Veterans Point of Service
Introduction:
This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any contract that might be awarded based on information received or derived from this market research will be the outcome of a separate process.
The purpose of this RFI is to identify qualified contractors who are able to meet the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requirements, determine if commercial items are available or, could be modified to meet VA's requirements, determine the appropriate contract type i.e., firm fixed-price or cost-reimbursement or time and material, understand commercial pricing practices and other market information readily available.
The VA Veterans Point of Service (VPS) Program is seeking potential sources for the maintenance of the existing VetLink kiosk system; expansion of the VetLink kiosk system to new VA locations; development of new VetLink kiosk functionality; training of VA personnel on the VetLink kiosk system; training of VA personnel on new VetLink kiosk functionality, development and tracking of performance measures for the VetLink kiosk system; and, potentially, a refresh of the VetLink kiosk system.
Background:
VA Veterans Health Administration (VHA) evaluates process and technology improvements to improve clinical, administrative, and other services. The Connected Health (CH) initiative is deploying technologies to virtually connect Veterans with services and create bridges between healthcare and information technology (IT), allowing the delivery of Veteran-centric healthcare, when and where Veterans need it.
VPS: (http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/access/vps.asp) designs and deploys self-service devices that provide beneficiaries and employees standard, easy-to-use capabilities to improve patient workflow, and to perform clinical and business transactions. Veterans need to receive and provide information in order to manage their health and their relationship with VHA. VPS devices enable Veterans to make better use of their wait time at VA locations to update important information, filing out clinical questionnaires, reviewing medications and allergies, and providing important information to their care providers.
In 2010, Vecna Technologies, Inc. (Vecna), 6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 500, Greenbelt, MD 20770, was awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) GS35F0363L, to provide the VetLink kiosk hardware and software to all VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). This selection was made using a full and open competition. Vecna has developed the VetLink kiosk software operating system. Vecna is the sole developer and owner of the proprietary software operating system for the VetLink kiosks. Without having access to the proprietary code, any software vendors other than Vecna would be unable to perform the requirements. There are no authorized resellers or servicers of the software other than Vecna. The proprietary data allows Vecna to create, maintain, repair, and enhance the existing VetLink kiosks software deployed to VAMCs and CBOCs nationwide. No other source can provide the aforementioned services without the proprietary software data. Additionally, Vecna is the sole supplier of its proprietary kiosk solution, and has neither authorized distributors nor authorized defect repair vendors; Vecna exclusively services and warranties their own kiosks.
The VPS program pre-dates and is now part of the CH initiative. Part of the VPS mission is to provide stand-alone devices (e.g., kiosks, tablets, and mobile devices) to clinics within VA medical facilities that empower Veteran patients to easily and efficiently perform a variety of clinical and business transactions related to their healthcare services and management through a self-service model such as clinic check-in. It is expected that the use of the VPS devices provide several benefits including patient safety, workflow efficiency, fraud detection/avoidance, and improved data quality. VPS expects to complete national deployment of 4,508 freestanding, 540 desktop, and 331 wall mounted devices to the 157 VAMCs and their CBOCs by the end of December 2014. At the start of the VPS program, VHA issued a moratorium on all new kiosk purchases to prevent the number of non-compatible devices at VAMCs from increasing. New kiosks, other mobile devices, related software, and peripherals are only to be procured and deployed through the VPS Program.
The next phase of growth has taken place with the alignment of VPS with the CH initiative. VPS can now be positioned to operate seamlessly and interactively with the other programs within the CH initiative. The interoperability of the CH initiative's suite of programs is a high priority for VHA. VHA envisions an advanced level of interoperability that may be supported by the use of cloud technology; robust data warehousing and business intelligence tools; convergence toward a universal CH presentation layer that allows Veterans to conveniently transact with Government; use of HTML5 responsive design and development (browser based software and technologies); use of Architecture, Strategy and Design (ASD) design patterns; and, flexibility between the programs and the supporting technology infrastructure.
Requirements:
This action has generated the requirement for VA to issue a sole source contract to Vecna for the services and hardware necessary for supporting and enhancing VPS's VetLink System. The Contractor shall provide kiosks, hardware, peripherals, new software releases and/or enhancements, and relevant services and supplies to implement, support, develop and maintain a multifunctional VetLink program throughout VA. The solutions shall encompass software, products, and services needed to integrate VetLink devices and products into the VA system, network, or other IT service in order to meet the VetLink Program's mission requirements. Services shall include:
" Enhanced VPS functionality across multiple platforms, i.e., cloud based functionality, reporting, and service
" New software feature development for all VetLink kiosk form factors (e.g., free standing, wall-mounted, desk-mounted, and tablet)
" Enhancements to current software features for all VetLink form factors
" Test and evaluation support
" Release management support
" Operations and maintenance of all form types of VetLink kiosks form factors (in the standard VA configuration) including device exchanges and relocations, and cord management
" Additional VetLink kiosks (all form factors) and installation services including standard VA configuration, device placement analysis, site verification, delivery, implementation, and cord management
" New hardware feature development for VetLink kiosks including one (1) or more of the VetLink kiosk form factors
" Training support
" Post deployment support
" Informatics support
" Help desk and issue resolution support for VPS software and hardware issues
" Legacy data migration support
Submittal Information:
This is a request for information (RFI) only. It is requested that all companies interested in participating in this effort note their interest and provide indication of their respective capabilities to perform the effort described in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS), entitled "Veterans Point of Service (VPS)". Marketing material will not be accepted as an indication of capability. Companies must provide description of actual work performed that is relevant to all of the task areas in the attached PWS.
This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered an Invitation for Bids, Request for Task Execution Plan, Request for Quotations or a Request for Proposal. Additionally, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. Your response to this RFI will be treated only as information for the Government to consider. You will not be entitled to payment for direct or indirect costs that you incur in responding to this RFI. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by VA in developing its acquisition strategy and Performance Work Statement. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI.
Point of Contact: Matthew Truex, Contract Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center, Phone (732) 440-9650, Email matthew.truex@va.gov.
Matthew Truex
Contract Specialist
732-440-9650
matthew.truex@va.gov
