HT003826SC001-02_Questions_Answers.pdf

QUESTION # DATE RECEIVED Reference PROSPECTIVE VENDOR'S QUESTION DATE OF REPLY GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE

1 30-Jan-26 Will the portal for bid submissions be provided in another SAM Notice? 9-Feb-26

The attachment to this notice titled HT003826SC001-02_Technology Vision and Execution Framework, as instructions under the heading Digital Submission Portal Access

2 30-Jan-26

Do you have an internal program management team that will carry out the implementation? What kind of support would you need from us to carry out the implementation? 9-Feb-26

The Government seeks a solution for the implementation of a functioning, repeatable framework for defining the organization-wide technology vision, setting strategic direction, establishing technology governance, ensuring alignment with PEO DHMS Strategy, and managing overall risk, and that can be sustained by government personnel

3 30-Jan-26

Award Structure Does the Government anticipate awarding Notice #HT003826SC001-01 and Notice #HT003826SC001-02 to the same vendor, or are these intended as distinct solutions evaluated independently? 9-Feb-26

Notice #HT003826SC001-01 and Notice #HT003826SC001-02 are being treated as two independent requirements. Each will be evaluated separately

4 30-Jan-26 Bidscale Submission

If the same vendor is responding to both CSO notices, will their single Bidscale account accommodate both submissions? 9-Feb-26

Send seperate emails to customersuccess@bidscale.com requesting portal access for each opprotunity.

5 30-Jan-26

GFE/GFI Does the Government intend to provide contractor access to existing enterprise tools or platforms (e.g., data analytics platforms, collaboration tools, cloud environments) as GFE/GFI? Should offerors assume integration with existing Government systems, or propose standalone solutions? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

6 30-Jan-26

Innovation Threshold

Section 12 requires solutions to be 'innovative' per DFARS 212.7001. Will the Government consider a novel methodology or framework for integrating and optimizing existing Government-owned tools as meeting this threshold, or must solutions introduce entirely new technology platforms? 9-Feb-26

The solution does not require the introduction of entirely new technology as the definition for innovation includes process or method that is new as of the date of submission of a proposal.

7 30-Jan-26

Meaningful Improvement

Under Factor 1 (Advancement), what standard will the Government apply to determine whether an improvement is 'meaningful'? Is there a quantitative threshold (e.g., percentage efficiency gain, cost savings)? 9-Feb-26

The Government desires more than the status quo. Solutions presented to the government must represent a meaningful improvement.

8 30-Jan-26

Real-Time Adaptability

Factor 3 requires 'a clear mechanism for adjusting to unfavorable circumstances in real time without requiring additional Government funding.' Does 'real time' refer to contractor agility during performance, or to automated/technology-enabled adjustments within the delivered solution? 9-Feb-26

The offeror's solution presented must include a clear mechanism for adjusting to unfavorable circumstances in real time.

9 30-Jan-26

FFP Structure For Phase 1a, should offerors describe their proposed deliverable-to-price linkage conceptually, or reserve all pricing details for Phase 1b? Will the Government consider milestone-based fixed-price structures? 9-Feb-26

Please reserve all pricing detail to Phase 1b as prices will not be considered until Phase 1b per the HT003826SC001 Notice of Availability Innovation Solutions document.

10 30-Jan-26

Teaming May a small business prime contractor include a large business or non-profit as a subcontractor? How will the Government evaluate the combined team's qualifications under the technical factors? 9-Feb-26

All proposals, whether from small, large, or non-profit entities, must be evaluated fairly and impartially against the exact same criteria published in the

CSO.

11 30-Jan-26

OCI Restrictions

Section 13.1 states successful offerors 'shall be ineligible to perform... under any Prime Mission Product Support contract... related to solutions provided.' Please clarify: (a) Does this restriction apply only to prime contractor roles, or also to subcontractor participation? (b) Is the restriction limited to the specific solution domain or all PEO DHMS products? 9-Feb-26

Successful offerors shall be ineligible to perform, whether as a contractor, subcontractor, or team member, under any Prime Mission Product Support contract that is in any way related to solutions provided under any contract awarded, i.e., products managed by a PEO DHMS partner or subordinate organization. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan may be submitted for consideration if the offeror perceives a potential or real organizational conflict of interest.

12 30-Jan-26

Submission Format

Should the Cover Page and Terms & Conditions attachment count against the 15-slide limit, or be uploaded as separate files? May offerors include a separate OCI Mitigation Plan appendix if applicable? 9-Feb-26

Please follow the instructions within the Submission and Evaluation Phases of the HT003826SC001 Notice of Availability Innovation Solutions document.

Instructions for submission are updated in the CSO to clarify a maximum of two files: one containing the slides and a seperate file for all attachments (terms and conditions and an organizational conflict mitigation plan, if applicable).

13 30-Jan-26

Past Performance The NoA identifies three technical evaluation factors but does not reference past performance. Will past performance or corporate experience be evaluated? If so, what criteria will apply? 9-Feb-26

The Government will follow the evaluation process and methodology described in section 11 and 12 of the CSO.

14 30-Jan-26

Security Clearances Section 13 states contractors are 'likely to require privileged IT and security clearance access.' What clearance level is anticipated, and must Key Personnel hold active clearances at proposal submission? 9-Feb-26 This will be dependant upon the solution proposed.

15 30-Jan-26

Framework Scope

Does PEO DHMS envision the Technology Vision & Execution Framework as an enterprise-level governance and decision framework that informs subordinate program offices, rather than a centralized product replacing existing program-level planning? 9-Feb-26

The Government seeks a solution for the implementation of a functioning, repeatable framework for defining the organization-wide technology vision, setting strategic direction, establishing technology governance, ensuring alignment with PEO DHMS Strategy, and managing overall risk. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

16 30-Jan-26

Risk Management For enterprise risk management, does the Government seek decision-enabling risk logic with defined thresholds and triggered actions, or primarily a risk visibility and reporting capability? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

17 30-Jan-26

Platform Preference Are there preferred enterprise platforms (e.g., Power Platform, ServiceNow, DHA analytics tools) that PEO DHMS would expect offerors to leverage, or should solutions remain tool-agnostic at Phase 1a? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

18 30-Jan-26

Transition Outcome Does PEO DHMS define a successful outcome as full transition of the framework to Government ownership by the end of the 9-month Period of Performance, with Government personnel maintaining all artifacts independently? 9-Feb-26

The Government defines success as a fully delivered solution (tangible results) that supports all defined outcomes and the solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel.

19 30-Jan-26

#2 Notice for an Innovative Technology Vision and Execution Framework Page 2, Para 6

Upon delivery of the tanglible results supporting the outcomes of Innovative Technology Vision and Execution Framework, will the provider of those deliverables then provide services to support the implementation of those deliverables (beyond the 9 month maxium period of performance)? 9-Feb-26

The Government defines success as a fully delivered solution (tangible results) that supports all defined outcomes and the solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel .

20 30-Jan-26 Sect 13-1 Page 7 Para 1

Is the intention to replace current Workforce 3.0 program management support contracts? Or will these CSO contractors coordinate with the PMO support contractors? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. The Government anticipates that a successful solution for this requirement will be delivered within a period of performance not to exceed nine (9) months.

21 1/30/2026

CSO

INDIVIDUAL

PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

NOTICE Page 2

The Notice requires 'novel process,' 'innovative analytical method,' and 'new system' for the three Areas of Interest: Does 'novel/innovative/new' refer to (a) methodologies never before used in any government context, (b) approaches new to PEO DHMS specifically, or (c) creative adaptations of proven commercial frameworks (such as TOGAF, COBIT, or NIST CSF) customized and integrated specifically for PEO DHMS requirements?

9-Feb-26

"Innovative" is defined in DFARS 212.7001 as:

1. Any technology, process, or method, including research and development, that is new as of the date of submission of a proposal; or

2. Any application that is new as of the date of submission of a proposal of a technology, process, or method existing as of such date.

22 1/30/2026

CSO

INDIVIDUAL

PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

NOTICE Page 2

AOI 2 requires measurable alignment with PEO DHMS business goals' and states solutions must ensure 'alignment with PEO DHMS Strategy': Will offerors receive access to the current PEO DHMS Strategy document to enable specific alignment methodology development, or should proposals reference publicly available DHA strategic planning documents as the basis for demonstrating strategic alignment? 9-Feb-26

PEO DHMS and its subordinate program offices are in the proces of updating its business goals and therefore does not want to provide obslete information.

The solution should account for the delivery and finalization of updated business goals between April and May 2026.

23 1/30/2026

CSO

INDIVIDUAL

PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

NOTICE Page 4

To appropriately scope knowledge transfer and training deliverables, will the government provide the current baseline capability level of government personnel who will sustain the framework, specifically regarding existing enterprise architecture, governance framework, or risk management experience, current tools/platforms in use that the solution should integrate with, and anticipated government team size for framework sustainment?" 9-Feb-26 The PEO DHMS techncial director will be responsible for this.

Q&A LOG (HT003826SC001-02)

24 1/30/2026

CSO

INDIVIDUAL

PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

NOTICE Page 3

In section 12, which references format and guidelines for proposal submission: Will evaluation criteria and relative weighting factors (such as technical approach, past performance, and price) be provided to offerors, or should proposals assume standard FAR Part 15 evaluation factors apply to this Commercial Solutions Opening acquisition? 9-Feb-26

See section 11 and 12 of the HT003826SC001 Notice of Availability Innovation Solutions document.

25 1/30/2026

CSO

INDIVIDUAL

PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

NOTICE Page 3

Does the Government require offerors to submit separate proposal documents for each Area of Interest (AOI 1: Operations, AOI 2: Strategy, AOI 3: Governance) resulting in three distinct submissions, or may offerors submit a single integrated proposal document addressing multiple or all three AOIs? 9-Feb-26

The Government defines success as a fully delivered solution (tangible results) that supports all defined outcomes and the solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel.

26 1/30/2026 Solution Concept CSO

What data domains are expected to be in scope for these CSOs (e.g., clinical, operational, financial, cybersecurity, acquisition, workforce? 9-Feb-26

The Government seeks a solution for the implementation of a functioning, repeatable framework for defining the organization-wide technology vision, setting strategic direction, establishing technology governance, ensuring alignment with PEO DHMS Strategy, and managing overall risk. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

27 1/30/2026 Solution Concept CSO

What level of data access (production, synthetic, or representative datasets) will be available during the period of performance? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

28 1/30/2026 Scope – Areas of Interest CSO 2

Are there existing DHA/MHS enterprise data platforms, analytics environments, or governance tools that proposed Data and AI solutions are expected to integrate with? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

29 1/30/2026 Solution Concept CSO

Do the technologies used in the solution need to be FedRAMP authorized? what other compliance frameworks apply (FISMA, SOC 2 / ISO?) 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

30 1/30/2026 Solution Concept CSO

Which tools are currently in use (Jira?); are there any enterprise contracts or vendor lock-ins we have to honor? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

31 1/30/2026 Areas of Interest – Operations CSO 2 should the proposed process integrate with existing DHA systems (e.g., project tracking or portfolio tools), or should offerors assume a standalone framework? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

32 1/30/2026

Areas of Interest – Governance Outcome

CSO 2

For the Governance Outcome AOI, does the Government expect integration with existing governance bodies and reporting processes, or should the proposed governance framework be designed independently? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

33 1/30/2026 Is there a defined budget or funding range? If so, can you share the details? 9-Feb-26 This data will not be made available by the Government.

34 1/30/2026

Can government elaborate on the specific technology transformation goals and capability gaps identified by DHMS PEO? Are there any priority areas or technologies the government is particularly interested in? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

35 1/30/2026 For CSO AOI 1: Operations, is there a preferred approach or existing framework for innovation pipeline management the government would like vendors to build upon? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

36 1/30/2026 For CSO AOI 3: Governance, are there specific technologies or methodologies the government prefers for rapid prototyping and validation? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

37 1/30/2026

To enable fair competition and clarify potential conflicts of interest, can the government please define and provide a list of “Prime Mission Product Support contracts” referenced on page 7 of the Notice of Availability? Please define Prime Mission Product as employed by government. 9-Feb-26

As described in section 13 of the CSO it states, under any Prime Mission Product Support contract that is in any way related to solutions provided under any contract awarded, i.e., products managed by a PEO DHMS partner or subordinate organization. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan may be submitted for consideration if the offeror perceives a potential organizational conflict of interest.

38 1/30/2026

Does the government foresee any bias ground rules conflict should the offeror support other DHA programs? OR Would contractors currently supporting DHA programs such as GENESIS, MEDCOP, CustX require OCI mitigation or limitations should they also participate in these CSO's? 9-Feb-26

Successful offerors shall be ineligible to perform, whether as a contractor, subcontractor, or team member, under any Prime Mission Product Support contract that is in any way related to solutions provided under any contract awarded, i.e., products managed by a PEO DHMS partner or subordinate organization. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan may be submitted for consideration if the offeror perceives a potential organizational conflict of interest.

39 1/30/2026 Relationship between notices: Can vendors/contractors bid on both CSI notices? Does one impact eligibility for the other? 9-Feb-26

No, there are no restrictions preventing a Offeror from submitting proposals for both notices.

40 1/30/2026 Evaluation criteria weighting: is there quantified relative importance of "advancement", "solution efficacy", "technical approach"? 9-Feb-26

The Government will follow the evaluation process and methodology described in section 11 and 12 of the CSO. In section 11 under Evaluation Factors for Award, it specifically states: "Second, for any proposal that demonstrates it is innovative, the Government will evaluate the following technical factors, which are of equal importance:"

41 1/30/2026 Framework vs.

technology emphasis

Can the Government clarify whether this requirement prioritizes delivery of a technology platform/tool, or whether a process-driven framework supported by lightweight tooling and change enablement is equally acceptable? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

42 1/30/2026 Human adoption and change enablement

The notice references operations, strategy, and governance outcomes. Should offerors assume that organizational change management, stakeholder engagement, and user adoption are considered core components of a successful solution? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

43 1/30/2026 Change Management Plan deliverable

Is the “Technology Transformation Change Management Plan” listed as an example deliverable expected for all submissions, or optional depending on the proposed solution approach? 9-Feb-26

Proposed tangible results (or deliverables) should form the backbone of your solution. To guide offerors, examples of the types of deliverables the Government anticipates could include Technology Transformation Change Management Plan.

44 1/30/2026 Relative weighting of AOIs

Will CSO AOIs 1 (Operations), 2 (Strategy), and 3 (Governance) be evaluated equally, or does PEO DHMS have priority outcomes among them? 9-Feb-26

The Government will follow the evaluation process and methodology described in section 11 and 12 of the CSO.

45 1/30/2026 Innovation vs.

execution

Will evaluation favor novel concepts, or demonstrated ability to operationalize quickly with measurable outcomes within the nine-month period of performance? 9-Feb-26

The Government will follow the evaluation process and methodology described in section 11 and 12 of the CSO.

46 1/30/2026

Use of proven commercial frameworks

Does the Government prefer established commercial frameworks adapted to PEO DHMS needs, or entirely novel methodologies? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution (see DFARS 212.7001 for definition of Innovation) to support all defined outcomes.

The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

47 1/30/2026

Government engagement during execution

What level of government personnel participation is anticipated during delivery (e.g., recurring working sessions, embedded SMEs), particularly to support transition and sustainment? 9-Feb-26 The PEO DHMS techncial director will be responsible for this.

48 1/30/2026 Definition of sustainment

Can the Government clarify what “sustained by government personnel” means operationally (e.g., training artifacts, playbooks, tooling handoff, coaching period)? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution (see DFARS 212.7001 for definition of Innovation) to support all defined outcomes.

The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

49 1/30/2026 Small business participation

Does PEO DHMS anticipate awards to small businesses as prime contractors under this Individual Program Requirement? 9-Feb-26

All proposals, whether from small, large, or non-profit entities, must be evaluated fairly and impartially against the exact same criteria published in the

CSO.

50 1/30/2026 Prototype vs. direct implementation

Should offerors view this effort as a prototype with potential follow-on production, or as a direct implementation engagement? 9-Feb-26

The Government will award a FAR based contract and not a prototype agreement.

51 1/30/2026 Integrated teaming models

Is PEO DHMS open to integrated teams where one partner leads governance/change framework implementation while another provides enabling technology? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

52 1/30/2026 Starting point Do you already have an endorsed tech vision/strategy/roadmap, or are we expected to create it (vs refine/operationalize it)? 9-Feb-26

The Government has identified critical gaps in strategic technology planning, alignment, and risk management. The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes that are tied to closing these identified gaps. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

53 1/30/2026 Depth of roadmap Are you looking for a portfolio-level roadmap (themes + sequencing), or a system-by-system integrated plan with dependencies and milestones? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

54 1/30/2026 Governance change magnitude Should we tune existing governance or design a new operating model (decision rights, forums, artifacts, enforcement)? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

55 1/30/2026 Automation vs reporting Is the expectation dashboards and reporting only, or workflow automation (intake, approvals, stage gates, risk workflows) via a tool? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

56 1/30/2026 Tooling constraints Are there mandated platforms (ServiceNow, ADO, PowerBI, GRC tools)? Are integrations required or explicitly avoided? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

57 1/30/2026 Risk framework rigor Is this mainly delivery risk tracking, or an enterprise GRC-like risk program (taxonomy, scoring, controls, audit-ready evidence)? 9-Feb-26

The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

58 1/30/2026 Data readiness Do you have a reliable portfolio baseline (inventory, cost, schedule, dependencies), or is building the baseline part of the scope? 9-Feb-26

The Government has identified critical gaps in strategic technology planning, alignment, and risk management. The Government is looking to industry to provide an innovative solution to support all defined outcomes that are tied to closing these identified gaps. The solution delivered can be sustained by Government personnel. To ensure you have the freedom to think creatively, we will not be providing additional guidance.

Q&A-02