Government Instructional Design Services
Federal agencies face a persistent gap between what the workforce knows and what mission demands require. Closing that gap takes more than off-the-shelf training — it takes instructional design built for the specific context, audience, and performance outcomes that matter in government. Generic corporate learning content rarely transfers. Compliance check-box training rarely sticks.
Gotham Government Services designs and develops training that federal employees actually use: learning experiences tied to real job performance, built on rigorous needs analysis, and delivered in formats that fit the realities of government work environments.
Our Instructional Design Approach
Performance-Based Design
Every training program we design starts with a clear answer to one question: what do people need to be able to do differently after this training? We work backward from performance outcomes — not from content outlines or subject matter expert presentations — to design learning experiences that transfer to the job. This means we invest heavily in front-end analysis before a single slide is built or a single module is scripted.
Adult Learning Principles
Federal employees are experienced adults with existing knowledge, strong opinions about wasted time, and limited patience for learning content that doesn’t respect what they already know. Our instructional design applies adult learning principles throughout: we connect new content to existing experience, create opportunities for practice and application, and build in retrieval and spaced repetition for material that needs to stick long-term.
Blended and Multi-Modal Learning
The right delivery modality depends on the learning objectives, the audience, the operational environment, and the resources available — not on what’s trendy or what requires the least development effort. We design blended learning programs that match modality to purpose: eLearning for foundational knowledge and compliance, instructor-led sessions for complex application and practice, job aids for point-of-need performance support, and virtual delivery for distributed teams.
Section 508 Compliance
All digital learning content we develop meets Section 508 accessibility standards. This isn’t a checkbox — it’s built into our design and development process from the beginning. We conduct accessibility reviews at every stage and deliver content that works for learners using assistive technologies.
Delivery Formats
eLearning Development
We design and develop SCORM-compliant eLearning courses for delivery on agency LMS platforms. Our eLearning development uses industry-standard authoring tools including Articulate Storyline and Rise, and is built to the specific technical requirements and branding standards of each agency client. Courses range from simple knowledge-transfer modules to complex scenario-based simulations that require learners to apply judgment in realistic situations.
Instructor-Led Training (ILT)
We design and develop complete ILT packages: facilitator guides, participant guides, slide decks, activities, assessments, and all supporting materials. Our ILT design emphasizes interaction and application — not lecture. Facilitators leave with the materials and confidence to deliver consistently across multiple cohorts and locations.
Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT)
Converting ILT to virtual delivery requires more than uploading slides to a video platform. We redesign for the virtual environment: shorter segments, more frequent interaction, digital breakout activities, and facilitation techniques that maintain engagement across a screen. We also train facilitators on virtual delivery skills, not just platform mechanics.
Job Aids and Performance Support
Not everything needs a course. For tasks that are infrequently performed, high-stakes, or highly procedural, well-designed job aids outperform training every time. We develop decision trees, quick reference guides, checklists, and process guides that give employees what they need at the moment of performance — without requiring them to remember everything from a training they took six months ago.
Curriculum Architecture
For agencies building or rebuilding learning programs from scratch, we provide curriculum architecture services: mapping competencies to learning objectives, sequencing courses within a curriculum, identifying gaps in existing programs, and designing learning pathways for specific roles or career stages. We often work alongside agencies’ internal training offices as a design and development partner, not a replacement.
Subject Matter Areas
Our instructional designers have deep experience in federal-specific subject matter areas including leadership development, change management, human capital management, diversity equity and inclusion, ethics and compliance, program management, and mission-specific technical training. We work closely with agency subject matter experts to ensure content accuracy while maintaining instructional quality.
Contract Vehicles
Gotham Government Services holds the following contract vehicles for federal clients:
HCaTS Small Business — Contract GS02Q17DCR0007, Pool 1 (Training and Development) and Pool 2 (Integrated Human Capital Services). HCaTS is the preferred vehicle for training design, development, and delivery services governmentwide.
GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) — Contract 47QRAA26D003R. Provides a streamlined acquisition path for a broad range of management consulting and training services.
SDVOSB Set-Aside — GGS is a verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, eligible for sole-source awards up to the applicable threshold and competitive set-asides.
Start a Conversation
Contact us to discuss your agency’s training and development needs, or learn more about our change management consulting and leadership development capabilities that frequently integrate with instructional design engagements.