- SSA has released an RFI on its enterprise AI strategy
- Responses covering talent, infrastructure and governance are due Sept. 28
- The 2026 FedCiv Summit will explore AI adoption across federal civilian agencies
The Social Security Administration has issued a request for information seeking industry input on an enterprise artificial intelligence strategy to guide the agency’s adoption of AI and agentic AI capabilities across its workforce, programs and infrastructure.
As federal agencies work to shape enterprisewide approaches to AI adoption, government and industry leaders will gather at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 FedCiv Summit on Oct. 29 to discuss how AI is being applied across federal civilian technology initiatives. The event will also feature panel discussions about federal shared services, digital labor, trusted information sharing and other modernization efforts. Sign up now to join the conversation!
The agency said Friday the RFI, issued by its Office of the Chief Information Officer, is intended to inform a coordinated, agencywide approach to AI that aligns with broader federal AI policy and draws on lessons learned from other agencies and the private sector.
Responses are due Sept. 28.
What Information Is SSA Requesting?
SSA said it welcomes input on any relevant topic, with particular interest in five areas, and noted that respondents are not required to address every area:
- Pipeline: Models, case studies or approaches for sourcing and prioritizing AI use cases, along with mechanisms for ongoing coordination with external agencies and working groups.
- Talent: Approaches for attracting and onboarding AI talent into government, including direct-hire authorities, rotational assignments, fellowships and public-private partnership models.
- Infrastructure: High-level ideas for the enterprise architecture needed to support AI at scale, including data readiness, platform layers, and governance and oversight layers. SSA said respondents should describe architectural approaches and models rather than specific commercial products or vendors.
- Training: Approaches to training and change management that help staff adopt and effectively use AI tools in their daily work.
- Governance: Governance models that balance the speed of AI deployment with accountability, transparency and public trust.
How Does the RFI Align With SSA’s IT Modernization & Federal Civilian AI Trends?
SSA’s latest RFI follows the agency’s earlier request for market feedback on its Information Technology Support Services Contract recompete, reflecting continued activity around its technical infrastructure.
SSA falls under the federal civilian agency classification, a category of departments that manage the country’s domestic programs and services and excludes defense, intelligence, healthcare and law enforcement organizations. Federal agencies across this category have been deploying AI to modernize operations, enhance decision-making and improve mission outcomes.
