Intent to Purchase "Sole Source" Handshake Subscription

"Intent to Purchase Sole Source as described below" The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, with Stryder Corp. DBA Handshake, San Francisco, CA for handshake Talent Engagement Suite (TES), Expert Assist and Advocates. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is:

518210 – Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services with a size standard of $40.0 Million. The objective of this contract is to improve overall recruitment efforts, mitigate workforce attrition, and support White House and USDA initiatives aimed at building a more cohesive and end-to-end engagement and outreach strategy including a desire to increase representation of underrepresented Americans in the Federal Workforce.

With Handshake Premium, APHIS will increase efficiency in how university relationships are managed, with more effective outreach to candidates nationally based on skills and diversity & veterans initiatives that are critical to an organization’s success. Handshake TES, Expert Assist and Advocates will be procured as a commercial item in accordance with the procedures in FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items) and FAR Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures).

The sole source determination is based on Handshake having prior work experience with USDA APHIS and currently the proprietary manufacturer of Handshake TES, Expert Assist and Advocates. The anticipated total value of the purchase order is $217,800.00. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice 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. All interested parties may contact the Contract Specialist listed below. Responses must be submitted electronically, via email, to thomas.j.wesley@usda.gov . The deadline for the submittal of responses is 1530AM Central Standard Time, January 21st, 2025 (Tuesday).