ROOTS Tool
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 USDA, Departmental Administration is issuing a Justification to Restrict Competition for the ROOTS Tool, a critical system to track USDA employees' return to office in compliance with a Presidential Executive Order. This effort involves designing, configuring, deploying, and managing a secure, user-friendly tool. The justification identifies Palantir Technologies Inc. as the sole source for providing the necessary Palantir Platform solutions.
Scope of Work
The ROOTS Tool will provide insights into employee/facility mapping, facility utilization, and office capacity. The required Palantir Platform solutions include:
- Specialized software licenses
- Configuration services
- Integration support
- Operational capabilities The system must be scalable, secure, and compliant with USDA and federal IT standards.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Firm-Fixed-Price Delivery Order under GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
- Contracting Activity: USDA Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP)
- Contractor: Palantir Technologies Inc.
- Period of Performance: One base period (six months) and two option periods (six months each).
- Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but referenced in a table for base year plus all options.
- Published: April 23, 2026
Justification
Competition is restricted because Palantir Technologies Inc. is deemed the only vendor capable of meeting mission-critical requirements without unacceptable delays and significant duplication of effort. This is due to Palantir's existing accreditations (FedRAMP High, DoD Impact Levels IL-4, IL-5) and unique integration with USDA systems. Market research indicated no other company offers the required combination of capabilities, scale, and integration. USDA will maintain unlimited rights and ownership to data, which may enable future competition.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact: Benjamin Alpers (benjamin.alpers@usda.gov, 9702955691)