RFI-Human Resources PAR, Pay and Benefits Processing Service

The Department of Commerce Office of the Secretary is seeking a third-party vendor to provide integrated Personnel Action Requests (PAR), Payroll, and Benefits (PP&B) processing services supporting most of its 12 bureaus and the Office of the Secretary through this Request for Information (RFI) for market research purposes. The services will encompass payroll processing, PAR processing, benefits management, contact center support, and human resources information technology system administration, with primary performance at the contractor's site within 50 miles of the Greater Washington Area. Key contract requirements include obtaining an Authority to Operate letter, maintaining a 25% small business subcontracting minimum, complying with extensive security and quality control standards, and demonstrating extensive federal HR experience with systems such as PeopleSoft HCM and the National Finance Center. The government will evaluate proposals based on technical approach (most important factor), past performance, and cost/price through a three-phase acquisition process that includes determining a competitive range, conducting discussions with top selectees, and issuing orders. Responses to the RFI Follow-Up Questions must be submitted through a Microsoft Form by February 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., and potential respondents should note that this announcement does not guarantee a subsequent formal solicitation.

This RFI carries no set-aside designation and involves no identified current contractors, as it is purely for market research purposes with no obligation for the government to contract for services. The projected workload volumes for calendar year 2026 include approximately 57,046 PAR transactions, 20,056 payroll transactions, and 6,340 benefits transactions, with contact center support encompassing approximately 33,059 calls, 12,426 emails, and 8,697 portal interactions based on 2024 data. The contractor will support a total of 21,533 Full-Time Equivalent employees across three primary servicing HR organizations: NOAA (11,285 FTEs), Census (6,999 FTEs), and OHRM/Talent Support (3,455 FTEs). The draft staffing and pricing templates indicate a potential five-year contract period with labor categories ranging from Senior Program Manager to Technology Support Analyst utilizing 738X schedule rates. While specific award values are not disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, the complexity and scope of services across multiple bureaus and the substantial transaction volumes suggest a significant federal contract opportunity.