Q and R - 2.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 27 KB Posted Jul 13, 2026

Attached to: R702--Study for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Outcomes of Military Exposures Epidemiology
Solicitation number: 36C24526Q0544
Issued by: Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 5

About this file

Written by GovTribe AI · Jul 13, 2026

This is a Questions and Answers document providing clarifications on solicitation 36C24526Q0544 for a longitudinal health survey of post-9/11 Veterans conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Outcomes of Military Exposures (HOME) program. The document addresses 40 questions submitted by potential offerors regarding technical requirements, deliverables, and operational expectations for this three-year effort.

Key clarifications include: the corrected sample size is 109,000 participants (not 100,000 as stated in the Scope section), with an anticipated response rate of 35-50% based on historical VA surveys; offerors are not required to submit resumes for key personnel, CPARS, or past performance questionnaires, though resumes may be included in technical capability with evidence of similar work; no page limitations exist for technical capability or past performance submissions; and a Business Associate Agreement is required post-award. The Government will provide historical materials from prior data collections (NewGen and CHAI studies) after award. Critical design elements to be proposed by contractors include survey mode sequencing, data collection strategies, questionnaire modifications, incentive structures, CATI operations protocols, pretesting approaches, weighting methodology, and nonresponse analysis methods. All educational and informational materials must be 508 compliant and available in English and Spanish. The Government anticipates a 7-14 day review timeline for key deliverables, with final QASP performance standards and data format specifications to be determined post-award. Contractors may propose either their own IRB or use the VA IRB, with anticipated coordination with the VA Central IRB if contractor IRB is selected. Award decisions will be made on a comparative basis once quotations are deemed acceptable.

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Other files

File	Type	Posted
Q and R - 6.docx	DOCX document	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R - 8.docx	DOCX document	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R - 5.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R -1.docx	DOCX document	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R - 3.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R - 7.docx	DOCX document	Jul 13, 2026
Q and R - 4.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Jul 13, 2026
Amendment - Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544 0002.pdf	PDF	Jul 13, 2026
Amendment - Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544 0001.pdf	PDF	Jul 7, 2026
Supplemental Instructions.pdf	PDF	Jun 23, 2026
Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544.pdf	PDF	Jun 23, 2026
Past Performance Questionnaire.pdf	PDF	Jun 23, 2026
Past Performance Questionnaire.docx	DOCX document	Jun 23, 2026
QASP for Post 911 survey.pdf	PDF	Jun 23, 2026
VHA 1605.05 BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT.docx	DOCX document	Jun 23, 2026
VHA 1605.05 BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT.pdf	PDF	Jun 23, 2026

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Sheet1

	No.	Question	Solicitation Reference	Answer
	1	Is there an incumbent?	N/A	No
	2	Are there any page limitations for the Technical Capbility?	Supplemental Instructions	No
	3	Are there any page limitations for the Past Performance?	Supplemental Instructions	No
	4	Are there are requirements for how many Past Performance references offerors should provide?	Supplemental Instructions	There are no requirements for how many Past Performance references offerors should provide
	5	Are offerors required to submit CPARS and/or Past Performance Questionnaires?	Supplemental Instructions	Offerors are not required to submit CPARS and/or Past Performance Questionnaire
	6	Are there any font type or font size requirements?	Supplemental Instructions	There are no font type or font size requirements
	7	Is the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) required as part of the proposal submission or post-award?	Supplemental Instructions, VHA 1605.05 BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENT	Yes
	8	Are offerors required to submit resumes for the Key Pesonnel? If so, should they be included in the Technical Capability, and what are the page limitations?	Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544, 10. Key Personnel	Offerors may submit resumes for the Key Pesonnel. They may be included in the Technical Capability. There are no page limitations however quotes should show evidence of similar work before, the skills and credentials needed as written in the PWS
	9	Can VA clarify the anticipated sample size for this effort, given that the PWS references both 100,000 participants under Section 4 (Scope) and 109,000 participants throughout Section 7 (Tasks)? Additionally, can VA confirm whether the stated sample size represents a fixed ceiling or may be adjusted during execution, and provide the anticipated number of completed surveys expected from that sample?	Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544, 4. Scope & 7. Tasks (7.2.6 and 7.2.9)	The entry of “100,000” in the Scope (page 4) is an error and should read “109,000”– apologies. Please note the entry at Deliverable table 7.2.3 reads “30,000” - this is also an error and should read “109,000” . For overall response rate, consider the experience of recent VA HOME veteran surveys or other VA surveys of veterans, particularly those in post 9/11 Veterans: consider 35% to 50% as an achievable goal.
	10	Can VA provide guidance on the literature reviews noted under Task 2, specifically: a) Whether the “complete literature review for study design” is intended to be a single, comprehensive deliverable and when it is expected to be completed during the period of performance; and b) The anticipated frequency, scope, and level of effort associated with conducting “literature reviews based on the needs of the survey”?	Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544, 7.2 Task 2	Literature review for study design may by necessity address several topics: survey administration methodologies, sample weighting, non-response bias analysis, etc. The government seeks expertise of the contractor to provide advice which may necessitate literature review and citation in justification for decisions in study administration/interpretation.
	11	Can VA clarify expectations for “simple” and “complex analyses” to be conducted under Task 3?	Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544, 7.3 Task 3	Simple frequencies and exploratory bivariate analyses; comex would involve mulitple regression or other more advanced statistical approaches.
	12	Can VA clarify whether the development of websites and/or smartphone applications noted under Task 4 is anticipated as a required deliverable under this effort, and if so, provide additional detail regarding the expected scope, functionality, and level of effort?	Solicitation No. 36C24526Q0544, 7.4 Task 4	This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal. It referfences web-based survey designa dn any suppoirting materials that may be viewed online.
	13
Can VA provide any target response rates, allocation expectations by survey mode (e.g., web-based, CATI, mail), or other performance thresholds that should guide the contractor's data collection approach and monitoring? If not, should contractors rely on historical benchmarks when proposing response rate assumptions and data collection strategies?	7.1.6, 7.2, and 7.2.9	Allocation is a design consideration that should be addressed in the proposal. For overall response rate, consider the experience of recent VA HOME veteran surveys or other VA surveys of veterans, particularly those in post 9/11 Veterans: consider 35% to 50% as an achievable goal.
	14	Can VA clarify expectations related to data linkage (e.g., DoD, VA health records, National Death Index)?	7.2.2 and 7.2.3	no expectation of linkage to DoD or NDI data is anticipated or required. VA data for contact information will be supported
	15	Can the Government clarify the expected level of contractor discretion in questionnaire design, including whether the contractor may propose modifications to existing instruments or whether the questionnaire will be largely specified by the Government?	7.2.4	This process will be collaborative with VA but rely heavily on existing validated instruments and/or previously administered survey materials for compatibility with prior surveys in these veteran populations.
	16	Would the Government provide instruments, codebooks, and related documentation from prior data collections (e.g., NewGen and CHAI), and if so, when are these materials expected to be made available to the contractor?	3 and 7.2.4	Historical materials may be made available after award in consultation with the VA CO
	17	Can the Government confirm whether a particular data collection mode sequencing (e.g., web-first with CATI follow-up) is preferred, or whether the contractor is expected to recommend the overall mode design?	7.2 and 7.2.9	This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	18	Can the Government clarify whether the contractor is expected to provide input on sampling design for new cohort additions, including whether the post-2015 cohort will follow the same deployed vs. non-deployed stratification as prior studies, or whether sampling specifications will be fully provided?	4 and 7.3.3	Sample development will be conducted collabratively with VA
	19	Would the Government provide information on the expected completeness and accuracy of the initial contact information provided to the contractor to support locating and tracing activities?	7.2.3	Expected comlpeteness and accuracy is very good
	20	Are there any constraints or requirements regarding the use of commercial locating databases or vendors (e.g., pre-approved sources or limitations on data sources)?	7.2.3	Any subcontracts for locatoin services must conform to VA information security requirements
	21	Would the Government provide guidance on acceptable incentive structures, including any limits on incentive amounts or requirements for approval of incentive strategies?	7.2.13	This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	22	Can the Government clarify expectations regarding CATI operations, including language requirements, call protocols, or minimum contact attempt standards?	7.2.7 and 7.2.9	This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	23	Would the Government clarify the primary objectives of the pilot study (e.g., testing questionnaire flow, timing, response rates), and the expected level of analysis and reporting?	7.2.8	These are correct assumptions;This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	24	The CHAI study included structured pretesting activities (e.g., cognitive interviews and timing tests) prior to fielding. Can the Government clarify expectations for pretesting in this effort, including whether similar activities are anticipated and how they should relate to the pilot study described in Section 7.2.8?	7.2.4 and 7.2.8	These are design features that, if employed, should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	25	Can the Government clarify expectations regarding “electronic access to all databases,” including whether this refers to direct system access, reporting dashboards, or periodic data extracts?	7.2.11 and 7.1.3	Study materials should be available electronically upon request
	26	Would the Government confirm required data formats and standards for interim and final data deliveries (e.g., SAS datasets, text files), and whether specific templates or conventions will be provided?	7.2.12 and 7.3	TBD after award
	27	Can the Government provide additional detail on expectations for analytical deliverables, including the distinction between “white papers” and “technical reports,” and the intended level of methodological detail?	7.3	Analyses should be descriptive and use multiple regression analyses appropriate for the estimation of risk for health outcomes and disease prevalence. Deliverables should be developed as publishable manuscripts.
	28	Would the Government clarify expectations for weighting methodology, including whether replicate weights or specific variance estimation approaches are required?	7.3.3	These are design features that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	29	Can the Government clarify the expected scope and level of rigor for nonresponse analysis, including whether adjustment methods are expected in addition to descriptive evaluation?	7.3.4	This is a design feature that should be developed by the contractor and included in the proposal.
	30	Would the Government provide anticipated timelines for review and approval of key deliverables (e.g., questionnaire, pilot results, methodology report), to support planning and scheduling?	7.1 and Deliverables Tables	Seven to fourteen days - but may be TBD based on situational requirements
	31	Can the Government clarify expectations for coordination and review cycles, including opportunities for iterative feedback during key phases of design, data collection, and analysis?	7.1.5 and 7.1.6	TBD after award
	32	Can the Government clarify whether survey instruments and data collection materials, in addition to educational materials, are expected to be administered in both English and Spanish?	7.2.4 and 7.4	Section 7.4 specifies the requirement: “All educational and informational materials must be 508 compliant, be available in English and Spanish…”
	33	Can the Government provide expected sample sizes for each cohort (NewGen, CHAI, and post-2015), including any anticipated differences in treatment or fielding approach?	3 and 4	NewGen was a sample N=~60,000; CHAI N=~38,000; augment will be the balance to achieve N=109,000.
	34	Would the Government clarify the specific contact information fields that will be provided (e.g., mailing address, telephone number, email), and whether these differ by cohort?	7.2.3	This assumption is correct
	35	The Performance Work Statement references both a maximum sample size of 100,000 and operational counts of 109,000. Can the Government clarify the relationship between these figures for planning and pricing purposes?	4, 7.2.6, and 7.2.9	The entry of “100,000” in the Scope (page 4) is an error and should read “109,000”– apologies.
	36	Can the Government provide any historical benchmarks or expected ranges for participant technical support volume (e.g., call center and email inquiries)?	7.1.4	This will be dependent on survey design elements and cannot be reliably estimated by the government. The CHAI survey fielded approximately 1750 live calls and 350 voice mails at the call center 800 line. Experience in future endeavors may differ.
	37	Can the Government clarify whether the contractor will be required to obtain an Authority to Operate (ATO) for systems supporting this effort?	7.1.3 and 7.2.11	At this time, the Government anticipates that any contractor-provided system used to process, store, or transmit Government information must comply with applicable cybersecurity and authorization requirements, which may include obtaining an ATO as required by the issuing authority
	38	Can the Government clarify how QASP performance standards (e.g., percentage thresholds) will be defined, measured, and applied?	D(QASP)	At this stage of the solicitation, offerors should base their quotes on the performance requirements and any stated metrics in the PWS. The Government will ensure that the final contract includes clearly defined standards and measurement approaches so Offeror understand how performance will be evaluated.
	39	Can the Government clarify whether VA will serve as the IRB of record, or whether the contractor is expected to use its own IRB?	7.2.1	The contractor can propose either alternative. If contractor IRB is proposed anticipate some interaction with the VA CIRB.
	40	Can the Government provide additional clarification on how “acceptable” quotations/offers will be defined and applied under the comparative evaluation approach?	E.3	Once one quotation/offer is found acceptable, it is compared side by side to the remaining ones, and the “best” one is chosen

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Jul 13, 2026.