How to bid on Crop Insurance Policy Review Experts for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center

What the agency is buying and why it matters

The Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, on behalf of the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA), is seeking expert actuaries and insurance underwriters. These experts will review crop insurance policies as required by federal law. The agency is not looking for immediate project work, but rather to identify and create a pool of qualified contractors for future Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).

This is an opportunity for firms with specialized actuarial or underwriting expertise to get on the USDA's radar for potential future contracts related to federal crop insurance programs.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This is a Request for Information (RFI) published on April 07, 2026. Responses are due by September 30, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET. At the deadline, the agency will stop accepting submissions. There is no specific work or requirement at this time; the purpose is to identify potential expert reviewers for a contractor pool.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for professional services firms or individual experts with deep experience in actuarial science or insurance underwriting, specifically related to crop insurance or similar agricultural lines. The agency is looking for firms that can demonstrate specific qualifications as an actuary, an underwriter, or both.

To qualify as an actuary, you need membership in the Casualty Actuarial Society (fellow or associate), or at least 10 years of professional experience setting rates for crop or related insurance, or 15 years of professional insurance premium rate setting experience equivalent to a GS-1510 (Actuary) job series.

To qualify as an underwriter, you need at least 10 years of professional experience as a crop insurance underwriter, or 15 years as a property and casualty underwriter in related fields (hail, livestock, farm insurance), or 15 years as an agricultural risk management consultant, or a Ph.D. in agricultural economics with 5 years of post-doctoral work in crop insurance or agricultural risk management, or a Ph.D. with 5 years of post-doctoral work in a directly related agricultural or risk management field.

How to respond

To respond, you must submit written responses via email. Your response needs to include basic company information: the Sources Sought number, company name, address, telephone number, CAGE Code, NAICS, and SAM UEI number. Confirm that your vendor is active in SAM or is actively taking steps to be active. Provide a company point of contact name, email, and telephone number. Identify your business size (large or small) and any applicable socioeconomic categories (e.g., small business, veteran-owned, HUBZone, women-owned).

Crucially, your response must include a statement describing how you specifically qualify as an actuary, an underwriter, or both, detailing all the specific items under which you meet the qualification requirements. Submit your written responses to Contract Specialist Paige Appelt at [email protected], Scott Crist at [email protected], and Contracting Officer Ryan Lorimer at [email protected] by the deadline.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Since this is an RFI to build a pool of experts, focus on clearly demonstrating your firm's or your team's specific qualifications. Directly address each qualification criterion for actuaries and underwriters, providing concrete examples of experience or certifications. Do not assume the agency will infer your capabilities; explicitly state how you meet each requirement.

Ensure all required administrative information, such as CAGE Code and SAM UEI, is accurate and up-to-date. Verify your SAM registration status. A complete and well-organized response that directly addresses all requested information will make it easier for the agency to assess your suitability for their expert pool.