OPM USA HIRE II Support Services Request for Information

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI, issued by GSA Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) on behalf of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is for market research purposes. The government is seeking information to understand industry capabilities related to the USA HIRE II requirements, as detailed in the draft Section C - Performance Work Statement (PWS). The goal is to promote competition and gather high-quality proposals for a potential future acquisition.

• Industry Day & Due Diligence: Anticipated in March 2026 for respondents.

• Draft PWS: Requirements are detailed in the attached draft Section C - Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Market Research: The RFI is a market research tool; responses are voluntary and do not guarantee a future solicitation or add bidders to a list.

• No Reimbursement: Costs associated with providing information are not reimbursable.

• Contract Type: Combination of Time and Materials (T&M) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

• Scope: Procurement of labor, Other Direct Costs (ODCs), and travel within the Contiguous United States (CONUS).

• Period of Performance: Twelve (12) month base period with seven (7) year optional periods.

• Award: Intended to award one contract for the entirety of the USA HIRE II requirement.

• Due Date: Responses are due no later than 12:00 PM EST on 27 FEBRUARY 2026.

• Submission Method: Email to Steven Nerenberg (steven.nerenberg@gsa.gov) and Mike Levy (michael.levy@gsa.gov).

• Format: One-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced. Maximum ten (10) pages, including Corporate Overview.

• Source Identification: Obstacles preventing response to a future RFP.

• Draft RFP Feedback: Comments/questions on the technical completeness and adequacy of the draft PWS.

• Enhancements: Recommendations to improve the draft RFP and resultant task order.

• Information Needs: Input on necessary information to understand the scope, complexity, and size of requirements.

• Specific Areas: Recommendations for a secure, centralized 3rd Party Assessment Repository; timeline for transition-in activities; alternative pricing models; availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and Government off-the-shelf (GOTS) assessment platforms; and recommended contract types.

• Capabilities Statement: Description of capabilities to perform as prime contractor, how the company can accomplish USA HIRE II requirements, availability of assessment hosting/delivery platforms, and presence of Industrial/Organizational Psychologists and Psychometric Experts.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the Key Personnel Requirements for the USA HIRE II contract. It specifies the minimum personnel who must be designated as "Key" and details their required qualifications and responsibilities.

• Key Personnel Roles: Program Manager (PM), Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychologist Project Manager, and Information Technology (IT) Project Manager.
• Program Manager Qualifications: Requires a Psychometric expert, employee of the prime contractor, senior staff with experience in managing large-scale HCM programs, experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, 10+ years in selection/assessment design/development/validation/delivery, and an M.A./M.S./Ph.D. in I-O Psychology or related field. Responsibilities include overall leadership, schedule/budget management, coordination, performance monitoring, risk management, and quality assurance.
• I-O Psychologist Project Manager Qualifications: Requires an I-O Psychology expert, senior staff with 10+ years in managing large-scale selection/assessment projects, M.A./M.S./Ph.D. in I-O Psychology or related field. Requires expertise in job analysis, test planning, assessment development/validation, various assessment types, and AI application in assessment. Responsibilities include serving as the administrative and technical focal point for assessment projects, establishing budgets/schedules, and managing technical/support personnel.
• IT Project Manager Qualifications: Requires an IT expert with 10+ years in managing large-scale HCM technology or HRIT projects, including systems integration, data migration, and quality assurance. Requires a BA/BS with 10+ years of related experience (or MA/MS/MBA with 8+ years, or PhD with 7+ years). Requires experience in technology-driven initiatives, managing timelines/budgets, and overseeing critical activities like data migration and system testing. Responsibilities include serving as the administrative and technical focal point for IT projects, establishing budgets/schedules, and managing technical/support personnel.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the specific personnel qualifications and experience required for key roles within the contract. It directly impacts team composition, staffing plans, and the overall technical approach proposed. Bidders must ensure their proposed key personnel meet or exceed these requirements to be considered compliant.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the requirements for a comprehensive online assessment platform and associated services to support the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USA Hire program. The goal is to modernize and transform the Federal hiring process by providing high-quality, skills-based assessments to Federal agencies.

• Develop, deploy, and maintain an online assessment platform that integrates with OPM's USA Staffing system.

• Host and deliver a wide range of online assessments, including off-the-shelf and custom options.

• Support various assessment types: static, multi-form, computer-adaptive (CAT), and linear-on-the-fly (LOFT).

• Provide capabilities for both proctored and un-proctored testing environments, including remote proctoring.

• Offer online interviewing capabilities (live and recorded).

• Provide psychometric expertise for assessment development, validation, and analysis.

• Manage project management, system integration, and testing services.

• Offer help desk support for applicants and users.

• Ensure compliance with Federal IT security, privacy, and accessibility mandates.

• Support transition-in from incumbent contractors and transition-out services.

• The platform must be secure, reliable, and user-centered.

• Must support scalability for expected growth and surge demands.

• Must ensure timely delivery of assessments and results.

• Must comply with Federal IT security and privacy mandates.

• Must provide comprehensive reporting on activities, results, and system performance.

• Not explicitly stated in this section, but implies ongoing support for the USA Hire program.

• Integration with USA Staffing and USAJOBS.

• Compliance with Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.

• Support for reasonable accommodations.

• Use of Agile Engineering techniques for system management and testing.

• Security certification and authorization to operate.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "RFI Attachment 01_Draft Section C," is a draft of Section C, "Description/Specifications/Performance Work Statement," for the USA HIRE Support Services II opportunity, in support of the United States Office of Personnel Management (US OPM).

This document outlines the background, purpose, scope, objectives, and tasks related to the USA HIRE program. It details the requirements for an industry partner to provide a comprehensive psychometric, technological, and programmatic solution to sustain and enhance the USA Hire assessment platform.

Key areas covered include:

• Background: Changes in federal hiring, requirements for skills-based assessments, and OPM's role.
• Purpose & Agency Mission: To provide Federal agencies with high-quality, skills-based assessments to identify top talent and build a high-performing workforce.
• Scope: Requirements for an online system to deploy off-the-shelf and custom assessments, measure competencies, score responses, and support various assessment delivery methods (online, proctored, remote).
• Objectives: To sustain and enhance the USA Hire platform through a comprehensive solution.
• Tasks: Detailed requirements for Project Management, Assessment and Assessment Battery Categories, Psychometric and Industrial Organizational Psychology Support, Online Assessment Solutions, System Management and Testing, Interconnections with Other Assessment Platforms, Assessment Delivery, and Help Desk support.
• Assessment Types: Details on Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS), Hosted Commercial Off-the-Shelf (HCOTS), Integrated Commercial Off-the-Shelf (ICOTS), and Agency Off-the-Shelf (AOTS) assessments, including specific examples like Occupational Reading Assessment, Occupational Reasoning Assessment, and Data Skills Assessment.

This document is crucial for potential bidders as it defines the comprehensive scope of work, technical requirements, and performance expectations for providing assessment solutions and support services for the USA HIRE program. It outlines the types of assessments, platform capabilities, integration requirements, and support services needed, which will inform proposal development and demonstrate understanding of the government's needs.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI, issued by GSA Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) on behalf of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is for market research purposes. The government is seeking information to understand industry capabilities related to the USA HIRE II requirements, as detailed in the attached draft Section C - Performance Work Statement (PWS). The goal is to promote competition and gather feedback for a potential future acquisition. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) and does not obligate the government to issue a solicitation.

• Industry Day & Due Diligence: The government anticipates conducting an Industry Day and individual Due Diligence sessions in March 2026.

• Draft PWS: Bidders are encouraged to provide comments and recommendations on the attached draft Section C - Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Specific Feedback Requested: The government is seeking input on:

  • Obstacles to responding to a future RFP.
  • Recommendations for enhancing the draft RFP.
  • Necessary information to understand the scope and complexity of requirements.
  • Recommendations for a secure, centralized 3rd Party Assessment Repository.
  • Estimated timeline for transition-in activities.
  • Alternative pricing models.
  • Availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and Government off-the-shelf (GOTS) assessment platforms.
  • Recommended contract types.

• Contract Type: Combination Time and Materials (T&M) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

• Period of Performance: Twelve (12) month base period with seven (7) year optional periods.

• Scope: Procurement of labor, other direct costs (ODCs), and travel within the Contiguous United States (CONUS).

• Award: A single contract is intended for the entirety of the USA HIRE II requirement.

• Due Date: Responses are due no later than 12:00 PM EST on 27 FEBRUARY 2026.

• Submission Method: Email responses to Steven Nerenberg (steven.nerenberg@gsa.gov) and Mike Levy (michael.levy@gsa.gov).

• Format: One-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced.

• Page Limit: Maximum of ten (10) pages, inclusive of Corporate Overview.

• Corporate Overview: Include Company Name, Business Unit (if applicable), UEI Code, Corporate Address, and Company POC and Contact Information.

• Information provided is for market research only and will not be shared with other industry partners.

• Submission is voluntary, and no costs will be reimbursed.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the requirements for the USA HIRE Support Services II program, managed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The primary objective is to provide a comprehensive assessment platform and services to Federal agencies to improve hiring outcomes by identifying highly qualified candidates.

The USA HIRE program seeks an industry partner to provide a commercial solution for deploying off-the-shelf and custom assessments. Key functions include:

• Developing and delivering a wide range of online assessments (e.g., multiple-choice, computer-adaptive, video-based interviews, work simulations).
• Supporting various assessment delivery methods: unproctored, in-person proctored, and remote proctored settings.
• Providing psychometric expertise for assessment development, validation, and analysis.
• Managing the assessment platform, including hosting, content management, and IT security.
• Integrating with existing systems like USA Staffing®.
• Offering customer agency and applicant support, including a help desk.
• Handling transition-in from incumbent contractors and transition-out at contract end.
• Migrating and validating existing assessments and content.
• Developing and maintaining assessment content, including Government Off-the-Shelf (GOTS), Hosted Commercial Off-the-Shelf (HCOTS), Integrated Commercial Off-the-Shelf (ICOTS), and Agency Off-the-Shelf (AOTS) assessments.

While specific metrics are not detailed in this section, the contractor is expected to ensure system availability, performance, and quality, adhering to Agile Engineering techniques and the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).

Not explicitly detailed in this section, but transition-in services are estimated to take up to eighteen months. Services are for Federal agencies nationwide.

• Compliance with Federal IT security and privacy mandates, Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act.
• Support for computer adaptive testing technology and HTML5-based video player.
• Scalability to support significant growth and surge demands.
• Secure, standardized, real-time data interconnections.
• Psychometric expertise and I-O Psychology support.
• Key personnel requirements (Project Manager, IT Project Manager, I-O Psychology Project Manager).
• Adherence to OPM security Assessment and Authorization (A&A) policies.