Notice of Intent to Sole Source
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 Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source a bridge contract to AQR Capital Management LLC for emerging market investment management services. This action ensures continuity of critical services while a new, long-term competitive solicitation is underway. Interested parties may submit information by March 11, 2026, 9:00 AM ET.
Scope of Work
The bridge contract will provide ongoing emerging market investment management services, continuing the work previously performed under Contract No. PBGC01-CT-15-0040. This is required to prevent service disruption during the transition to new long-term contracts, which are anticipated to be awarded by February 2027.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sole Source Bridge Contract (likely Firm-Fixed-Price)
- Duration: Base period of 12 months (March 30, 2026 - March 29, 2027) with a 3-month option period.
- Set-Aside: Not applicable (Sole Source)
- Notice Published: March 9, 2026
- Response Due: March 11, 2026, 9:00 AM ET
- Current Contract Expiration: March 29, 2026
- New Solicitation Anticipated: April 2026 (for long-term contracts)
- New Awards Expected: February 2027
Justification for Sole Source
The PBGC intends to award this bridge contract to AQR Capital Management LLC as a logical follow-on. The justification states that AQR is uniquely qualified, and a transition to other managers or index funds during this gap would be operationally inefficient, financially detrimental, and costly due to transaction fees. This bridge allows for uninterrupted service until the competitively awarded long-term contracts are in place. While this specific action is sole source, the original contract was competitive, and the upcoming long-term contracts will also be full and open competition.
Action Items
This is not a Request for Proposal. Interested parties who believe they can provide these services may request further information by March 11, 2026, 9:00 AM ET, via email to Rudy Baldus (Baldus.Carl@pbgc.gov) and Marius Morgan (Morgan.Marius@pbgc.gov). A determination to compete based on responses is solely at the Government's discretion.