SAM #W912SV27SS0001

Market Research for Massachusetts National Guard Executive Education Seminars

The Massachusetts Army National Guard is seeking university input on customized executive education seminars for senior leaders. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of the Army, National Guard Bureau, through USPFO Massachusetts Procurement; program office is the Homeland Security and Innovation Center (HSIC) at Joint Force Headquarters–Massachusetts. - Opportunity: Market research for the General and Flag Officer Seminar (GFOS) and Leadership in Homeland Security (LHS), delivered as resident, university-based executive education. - OEMs and vendors: No manufacturers, vendors, or academic institutions are named. - Services requested: Faculty and subject-matter experts, seminar instruction, case studies, facilities, materials, program administration, enrollment support, communications, scheduling, and logistics. - GFOS is planned as a four-to-five-day seminar for senior leaders, with strategic decision-making, civil-military coordination, intergovernmental response, and crisis leadership as focus areas. Planning baselines include about 10 case studies (minimum 8) and 5 guest-instructor blocks (minimum 3), pending validation. - LHS serves field-grade and other operational leaders. Institutions are asked to describe feasible four-, five-, and six-day formats, with focus on operational decision-making, interagency collaboration, and resource integration. Case-study and guest-instructor thresholds remain to be confirmed. - Topics: Potential subject matter includes domestic response, intergovernmental coordination, artificial intelligence, cyber threats, small unmanned aircraft systems and counter-UAS, and innovation. - Capacity and enrollment: Planning capacity is up to 65 participants plus support staff, including 40 Government-funded seats and up to 25 direct-pay seats. - Notable requirements and questions: Institutions are asked to describe faculty qualifications, seminar and case-study design, facilities and capacity, enrollment and pricing approaches, intellectual-property terms, and barriers to participation. The notice is for market research and is not a formal request for proposals or quotations.

Description

HSIC, located at Joint Force Headquarters–Massachusetts, supports the National Guard by connecting senior-leader education with the evolving challenges of homeland security, emergency management, crisis leadership, and innovation. Its education mission includes General and Flag Officer Seminar (GFOS) and Leadership in Homeland Security (LHS) audiences. The seminars emphasize rigorous academic study, case-based analysis, facilitated discussion, critical thinking, and peer networking in a university setting.

The curriculum should address National Guard roles in complex domestic response and intergovernmental coordination and, as appropriate to each seminar, emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, cyber threats, small unmanned aircraft systems/counter-sUAS, and innovation. Inclusion and emphasis of these topics remain subject to HSIC/GOMO mission validation. The broader HSIC innovation/incubation mission does not automatically expand the scope of this seminar-services requirement.

MARKET RESEARCH FEEDBACK REQUESTED

Institutions are invited to comment on academic capability, delivery and pricing feasibility, and requirements that may unnecessarily constrain participation. Responses should identify the affected section, explain the practical or financial impact, and propose alternatives that preserve HSIC educational quality. Contracting will determine final response instructions.

Academic institution and faculty qualifications: experience educating GOs or comparable senior executives; relevant faculty credentials; impact of tenured-Ph.D./ten-year criteria. GFOS and LHS differentiation: recommended objectives, topics, and approaches appropriate to each audience; capability to address AI, cyber, sUAS/cUAS, and innovation. Case-study pedagogy and research: existing course adaptation, case-study counts, original case development, guest speaker access, realistic research and approval timelines. Seminar capacity, location, and duration: in-person facilities for 65 plus support staff; viable course lengths; scheduling lead times; capacity for multiple annual iterations. Enrollment and pricing: ability to handle 40 Government-funded and up to 25 direct-pay seats; tuition-only versus standard bundled seminar pricing; minimum cohort sizes. Intellectual property: rights and restrictions for pre-existing materials versus Government-funded new case studies; possible licensing and reuse models. Participation barriers: federal contracting, administrative requirements, location, security, teaming, and any provisions that materially affect willingness or ability to compete.

TARGETED UNIVERSITY FEEDBACK QUESTIONS — ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS FEASIBILITY

Which performance outcomes and academic quality indicators best demonstrate that an executive education program meets HSIC needs? Which specific faculty criteria, if any, would prevent your institution from competing, and what evidence of equivalent academic quality could you provide? What case-study-based instructional model would you propose, and how would HSIC verify the quality of learning? What enrollment, lead time, and annual frequency would make participation financially viable for your institution? How would your institution price standard bundled tuition, meals, books, and facilities compared with a tuition-only arrangement, if available? Which administrative or payment requirements (including direct-pay seats and federal contracting) would discourage a response, and what alternatives could address them? Based on this draft PWS, what specific requirements or business conditions would discourage your institution from competing? Would your institution be interested in competing? If not, what changes would materially affect that decision?

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS & INSTRUCTIONS

Interested academic institutions who believe they have the capability to perform this requirement are invited to submit their feedback and Capability Statement.

Please refer to the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) (File: HSIC_PWS_Draft.docx) when compiling their responses.

To be considered complete, the submission package MUST contain:

1. Administrative Profile (including UEI and CAGE Code)

2. Technical Capabilities Narrative

3. Comments on the 7 Market Research Feedback Areas

4. Direct Answers to the 8 Targeted University Feedback Questions

Please ensure the email subject line reads: "Sources Sought Response: W912SV27SS0001 - HSIC Executive Education Seminar Services"

Responses must be submitted via email to the following points of contact:

Primary POC: Marc Kerrigan (marc.j.kerrigan.civ@army.mil)

Alternative POC: Isao Hattori (isao.hattori.civ@army.mil)

Please note that no phone calls or inquiries will be accepted or acknowledged regarding this market survey.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ), OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB). IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT (RFO FAR 15.101(c)).

RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING WILL BE SOLELY AT THE INTERESTED PARTY’S EXPENSE. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE SOLICITATION, IF ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (SAM.GOV). IT IS THE POTENTIAL OFFEROR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THIS SITE FOR THE RELEASE OF ANY SOLICITATION.

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