The Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) program consists of three Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) government contract vehicles: HCaTS Unrestricted (HCaTS U), HCaTS Small Business (HCaTS SB), and HCaTS 8(a). These vehicles offer reliable, flexible, fast and efficient ways to obtain the best value for money customized solutions for human capital management and training needs.
HCaTS contracts provide solutions to all federal agencies through the efforts of bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees, as defined in Part 541 of Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Watch this video on OASIS and HCaTS 8(a) contracts.
Program features
- Complete and personalized solution for human capital and training services
- Best in class! with pools of highly qualified contractors, at fair and reasonable prices
- Allows maximum flexibility for customers
- Allows all contract types (including hybrid)
- Authorize commercial and/or non-commercial services for CONUS and OCONUS
- Authorize ancillary services and other direct costs at the work order level
- Maximizes small business usage goals
- Undertakes effective change management initiatives
- Helps develop effective metrics to assess progress in implementing human capital strategies
Each HCaTS vehicle (unrestricted, SB and 8(a)) comprises two groups which are uniquely defined by the NAICS codes each group is composed of. At the time of prime contract award and exercise of the option, all NAICS codes in each group shared the same small business size standard, which remains in effect for the duration of the performance period. HCaTS contracts. Task Orders must be solicited and assigned to Contract Holders in the pool that contains the NAICS code corresponding to the scope of the Task Order.
| HCaTS pool | NAICS code | The description |
|---|---|---|
| Pool 1 | 611430 | Professional development and management training |
| 611699 | All other schools and miscellaneous education | |
| 624310 | Vocational rehabilitation services | |
| Pool 2 | 541611 | Administrative and general management consulting services |
| 541612 | Human Resources Consulting Services | |
| 541613 | Marketing Consulting Services | |
| 541618 | Other Management Consulting Services | |
| 611710 | Educational support services |
The scope of the two HCaTS pools is identical and is defined by three Key Service Areas (KSA):
- KSA 1 – Custom Training and Development Services
- Assistance in the management of the training program
- Development of technical and general skills
- Training, development and support in leadership, management and supervision
- Knowledge and skills training
- Career development, management and coaching
- KSA 2 – Personalized Human Capital Strategy Services
- Human resources strategy and development
- Organization and job management
- Staff acquisition
- Talent, performance, compensation and departure management
- Integrated business management
- Change management
- Value proposition for employees
- Employees and labor relations
- KSA 3 – Personalized Organizational Performance Improvement
- Performance Metrics and Improvement
- Strategic planning and alignment
- Data facilitation and analysis
- Improvement and reengineering of business processes
- Organizational assessment and transformation
HCaTS includes 84 standardized labor categories that correspond to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains compensation data. The use of these labor categories is optional; work categories can be added at the work order level.
See Attachment J.1, Standard Labor Categories, below for a list of individual labor categories, corresponding SOC numbers, titles, functional descriptions, and tier definitions for each.
Attachment J.1 – HCaTS Standard Labor Categories [PDF – 107 KB]
The order period for HCaTS Unrestricted and HCaTS SB is 10.5 years in total. The ordering period for HCaTS 8(a) is five years in total. Task Orders may be awarded under the HCaTS at any time prior to the expiration of the Prime Contract Order Period; however, task order option periods may be exercised up to five years and six months after the expiration of the order period.
| Contract period | HCaTS Unlimited | HCaTS SB | HCaTS 8(a) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract base period: |
September 26, 2016 – Sep 25, 2021 |
November 10, 2016 – November 9, 2021 |
December 22, 2020- December 21, 2025 |
| 5-year option period: |
September 26, 2021 – Sep 25, 2026 |
November 10, 2021 – November 9, 2026 |
N / A |
| 6 month extension: |
Sep 26, 2026 – March 25, 2027 |
November 10, 2026 – May 9, 2027 |
N / A |
Types of contract
HCaTS allows maximum flexibility for contract types at the work order level, including:
- Package all types,
- Cost Reimbursement – All Types,
- Time and materials,
- Hour of work, and
- Hybrids of all types of contracts.
Contract ceiling
The maximum dollar value of all task orders issued under the HCaTS contracts, including all options, if exercised, is $3.45 billion for Group 1 and $2.3 billion for Group 2 for each 1) Unrestricted HCaTS and 2) HCaTS SB and 8(a) vehicles, for a total program cap of $11.5 billion.
The HCaTS SB and HCaTS 8(a) vehicles are 100% reserved for small businesses. HCaTS Unrestricted also has several small business contract holders. Competitive layaways for the following socio-economic categories may be awarded under the HCaTS SB with credit toward your small business goals:
- Small Business HUBZone;
- Small business owned by a disabled veteran;
- Small business owned by veterans;
- Small business owned by economically disadvantaged women; and
- Small business owned by women.
8(a) Competitive and direct awards may be granted under HCaTS 8(a) with credit towards your 8(a) small business goals.
The CAF rate for HCaTS Unrestricted, HCaTS SB and HCaTS 8(a) is only 0.75% applied to the total job order amount. Exceptions to these fees or agency-specific fee agreements will be listed here, if applicable.
HCaTS has been designated as a Best-in-Class (BIC) solution for human capital and training solutions since October 2016. BIC contracts are recognized as “good for government” procurement solutions and, by OMB Memo M-17-22 [PDF], agencies should consider leveraging vendors on top contracts as part of the category management effort. Additionally, according to OMB Memo M-19-13 [PDF] and the President’s Stewardship Program, agencies are encouraged to leverage existing contracts for common goods and services. Generally speaking, using BIC solutions saves time and money. Government buyers can confidently use and recommend BIC solutions knowing that they have gone through extensive verification processes. HCaTS meets the following key criteria to be considered a BIC solution:
- Rigorous requirements definitions and planning process
- Appropriate Pricing Strategies
- Data-driven strategies to change buying and consuming behaviors (i.e. demand management)
- Category and performance management strategies
- Independently verified reviews
Download this HCaTS BIC profile [PDF – 353 KB] to learn more.