Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Regional Acquisition Division is soliciting proposals for Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Services to provide nationwide rural water technical support to the Rural Utility Service. The contractor will establish and maintain a network of 132 full-time Circuit Riders distributed across all 50 states and U.S. territories, each possessing a minimum of five years' experience in water system operation and management. Key requirements include providing onsite technical assistance in nine major categories (board training, management/finance, operation/maintenance, water treatment, regulatory compliance, facility security, loan application and reporting, disaster assistance, and cybersecurity), maintaining minimum monthly contacts of 36 per Circuit Rider, conducting 40 hours of annual training, and submitting comprehensive monthly and quarterly technical reports. Evaluation will use a best-value trade-off approach with Technical/Management and Past Performance factors weighted significantly higher than Price, and the Government will evaluate up to three recent and relevant past performance questionnaires directly from references. The deadline for submitting clarification questions was February 12, 2026, and proposals are due on March 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST.

This is a full and open competitive solicitation with no socio-economic set-aside, representing a follow-on requirement currently satisfied under the Rural Utilities Service Water & Environmental Programs statutory directive from the Farm Bill. The contract will be a firm-fixed-price award with a base period from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, followed by four optional 12-month extension periods extending through April 30, 2031, plus a six-month transition-out period. The small business subcontracting goal is 22 percent of total planned subcontracting dollars, and the NAICS code is 541611 (Business and Management Consulting Services) with a size standard of $24.5 million. Key personnel requirements include a Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Contract Manager, each with demonstrated experience in rural water technical assistance programs. The place of performance is nationwide across the United States, and deliverables should be sent to the Rural Development Business Center at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250.