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U.S. Office of Special Counsel seal

U.S. Office of Special Counsel

Abbreviation: OSC

Special Counsel (as of 2026): Hampton Dellinger

2026 Budget: $37M

SAM.govCGAC Code: 6200

Website: osc.gov

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency whose primary mission is safeguarding the federal merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially whistleblower retaliation.

OSC also enforces the Hatch Act and provides a secure channel for whistleblower disclosures.

How to Win OSC Contracts

Winning work at the U.S. Office of Special Counselmeans understanding a procurement culture that blends rigorous compliance, deep mission focus, and a preference for vendors who can speak the agency's language from day one. This guide walks through how OSC buys, the vehicles it uses, and the steps your company should take to go from registered vendor to awarded contractor.

Understanding OSC Procurement

The Office of Special Counsel obligates roughly $5-10M in contracts annually supporting federal employee whistleblower protection and Hatch Act enforcement. OSC is a small specialist regulator.

Contracts focus on case-management IT, investigations support, and administrative services.

How OSC Buys

OSC uses GSA MAS and small direct contracts. The Office of Administration runs procurement.

Major Contract Vehicles

  • GSA MAS— Primary vehicle for IT and services.
  • Case Management IT BPAs— Systems supporting whistleblower and prohibited-personnel-practice cases.

Step 1: Get Registered and Compliant

Required Registrations

SAM.gov registration with UEI and CAGE code, full FAR representations and certifications.

OSC-Specific Requirements

Federal-sector HR, administrative law, or investigations experience. FedRAMP Moderate for cloud.

Certification Programs

8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB.

Step 2: Identify Opportunities

Primary Sources

SAM.gov filtered by OSC.

Key Offices

OSC Office of Administration — Washington, DC.

Top Contract Types

FFP and T&M/LH.

Step 3: Position Your Company

Build Relationships

Attend MSPB, FLRA, and federal-sector HR events.

Relevant NAICS Codes

  • 541990–Professional Services NEC
  • 541512–Computer Systems Design
  • 541110–Offices of Lawyers
  • 541611–Management Consulting

Step 4: Develop Winning Proposals

Technical Approach

Demonstrate federal-sector HR or investigations expertise.

Past Performance

Prior OSC, MSPB, FLRA, or federal-sector HR experience.

Pricing Strategy

Price-sensitive; specialized expertise justifies rates.

Winning Strategies

  1. Specialize in federal-sector whistleblower and HR investigations.
  2. Use GSA MAS as primary vehicle.
  3. Team with MSPB- and FLRA-focused primes.
  4. Track OSC case load for staffing-support demand.
  5. Pursue IT modernization directly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Bidding OSC work without federal-sector HR expertise.
  2. Treating it as a generic federal buyer.
  3. Under-resourcing investigations support teams.

Small Business Programs

OSC meets small-business goals at its scale with consistent 8(a) and WOSB utilization.

Key Contracting Offices

  • OSC Office of Administration — Washington, DC

OSC by the Numbers

Annual Contract Spend
~$7M contract obligations (FY2025)
Contract Actions / Year
~60 prime awards/year
Top NAICS
541990
Professional Services NEC

Ready to Win OSC Contracts?

Stop guessing — let Blacksmith AI draft your next winning proposal.