The Department of State Office of Acquisition Management has awarded a sole-source bridge contract to NCS Pearson, Inc. (PearsonVUE) for continued Foreign Service Officer test administration services, with an award date of June 9, 2026.

The justification cites FAR 6.103-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency. The bridge contract extends the incumbent's performance to ensure uninterrupted mission-critical test administration for the Bureau of Personnel and Training, Talent Acquisitions, Board of Examiners (PERT/TAC/BEX) while the government completes a full and open competition for a follow-on requirement with an anticipated award date of June 9, 2027. PearsonVUE's unique qualifications include established operational capacity, technical infrastructure, industry expertise in large-scale testing programs, working relationships with the Board of Examiners and Department stakeholders, and mitigation of operational risks inherent in contractor transition during the bridge period. The services directly support the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and include continuous administration and delivery of validation of written examinations used as the initial screening tool for Foreign Service Officer and Foreign Service Specialist candidates worldwide. PearsonVUE is located at 5601 Green Valley Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The existing contract was modified on December 16, 2025 (Modification P00026), extending performance through June 9, 2026. A Request for Information was posted on SAM.gov (19AQMM-26-RFI-1001) to identify potential sources. Contract type is firm-fixed-price. NAICS 541910 (Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling); PSC U002 (Education/Training–Personnel Testing).

J&A - Foreign Service Officer Testing Administration

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