PA Outdoor Corps

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Program solicitation (No. 6100063508), issued on October 29, 2025, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services, seeks proposals to expand a statewide youth workforce development initiative focused on recreation and conservation. The program targets individuals aged 15 to 25, providing work experience, job training, and educational opportunities in environmental stewardship and related trades. The contract spans a base term of five years, starting from an effective date after award, with an option to renew for an additional five years. The selected contractor will be responsible for comprehensive program management, including recruiting crews, handling human resources, training participants, and coordinating partnerships with trade organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions. Services must be performed predominantly (at least 50% of the total contract value) by the prime contractor. The program aims for launch with initial crew deployment in spring 2027 and anticipates incorporating specialty crews and industry-recognized certifications to bolster workforce skills. The procurement process will follow a competitive sealed proposal method with submission deadlines set for January 21, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically and include technical, cost, and participation submittals, with a heavy emphasis on technical merit (weighted at 65%) alongside cost evaluation (weighted at 35%). Offerors must achieve a minimum technical threshold of 75% of available points to be considered. No formal FAR clauses apply; instead, the solicitation contains custom terms specific to the program. Compliance with Commonwealth policies such as contractor responsibility directives, public records laws, and information security standards (including SOC 2 Type II and FedRAMP or equivalents) is mandatory. Security and accessibility requirements, including assistive technologies and digital access standards, are integral to contract obligations. The contract prohibits alternate proposals, mandates proposal validity for 120 days, and restricts public communications without prior approval. Required certifications include Iran Free Procurement, Domestic Workforce Utilization, and lobbying disclosures contingent on federal funding levels. Invoicing will utilize standardized templates with payment facilitated via the Pennsylvania Supplier Portal. The overall award process incorporates Best and Final Offers and a trade-off evaluation of cost and technical factors, selecting the highest-scoring responsible offeror to deliver a comprehensive, state-supported youth conservation and workforce development program across Pennsylvania.