Top-Tier K-12 and Postsecondary STEM Talent

Active

Contract Opportunity

Description: The Department of War (DoW) may use responses to this request for information (RFI) to respond to a Congressional report requirement (CRR) and to possibly inform future solicitation. The purpose of this RFI is to survey the public to include non-profits, K-12 schools, academia, for-profit institutions, and government agencies to gather data, insights, and recommendations to help inform the DoW’s response to a CRR in identifying effective domestic top-tier K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent development. Hence, submitted responses should not be worded as proposals. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submissions of the RFI being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses.

Background/Overview: This RFI consists of a single focus, which is outlined below:

The DoW STEM mission is to inspire, attract, and develop the Nation’s top STEM talent pool to advance defense superiority, maintain global technological leadership, and bolster economic strength. Towards this end, early identification and acceleration of high quality, high-potential STEM talent across the K-12 to postsecondary pipeline is essential to build a future-ready, domestic STEM workforce.

Top-Tier K-12 and Postsecondary STEM Talent is defined by DoW STEM as the intersection of demonstrated high ability and developing high potential. It is a dynamic combination of both realized academic/technical excellence and the latent capacity for advanced scientific reasoning, spatial visualization, and creative problem-solving.

• High Ability represents a student’s developed, measurable STEM competencies. These students have had access to resources and have successfully translated their cognitive capacity into concrete achievements. Indicators of high ability include:
  
  
  
  • Technical Mastery: Advanced proficiency in mathematics, computational thinking, and scientific inquiry.
  
  
  • Applied Competency: Success in rigorous coursework (AP/IB/Dual Enrollment) or recognized performance in peer-evaluated STEM competitions (e.g., robotics leagues, science fairs).
  
  
  • Self-Directed Execution: The ability to design, execute, and communicate complex, inquiry-based STEM projects.
  
  
  
  


• Indicators of High Potential (Latent Capacity) represents a student's underdeveloped capacity for exceptional STEM performance. These students possess the raw cognitive machinery required for high-level STEM work, but may lack the academic acceleration, resources, or privilege to display traditional "high ability." Indicators of high potential include:
  
  
  
  • Advanced Spatial Visualization: The capacity to mentally manipulate 2D and 3D shapes (identified by the NSF as a premier, non-verbal predictor of engineering and scientific breakthrough).
  
  
  • Analytical Creativity & Curiosity: Divergent thinking, exceptional pattern recognition, and an innate drive to deconstruct and understand complex systems.
  
  
  • Resilience and "Grit" in Problem-Solving: High cognitive stamina and the ability to tolerate ambiguity and failure during iterative testing processes.
  
  
  
  

This RFI explicitly encourages responses that refresh or expand programs and/or initiatives that support early identification, acceleration, and enrichment of high-ability, high potential STEM students.

Response(s) to the question(s) below should focus on effective models with specific efforts in at least one of the following:

• Developing and/or scaling existing or current STEM programs, opportunities, or resources that support identification, acceleration, and enrichment of high-ability, high potential students, particularly K-12 students


• Engaging top-tier students from all backgrounds and communities including rural, military-connected, and/or low socioeconomic populations, through systematic universal identification and screening.


• Fostering and/or leveraging partnerships to amplify reach and impact while supporting operational and/or financial responsibilities of the STEM activity through multi-institution STEM consortia or ecosystems.

To map the current landscape of high-yield K-12 STEM talent acceleration, respondents are requested to provide feedback on any or all the following six questions. Ground your answers in the existing operations, past performance, and current structures of your own organization or known peer programs. Please organize your responses using the numbering system below.

1. Does the DoW STEM definition of top-tier STEM talent (provided above) align with your understanding of top-tier STEM talent? Are there any details or dimensions that you would add (or remove) to improve this definition?


2. Describe the active programs, curricula, or instructional models your organization currently runs to identify, accelerate, and enrich K-12 students with exceptional math or science aptitude. Be sure to highlight core mechanics of your program (e.g., dual enrollment, summer residencies, specialized technical curricula) and metrics of success.


3. How do your existing program(s) or initiative(s) identify and support high-potential STEM students from all backgrounds including rural, military-connected, or economically disadvantaged communities (e.g., screening tools, identification mechanisms, or outreach strategies)?


4. What collaborative frameworks or public-private partnerships does your organization leverage that connect K-12 advanced coursework providers, industry leaders, national laboratories, local and/or state educational agencies, higher education institutions, and community organizations? Share how existing (or ideal) partnerships are (or could be) structured to share operational responsibilities, such as funding, curriculum design, facilities sharing, and professional mentorship.


5. What operational baseline and associated costs are required to successfully run and sustain your STEM program(s). Be sure to detail specific resources, personnel, and costs (e.g., funding per student, staffing costs, specialized software, physical/virtual facilities etc.) required to attract, retain, and support high ability, high potential STEM students, as well as any operational or resource constraints that currently limit your capacity to scale your program model(s) to a national level.


6. Is there any additional information that you would like to share about your organization's capabilities or peer programs/organizations and efforts you are aware of that could help the Department better understand how to identify, accelerate, and enrich top STEM talent? Briefly describe these efforts or programs.

Requirement: All qualified, experienced, and capable sources are welcome to respond to this RFI should include specific examples of prior or current successful programs, initiatives, and/or resources. Large-scale and small-scale examples of programs are of equal interest.

In addition, please provide the following Point of Contact information for all responses:

• Organization/Company:


• Address:


• Point of Contact:


• Phone Number:


• Email Address:


• Organization Mission/Description:

Security Clearance: No security clearance is required for this requirement.

NAICS recommendations:

• 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology


• 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology


• 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences


• 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities


• 611110 Elementary and Secondary Schools


• 611210 Junior Colleges


• 611310 Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools


• 611430 Professional and Management Development Training


• 611519 Other Technical and Trade Schools


• 611691 Exam Preparation and Tutoring


• 611710 Educational Support Services


• 712110 Museums


• 813211 Grantmaking Foundations


• 923110 Administration of Education Programs

Submission Requirements: All responses to the RFI should be submitted via e-mail to osw.dowstem@mail.mil following the Schedule of Events below.

• Questions Regarding RFI: August 26 to September 1, 2026


• FAQ Posting: September 9, 2026 at 0900 EDT


• RFI Responses Due: September 30, 2026 at 2359 EDT

There is a maximum page limitation of six (6) pages for responses to questions.

All responses must be typed, single spaced using 12 point, Times New Roman, font, within an 8.5 by 11-inch page size, in Adobe Acrobat PDF (pdf) or Microsoft Word files. No hard copy or facsimile submissions will be accepted. Cover letters and extraneous materials (brochures, etc.) will not be considered.

All submissions shall be at the UNCLASSIFIED level and shall clearly mark proprietary information. All submissions shall include contact information for the individual and/or organization (as appropriate) making the submission.

At the discretion of the Washington Headquarters Services and the Office of the Under Secretary of War (Research & Engineering), responders may be contacted for further clarification or additional information; if you do not wish to be contacted, please indicate in your response.

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