of courses) is not initially awarded, the contractor may be asked to provide said program at a later date. However, this future request will only apply if the partner institution was awarded an initial contract within the broader field encompassing that program.

2.3.6 USNCC will be the sole authority on the type of academic offerings that will be provided by the Contractor for each program.

2.4 Academic Program Classification. The Academic Program Classification details the scope of USNCC academic programs at the time of the writing of the PWS and includes current, planned, and potential future programs

2.4.1 For the purposes of this IDIQ, the classification includes Field at the highest level with associated degrees, and certificates falling under the Field category. Attachment 2: Academic Program Classification details the taxonomy.

2.4.2 USNCC will evaluate each Contractor program based on individual merits; alignment with USNCC learning outcomes; and needs of the services. The IDIQ will comprise initial programs that USNCC will consider launching.

2.4.3 Inclusion of a Field or program within that Field in the IDIQ award does not constitute immediate, or guaranteed, launch of an academic program. Launch of new programs will be at USNCCs discretion, and according to USNCCs, and the services, timelines and priorities.

2.5 Non-academic Services. USNCC aims to continue contracting with high-quality institutions that can support a deeply interconnected partnership model. This includes functional and ancillary services for admission and enrollment, online course delivery, and student support for all awarded programs.

2.6 Ordering. Orders off this IDIQ contract (task orders) will be Firm Fixed Price

2.6.1 Task Orders will be written at the credit level.

2.6.1.1 The number of credits per period of performance will vary and will span all Fields, and academic offerings, at an individual partner institution.

2.6.2 If the Contractor has credit cost variations for different academic offerings, Field, or programs:

2.6.2.1 the Contractor shall submit separate cost proposals for each associate degree and certificate, within a field, and

2.6.2.2 the Contractor shall submit price variations for individual courses upon USNCC request for the Contractor to offer such courses or suites of courses. The KO will determine if the price variation warrants a modification to the IDIQ or task order.

2.6.3 Addition of degrees, certificates, courses or suites of courses to a Contractor’s academic offerings during the contract may, or may not, impact targeted credits.

2.6.3.1 USNCC will modify credits for each task order based on student interest, needs of the services, and contractor performance.

2.6.3.2 USNCC may, at USNCCs sole discretion, modify the number of credits (up or down) for any task order during the contract period.

2.7 Enrollments. At the initial award, USNCC will provide the target number of enrollments for all academic offerings (degree and non-degree). Actual enrollments over the course of the contract will vary depending on the following factors: Breadth or Specialization; Data Sharing Tiers; and other factors outlined in 2.6.

2.7.1 Due to the likelihood of student attrition and the need to replace vacant seats, the estimated enrollment does not represent the number of unique, named students who enroll.

Rather, it signifies the number of students, in general, who are enrolled at the partner institution for any academic offering during the Periods of Performance.

2.8 Stages and Timing. Launching a new program consists of the onboarding and implementation stage with no USNCC students taking any courses followed immediately by the transition and execution stages with students enrolled in courses. The table below outlines the stages and general timing from contract award (new partners) or new program initiation (existing partners) through to standard operations.

Stage Notional Timeframe

New Partner/New Program Existing Partner/New Program Onboarding

~9 months ~4 months Implementation

LAUNCH – START OF CLASSES

Execution - transition 3 months 1 month Execution Ongoing Ongoing

3.0 TASKS

3.1 Accreditation. The Contractor shall maintain accreditation of their academic institution and academic programs, including any specialized accreditation and state approval. The Contractor shall notify USNCC within 30 days of any negative action(s) taken related to accreditation status or other programmatic recognition(s).

3.1.1 USNCC Accreditation and Degree-granting. The Contractor acknowledges that USNCC will receive accreditation during the course of the IDIQ contract. The Contractor further acknowledges that the Contractor will be the associate degree grantor until USNCC becomes accredited at which point USNCC will become the primary degree grantor.

3.1.1.1 The Contractor shall actively support USNCC during the degree granting transition.

3.2 Teach-out.

The Contractor shall maintain a teach out agreement and plan in the event of Contractor program discontinuation or institutional closure, ensuring students can complete their programs or transfer to accredited institutions. The plan must remain compliant with accreditation and regulatory requirements.

3.3 Consortium.

The Contractor shall agree to join a bilateral consortium agreement with the USNCC. To review the Consortium Agreement, see Addendum 1: USNCC Consortium Agreement.

3.4 Academic Offerings.

The Contractor shall provide academic instruction and programming.

3.4.1 Associate Degree. The Contractor shall provide academic services, including academic instruction, for an associate degree. The associate degree, when granted by the Contractor, shall be:

a. no less than 60 credits (semester hour or equivalent)

b. fully online and asynchronous

c. an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA)

d. an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS)

e. An Associate of X, where X represents the subject area.

f. include a professional certificate that is:

g. fully embedded in the associate degree without extending time to the associate degree.

h. Reference 3.4.2

3.4.1.1 The associate degree, once USNCC becomes a degree grantor, will come from USNCC.

3.4.2 Professional Certificate. The Contractor shall provide academic services, including academic instruction, for an online, asynchronous professional certificate.

3.4.2.1 The professional certificate shall:

a. consist of courses approved by USNCC (generally, six to eight courses), and

b. correspond to the associate degree subject area, and

c. be offered as a stand-alone credential that students can directly be enrolled in separate to the associate degree, and

d. be offered fully embedded in the correlated associate degree

e. Reference 3.41

3.4.3 Non-Degree, Non-Program enrollments. The Contractor shall enroll identified students (in non-degree seeking status) into individual courses, or a suite of courses and award credit upon successful completion honoring all financial terms and conditions outlined below.

3.4.3.1 Pre-requisite and remedial courses. The Contractor shall include all pre-requisite and remedial courses in the Academic Degree Plan. USNCC will determine whether pre-requisite or remedial courses will be allowed. If allowed, USNCC will determine the maximum number of courses that USNCC will fund.

3.4.4 Naval Relevance. The Contractor shall provide customization and contextualization to meet the specific naval requirements of the USNCC consistent with the Contractor’s institutional policies.

3.4.4.1 Customization. USNCC will collaborate with the Contractor to customize academic offerings, as needed, to meet specific naval requirements or programmatic learning outcomes. This may involve revising program outcomes, and adding, removing, or exchanging courses.

3.4.4.1.1 USNCC will scope an institution’s customization capabilities during the solicitation process.

3.4.4.1.2 USNCC will determine if the Contractor’s capabilities to tailor curricula meet the USNCC’s needs.

3.4.4.1.3 The Contractor should be willing to make curricula adjustments throughout the course of the contract to benefit the services.

3.4.4.2 Contextualization. The Contractor shall take quantifiable steps to ‘naval-ize’ course content while maintaining course integrity and faculty autonomy. Steps may include, but are not limited to, faculty development related to the USNCC program and goals; adapting course content or assignments in standardized syllabi to enhance naval relevance; and guiding faculty on incorporating assignment options that support naval students’ focus on naval-relevant areas.

3.4.4.3 Credit for Prior Learning or Military Experience. To the extent that any courses in the program are not available fully online due to the necessity of hands-on experience, the Contractor shall either provide virtualized labs or work with the USNCC to identify military work experience that is relevant to facilitate award for said courses.

3.4.5 Transitioning Consortium Students. The Contractor shall, at task order award, provide a plan detailing how they will manage and support Transitioning Consortium Students where the student is no longer participating in the USNCC program. This plan should ensure a seamless transition and continued support for students, even in the event that a particular program is phased out or discontinued.

3.4.5.1 For Transitioning Consortium Students, the Contractor shall:

3.4.5.1.1 allow students to complete their program of study at the Contractor’s institution, honoring the other non-financial terms of this task order, and

3.4.5.1.2 Actively manage and support students in transferring to another comparable Consortium partner institution and program.

3.4.5.1.3 provide a list of alternative courses to any USNCC Naval Studies courses that the student did not complete prior to transitioning to facilitate the award of the degree or certificate.

3.4.5.1.3 Reference 3.22.

3.4.6 USNCC Delivered Courses. Current USNCC delivered courses include English 101 and the five courses of the USNCC Naval Studies Certificate. For descriptions and further information on USNCC courses see Addendum 2: Naval Studies Certificate and Addendum 3: English 101 Overview.

3.4.6.1 While the degree grantor, the Contractor shall maximize credit acceptance for USNCC delivered courses into the Contractor’s academic degree plan following the contractor’s standard articulation policies and procedures using:

a. ACE recommendations where applicable (See Addendum IV: ACE Recommendations for NS Courses), or

b. reciprocity of accredited courses, or

c. the contractor’s internal course evaluation process

d. A Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) approach that awards credit for military experience.

3.4.6.2 The Contractor shall accept the five Naval Studies courses and USNCCs English 101 (as needed), into the Contractor’s Academic Degree Plan at a minimum, for a total of 18 credits.

a. shall accept the digitally transmitted record of USNCC courses completed as the official transcript/record of USNCC.

3.4.6.3 The Naval Studies Certificate is a required component of USNCC programs. The Contractor shall avoid taking steps that impede student completion of the Naval Studies courses while enrolled in the program. The Contractor shall:

a. train advisors on the USNCC program, agreed Academic Degree Plan, DON and

DHS services goals including criticality of the Naval Studies Certificate to the program and services.

b. report instances of students wanting to depart from the agreed program plan to USNCC within 3 business days.

c. refrain from having students take Contractor courses as a substitute for Naval Studies courses, and

d. flag and notify USNCC of students who are within 12 credits of graduating who have not completed all Naval Studies courses.

3.4.6.4 The Contractor shall articulate additional USNCC developed courses, during the contract period, following the requirements outlined in 3.4.6.1, if/as those courses fit seamlessly into the Contractor’s Academic Degree Plan.

3.4.7 Four-year Pathway(s). The Contractor shall have established Bachelor degree pathways.

3.4.7.1 AS/AA. The Contractor shall have one (or more) established articulation agreement(s) with an accredited four-year institution approved by USNCC. To be approved by USNCC, the four-year institution must:

a. be an accredited institution

b. offer fully online asynchronous bachelor degree programs.

c. offer a minimum of one degree program related to the awarded associate degree(s).

d. accept program to program or 2+2 transfer agreement for the proposed associate degree program.

3.4.7.2 AAS. The Contractor shall have at least one pathway to a relevant bachelor degree program with a 2+2 transfer agreement and may also have pathway(s) to more rigorous programs that may require additional coursework beyond the AAS program.

3.4.7.3 At USNCC direction, the Contractor shall work with USNCC to identify and establish additional four-year transfer pathways.

3.4.7.4 The Contractor shall have a plan for supporting students who choose to transition to:

a. one of the Contractor’s bachelor degree programs, or

b. one of the Contractor’s 2+2 pathway partners, or

c. another institution besides those listed in b. and c.

3.5 Course Delivery. In support of Task 3.4

3.5.1 The Contractor shall deliver courses listed in the USNCC approved academic degree plan (ADP) as frequently as possible, but at a minimum of three terms per academic year. Courses shall be:

a. open to all the Contractor’s students unless an exception is agreed to by USNCC,

b. six to ten weeks unless an exception is agreed to by USNCC (eight weeks is preferred), and

c. fully online and asynchronous.

3.5.1.1 In limited circumstances, the Contractor shall, with bilateral agreement between the Contractor and USNCC, enroll students in an in-person or hybrid version of a course, honoring all other terms of this contract. These circumstances include:

a. a student lives in proximity of a campus, and

b. attendance of on-ground or hybrid classes will not disrupt the student’s performance of job duties, and

c. the student has requested and in-person course and been approved by the Contractor and USNCC, and

d. the online and residence courses are consistent with one another.

3.5.2 The Contractor shall make all academic resources that are available to other students available to USNCC students when USNCC students are enrolled in a course regardless of type of academic offering, type of student, or modality.

3.5.2.1 The Contractor shall have the capabilities to provide a smaller or greater number of course seats with associated resources, at USNCC direction during a period of performance.

3.5.3 In limited circumstances, the Contractor shall adapt course length as mutually agreed between USNCC and the Contractor. Examples of limited circumstances are as follows:

a. advanced level courses requiring additional time, or

b. courses that require a longer period of study to maximize student success.

3.5.4 The Contractor shall demonstrate an aggregate student: faculty ratio of no more than 25:1 unless approved otherwise by USNCC.

3.6 Instructional Materials. Digital materials are strongly preferred and should be used exclusively, if feasible. The Contractor shall provide and distribute all instructional materials (including labs or other required course instructional materials) available digitally for the USNCC’s globally distributed student population.

3.6.1 The Contractor shall seek to identify the most cost-effective instructional materials, including Open Educational Resources (OER), digital materials, and/or digital rentals where possible.

3.6.2 The Contractor shall verify students are provided with applicable instructional materials no later than five (5) days prior to course start regardless of modality or type of materials.

3.6.3 If the Contractor is not using currently using 100% digital materials, the Contractor shall provide the following as part of the non-price quote:

3.6.3.1 a plan and associated timeline to reach that goal for USNCC students as part of the Contractor’s proposal, and

3.6.3.2 a plan for how non-digital resources will be disbursed to globally deployed students no later than five days before the start of the course.

3.7 Academic Records and Credentials. The Contractor shall work with USNCC to align enrollment and academic record management policies and processes.

3.7.1 Transfer Credit. The Contractor shall award the maximum transfer credit possible.

3.7.1.1 The Contractor shall disclose and have clear policies and processes related to credit for prior learning (CPL). CPL may include but are not limited to evaluation and review of military experience and education captured on the Joint Services Transcript (JST), as well as any CPL coming from prior college coursework, AP credits, CLEP, professional certifications, work history, or self-directed study.

3.7.1.2 With reference to internal Contractor policies, American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, or internal review, the Contractor shall offer appropriate transfer credit for military training (including courses and experience) completed throughout students’ entire military service.

3.7.1.3 The Contractor shall accept the digital submission of the student’s JST as an official record of training and courses taken that may be eligible for credit towards the degree program, including training received as a service member.

3.7.1.3.1 The Contractor shall accept the record of college-level courses taken at other institutions when recorded on the JST without the need to request the original transcript from the other institution consistent with their policies for credit transfer.

3.7.1.3.2 The Contractor shall accept (un)official transcripts for the purpose of awarding transfer credit for courses and credits not captured on the JST.

3.7.1.3.3 If the Contractor requires official transcripts for transfer credit not captured on the JST, the Contractor shall, in order of USNCC preference from most to least preferred:

a. provide provisional transfer credit based on unofficial transcripts for initial advising, or

b. require new students to submit official transcripts by the end of their first term in the program, or

c. require new students to submit official transcripts prior to beginning their first term in the program.

3.7.1.4 For new students, the Contractor shall transmit all transfer credit evaluations based on JST or any other unofficial or official student credit transfer records as early as possible and no later than 8 weeks after new students’ first term in their program of study for new students.

3.7.1.5 For continuing students, the Contractor shall transmit all transfer credit evaluations based on JST or any other unofficial or official student credit transfer records within 6 weeks of student submission of any additional documentation thereafter.

3.7.1.6 The Contractor shall accept the digitally transmitted record of USNCC courses completed as the official USNCC transcript.

3.7.2 Eligibility. The Contractor shall implement processes in accordance with USNCC-prescribed eligibility for the registration of new and continuing students in Contractor courses.

3.7.2.1 New Students. The USNCC will provide the Contractor new student eligibility status according to the admission timelines established (reference 3.10)

3.7.2.1.1 USNCC considers all applicants initially submitted to the Contractor to be new students eligible to take a course with USNCC funding.

3.7.2.1.2 Students in their first term will be eligible to enroll in one course and either an orientation or lab component unless USNCC grants an exception.

3.7.2.1.3 The Contractor shall disenroll students at USNCC direction:

3.7.2.1.3.1 The USNCC will inform the Contractor of change(s) of status or target start date via manual updates or data exchange transmissions.

3.7.2.1.3.2 USNCC will update new admit eligibility statuses up until the add/drop deadline.

3.7.2.1.3.3 The Contractor shall take appropriate administrative course drop actions within two business days upon receipt of USNCC directives or by the add/drop deadline, whichever comes first.

3.7.2.2 Continuing Students. The USNCC will transmit eligibility status and the number of courses and credits that a student is eligible to take at the Contractor institution no later than four weeks prior to the start of each Contractor term.

3.7.2.2.1 The Contractor shall enroll, disenroll, and change course load of students at USNCC direction:

a. The USNCC will inform the Contractor of change(s) of status or target via manual updates or data exchange transmissions up until the add/drop deadline.

3.7.2.2.2 The Contractor shall take appropriate administrative course drop, add, or change actions within two business days upon receipt of USNCC directives or by the add/drop deadline, whichever comes first.

3.7.2.3 All Students. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for consistently monitoring and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the dynamic Eligibility List.

3.7.2.3.1 The Contractor shall take all necessary administrative actions based on the latest list and change directives from USNCC.

3.7.2.3.2 USNCC will…