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IT Support Services Contract (ITSSC) Recompete

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.SSA OFC OF ACQUISITION GRANTS · Response deadline: Thu, 15 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is recompeting its IT Support Services Contract (ITSSC). This is a combined synopsis/solicitation, meaning the notice serves as both the announcement of the opportunity and the formal request for proposals. The scope of this procurement falls under NAICS code 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), which typically encompasses a broad range of IT support activities such as help desk operations, system maintenance, network administration, cybersecurity support, software installation and configuration, and technical consulting services that don't fall under more specific NAICS classifications.

As a recompete, this contract replaces a prior IT support services agreement that SSA has previously awarded and now intends to continue with a new contractor. The specific mix of services, performance requirements, and contract duration should be detailed in the full solicitation documents.

Key facts

Who can bid

Without a designated small-business set-aside in the metadata, this contract appears to be open to full and open competition. All responsible offerors—regardless of business size—may submit proposals, including large enterprises, mid-tier firms, and small businesses. Small businesses interested in competing should evaluate whether they can meet any requirements for past performance, technical capabilities, and staffing levels that a federal IT services contract of this nature typically demands.

If you are a small business, consider whether teaming arrangements, subcontracting partnerships, or mentor-protege relationships might strengthen your competitiveness against larger firms. The solicitation may contain subcontracting goals or other small-business participation requirements even absent a formal set-aside; see the solicitation for any such provisions.

How to put together a competitive bid

For federal IT support services competitions, focus on these elements:

Technical approach: Demonstrate understanding of SSA's mission-critical systems and any specific technologies mentioned in the solicitation. Detail your proposed staffing model, including labor categories, qualifications, and resume requirements. Government IT contracts typically emphasize continuity of operations and minimal transition risk.

Past performance: Prepare relevant contract examples with similar scope, complexity, and government clientele. SSA may evaluate performance on prior federal IT contracts highly. Include verifiable customer references and CPARS ratings if available.

Pricing strategy: Develop a fully-loaded labor rate structure that accounts for fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, and profit. Combined synopsis/solicitations often require detailed cost buildup; ensure your pricing narrative explains any anomalies or competitive positioning.

Compliance: Address all solicitation clauses, especially cybersecurity requirements (DFARS/FAR provisions), labor law stipulations, and any Section 508 accessibility mandates common to IT procurements.

Incumbent insight: As a recompete, evaluate whether incumbent knowledge creates evaluation advantages you must counter or whether incumbent performance issues present openings.

Next steps

Access the complete solicitation package on SAM.gov using solicitation number 28321326R00000022. Review all attachments, including the statement of work, evaluation criteria, and proposal submission instructions. The response deadline is October 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time—note this is one week from the posted date, leaving limited preparation time. Confirm whether questions are permitted and their due date, and verify the designated contract office for electronic or physical submission requirements. Given the tight timeline, prioritize understanding mandatory pass/fail requirements first.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →