Questions RFQ 36C24124Q0772_1.pdf

Contracting’s Answer are in red.

Will the government confirm proposal submission shall be electronic?

Yes, proposals should be submitted electronically.

Does the government have an estimated budget for technology development and the overall project scope?

You need to apply yourself to the performance work statement.

What is the government’s estimate of level of effort or total cost for the one-year proposed project?

You need to apply yourself to the performance work statement.

For the eight (8) live events, what size is the government estimating (e.g., numbers of gamers, computers, and participants? Does the government have any venues in mind for the live events?

There are 10 events total, both in-person (approximately 5) and online (approximately 5). The expectation is that approximately 100 unique participants will complete surveys therefore events will need to accommodate approximately more than 100 (across 10 events) as many may not complete surveys. Venues may include a variety of organizations, health-related entities, Veteran serving organizations, or local businesses and gaming venues of varying sizes within MA.

Does the agency have a point of view about what the gaming sessions look like -- what games would be included (off-the-shelf, commercial) OR if they are most interested in supporting bespoke game(s) designed for this purpose?

Online gaming sessions should be Approximately 1-2 hours and in-person events should be approximately several hours. There should be space between or (side-chats) that facilitate social connection and information sharing. We are interested in using available games but develop events designed to engage a Veteran/military gaming community that allows for participants to also meet for in-person gaming events in MA.

If we were to design bespoke game(s) for this project, what are the IP requirements / terms for it?

Vendor will not be designing software.

Are there specific requirements or limitations for additional software subcontractors, and must they be US-based?

Yes, see FAR/VAAR Subcontractor rules.

Does the government have an estimate of how many gaming participants are expected per event, both online and in-person?

We expect approximately 100 unique participants to complete surveys and approximately 20 to complete interview procedures. Vendor is responsible for prize incentives for gaming activity and remuneration of survey and interview completions.

Has the gaming cohort already been selected? Are all online participants located in MA? If not, will the government provide the geographic locations to ensure therapists are licensed according to state reciprocity rules?

The gaming cohort has not been selected and the expectation is that experienced Vendors already have access to a Discord gaming community. Vendor is responsible for licensed psychologist in MA for in-person events. Online events are structured differently, and moderator/facilitator responsibilities fall under providing services as a mental health consultant and the moderator may be licensed in any state (with appropriate mental health insurance). In-person events will require state MA licensure as in-person events have different facilitation characteristics. As well as keeping applicable wage rates in mind if the licensed psychologist is outside the listed wage rates of the contract.

What is the vision on the duration of a gaming event? For instance is it for a few hours or a hole day with multiple sessions?

See Answer question 3 for details.

Will participants be new for each event?

Each gaming event will likely have new and previous participants, See Answer question 6 for details.

Will participants be registered with VA Affairs or VA Centers?

Gaming events will be opened to enrolled and non-enrolled Veterans.

Will the events be planned for weekends or weekdays?

That is at the discretion of the Vendor to meet the goals of the project.

What is the expectation for Discord monitoring? Only during gaming event, post event, for how long?

Monitoring of Discord community will occur during events and after on an ongoing basis throughout the length of the project see PWS for more details.

What is the expectation on anonymity during gaming?

There is not an expectation anonymity of during gaming and it is at the discretion of the participant about how much they’d like to disclose about themselves in-person and online.

On page 5 of the RFQ, it states: The vendor will manage selected venues and lead social intervention and assist in evaluation procedures and from time-to-time, contractors will be required to work at event locations in the Massachusetts area. Will all live gaming events be required to be hosted in Massachusetts or may we organize and deliver events in other locations with higher concentrations of veteran gamers? Option to do in person and hybrid?

Yes, all live gaming events will be required to be hosted in Massachusetts.

On page 5 of the RFQ, it states: The vendor will be responsible for coordinating, marketing, and implementation online and in-person gaming events (10 total), and assistance with protocol development, and evaluative (non-research) data collection. Do data collection protocols exist, as well as data from past events, that will be made available to the offerors?

This is a 1st of its kind project for VA Mass there is no past event data to be used. Data collection protocols should be conducted as participants will be enrolled Veterans and non-enrolled Veterans.

When is Task 4B: Strategic Communications Summary Report due during the year 1 period of performance?

This will be a report (year 1) that discusses outreach strategies, communication metrics (e.g., reach etc…), and what were successful and unsuccessful communication strategies across all types of gaming events as well as future recommendations to reach Veterans.

On page 8 of the RFQ, when are each of the Task 5 deliverables due (i.e., Advise on Gaming guidebook content, Revise Outline of the Guidebook, assist with revision of Guidebook draft, Assist with manuscript development)?

The process of developing guidance from findings will begin towards the end of year one and for option year 2.

Also, on page 8 of the RFQ, should there be a deliverable for a Gaming Guidebook Draft Outline or is that assumed under Advice on Gaming Guidebook Content?

Vendor and VA will work together passing deliverable back and forth to create this product so creating, advising, and developing guidance will occur through an iterative process.

On page 10 of the RFQ, item number 0013 on the cost schedule states Guidebook and Manuscript Development Assist in development clinical intervention techniques for at-risk Veteran Population. Item number 0014 states Assist in development clinical intervention techniques for at-risk Veteran Population. The same question arises for items 1013 and 1014.

Please explain the difference between these two items.

The contract is going to be a Base plus one option year 0013 and 0014 is for the base year 1013 and 1014 is there for if the government decides we need to work on this for the option year if we decide to exercise it with the vendor that is awarded the contract.

Are there any page limits, minimum font requirements, or other instructions to guide the development of the proposal?

there are no page limits, minimum font 12, the RFQ should have, past performance, if you plan to subcontract a subcontracting plan, what you plan to charge for your services and why.

On page 39 of the RFQ it states: The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Technical Capability meeting PWS requirements Past Performance like and Similar requirement Price Are their guidelines for how to present past performance?

No these are guidelines as to how the RFQ will be evaluated.

Will the government extend the due date to August 9, 2024, at 9am?

No we will extend the RFQ due date to August 7th at 2pm.