19AQMM26R0461 JOFOC_Handshake_FE_redacted.pdf

SECTION 7. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE

The Contracting Officer has determined the anticipated price to the Government of the services covered by this J&A will be fair and reasonable based on: comparison to substantially similar items/services (prior federal awards to Handshake, including a combined contract value exceeding $12.9 million across comparable federal engagements); sales of the same item to other purchasers (documented sole-source awards to DEA, CFPB, Peace Corps, DHS, DOI, DoD, and GSA); and independent estimate (the Department's Independent Government Cost Estimate, developed from negotiated pricing terms and cross-referenced against comparable federal awards). By signing this justification, the Contracting Officer makes a determination that the price to the Government is expected to be fair and reasonable.

SECTION 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE

PART 10) AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET

RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED

Market research was conducted in two parts. First, the Department relies on the extensive market research conducted by OPM and GSA OCAS between March and April 2026, described in Sections 5 and 6 above, which conclusively identified Handshake as the sole vendor capable of meeting requirements substantially similar to the Department's own. This research was corroborated by GSA's review of the Defense Contract Audit Agency's (DCAA) independent 2024 Sources Sought effort (posted May 22, 2024), which received five capability statements, none of which met DCAA's requirements.

Second, the Department conducted its own internal review confirming that approximately 150 Department employees have independently used Handshake's free tier over the past three years to recruit for positions including the Rangel Graduate Fellowship, DS Special Agents, Security Engineering Officers, FSOs, Information Management Specialists, and internships, with no coordinated departmental strategy. Partner colleges and universities conducting outreach events with the Department have independently directed Department personnel to register on Handshake, further validating its unique position in the campus recruiting ecosystem. This research was compiled by HR/RAI/OFI in August 2026.

SECTION 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER

THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

A formal, competitively suitable performance specification or technical data package has not been developed for this requirement, as the Department's need is for a specific, uniquely capable commercial platform rather than a generic service that could be defined through a competitive specification. This is not due to a lack of advance planning; rather, it reflects the fact that no comparable alternative platform exists in the marketplace, as confirmed by the extensive market research described above. This is not a follow-on acquisition under FAR 6.103-1(c)(2); it is a

SECTION 11. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE

TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY

SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED

Based on the extensive SSN, RFI, and RFP efforts of GSA on behalf of OPM, OPM ensured a broad industry awareness of their requirement.

All interested vendors were afforded the opportunity to demonstrate capability. The market research findings that only Handshake possesses the combination of immediate platform readiness, verified institutional university data access, and demonstrated Federal early career recruitment performance reflect the inherent nature of the requirement rather than any artificial barrier to competition.

The Department will continue to monitor market developments for new entrants or evolving capabilities that might address the Department's early-career recruitment needs on a competitive basis. Given the specialized nature of the requirement, verified institutional academic data access at national scale and a purpose-built early-career engagement platform, no near-term action is anticipated to overcome the current lack of alternative qualified sources. Prior to expiration of the three-year period of performance in 2029, the Department will reassess market conditions and pricing to determine whether competitive conditions have changed sufficiently to support full and open competition for any follow-on requirement.