ATTACHMENT 1-Description of Requirement.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

HHS Modernization Discovery, Prototyping, and Implementation Planning

1. Background and Purpose

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA), Immediate Office (IO), requires a senior-led modernization discovery, prototyping, and implementation-planning engagement for selected HHS programs, workflows, systems, and technical operations.

HHS programs and operations may rely on processes that are manual, fragmented, dependent on outdated tools, or require repeated data entry, reconciliation, routing, and staff-intensive review. These conditions may increase administrative burden, delay decisions and service delivery, and limit opportunities to improve organizational efficiency.

The purpose of this requirement is to evaluate and develop opportunities to improve HHS operations through business-process redesign, automation, artificial intelligence, improved data practices, and modern technical approaches.

2. Period of Performance

The anticipated period of performance is 25 weeks, from September 30, 2026 through March 23, 2027.

The engagement will consist of:

1. A five-week Mobilization and Readiness Phase; and

2. A 20-week Discovery, Prototyping, and Implementation Planning Phase.

Workstreams may proceed concurrently and iteratively based on HHS priorities, stakeholder availability, technical dependencies, and findings developed during performance.

3. Mobilization and Readiness

During the Mobilization and Readiness Phase, the contractor will prepare to perform the substantive modernization work.

Activities are anticipated to include staffing and onboarding; completion of applicable security, privacy, and access requirements; orientation to the HHS environment and selected systems; kickoff activities; and development of an integrated work plan.

Mobilization and readiness activities are included within the overall period of performance.

4. Discovery and Analysis

The contractor will conduct discovery and analysis of HHS-selected programs, workflows, systems, and technical operations.

Activities may include stakeholder interviews and working sessions; review of existing workflows and technical environments; identification of process constraints and operational inefficiencies; analysis of technical and business requirements; and evaluation of modernization opportunities.

The contractor will assess potential opportunities based on considerations such as expected impact, feasibility, complexity, dependencies, and time to value.

5. Technical Modernization and Prototyping

For opportunities selected by HHS, the contractor will develop technical recommendations and, where directed by HHS, prototypes or proofs of concept to evaluate proposed modernization approaches.

Technical work may involve process automation, artificial intelligence, improved data practices, systems integration concepts, application or workflow modernization, and other modern technical approaches appropriate to the HHS-selected opportunity.

Prototypes or proofs of concept will be developed and tested to support technical validation and stakeholder evaluation. HHS will determine which opportunities proceed to prototyping based on Government priorities and the results of discovery and analysis.

6. Implementation Planning

For opportunities or prototypes selected by HHS, the contractor will prepare implementation recommendations and plans addressing the activities necessary to transition from discovery or prototype results toward operational use.

Implementation planning may address technical dependencies, sequencing, required resources, integration considerations, operational considerations, risks, and other factors relevant to execution.

The contractor will also develop an overall implementation roadmap addressing remaining modernization opportunities identified during the engagement.

7. Required Deliverables

The anticipated deliverables for the engagement are:

1. Current-State Assessment – Documentation of relevant existing processes, systems, technical operations, constraints, and findings.

2. Prioritized Modernization Opportunities Portfolio – Identification and prioritization of modernization opportunities evaluated for expected impact, feasibility, complexity, and time to value.

3. Technical Recommendations – Recommended technical approaches for HHS-selected high-priority opportunities.

4. Prototypes or Proofs of Concept – Agreed prototypes or proofs of concept developed and tested for opportunities selected by HHS.

5. Implementation Plans – Plans for opportunities or prototypes selected by HHS for further implementation consideration.

6. Supporting Technical and Operational Documentation – Documentation necessary to explain, support, operate, evaluate, or further develop work products generated during performance.

7. Implementation Roadmap – Recommended sequencing and approach for remaining modernization opportunities.

8. Executive Readout or Summary – Summary of findings, results, recommendations, and proposed next steps.

8. Prototype and Technical Documentation

For each HHS-selected prototype, the contractor will document the prototype's purpose, design, functionality, testing results, dependencies, and implementation considerations.

At HHS's request, supporting technical artifacts may include source code, configuration files, data models and schemas, interface specifications, design documentation, build and testing instructions, and dependency or licensing information.

9. Government Direction and Prioritization

HHS will identify and prioritize the programs, workflows, systems, technical operations, and modernization opportunities addressed during performance.

Specific workstreams and sequencing may be adjusted during performance based on discovery findings, Government priorities, stakeholder availability, technical dependencies, and feasibility.

The contractor will coordinate with HHS stakeholders throughout discovery, analysis, prototyping, validation, and implementation planning.

10. Security, Privacy, Access, Records, and Data Rights

Performance may require access to HHS information, systems, environments, personnel, or technical resources.

Applicable security, privacy, system-access, records-management, and related requirements will be established by HHS based on the work authorized for performance.

The resulting contract or order will establish applicable requirements concerning Government and contractor rights in project-specific code, data, technical documentation, pre-existing or general-purpose tools, licenses, and other intellectual property.

11. Acceptance and Performance Administration

HHS will establish applicable deliverable dates, documentation requirements, review procedures, and acceptance criteria in the resulting solicitation, contract, or order.

Final payment will be contingent upon Government acceptance of all required final deliverables, including applicable implementation plans, prototype documentation, and supporting technical artifacts required by HHS.

12. Contract Type

HHS anticipates a firm-fixed-price acquisition for the complete 25-week engagement.