USDA, Office of Operations, Procurement Operations Division, Room 1547-South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9850

R -- INVESTIGATION SERVICES FOR DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS POC Vernel P. Thompson 202/720-2134 The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks sources to investigate a backlog of discrimination complaints both in program delivery (through financially assisted services or direct conducted programs) and in employment. These complaints require an investigation to establish the facts of the allegations to determine, using disparate treatment, disparate impact, or failure to accomodate analysis (whichever is appropriate), whether discrimination has occured. Investigations will require review and documentation of files and records, evidence on patterns of treatment and comparable treatments, as well as taking testimony from complainants, decision makers, and witnesses. The program delivery complaints occur nationwide, and primarily concern farm loans and farm benefit programs, single family housing loans, tenant issues in financed rural utility service, and food stamp benefits, although a few other issuses are also raised. The employment cases are primarily located west of the Mississippi River,and cover all aspects of employment actions. This synopsis is a notice of interest only and should not be considered a request for offers. There is no solicitation document available. The Government will not pay for information received. Firms wishing to be considered to perform such investigations should send a sample investigative product (properly sanitized), along with the number and qualifications of available investigators, a statement of the types and number of such investigations previously performed, and a list of federal agency references (contacts who have received such investigativr products) to the Office of Operations, Procurement Operations Division, Room 1547-South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250. Interested parties must indicate business size e.g. small business-woman owned, small business disadvantaged 8(a) certified, etc. Firms must provide the materials within twenty-one calendar days after publication of this notice. (0191)

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