The U.S. Secret Service is gearing up to award a substantial new contract for specialized human resources support, announcing the recompete of its Human Resources Staffing Support Services requirement. This critical opportunity, which is housed under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), carries a potential value estimated to be as high as $100 million over its full period of performance, making it a major pursuit for firms in the federal HR consulting space.
The Secret Service, charged with a dual mission of protecting national leaders and investigating financial crimes, requires an exceptionally high caliber of administrative and professional support to keep its thousands of agents and personnel operating effectively. The incoming contractor will be tasked with providing comprehensive human resources and personnel security expertise across multiple directorates within the agency.
The scope of work is demanding and highly specialized, requiring contractors to field an estimated total of 69 personnel who possess deep knowledge of federal government operations and stringent security protocols.
Key staffing requirements include:
- Human Resources Specialists: A large contingent of personnel focused on federal staffing, with mandated Delegated Examining (DE) certification to handle the complexities of competitive hiring.
- Classification and Policy Experts: Professionals specializing in federal position classification, management analysis, and policy development.
- Benefits and Accountability Staff: Specialists to manage payroll, benefits administration, and HR program auditing.
- Personnel Security Specialists: Crucial personnel to handle security clearance processes and suitability determinations, ensuring the integrity of the USSS workforce.
The contract is anticipated to include a 12-month base period, followed by four 12-month option periods, with performance centered in the Washington, D.C. area. For contractors looking to secure a foothold supporting one of the nation’s most sensitive law enforcement agencies, this recompete represents a monumental opportunity to integrate their expertise into a vital federal mission.
Tips for GovCon Success
This is a competitive award, and positioning yourself for success now is vital. For firms pursuing this $100 million requirement—or similar mission-critical HR support contracts across the federal government—here are a few quick tips for success:
- Prioritize Niche Certification: Federal HR is heavily regulated. The demand for DE (Delegated Examining) certified professionals for staffing roles is non-negotiable. If you’re a potential subcontractor, make sure your team members have these specific certifications, as this immediately increases your value to a prime contractor.
- Showcase High-Level Security Clearance Experience: Working with the Secret Service means dealing with highly sensitive data and requiring top-secret clearances. Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates successful past performance staffing positions that require personnel security clearance processes, not just basic background checks.
- Demonstrate Scalability and Retention: A requirement for 69 dedicated personnel over five years is a significant commitment. Primes must prove they have robust pipelines for recruiting and, more importantly, high retention rates for specialized federal HR talent. Agencies hate turnover, especially in critical support roles.
