Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development (A.S.C.E.N.D) Cohort Development Program

The NASA Shared Services Center is soliciting proposals under contract number 80NSSC26930347Q for the Accelerating Supervisor Capabilities, Effectiveness, and Development (A.S.C.E.N.D.) Cohort Development Program, a firm fixed-price initiative exclusively set aside for small businesses. The program will deliver a six-month, hybrid leadership development curriculum across three cohorts targeting mid-career NASA supervisors with five to ten years of experience, aligning with OPM Executive Core Qualifications and NASA Supervisor Core Competencies. Performance will span from award through December 2028, featuring a combination of virtual sessions and in-person modules at NASA centers and Gettysburg, with all facilitators required to be U.S. citizens holding valid identification for federal facility access. The contract employs a milestone-based payment structure tied to seven deliverables, including curriculum design, leadership assessments, evaluation tools, and program completion documentation, with award determined through a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology. Contractual obligations include strict compliance with federal and NASA policies, such as OMB M-25-22 requiring disclosure of artificial intelligence use, adherence to export control regulations under ITAR and EAR per FAR 1852.225-70, and adherence to sustainable procurement standards under FAR 52.223-23. All contractor personnel must undergo personal identity verification, be registered in SAM.gov, and sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to performance; no government-furnished personnel or facilities will be provided. Packaging and shipping must comply with duty-free entry requirements under FAR 52.225-8, with all shipments clearly marked as United States Government property and accompanied by proper customs documentation. The contracting officer, Sara Jusino-Terry, serves as the sole point of contact for all administrative, invoice, and technical inquiries, with proposals due via email by April 30, 2026, and no physical submissions permitted. The procurement includes no option periods or additional task orders, and no contract value has been disclosed, though payments are structured to reflect one-third of the total value per cohort upon milestone acceptance.