Services For Technical Writing, Editorials, Presentations, And Communication (STEPC)

The Federal Railroad Administration established a Master BPA for technical writing, editorial, presentation, and communication services on January 23, 2023, with ordering authority extending through January 29, 2028, leaving approximately 1 year and 6 months for new task orders.

The BPA carries a combined ceiling of $80 million, though actual task-order activity remains modest. Eighteen task orders have been awarded with combined potential value of $6.5 million, of which $3 million (46 percent) has been obligated. Two primes dominate the vehicle: Vistra Communications, LLC holds 14 orders valued at $3.6 million in combined potential, and Avian, LLC holds 4 orders valued at $3 million. Ordering momentum peaked in 2024 with 13 awards; 2025 saw only 2 orders through January 2025.

Scope centers on Department of Transportation support services spanning technical writing, video and e-learning production, editorial support, conference planning, public affairs, social media support, and employee survey analysis. The Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary Transportation is the dominant customer, accounting for 9 of the 18 orders and $3.2 million in combined potential value. Other DOT modal administrations—Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration—place orders with lower frequency, each accounting for one or two awards. Seven agencies total have used the vehicle.

Set-aside distribution skews toward unrestricted competition: 13 orders (72 percent) carry no set-aside, while Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business awards represent 4 orders (22 percent), and one Total Small Business order (6 percent) exists. Task orders range from $5 thousand to $2.47 million in ceiling value, with pricing structures including Firm Fixed Price, Time and Materials, and Labor Hours. Place of performance includes DOT headquarters and field offices across New Mexico, Maryland, and other domestic locations, reflecting the agency's nationwide operations.