Inactive

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Handshake, under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, for one (1) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order to... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Handshake, under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, for one (1) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Purchase Order to provide subscription services for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office Human Resources, Diversity, Outreach and Employee Services Division. The Environmental Protection Agency has a responsibility to recruit, develop, and retain talented and diverse professionals into the EPA workforce. This process includes the advertisement of vacancies, outreach events, and materials for targeted populations including but not limited to historically underrepresented students and recent graduates. The Office of Mission Support, Office of Human Resources, Shared Service Centers and Diversity, Outreach, and Employee Services Division is responsible for implementing a centralized outreach & recruitment strategy for EPA with a focus on filling mission critical occupations via strategic outreach campaigns to very qualified and diverse populations of applicants. Stryder Corporation, d.b.a, Handshake, is a small business who provides software solutions such as Handshake. Handshake is a unique platform that students can access to view job openings, internships, career fairs and employers. Handshake is the only virtual platform and event board that can advertise outreach events and job vacancies to more than 1200 institutions (colleges and universities), including more than 200 minority serving institutions in a single campaign. The ability to reach more than 1200 institutions, which includes more than 200 minority institutions in one single campaign will greatly enhance EPA’s ability to meet ongoing hiring needs and will impact hiring and diversity initiatives for FY22 by increasing the diversity of candidates; filling mission critical occupations; expanding the number of universities EPA informs about outreach events/career fair attendance; and increasing the return-of-investment of those outreach events/career fairs. Additionally, Handshake will assist in the mass hiring anticipated for FY22 by updating EPA’s online branding to attract qualified and diverse applicants; decreasing Time2Hire due to larger and more qualified candidate pools; and enabling a data driven outreach & recruitment strategy. The EPA has researched various tools for advertising upcoming events and vacancies. Unfortunately, some tools only allow account holders to connect with one school at a time; does not provide in-depth analytical data or hands-on account support; and cannot sort and search colleges by target populations. Handshake’s outreach efforts in one single campaign decreases the risk of losing valuable access to broad networks and diverse talent in its student and alumni outreach and recruitment process, which makes Handshake the only possible contractor to meet the EPA’s needs. This requirement will utilize FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 518210, Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services with a small business size of $35 million dollars. Stryder Corporation, d.b.a Handshake, is the only possible contractor to provide the handshake subscription that can advertise outreach events and job vacancies to more than 1200 institutions (colleges and universities), including more than 200 minority serving institutions in a single campaign. We anticipate issuing a solicitation on or about December 9, 2021. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Notwithstanding, any firm that believes it is capable of meeting the EPA’s requirement may submit a capability statement which must address the outlined requirements above. Such documentation must be submitted to the Contracting Officer by 11:59pm Eastern Time on December 9, 2021. A determination not to compete the proposed FFP purchase order based upon the responses received to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All questions should be directed to Rechenberg.kathleen@epa.gov. Responses to this notice must be submitted electronically via email. Telephone responses will not be honored.