USDA National Hunger Hotline support services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking to identify small businesses capable of providing support services for the USDA National Hunger Hotline, National Hunger Clearinghouse texting service, and National Hunger Clearinghouse database through a non-governmental organization contractor. This Request for Information specifically targets small businesses including certified 8(a), Small Disadvantaged, HUBZone, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses under NAICS code 561422 (Telemarketing Bureaus and Other Contact Centers) with a size standard of $25,500,000. The contractor will be responsible for operating a bilingual hotline serving all U.S. time zones, providing food and nutrition assistance information, maintaining texting services, managing database operations, and conducting comprehensive reporting. Key requirements include bilingual capabilities in English and Spanish, coverage from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday, and the capacity to handle approximately 20,000 annual calls. Responses to this sources sought notice are due by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 14, 2025, and must be submitted via email to Monifa.Coleman@usda.gov with submissions limited to 8 pages excluding brochures.

This opportunity does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified small businesses meeting the specified criteria. The document does not identify any current incumbent contractors or provide specific award values or budget ranges for the anticipated contract. The proposed period of performance consists of a one-year base period with four additional one-year option periods, creating a potential total contract duration of five years. The contractor will be expected to manage approximately 20,000 annual calls through the hotline service while maintaining comprehensive database and texting service operations. The scope encompasses nationwide coverage across all U.S. time zones with specific operational hours requiring consistent staffing and service availability throughout the work week.