online wellness SOW.docx

08/28/2024 STATEMENT OF WORK: Online Wellness Services

Online Wellness Services for VISN-16 Veterans and Employees

1. Contract Requirements

CONTRACTOR shall provide online wellness services to include unlimited access to livestream (interactive) and recorded wellness virtual sessions with vetted and certified instructors that align with VHA Directive 1137 – Provision of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) (recertified 13 DEC 2022) List 1 Approaches (e.g., Yoga, Tai Chi / Qi Gong, Guided Imagery, Meditation, etc.) for an enrolled Veteran and VHA employee population not to exceed 10,000 active users per month across VISN-16.

2. Background

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is shifting the paradigm in Veteran healthcare from an episodic, disease-focused, clinician-focused, “see it, fix it” model to a continuous, wellness-focused, Veteran-focused model. The purpose of this paradigm shift is to engage, empower, and equip Veterans to take charge of their health and wellness and live life to the fullest. In addition, VHA is also seeking ways to build resilience and mitigate burnout in VHA employees.

Multiple resources estimate that up to 70% of Veterans suffer from chronic pain, 42% suffer from mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD), and 59% suffer from chronic health conditions (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, etc.). CIH services provide Veterans and employees with additional options to manage chronic conditions, build resilience, and improve their quality of life.

It is the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policy that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) complementary and integrative (CIH) providers proactively provide CIH approaches to Veterans as appropriate and effectively integrate their care delivery with Veterans’ receipt of conventional health care. Whole Health is a National VHA priority. Hence, Whole Health is a VISN-16 priority.

3. Scope.

VHA Directive 1137 specifies List 1 CIH approaches, subject to certain clinical caveats, that must be made available to Veterans across the VHA and provided through a VHA medical facility (in person or via telehealth) or by Community Care Network (CCN) providers: Guided Imagery, Meditation, Tai Chi / Qi Gong, and Yoga. These CIH approaches compliment Whole Health Pathway services and VHA Clinical Care services that are part of the medical benefits package.

VISN-16 is composed of eight VHA medical facilities with associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) based in Biloxi, MS; Jackson, MS; Little Rock, AR; Fayetteville, AR; New Orleans, LA; Alexandria, LA; Shreveport, LA, and Houston, TX. Thousands of VISN-16 enrolled Veterans and employees accessed and participated in Online Wellness Services in FY22-24. New Veterans and employees are exploring this opportunity and enrolling each month.

4. Specific Tasks

Minimum technical specs to meet the requirements of VISN-16 Whole Health

4.1 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) The GOVERNMENT is requesting online wellness services that align with VHA Directive 1137 – Provision of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) (recertified 13 DEC 2022) List 1 Approaches (e.g., Yoga, Tai Chi / Qi Gong, Guided Imagery, Meditation, etc.) for an enrolled Veteran and VHA employee population not to exceed 10,000 active users per month across VISN-16 for (1) 12 month base period (03/10/2025- 03/09/2026).

4.2 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services to include unlimited access to both livestream (interactive) and recorded virtual wellness sessions with vetted and certified instructors (Reference section 5).

4.3 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services access seven days per week

4.4 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services for participants with different experience levels—No Experience, Beginner (Novice), Intermediate, and Advanced

4.5 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services providing a variety of athletic, posture, and movement practices

4.6 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services available for special populations—Women (prenatal), Amputees, Older Veterans (60+ years), Movement & Balance Challenges (e.g., Parkinson’s, Paraplegics, etc.), etc.

4.7 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services which include Tai Chi (different philosophy from Qi Gong)

4.8 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services which include Qi Gong (different philosophy form Tai Chi)

4.9 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services addressing various physical demands (e.g., General / Yin Yoga, Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Ashtanga, etc.)

4.10 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services addressing Stress Reduction

4.11 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) Online wellness services addressing Guided Meditation

4.12 (CRITICAL ELEMENT) CONTRACTOR must demonstrate current and/or future ability for Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration prior to start of contract performance.

4.13 Ideal, but not required: Instructors will have familiarity in working with Veterans and VA employees, be a Veteran, or Veteran-supported entity.

4.14 Services beyond those required by VHA Directive 1137 (e.g., Cardio, Power, Core Strengthening, etc.) are not required at this time.

5. QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE SKILLS:

5.1. The contractor shall ensure that all contract personnel have met the qualifying criteria outlined in this section.

5.2. Personnel shall be proficient in spoken and written English.

5.3. Personnel shall have the Yoga RYT 200 Certification and have the standard certification required to instruct Tai Chi and other types of services mentioned above.

5.4. Personnel shall be required to provide and maintain current certifications. Contractor shall provide proof of updated certifications with their quote by the solicitation due date.

5.5. Personnel must meet physical requirements to perform yoga instruction without physical restrictions. Personnel must also have a working knowledge and basic skills in the use of personal computers (PC).

5.6. Personnel shall have a minimum of 2 years’ experience that meets the magnitude of this requirement.

5.7. Ultimately, the decision to accept or reject contract staff rests with the VA. Contractor shall not have any personnel report to duty until written notification is received from the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) advising that the candidate(s) presented has met all requirements for contract performance.

6. Technical Requirements

6.1. Due to nature of this service, the patients Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and Protected Health Information (PHI) are considered sensitive information; if the vendor wishes to use Cloud Storage as part of their service, they shall be FedRAMP certified IAW VA Directive 6517.

6.2. Contractor shall refer to and follow the IT Security Clause, that is attached to this requirement.