Request For Information (RFI)- USDA Program Complaints Support Process

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, through the Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, has issued a Request for Information (RFI1813553) to gather market research on contractors capable of supporting the intake, investigation, and adjudication of program discrimination complaints under federal civil rights regulations. This notice, posted on May 27, 2026, and closing on May 29, 2026, is strictly a market research tool under FAR Part 10 and does not constitute a solicitation, commitment, or obligation to award a contract. Responses are voluntary and will be used solely to inform the government’s future acquisition strategy, including whether to set aside the procurement for small businesses or pursue full and open competition. Information submitted will not be compensated, and no proposals will be evaluated or considered at this stage. The response portal is a single online form with no file uploads allowed, and all communication must occur exclusively through this channel. The anticipated contract, if issued, would be a performance-based, firm-fixed-price order with a 12-month base period and two 12-month option periods, totaling up to three years. Work would be performed remotely via government-approved systems with strict data security protocols, including mandatory non-disclosure agreements, privacy training, and prohibitions on storing or transmitting sensitive personally identifiable information outside authorized channels. Three contract line items—Intake Package, Investigation, and Final Agency Decision—would drive payment upon acceptance by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, with invoicing handled through the Integrated Payment Platform. Deliverables must meet strict timelines: intake within 3 business days, Reports of Investigation within 90 to 115 calendar days depending on complexity, and Final Agency Decisions within 7 to 14 workdays. All outputs must adhere to federal regulations, including 7 C.F.R. §§ 15 et seq. and Section 508 accessibility requirements, with zero tolerance for major rework and a performance threshold allowing no more than two valid quality complaints per quarter. Contractors are strictly prohibited from exercising any adjudicative authority, making policy, or performing inherently governmental functions; all work is advisory and requires formal government approval. Legal sufficiency, qualifications, data protection, timeliness, and quality control are key factors that will influence future source selection, though no formal evaluation weights or pricing data are provided in this RFI.