Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source - ACT, Inc. Community Based Fellows Program

The Fellows Program creates an additional hiring tool for RD to attract community-based talent in rural America by using a skills-based approach. RD is currently impacted by attrition with a large sampling of employees exiting the agency within three years of employment. The Fellows Program broadens the hiring pool and allows an applicant to qualify for employment based on skills and does not include a positive education requirement. The program is required to provide assessments and certifications. USDA RD PMO intends to award a commercial, sole source contract to ACT, inc. for WorkKeys, a ACT proprietary product to assist in the development of a Community Based Fellows Program. This is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is available. Firms that believe they can provide this requirement are encouraged to identify themselves and give written notification with an explanation of your firm’s capability within 15 days of the publication date of this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this action is within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining to conduct a competitive procurement.