Legal Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Program Support Center Acquisition Management Services, has re-opened and revised Solicitation 75P00126R00003 for Legal Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC). This combined synopsis/solicitation seeks comprehensive legal services for UAC currently in or released from the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) nationwide. This is a full and open competition. Proposals are due March 23rd, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
Purpose & Scope
The acquisition aims to obtain essential legal services for UAC, supporting their legal needs in accordance with federal mandates. The scope of work includes:
- Direct Legal Representation: For UAC in immigration proceedings and related applications (e.g., T Visa, VAWA, SIJS, Asylum, Voluntary Departure).
- Legal Orientations & Consultations: Informing UAC of their rights and assessing eligibility for immigration relief.
- LSP Network Management: Managing a nationwide network of qualified Legal Service Providers, including quality control and coordination.
- Data Collection, Analysis, & Reporting: Robust data collection on services, outcomes, and case status, with data made available through dashboards and APIs.
- Transition In/Out Services: Ensuring seamless transfer of operations and active cases.
- Special Requirements: Services must be culturally competent, trauma-informed, available in necessary languages, and maximize pro bono efforts. The contractor must also comply with stringent security controls for external systems interfacing with ACF.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Hybrid, primarily Firm-Fixed Unit Price (FFUP) for legal services, with Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) and Time-and-Materials (T&M) for travel.
- Period of Performance: One (1) base year, four (4) one-year option periods, plus a potential six-month extension under FAR 52.217-8, totaling up to five years and six months.
- Set-Aside: Full and Open Competition.
- NAICS Code: 541110 (Office of Lawyers), Small Business Size Standard: $15.5 million.
- Total Maximum Potential Contract Value: $1,188,000 (as per Attachment A, Amd. 0007).
Submission & Evaluation
- Questions Due: March 2nd, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, via email to Azeb.Mengistu@hhs.gov and Christopher.McGucken@hhs.gov.
- Proposals Due: March 23rd, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, via email to the same contacts.
- Evaluation Factors (descending order): Scalability and Pro Bono Integration Capabilities, Technical Approach, Recent and Relevant Past Performance, and Price.
- Award Basis: Best overall value to the Government through a tradeoff process.
Key Attachments
The solicitation includes updated attachments such as the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Pricing Worksheet, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), and various security control documents (e.g., ACF External System Control Implementation Policy, Selected Controls Moderate/Low). Offerors must use the latest versions of these documents, particularly the pricing worksheet (Attachment A- Amd. 0007).