R410--Accelerating VA Innovation and Learning (AVAIL)

Request for Information (RFI)

Accelerating VA Innovation and Learning (AVAIL)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this RFI in accordance with FAR 15.201(e).  The agency does not intend to award a contract but rather gather information on capability, delivery and other market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for the following:

SECTION 1 – TASKS

Task 6.1 Advanced Manufacturing in Healthcare

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new, personalized medical devices and solutions utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques (e.g. 3D printing, injection molding, milling). These actions will focus on new solutions across 5 major lanes of effort pertaining to the use of advanced manufacturing in VA: (1) anatomical model for pre-surgical planning; (2) personalized prosthetics, orthotics, and surgical instruments (3) personalized dental devices or equipment; (4) personalized assistive technology; and (5) bio-fabrication. In general, medical device product development innovation tasks shall include the following steps:

1. 1. Initiation: assessment of product idea, opportunity, and impact. 
   2. Planning: detailed scoping and planning of user needs, product requirements, financing, product risks, testing, and transfer to manufacturing. 
   3. Development: product specifications, risk analysis, design and process development activities including bench testing, Design of Experiment, process development, installation of needed equipment, quality control requirements, and establishment and documentation of all processes necessary for product realization. 
   4. Validation: authorship, execution, and validation report of design and process validation requirements per the master validation plan; submission of regulatory filings to FDA for market clearance (if applicable). 
   5. Transfer: scaling of product and process and transfer from product development to manufacturing; manufacturing operator and user training modules or programs; product awareness campaign strategy and collateral. 

Products, product lines or solutions shall be limited to the five aforementioned lanes of efforts and include, for example, design of a patient-matched surgical cutting guide, design and production of customized lower limb sockets or other prosthetics, or a suite of dental devices. The VHA will determine product or product lines based on shifting organizational or market priorities (i.e. production of nasal testing swabs due to limited market supply) or Veteran need.

Deliverables for this task shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture progress in product or product line manufacturing as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the product or product line. To note, a design file is not intended to represent a finished product or solution that is ready for broad scale use in clinical care, as products or product lines may require human subject and/or clinical trials for broader clinical use. Should this be the case, the design file and solution or product would be handed off to VHA DEAN and contractual responsibilities around product or solution advancement would cease. This task is also not intended nor is a contractual obligation for large scale manufacturing of the product or product line. Additionally, the government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of a specific product or product line every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be manufactured or pursued. Lastly, cost of materials or supplies should be factored into the overall cost of the deliverable(s).

Deliverables:

1. Advanced Manufacturing in Healthcare Product Monthly Progress Report to include labor categories/hours worked and what was accomplished.
2. Advanced Manufacturing in Healthcare Product Design File (e.g. STL file) (per product)

Task 6.2 Data Transformation

Subtask 6.2.1 Advanced Clinical Decision Support Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new, advanced clinical decision support tools spanning a wide range of clinical areas. Specific work shall focus on augmenting highly reliable, precise, and data driven clinical care delivery amongst the following lanes of effort: (1) chronic disease management (i.e. diabetes, brain health, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, long COVID, amongst others); (2) high risk, high utilizer patient populations (i.e. multiple chronic conditions, cancer, frequent utilization of emergency or urgent care); (3) vulnerable or underserved patient populations (i.e. homeless, food insecurity); (4) acute conditions such as sepsis.

Solutions must take advantage of the existing suite of VA data and analytic platforms (i.e. BI – business intelligence, VA Arches, VA Common Operating Platform, MDClone, amongst others), VA FHIR-based APIs, and VA data sets (i.e. Patient-Generated Health Data, Corporate Data Warehouse, VINCI, Financial Services Center resource and claims date, amongst others). Specific features must include integration into existing VA workflows and/or existing product lines utilizing software-as-a-service, mobile applications, and existing clinical information systems where possible. Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and also include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the CDS tool on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in CDS implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the advanced CDS tool. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of a specific CDS tool every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Deliverables:

1. Advanced Clinical Decision Support Tool Monthly Progress Report
2. Advanced Clinical Decision Support Tool Design File

Subtask 6.2.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Neural Networks (NN) Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP) or neural networks (NN) solutions across a wide range of clinical and administrative areas. Specific work shall focus on augmenting highly reliable, data driven clinical care delivery amongst the following lanes of effort: (1) chronic disease management (i.e. diabetes, brain health, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, long COVID, amongst others); (2) high risk, high utilizer patient populations (i.e. multiple chronic conditions, frequent utilization of emergency or urgent care); and (3) vulnerable or underserved patient populations (i.e. homeless, food insecurity); (4) acute conditions such as sepsis; and (5) administrative task automation within the clinical workflow.

Solutions must take advantage of the existing suite of VA data and analytic platforms (i.e. BI – business intelligence, VA Arches/MDClone, VA Common Operating Platform, Rockies, amongst others), VA FHIR-based APIs, and VA data sets (i.e. Patient-Generated Health Data, Corporate Data Warehouse, VistA data, Cerner, Community Care Data, Financial Services Center resource and claims date, Social Determinants of Health Data amongst others). Specific features must include integration into existing VA workflows and/or existing product lines utilizing software-as-a-service, mobile applications, and existing clinical information systems where possible. Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the clinical decision support (CDS) or operational efficiency tool on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the solution set(s) including any algorithms or code related to solutions developed. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued or whether the effort should be decommissioned to focus on other solutions sets with more value for government.

Specific to Optional Task 6.6.1, the Contractor shall possess a deep knowledge of the use of AI in clinical care, emerging FDA regulations and policies surrounding this technology, as well as a knowledge of clinical effectiveness studies and/or evaluation across multiple clinical settings.

Deliverables:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Neural Networks (NN) Solutions Monthly Progress Report
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Neural Networks (NN) Solutions Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning/Natural Language Processing/Neural Networks) Solution Design File

Subtask 6.2.3 Application Program Interfaces (API) Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new healthcare API solutions across a wide range of clinical and administrative areas. Specific work shall focus on augmenting highly reliable, data driven clinical care delivery amongst the following lanes of effort: (1) solution interoperability; (2) health record and patient information exchange; (3) automation of administrative task (i.e. patient scheduling, insurance capture and billing); (4) capture and integration of remote patient monitoring data into existing workflows; and (5) capture and integration of patient reported outcomes into existing workflows.

Solutions must take advantage of the existing suite of VA data and analytic platforms (i.e. BI – business intelligence, VA Arches/MDClone, VA Common Operating Platform, Rockies, amongst others), VA FHIR-based APIs, and VA data sets (i.e. Patient-Generated Health Data, Corporate Data Warehouse, VistA data, Cerner, Community Care Data, Financial Services Center resource and claims date, Social Determinants of Health Data amongst others). Specific features must include integration into existing VA workflows and/or existing product lines utilizing software-as-a-service, mobile applications, and existing clinical information systems where possible. Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the API solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the synthetic data solution set(s) including any algorithms or code related to solutions developed. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued or whether the effort should be decommissioned to focus on other solutions sets with more value for government.

APIs must conform to current VA standards (FHIR API), utilizing the VA Lighthouse initiative and guidance to be sure of VA-wide interoperability. Specific to Optional Task 6.6.2, The Contractor shall possess a deep knowledge of the use of APIs in clinical care with VA FHIR APIs, as well as a knowledge of ONC standards regarding data interoperability and standards, existing and those that need to be developed.

Deliverables:

1. Application Program Interfaces (API) Solution Progress Report to include labor categories/hours worked and what was accomplished.
2. Application Program Interfaces (API) Solution Design File

Subtask 6.2.4 Synthetic Data Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new, synthetic data solutions spanning a wide range of clinical areas for quality improvement efforts. Specific work shall focus on augmenting highly reliable, data driven clinical care delivery amongst the following lanes of effort: (1) chronic disease management (i.e. diabetes, mental health, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, long COVID, amongst others); (2) high risk, high utilizer patient populations (i.e. multiple chronic conditions, frequent utilization of emergency or urgent care); and (3) vulnerable or underserved patient populations (i.e. homeless, food insecurity); and (4) acute conditions such as sepsis.

Solutions must take advantage of the existing suite of VA data and analytic platforms (i.e. BI – business intelligence, VA Arches/MDClone, VA Common Operating Platform, Rockies, amongst others), VA FHIR-based APIs, and VA data sets (i.e. Patient-Generated Health Data, Corporate Data Warehouse, VistA data, Cerner, Community Care Data, Financial Services Center resource and claims date, Social Determinants of Health Data amongst others). Specific features must include integration into existing VA workflows and/or existing product lines utilizing software-as-a-service, mobile applications, and existing clinical information systems where possible. Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the developed solution or operational efficiency tool on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the synthetic data solution set(s) including any algorithms or code related to solutions developed. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued or whether the effort should be decommissioned to focus on other solutions sets with more value for government.

Deliverables:

1. Synthetic Data Solution Progress Report
2. Synthetic Data Solution Design File

Task 6.3 Digital Health Innovation

Subtask 6.3.1 Digital Care Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of new, digital care solutions spanning a wide range of clinical areas for quality improvement efforts. Specific work shall focus on augmenting highly reliable, data driven clinical care delivery amongst the following lanes of effort: (1) chronic disease management (i.e. diabetes, mental health, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, long COVID, amongst others); (2) high risk, high utilizer patient populations (i.e. multiple chronic conditions, frequent utilization of emergency or urgent care); and (3) vulnerable or underserved patient populations (i.e. homeless, food insecurity); and (4) acute conditions such as sepsis.

Solutions must take advantage of the existing suite of VA data and analytic platforms (i.e. BI – business intelligence, VA Arches/MDClone, VA Common Operating Platform, Rockies, amongst others), VA FHIR-based APIs, and VA data sets (i.e. Patient-Generated Health Data, Corporate Data Warehouse, VistA data, Cerner, Community Care Data, Financial Services Center resource and claims date, Social Determinants of Health Data amongst others). Specific features must include integration into existing VA workflows and/or existing product lines utilizing software-as-a-service, mobile applications, and existing clinical information systems where possible. Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the developed solution or operational efficiency tool on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the synthetic data solution set. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Specific to subtask 6.3.1, the contractor shall possess a deep knowledge of the use of immersive technology platforms and systems integration in clinical care, emerging FDA regulations and policies surrounding digital health, as well as a knowledge of clinical effectiveness studies and/or evaluation across multiple clinical settings.

Deliverables:

1. Digital Health Innovation Progress Report
2. Digital Health Innovation Design File

Subtask 6.3.2 Digital Twin Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of digital twin solutions specific to: (1) architectural blueprints of construction for planned and/or future clinical spaces (i.e. exam room, operating room) and facilities (i.e. VA Medical Center); (2) integration and adoption processes of a new, emerging technology (i.e. 3D-Printing) into clinical care delivery.

Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact. Furthermore, digital twin solutions should be designed in such as way as to leverage the use of extended reality modalities (i.e. Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality) and possess the capability for simulation and modeling to predict future clinician and operational workflows to enabling resource forecasting.

Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the digital twin solution. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Deliverables:

1. Digital Twin Solution Progress Report
2. Digital Twin Design File

Subtask 6.3.3 5G Technology Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of 5G enabled or augmented technology solutions spanning several lanes of effort which promised to be transformed by greater connectivity of the internet of things and advances in mobile edge computing. Specific task will focus on: (1) real-time remote and/or virtual care delivery; (2) patient wearable devices; (3) advanced computer spatial technology utilizing augmented reality for clinical care delivery (i.e. AR-guided surgical navigation); (4) deployment of analytics for digital health information transformation; (5) and advances in extended reality (i.e. Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality) for clinical care delivery and training.

Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the 5G-solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact. Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the digital twin solution. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Specific to optional task #.#, the contractor shall possess a deep knowledge of the use of 5G technology platforms and systems integration in clinical care, emerging FDA regulations and policies surrounding this technology, as well as a knowledge of clinical effectiveness studies and/or evaluation across multiple clinical settings.

Deliverables:

1. 5G Technology Solution Progress Report to include labor categories/hours worked and what was accomplished.
2. 5G Technology Solution Design File

Subtask 6.3.4 Blockchain in Healthcare Project(s)

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of blockchain solutions spanning several lanes of effort. Specific task will focus on: (1) secure data sharing across institutions; (2) supply chain optimization; (3) quality management and product tracking; and (4) optimization of clinically required administrative task such and provider credentialling and privileging.

Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the blockchain solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact. Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the blockchain solution. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Deliverables:

1. Block Chain in Healthcare Solution Progress Report to include labor categories/hours worked and what was accomplished.
2. Block Chain in Healthcare Solution Design File

 Task 6.4 Immersive and Simulation Technology

Subtask 6.4.1 Extended Reality Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of immersive training solutions leveraging extended reality modalities (i.e. Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality) that span a wide range of clinical areas. Specific work shall focus on: (1) alternative therapies for mental health disorders; (2) clinical procedural training (i.e. patient intubation, central line placement); (3) virtual individual and/or group clinical visits; and (4) virtual rehabilitation across clinical conditions such as post-operative care, traumatic brain injury, poly-trauma, amongst others.

Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact. Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the synthetic data solution set. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Specific to task #.#, the contractor shall possess a deep knowledge of the use of immersive technology platforms and systems integration in clinical care, emerging FDA regulations and policies surrounding this technology, as well as a knowledge of clinical effectiveness studies and/or evaluation across multiple clinical settings.

Deliverables:

1. Immersive Technology Solution Progress Report
2. Immersive Technology Solution Design File

Subtask 6.4.2 Clinical Simulation Solutions

The contractor shall participate in the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of clinical simulation solution that will enable the delivery of high value care through better adoption and integration of emerging technology and workflow optimization utilizing clinical simulation. Specific task will focus on: (1) early-stage evaluation and testing of emerging technologies (i.e. augmented reality, digital health innovations for remote patient monitoring, and virtual health, amongst others); (2) clinical-care workflow optimization (i.e. clinical resuscitation in the acute care setting, patient triaging and registration, amongst others); (3) full end-to-end clinical and functional workflow review for operational assessments of health information systems; and (4) enhanced adoption and integration of emerging technologies (i.e. 3D-printing) through simulation-based training.

Solution development must follow a human centered design methodology and include objective methods to measure the impact of use of the blockchain solution on Veteran-centered outcomes, including clinical, financial, and operational impact. Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports, which shall serve as documentation to capture both progress in implementation as well as lessons learned, and a design file of the clinical simulation solution. When applicable, solutions should leverage the use of extended-reality modalities (i.e. augmented and virtual reality) and existing VHA-training platforms which will enable solutions to be delivered at scale without geographical limitations. The government reserves the right to determine feasibility, scalability, and value assessment of the specific solution every three months to determine whether such a product should continue to be utilized or pursued.

Deliverable:

1. Clinical Simulation Solution Monthly Progress Report
2. Clinical Simulation Solution Design File

Task 6.5 Clinical and Business Model Innovation

The contractor shall assist VA in the exploration, design, modeling, and analysis of innovative clinical and business models to advance high value or value-based care that incorporate such payment modalities like bundled payment, direct contracting, shared savings, and/or other value-based approaches. Strategies and approaches should aim to reduce expenditures for the Department while preserving or enhancing the quality of care furnished by the VA to improve veteran’s access to care and services and improve quality, timeliness, and patient satisfaction. Strategic areas of interest include, but are not limited to, chronic disease management, ED-based care coordination, and at-home/virtual care.

            The Contractor shall explore and assess opportunities to enhance or streamline existing VHA processes, systems, and standards to improve Veteran health outcomes, innovation, and research, promote health equity and create discretionary cost savings for the Department. This may include targeting new adjacencies, platforms, and break-away capabilities, conducting market research and value-assessments, synthesizing case studies to determine success and failure factors and developing reports and recommendations based on identified parameters of interest. Potential areas for exploration include, but are not limited to, the existing Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) system, MISSION Act wait times/distance standards, and authorizations for care in the community.

            The contractor shall leverage advanced analytics, VA and non-VA data sets, and existing published research to inform the design and direction of care and payment models. Models shall be designed in such a way that their impact and effectiveness are accurately measurable. The contractor may also be required to provide subject matter expertise around innovative business model that could lead to self-sustaining of revenue generating service lines through the capture of VA’s intellectual property. This would be specific to all the above the deliverables and leverage current legal structures such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements. Deliverables will take the form of monthly reports submitted to the to include a summary of work performed and any work products produced in support of work efforts related to this task and a final design file of the proposed innovation.

Deliverables:

1. Clinical and Business Model Innovation Monthly Progress Report
2. Clinical and Business Model Innovation Design File

Task 6.6 Strategic Planning and Project Scheduling

The Contractor shall provide strategic planning services, which involve planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for a results-based accountability system. Strategic planning is an iterative process and includes examination of historical artifacts and changing contexts (internal and external), creating the vision, mission statements, goals (long and short range), performance measurements, and lessons learned for VA’S innovation, programs, or projects. The Contractor shall also develop program/project road maps that define the current, near-term, and future states of healthcare innovation.

            Additionally, the Contractor shall provide program and project scheduling support services to define how all program/project elements integrate and demonstrate an effective program/project plan. Scheduling support shall include the development of a network of program/project tasks linked to each program/project’s start and finish, documenting the intra and interdependencies for each program/project phase. The Contractor shall define the program/project’s critical path, as well as those tasks/activities and series of tasks that lead to major interim events or deliverables. Each program/project’s performance measurement baseline will be used to track progress, forecasts, and changes throughout execution.

Deliverables will take the form of monthly reports to include and work-related documents or materials – such as strategic planning documents, project roadmaps and schedules – related to the efforts described above.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report
2. Strategic Planning Documents and Project Schedules

Task 6.7 Programmatic Support

Subtask 6.7.1 Project/Pilot Implementation Support

The Contractor shall provide comprehensive programmatic, project and/or pilot implementation support to assist in planning, monitoring, and controlling innovation and development efforts throughout each project phase, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with high quality results. The Contractor shall assist in program-level integration and planning activities for the VA innovation portfolio and develop strategies to increase success of innovation activities across the VA health care provider and Veteran communities. The Contractor shall track, coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate program, project, and release activities and provide recommendations for VA decision-making as well as identifying/presenting ideas and approaches to solving program/project issues that have impacts to scope, cost, and schedule. The Contractor shall actively seek information from innovation leadership regarding risks, issues, requirements, designs, or solutions in support of project and VA-wide dependencies.

The Contractor shall support programmatic and project/pilot implementation support such as:

1. Agile process management and coordination
2. Requirement’s elicitation, management, and analysis
3. Meeting facilitation and internal communications 
4. Research and analysis 
5. Lifecycle price/cost estimation 
6. Process improvement and workflow assessment 
7. Risk and change management
8. Performance and knowledge management
9. Reporting and documentation
10. Monitoring and governance
11. Internal and external stakeholder coordination
12. Authority to Operate (ATO) coordination and documentation development when applicable

Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports to include and any sub-task related documents or materials – such as project dashboards, key performance indicator tracking sheets, synthesis of research and analysis – related to the numbered items above.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Subtask 6.7.2 Replication and Scale Support

The Contractor shall provide virtual and on-site coordination and implementation support for emerging-best practices, processes or post-MVP projects being replicated or scaled across the VA. This support includes deployment event planning, training for VA staff, and the distribution of communications and outreach materials. The Contractor shall develop and implement deployment plans, based on best practices, that address engagement and adoption strategies for new or enhanced technologies as well as the integration of new technologies into clinical workflows when applicable. The Contractor shall coordinate with VA clinicians, innovation leaders, and other VA staff to track effectiveness and to develop new deployment methods and strategies.  Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports to include subtask work related items.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Task 6.8 Measurement and Analytic Support

The Contractor shall provide comprehensive qualitative and quantitative measurement and evaluation support to include use of data analytics, qualitative assessment and biostatistics to support VA’s innovation portfolio of associated projects and initiatives. The Contractor shall define new and refine existing key performance indicators (KPIs), user segments, and goals. The Contractor shall use KPIs as a baseline to measure, assess, and report the release/deployment performance of innovation programs and projects. The Contractor shall develop detailed trend analyses of project impact across clinical, operational and financial domains; Veteran and/or provider adoption (when applicable), and feature effectiveness statistics at the end-user level (when applicable). The Contractor shall also provide support for end-user surveying and survey result analysis.  Deliverables will take the form of monthly measurement and analytic support reports to include all work related documents.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Task 6.9 Technical Analysis and Integration Support

The Contractor shall provide technical analysis support across the innovation and product development lifecycle phase as well as provide support for VA innovation data architecture and infrastructure. Future innovations and VA innovation digital and health IT infrastructure interact with multiple VA systems, including VA’s electronic health record and corporate data warehouse. Technical analysis services shall ensure that the technical feature, characteristic, and/or activity is coordinated and planned as well as provide an independent analysis review for each lifecycle phase. 

The Contractor shall provide technical analysis support such as:

1. Preparing logical and physical data models 
2. Reviews of prototypes’ or proofs of concept
3. Developing lessons learned
4. Creating wireframes and/or visual prototyping
5. Business requirements analysis

Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports and any related task items in completion of the work as numbered above.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Task 6.10 Strategic Communications

Subtask 6.10.1 Multi-channel Communications Support

The Contractor shall provide multichannel communications support services to promote both VA Staff and Veteran awareness of VA Innovation, the Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning, and associated projects. The Contractor shall research and implement targeted communications strategies and best practices designed to encourage user engagement and adoption of innovative solutions and track impact. The Contractor shall provide support for communications objective development; message development; media planning, selection, and placement; and communications effectiveness evaluation. The Contractor shall develop print and digital communications products intended to raise awareness and education on specifics around VA innovation efforts and projects. In support of communications efforts, the Contractor shall provide the following services:

1. Copy writing and editorial support
2. Branding 
3. Video production
4. Graphic design
5. Virtual and on-site event planning, management, and production
6. Presentation development and production, including the development of webinars
7. Focus group planning and implementation

Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports to include any related sub-task items – such as video content, graphic design output, presentations in the form of PowerPoints – as applicable.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Subtask 6.10.2 Outreach Support

The Contractor shall develop and implement internal and external strategic outreach campaigns and events designed to promote VA innovation efforts and associated programs and projects. The Contractor shall conduct market research about healthcare innovation to gather industry and health care trends. Outreach campaigns may be limited or national in scope and often require coordination with senior VA, OHIL, OR&D, OI&T, Veteran Community, White House and/or Congressional leadership, and finally the larger U.S. healthcare industry in the education and promotion of a major VA innovation initiative or significant VA-wide products or services. Outreach campaigns also require grassroots coordination through VA staff, field leadership, and Public Affairs Officer’s, as well as coordination with Veteran Service Organizations, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, targeted health care organizations, and health IT organizations. The Contractor shall develop outreach campaign plans and outreach campaign toolkits that consist of print and digital outreach products, such as: web banners, news articles and press releases, scripts, multimedia presentations, promotional videos, print materials (flyer, wallet card, brochure, etc.), social media and blog posts, interactive media, web slide shows, and targeted micro-websites.

Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports, any subtask related items or materials, and one post-event/conference report, when applicable.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report
2. Post Event/Conference Report (when applicable)

Subtask 6.10.3 Web Content and Customer Relations Management Platform Support

The Contractor shall provide integrated web communications; website development and maintenance; and customer relations management platform (Salesforce and Medalia) support for internal and external VA innovation websites that promote VA innovation and associated programs, and support the dissemination of education, outreach, and training products throughout the VA. The Contractor shall be required to support the current VA-approved content management system. Internal and external webpages shall be compatible with the latest version, the two (2) previous versions, as well as the currently installed version on VA systems of approved Internet browsers, including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer. All materials shall conform to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. ‘704 d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L.105-220) August 7, 1998.

            The Contractor shall design, develop, publish, modify, and create content for VA innovation web pages. Web page development shall comply with VA requirements, follow standard naming conventions established by VA protocols, and conform to current internal and external search engine activity. The Contractor shall provide website and web page maintenance activities, including corrective, preventative, adaptive, and perfective maintenance. Changes include the addition of new data fields, correction of bugs, improvement to navigation, content updates, new integrations, and/or correction of display errors. 

            Additionally, the Contractor shall conduct ad-hoc and regularly scheduled web page compliance reviews to ensure web pages continuously follow and conform to Federal, VA, and VHA regulations, directives, handbooks, protocols, and standard operating procedures, as well as VA and VHA’s communication strategy, goals, and objectives for healthcare innovation.  Deliverables shall take the form of monthly progress reports to include any associated subtask materials or items.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

Subtask 6.10.4 Business and Technical Writing

The Contractor shall provide technical writing assistance for business, academic and technical documentation as well as recommending updates or revisions for review and approval. Developed documents shall be a collaborative effort; reviewed by Contractor subject matter experts; use active voice and positive statements; gender neutral; use visuals to help communicate complex topics (figures, tables, and graphics); use plain English; and use multiple formats. The Contractor shall also provide business and technical document design support, including the development of visual content such as charts, graphs, and other pictorial displays. Deliverables will take the form of monthly progress reports to include any sub-task related items.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly Progress Report

SECTION 2 – RESPONSES

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capabilities information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.  Your responses may be shared with all stakeholders, thus the information received will not be considered proprietary.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:

Cover Sheet – 1 page

Please provide the following information:

1.   Organization name, address, and web site.

2.   Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number.

3.   Business size (large or small).  If small, please provide type of small business.

4.   North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that best fits these task areas.

5.   If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule, and SIN category.

 

Index – 1 page

Please provide an index to assist the Government in identifying where you have addressed each question below in your Capabilities Statement and Market Information.  Please provide question number and corresponding page and section heading and/or paragraph number.

Capabilities Statement and Market Information –

A written response providing clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate the capacity to fulfill this requirement.  Description of the capabilities/qualifications/skills your company possesses to perform services described below:

1. What is your geographic footprint in the United States?  What current offices do you have and what type/number of resources are located in them?
2. Describe your firm’s prototyping capabilities (both products and software)?
   1. Include examples of successfully built physical prototypes working with business clients.
   2. Include past performance of services provided to support scaling of successful physical prototypes.
   3. Include examples of successfully built software prototypes working with business clients.
   4. Include past performance of services provided to support scaling of successful software prototypes.
3. Describe at least three successful examples of solution development and full-scale deployment of those solutions in clinical and/or healthcare setting across the domains listed in Task 1.
4. What research capabilities does your firm have?
   1. Describe your firms demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, supporting institutional review board (IRB) approvals for research and quality improvement studies.
   2. Include past performance examples of research capabilities and associated outcomes.
5. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, data analytics and leveraging advanced data analytics techniques (machine learning/artificial intelligence/quantum computing) to connect data to outcomes using both real-time and synthetic data.
6. Describe at least two successful examples of solution development and full-scale deployment of those solutions in clinical and/or healthcare setting across the domains listed in Task 2.
7. Does your firm currently have in-house emerging healthcare technology scouting capabilities?
   1. Include examples of how your tech scouting insights resulted in the adoption of solutions for business clients.
8. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, current VA OI&T organizational structure and navigation of approval processes related to software development, SaaS, VIP/VIPR, cloud hosting, privacy/cybersecurity reviews, authority to operate, etc.
9. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, using market research (internal and external) to identify emerging trends in healthcare, opportunities for improvement in healthcare operations (both efficiency and productivity), and national best practices in both healthcare and technology.
10. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, establishing a concept of operations to drive the integration of networks within the context of new organizational change, modernization efforts, and priorities. This should include the development and implementation of both a strategic and operating plan. Establishing a robust governance structure and steering committee that can drive integration through an operational model based on human resource principles, clinical needs and priorities, as well as novel, innovative care models.
11. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, clinical workflow analysis, training, and curriculum development in support of clinical simulation and learning, especially in areas emerging clinical practice such as 3D printing, immersive technology, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. 
12. Describe your firm’s demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, problem definition and solution design as it relates to human centered design, UI/UX, human factors, etc.
    1. Include past performance examples of design capabilities and associated outcomes.
13. Provide at least 2 past performance examples of innovation partnerships with organizations similar to the size, and scope, of VA.

Please provide your company’s response to section 2 by COB Friday, January 7, 2022 via e-mail to Holly.Knott@va.gov and Melissa.Maloy@va.gov.

SECTION 3 -REVERSE INDUSTRY DAY

VA will host a reverse industry day on Tuesday, December 14 from 1:00-3:00 EST to provide an opportunity for vendors to ask questions regarding the above work.

Please provide your company’s point of contact/attendees information by COB Friday, December 10, 2022 via e-mail to Holly.Knott@va.gov and Melissa.Maloy@va.gov and you will be included in a reverse industry day that will likely involve a response to all questions received.