Notice of Intent of Sole Source_Redacted.pdf

OIG-Notice of Intent to Sole Source Handshake Premium Software

OIG-NOI-OIG280916

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Document Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source Solicitation Number: OIG- Sole Source -Notice OIG280916 Posted Date: September 8, 2021 Response Date: September 18, 2021 NAICS Code: 541519 Other Computer Related Services

The Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) intends to make a Firm Fixed Price sole source award in the amount of approximately for base year to procure Handshake Premium Software Technology Platform. The award will be made to:

Stryder Corp. DBA HandShake 225 Bush Street, Suite 1200 San Francisco, CA 94104

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1, (a)(2) – Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirement.

This is a sole source justification for a commercial item acquisition using the procedures in FAR subpart 13.501 in accordance with 41 U.S.C.1901. Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized.

On June 25, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14035 “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce” which requires Federal agencies to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of our Nation through recruitment partnership initiatives that facilitate Federal employment opportunities for members of underserved and minority communities. These Initiatives are intended to build and strengthen partnerships with minority serving institutions, universities serving a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students or first-generation college or graduate students; community colleges, technical schools, and community-based organizations dedicated to serving and working with underserved communities.

OIG currently uses Handshake Basic, a free service, to post jobs at colleges and universities that use this platform for Career Services. With Handshake’s Premium level of service, OIG will be able to realize many of the Executive Order’s goals by:

1. Maximizing the agency’s ability to recruit entry-level talent from a diverse, broad spectrum of potential applicants, across a variety of geographic regions, academic sources, and professional disciplines.

2. Casting a “broad net” to help ensure OIG’s student internship and fellowship programs have diverse pipelines to draw candidates from.

https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch?code=541690&search=2017%20NAICS%20Search

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3. Build and strengthen outreach and recruitment partnerships with colleges and university that dedicated to working with underserved communities - many of the MSIs we contacted to establish partnerships told us they use the HandShake software platform to communicate with employers and students. This level of existing usage by staff and students at MSIs provides an instant reach to targeted student populations unavailable from any other company or program.

Only Handshake met the full agency requirements in support of EO 14035 as the only company and program that:

• Is used by significant population of student academic and career counselors at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

• Provides targeted recruitment at all MSIs.

• Provides campus counselor support.

• Provides unlimited event and direct engagement flexibility and support at no extra charge so that HHS OIG can plan and execute recruitment events/engagement at any MSI as the need arises.

In recent years, OIG has struggled to hire young, entry-level talent into our mission-critical positions - employees under 30 has dropped to less than 7%, while nearly 75% of our workforce is eligible to retire in the next 5 years. USA Jobs, our main source of recruiting early talent for nearly 10 years, doesn’t offer opportunities to engage early talent, their career counselors or academic advisors in a sustainable way. HandShake Premium is a key component accomplishing this goal. Its Talent Engagement Suite offers valuable tools to help increase employer opportunities to network with early talent candidates while they are still in school - expanding our pool of candidates for entry level positions. It’s Ambassador Program Module offers opportunities for ongoing communication between OIG hiring managers and students - building and sustaining a diverse pipeline of qualified entry-level talent.

Due to its unique talent marketplace construction, Handshake is the only technology platform that will allow us to accomplish each of these goals.

This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement within ten (10) days after the publication of this notice which shall be considered by the agency.

The capability statement must provide sufficient detail that demonstrates medical, technical experience, skills and capabilities to fulfill the Government's requirement as outlined in this Notice of Intent.

Responses received after 10 days or without the required information may not be considered. For information concerning this acquisition contact:

Latinia Buck Contract Specialist Latinia.Buck@oig.hhs.gov

(202) 591-5905

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A determination by the Government not to compete because of information received is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.