PWS - Simplifier SaaS - DRAFT 8-7.docx

Simplifier SaaS

VA-24-00086549

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

DIGITAL HEALTH OFFICE (DHO)

OFFICE OF CLINICAL INFORMATICS (OCI)

KNOWLEDGE BASED SYSTEMS (KBS)

STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY (S&I)

Firely Simplifier.net Tool Subscription

Date: August 7, 2024

VA-24-00086549

PWS Version Number: N/A

Contents

BACKGROUND

The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Knowledge Based Systems Office (KBS), Standards & Interoperability (S&I) Division provides strategic guidance, subject matter and policy expertise concerning standards implementation in VA information technology (IT) systems. Standards & Interoperability covers a continuum of activities including the identification of VA requirements for health interoperability standards/profiles, to the development of standards/profiles with federal and private sector standards development organizations (SDO) and standards related organizations (SRO), development and sustenance of internal VA and external provider collaborative engagements required for supporting systems operability and interoperability, the development of implementation models, prototypes, and implementation guidance and for providing a range of standards-related expertise to VA development teams as needed.

All innovation in the wider realm of Health IT, including VA, must be founded in standards that support true semantic and structural interoperability, including telehealth, mobile devices, care coordination, home care, analytics, predictive modeling, population health, research, and Veteran engagement. One example of this, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has created and fine-tuned a substantial amount of clinical decision support (CDS) within its EHR; however, as in many other healthcare organizations, the CDS as historically implemented is in a non-standard, non-shareable format tightly dependent on specific legacy technology.

Achieving semantic and structural interoperability necessitates the use of open standards supportive of the continuum of care serving our Veteran population, both within and outside of VA. That support includes clinical data, but also must address the sharing of clinical best practices, seamless transitions between care institutions, effective clinical decision support, and collaborative and portable workflows and processes.

S&I collaborates with other agencies (e.g., HHS, CMS, CDC, FDA, etc.), providers (e.g. Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, DHS, etc.), vendors, and consultants to develop new Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)-based specifications based on industry-based priorities and VHA priorities. In this type of engagement, we work to improve the Veterans’ experience and outcome by applying interoperability standards that address not only VA but industry-wide needs. For example, “closing referrals” is high priority for VHA but it’s also a high priority for every other provider organization as well. The specifications we create elucidate how Veterans’ information could be share using standards-based methods (e.g. using FHIR to share Military Service and Status using FHIR - solve general-purpose concern (e.g., consent management, AI/ML data uses).

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

In the performance of the tasks associated with this Performance Work Statement, the Contractor shall comply with the following:

1. 44 U.S.C. § 3541-3549, “Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002”

2. “Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014”

3. Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication 140-2, “Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules”

4. FIPS Pub 199. “Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems,” February 2004

5. FIPS Pub 200, “Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems,” March 2006

6. FIPS Pub 201-2, “Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors,” August 2013

7. 10 U.S.C. § 2224, "Defense Information Assurance Program"

8. 5 U.S.C. § 552a, as amended, “The Privacy Act of 1974”

9. Public Law 109-461, Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006, Title IX, Information Security Matters

10. 42 U.S.C. § 2000d “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964”

11. VA Directive 0710, “Personnel Security and Suitability Program,” June 4, 2010, https://www.va.gov/vapubs/index.cfm

12. VA Handbook 0710, “Personnel Security and Suitability Program,” May 2, 2016, https://www.va.gov/vapubs/index.cfm

13. VA Directive and Handbook 6102, “Internet/Intranet Services,” August 5, 2019

14. 36 C.F.R. Part 1194 “Information and Communication Technology Standards and Guidelines,” January 18, 2017

15. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, “Managing Federal Information as a Strategic Resource,” July 28, 2016

16. 32 C.F.R. Part 199, “Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)”

17. NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 1, “An Introductory Resource Guide for Implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule,” October 2008

18. Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d), as amended, January 18, 2017

19. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (12) (HSPD-12), August 27, 2004

20. VA Directive 6500, “VA Cybersecurity Program,” February 24, 2021

21. VA Handbook 6500, “Risk Management Framework for VA Information Systems VA Information Security Program,” February 24, 2021

22. VA Handbook 6500.2, “Management of Breaches Involving Sensitive Personal Information (SPI),” March 12, 2019

23. VA Handbook 6500.5, “Incorporating Security and Privacy into the System Development Lifecycle,” March 22, 2010

24. VA Handbook 6500.6, “Contract Security,” March 12, 2010

25. VA Handbook 6500.8, “Information System Contingency Planning,” April 6, 2011

26. VA Handbook 6500.10, “Mobile Device Security Policy,” February 15, 2018

27. VA Handbook 6500.11, “VA Firewall Configuration,” August 22, 2017

28. OIT Process Asset Library (PAL), https://www.va.gov/process/ . Reference Process Maps at https://www.va.gov/process/maps.asp and Artifact templates at https://www.va.gov/process/artifacts.asp

29. One-VA Technical Reference Model (TRM) (reference at https://www.va.gov/trm/TRMHomePage.aspx)

30. VA Directive 6508, “Implementation of Privacy Threshold Analysis and Privacy Impact Assessment,” October 15, 2014

31. VA Handbook 6508.1, “Procedures for Privacy Threshold Analysis and Privacy Impact Assessment,” July 30, 2015

32. VA Handbook 6510, “VA Identity and Access Management,” January 15, 2016

33. VA Directive and Handbook 6513, “Secure External Connections,” October 12, 2017

34. VA Directive 6300, “Records and Information Management,” September 21, 2018

35. VA Handbook, 6300.1, “Records Management Procedures,“ March 24, 2010

36. NIST SP 800-37 Rev 2, “Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Life Cycle Approach for Security and Privacy,” December 2018

37. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, “Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations,” September 23, 2020 (includes updates as of 12/10/2020)

38. VA Directive 0735, “Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) Program,” October 26, 2015

39. VA Handbook 0735, “Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) Program,” March 24, 2014

40. OMB Memorandum 05-24, “Implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 – Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors,” August 5, 2005

41. OMB Memorandum M-19-17, “Enabling Mission Delivery Through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management,” May 21, 2019

42. OMB Memorandum, “Guidance for Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 Implementation,” May 23, 2008

43. Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) Roadmap and Implementation Guidance, December 2, 2011, (NOTE: Part A of the FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance, v2.0, was replaced in 2015 with an updated Architecture (https://arch.idmanagement.gov/#what-is-the-ficam-architecture)

44. NIST SP 800-116 Rev 1, “Guidelines for the Use of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credentials in Facility Access,“ June 2018

45. NIST SP 800-63-3, 800-63A, 800-63B, 800-63C, “Digital Identity Guidelines,” updated March 02, 2020

46. NIST SP 800-157, “Guidelines for Derived PIV Credentials,” December 2014

47. NIST SP 800-164, “Guidelines on Hardware-Rooted Security in Mobile Devices (Draft),” October 2012

48. Draft National Institute of Standards and Technology Interagency Report (NISTIR) 7981, “Mobile, PIV, and Authentication,” March 2014

49. VA Memorandum, VAIQ #7100147, “Continued Implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12),” April 29, 2011 (reference https://www.voa.va.gov/documentlistpublic.aspx?NodeID=514)

50. IAM Identity Management Business Requirements Guidance document, May 2013, (reference Enterprise Architecture Section, PIV/IAM (reference https://www.voa.va.gov/documentlistpublic.aspx?NodeID=514)

51. VA Memorandum “Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Logical Access Policy Clarification,” July 17, 2019, https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4896

52. Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 Core Guidance Documents, https://www.cisa.gov/publication/tic-30-core-guidance-documents

53. OMB Memorandum M-19-26, “Update to the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) Initiative,” September 12, 2019

54. OMB Memorandum M-08-23, “Securing the Federal Government’s Domain Name System Infrastructure,” August 22, 2008

55. Sections 524 and 525 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, (Public Law 110–140), December 19, 2007

56. Section 104 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, (Public Law 109–58), August 8, 2005

57. Executive Order 13834, “Efficient Federal Operations,” dated May 17, 2018

58. Executive Order 13221, “Energy-Efficient Standby Power Devices,” August 2, 2001

59. VA Directive 0058, “VA Green Purchasing Program,” July 19, 2013

60. VA Handbook 0058, “VA Green Purchasing Program,” July 19, 2013

61. Office of Information Security (OIS) VAIQ #7424808 Memorandum, “Remote Access,” January 15, 2014, https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentListPublic.aspx?NodeId=28

62. Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, 40 U.S.C. §11101 and §11103

63. “Veteran Focused Integration Process (VIP) Guide 4.0,” January 2021, https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4371

64. VA Memorandum “Proper Use of Email and Other Messaging Services,” January 2, 2018, https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentListPublic.aspx?NodeId=28

65. “DevSecOps Product Line Management Playbook” version 2.0, May 2021, https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4946

66. NIST SP 500-267B Revision 1, “USGv6 Profile,” November 2020

67. OMB Memorandum M-21-07, “Completing the Transition to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6),” November 19, 2020

68. Social Security Number (SSN) Fraud Prevention Act of 2017

69. Section 240 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2018, March 23, 2018

SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall support the development of open-standards to benefit Veteran care in the community by providing the Firely Simplifier toolset , which will improve the productivity of the KBS S&I team and the ability of VHA to meet its health care priorities (see https://www.va.gov/health/priorities/index.asp). It will enable KBS S&I to create FHIR implementation guides that will benefit the industry, acquisitions, and VA projects.

Firely Simplifier is a web-based collaboration platform for FHIR, providing a graphical user interface for the creation, validation, documentation, and publication of FHIR specifications. It allows access FHIR data models from around the world and see how the best health institutions use FHIR and save time by reusing their work. This tool will contribute to the seamless exchange of Veteran health information for clinician use in treating Veterans and for Veteran access to their own health information.

The Simplifier toolset will assist S&I and other VA partners create open standards based on FHIR that advance VHA priorities and improve Veterans’ care across community provider organizations. HL7 is an ANSI accredited standards development organization that uses a consensus-based approval process to manage a preponderance of influence from one stakeholder or stakeholder group. The specification are designed to be open and a consensus view of industry experts. It’s therefore, not Federal products but consensus-based, “free IP”. HL7 - FAQs - Free IP | HL7 International VA projects can apply and constrain HL7 specifications and may reference these external standards in software design documents and/or acquisition requirements.

Simplifier will improve Veteran care by creating “open standards” and “open APIs” to meet VHA health priorities that include “connecting Veterans with best and soonest care” in the community.[footnoteRef:1], [1: ]

Additionally, the toolset will allow S&I staff to support standards-based interoperability to align VA projects and programs with national drivers

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

PERFORMANCE PERIOD

The period of performance shall be twelve (12) months from date of award PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Tasks under this PWS shall be performed at VA facilities. The Contractor shall notified of place of performance in their proposal submission.

TRAVEL

The Government does not anticipate any travel under this effort.

SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

· Provide support and training consistent with the Simplified Enterprise license agreement.

Deliverable:

SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE

The Contractor shall deliver the Firely Simplifier Toolset.

The Contractor shall deliver https://simplifier.net/features?plan=enterprise) tool set as SaaS. The tool will be used by KBS S&I staff, contractors, and VA programs for FHIR IG authoring, testing, publication and create specification for HL7 FHIR API such that the design and resulting API implementations conform to HL7 FHIR and related national standards This approach will replace current spreadsheets and text editors with graphic editing and an integrated toolset for VA projects.

The toolset will assist our team, so we create open standards based on FHIRthat advance VHA priorities and improve Veterans’ care across community provider organizations. HL7 is an ANSI accredited standards development organization that uses a consensus-based approval process to manage a preponderance of influence from one stakeholder or stakeholder group. The specification are designed to be open and a consensus view of industry experts. It’s therefore, not Federal products but consensus-based, “free IP”. HL7 - FAQs - Free IP | HL7 International VA projects can apply and constrain HL7 specifications and may reference these external standards in software design documents and/or acquisition requirements.

Training

The contractor shall deliver both the HL7 FHIR Overview Course and the Data Modeling Course. This training will be specifically targeted to VA users.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

VA TECHNICAL REFERENCE MODEL

The Contractor shall support the VA enterprise management framework. In association with the framework, the Contractor shall comply with OIT Technical Reference Model (VA TRM). The VA TRM is one component within the overall Enterprise Architecture (EA) that establishes a common vocabulary and structure for describing the information technology used to develop, operate, and maintain enterprise applications. Moreover, the VA TRM, which includes the Standards Profile and Product List, serves as a technology roadmap and tool for supporting OIT. Architecture & Engineering Services (AES) has overall responsibility for the VA TRM.

FEDERAL IDENTITY, CREDENTIAL, AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT (FICAM)

The Contractor shall ensure Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) product(s), software configuration and customization, and/or new software are Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card-enabled by accepting HSPD-12 PIV credentials using VA Enterprise Technical Architecture (ETA), https://www.ea.oit.va.gov/EAOIT/VA_EA/Enterprise_Technical_Architecture.asp, and VA Identity and Access Management (IAM) approved enterprise design and integration patterns, https://www.oit.va.gov/library/recurring/edp/index.cfm. The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems comply with the VA Identity, Credential, and Access Management policies and guidelines set forth in VA Handbook 6510 VA Identity and Access Management, VA Handbook 0735 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) Program, and align with the Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management Roadmap and Implementation Guidance v2.0.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems provide user authentication services compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-63-3, VA Handbook 6500 Appendix F, “VA System Security Controls”, and VA IAM enterprise requirements for direct, assertion-based authentication, and/or trust based authentication, as determined by the design and integration patterns. Direct authentication at a minimum must include Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) based authentication supportive of PIV card and/or Common Access Card (CAC), as determined by the business need.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems conform to the specific Identity and Access Management PIV requirements set forth in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda M-05-24, M-19-17, and NIST Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-2. OMB Memoranda M-05-24 and M-19-17 can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2005/m05-24.pdf, and https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/M-19-17.pdf respectively. Contractor delivered applications and systems shall be on the FIPS 201-2 Approved Product List (APL). If the Contractor delivered application and system is not on the APL, the Contractor shall be responsible for taking the application and system through the FIPS 201 Evaluation Program.

The Contractor shall ensure all Contractor delivered applications and systems support:

1. Automated provisioning and are able to use enterprise provisioning service.

2. Interfacing with VA’s Master Person Index (MPI) to provision identity attributes, if the solution relies on VA user identities. MPI is the authoritative source for VA user identity data.

3. The VA defined unique identity (Secure Identifier [SEC ID] / Integrated Control Number [ICN]).

4. Multiple authenticators for a given identity and authenticators at every Authenticator Assurance Level (AAL) appropriate for the solution.

5. Identity proofing for each Identity Assurance Level (IAL) appropriate for the solution.

6. Federation for each Federation Assurance Level (FAL) appropriate for the solution, if applicable.

7. Two-factor authentication (2FA) through an applicable design pattern as outlined in VA Enterprise Design Patterns.

8. A Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) implementation if the solution relies on assertion-based authentication. Additional assertion implementations, besides the required SAML assertion, may be provided as long as they are compliant with NIST SP 800-63-3 guidelines.

9. Authentication/account binding based on trusted Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) headers if the solution relies on Trust based authentication.

10. Role Based Access Control.

11. Auditing and reporting capabilities.

12. Compliance with VIEWS 00155984, PIV Logical Access Policy Clarification https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4896.

The required Assurance Levels for this specific effort are Identity Assurance Level 3, Authenticator Assurance Level 3, and Federation Assurance Level 3.

INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 (IPV6)

The Contractor solution shall support Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) based upon the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on November 19, 2020 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/M-21-07.pdf). IPv6 technology, in accordance with the USGv6 Program (https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/usgv6-program/usgv6-revision-1), NIST Special Publication (SP) 500-267B Revision 1 “USGv6 Profile” (https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.500-267Br1), and NIST SP 800-119 “Guidelines for the Secure Deployment of IPv6” (https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-119), compliance shall be included in all IT infrastructures, application designs, application development, operational systems and sub-systems, and their integration. In addition to the above requirements, all devices shall support native IPv6 and dual stack (IPv6 / IPv4) connectivity without additional memory or other resources being provided by the Government, so that they can function in a mixed environment. All public/external facing servers and services (e.g. web, email, DNS, ISP services, etc.) shall support native IPv6 and dual stack (IPv6 / IPv4) users and all internal infrastructure and applications shall communicate using native IPv6 and dual stack (IPv6 / IPv4) operations.

TRUSTED INTERNET CONNECTION (TIC)

The Contractor solution shall meet the requirements outlined in Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-19-26, “Update to the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) Initiative“ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/M-19-26.pdf), VA Directive 6513 “Secure External Connections”, and shall comply with the TIC 3.0 Core Guidance Documents, including all Volumes and TIC Use Cases, found at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (https://www.cisa.gov/publication/tic-30-core-guidance-documents). Any deviations must be approved by the VA TIC 3.0 Working Group at vaoisesatic30team@va.gov.

STANDARD COMPUTER CONFIGURATION

The Contractor IT end user solution that is developed for use on standard VA computers shall be compatible with and be supported on the standard VA operating system, currently Windows 10 (64bit), Edge (Chromium based), and 365 Apps for enterprise. Applications delivered to VA and intended to be deployed to Windows 10 workstations shall be delivered as a signed .msi package with switches for silent and unattended installation and updates shall be delivered in signed .msp file formats for easy deployment using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (CM) VA’s current desktop application deployment tool. Signing of the software code shall be through a vendor provided certificate that is trusted by VA using a code signing authority such as Verizon/Cybertrust or Symantec/VeriSign. The Contractor shall also ensure and certify that their solution functions as expected when used from a standard VA computer, with non-admin, standard user rights that have been configured using the United States Government Configuration Baseline (USGCB) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Secure Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) specific to the particular client operating system being used.

VETERAN FOCUSED INTEGRATION PROCESS (VIP) AND PRODUCT LINE MANAGEMENT (PLM)

The Contractor shall support VA efforts IAW the updated Veteran Focused Integration Process (VIP) and Product Line Management (PLM). The major focus of the new VIP is on Governance and Reporting and is less prescriptive, with a focus on outcomes and continuous delivery of value. Product Line Management (PLM) is a framework that focuses on delivering functional products that provide the highest priority work to customers while delivering simplified, reliable, and practical solutions to the business, medical staff, and our Veterans. The VIP Guide is a companion guide to the PLM Playbook and can be found at: https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4371 and the PLM Playbook can be found at https://www.voa.va.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DocumentID=4946. The PLM Playbook pivots from project-centric to product-centric delivery and contains descriptive practices that focuses on outcomes. The PLM Playbook contains a set of “plays” that implement Development, Security, and Operations (DevSecOps) principles and processes such as automated development, continuous integration/continuous delivery, and release on demand. The PLM Playbook details how product lines implement Lean-Agile principles, methods, practices, and techniques through levels of maturity. VIP and PLM are the authoritative processes that IT projects must follow to ensure development and delivery of IT products.

PROCESS ASSET LIBRARY (PAL)

The Contractor shall perform their duties consistent with the processes defined in the OIT Process Asset Library (PAL). The PAL scope includes the full spectrum of OIT functions and activities, such as VIP project management, operations, service delivery, communications, acquisition, and resource management. PAL serves as an authoritative and informative repository of searchable processes, activities or tasks, roles, artifacts, tools and applicable standards and guides to assist the OIT workforce, Government and Contractor personnel. The Contractor shall follow the PAL processes to ensure compliance with policies and regulations and to meet VA quality standards. The PAL includes the contractor onboarding process consistent with Section 6.2.2 and can be found at https://www.va.gov/PROCESS/artifacts/maps/process_CONB_ext.pdf. The main PAL can be accessed at www.va.gov/process.

AUTHORITATIVE DATA SOURCES

The VA Enterprise Architecture Repository (VEAR) is one component within the overall EA that establishes the common framework for data taxonomy for describing the data architecture used to develop, operate, and maintain enterprise applications. The Contractor shall comply with the department’s Authoritative Data Source (ADS) requirement that VA systems, services, and processes throughout the enterprise shall access VA data solely through official VA ADSs where applicable, see below. The Information Classes which compose each ADS are located in the VEAR, in the Data & Information domain. The Contractor shall ensure that all delivered applications and system solutions support:

1. Interfacing with VA’s Master Person Index (MPI) (formerly the Master Veteran Index (MVI)) to provision identity attributes, if the solution relies on VA user identities. MPI is the authoritative source for VA user identity data.

2. Interfacing with Capital Asset Inventory (CAI) to conduct real property record management actions, if the solution relies on real property records data. CAI is the authoritative source for VA real property record management data.

3. Interfacing with electronic Contract Management System (eCMS) for access to contract, contract line item, purchase requisition, offering vendor and vendor, and solicitation information above the micro-purchase threshold, if the solution relies on procurement data. ECMS is the authoritative source for VA procurement actions data.

4. Interfacing with HRSmart Human Resources Information System to conduct personnel action processing, on-boarding, benefits management, and compensation management, if the solution relies on personnel data. HRSmart is the authoritative source for VA personnel information data.

5. Interfacing with Vet360 to access personal contact information, if the solution relies on VA Veteran personal contact information data. Vet360 is the authoritative source for VA Veteran Personal Contact Data.

6. Interfacing with VA/Department of Defense (DoD) Identity Repository (VADIR) for determining eligibility for VA benefits under Title 38, if the solution relies on qualifying active duty military service data. VADIR is the authoritative source for Qualifying Active Duty military service in VA.

SOFTWARE AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall be responsible for the provision of all software licenses and any associated licensing maintenance required for any development, delivery, integration, operation, and/or maintenance associated with its proposed application(s), software products, software solution, and/or system including, but not limited to, any and all application(s), software and/or software products that comprise, are a part of, or integrate with the Contractor’s proposed application(s), software products, software solution, and/or system for the life of any resulting contract.

SECURITY AND PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS

It has been determined that protected health information may be disclosed or accessed and a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) shall be required. The Contractor shall adhere to the requirements set forth within the BAA, referenced in Section D of the contract, and shall comply with VA Directive 6066.

Attachment A: SaaS FedRAMP Requirements (Everything included in this section will be added to the PD/PWS) If the solution is not FedRAMP authorized:

1. The information system solution selected by the Contractor shall comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

2. The Contractor shall comply with FedRAMP requirements <<Insert Impact Level from the Data Security Categorization. This should be done by DTC.>> as mandated by Federal laws and policies, including making available any documentation, physical access, and logical access needed to support this requirement.

3. The Contractor shall provide a SaaS product as defined by the following criteria: Software as a Service (SaaS) is an application delivery model in which the application is hosted on a cloud infrastructure outside the security boundary of VA and is provided to the Cloud Service Customer (CSC) over the internet. The CSC uses the SaaS offering via a thin-client interface, such as a web-browser or a program interface. The CSC subscribes to the SaaS offering and is only responsible for minor in-app customizations. The Cloud Service Provider (CSP) offering the application is responsible for management of the application, safeguarding of data stored or processed by the application, and all elements of the underlying infrastructure. Additionally, the CSP is responsible for all on-going compliance. • On-Demand Self-Service: The CSP fully automates the provisioning of both the customer interface and the underlying cloud components of the SaaS offering. In some cases, to the CSP may provision internal resources manually, while providing the CSC an automated interface to request and track the service.

• Broad Network Access: The SaaS capabilities are available over the internet or over a network that is available from all access points the CSC requires. The SaaS offering is accessible through common platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).

• Resource Pooling: The computing infrastructure supporting the SaaS offering is shared among more than one CSC using a multi-tenant model, and resources are dynamically assigned depending on customer demand.

• Rapid Elasticity: Computing capabilities are automatically provisioned and released in a manner that scales with customer demand. In some cases, the scaling of resources may not be fully automated, but it should be fast enough to support the needs of the CSC, which the CSC would have to define.

In order to qualify as SaaS for use at VA, and to align with Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) requirements, the hosting for the offering must conform to the NIST 800-145 definition of Cloud Computing and thus contain following key characteristics: 3

• Measured Service: Resource usage, such as storage, processing, bandwidth, and user activity are measured and reported on in a manner that is relevant to the SaaS offering.

The SaaS offering must be hosted within the United States and data stored/processed/transmitted within the offering must remain within the United States. CSPs should be aware of FedRAMP and ready to partner with VA through the SaaS FedRAMP Authorization process.

4. Following guidance from the Federal CIO, VA will utilize existing JAB ATO or agency ATO issued by another agency as a starting point for FedRAMP requirements. If neither of those exist, VA will sponsor The Cloud Service Provider for a FedRAMP Authorization. VA will be using the FedRAMP baselines as a starting point, since they are specifically tailored for cloud services.

5. The Contractor shall, where applicable, assist with the VA ATO Process to help achieve agency authorization of the cloud service or migrated application at the impact level required by VA to utilize the product. For this solution the required impact level is: <<Insert Impact Level from the Data Security Categorization. This should be done by DTC.>>

6. The Contractor shall complete a FedRAMP System Security Plan (SSP) and supporting documentation including required attachments within 75 calendar days after contract award. (If Data Security Categorization is High Impact, this will be due 94 calendar days after contract award.)

7. The Contractor shall develop a VA specific system boundary diagram including any integration and connectivity components that will be known as a VA Implementation Diagram (VAID) demonstrating the proposed implementation of this system at VA. The Contractor shall provide the VAID within 10 calendar days of contract award.

8. The Contractor shall complete a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) Security Assessment Plan (SAP) within 90 calendar days after contract award. (If Data Security Categorization is High Impact, this will be due after 113 calendar days after contract award.)

9. The Contractor shall complete a 3PAO Security Assessment Report (SAR) within 90 calendar days after the SSP is accepted by VA. (If Data Security Categorization is High Impact, this will be due 113 calendar days after the SSP is accepted by VA.)

10. Contractor shall work with assigned VA SME to develop a VA specific Incident Response Plan (IRP) and perform an IRP Tabletop Exercise with VA Stakeholders. This should be completed within 30 calendar days of the SSP being delivered.

11. The Contractor shall afford VA access to the Contractor’s and Cloud Service Provider’s (CSP) facilities, installations, technical capabilities, operations, documentation, records, and databases.

12. If new or unanticipated vulnerabilities are discovered by either VA or the Contractor, or if existing safeguards have ceased to function, the discoverer shall immediately bring the situation to the attention of the other party in accordance with Addendum B, VA Information and Information System Security/Privacy Language.

13. The Contractor shall comply with data management requirements.

14. Successful issuance of a VA ATO will be required before live VA data can be used in the system.

Deliverables:

A. FedRAMP System Security Plan (SSP) and supporting documentation.

B. VA Implementation Diagram: This is a VA specific architecture diagram demonstrating the proposed implementation of this system at VA (VAID) C. 3PAO Security Assessment Plan (SAP) D. 3PAO Security Assessment Report (SAR) E. IRP Scenario

If the solution is FedRAMP Authorized but not VA Authorized:

1. The information system solution selected by the Contractor shall comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)

2. The Contractor shall comply with FedRAMP requirements as mandated by Federal laws and policies, including making available any documentation, physical access, and logical access needed to support this requirement

3. The system must be FedRAMP Authorized at no less than the <<Insert Impact Level from the Data Security Categorization. This should be done by DTC.>>

4. The Contractor shall, where applicable, assist with the VA ATO Process to help achieve agency authorization of the cloud service or migrated application.

5. The Contractor shall develop a VA specific system boundary diagram including any integration and connectivity components that will be known as a VA Implementation Diagram (VAID) demonstrating the proposed implementation of this system at VA. The Contractor shall provide the VAID within 10 calendar days of contract award.

6. The Contractor shall provide confirmation of their FedRAMP System Security Plan (SSP) and supporting documentation completion via their repository ID number and a link for VA to download the SSP and all required artifacts within 5 calendar days of contract award.

7. The Contractor shall provide the results of their most recent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) Security Assessment Plan (SAP) within 10 calendar days of contract award.

8. The Contractor shall complete a 3PAO Security Assessment Report (SAR) within 10 calendar days after the SSP is accepted by VA.

9. The Contractor shall provide VA with the most recent monthly scans for the production environment within the authorization boundary and their scan upload schedule for FedRAMP within 30 calendar days of contract award.

10. The Contractor shall provide their availability to participate in monthly continuous monitoring meetings to be scheduled following successful VA ATO within 30 calendar days of contract award.

11. Contractor shall work with assigned VA SME to develop a VA specific Incident Response Plan (IRP) and perform an IRP Table Top Exercise with VA

Stakeholders. This should be completed within 30 calendar days of the SAR being delivered.

12. If new or unanticipated vulnerabilities are discovered by either VA or the Contractor, or if existing safeguards have ceased to function, the discoverer shall immediately bring the situation to the attention of the other party in accordance with Addendum B, VA Information and Information System Security/Privacy Language

13. The Contractor shall comply with data management requirements.

14. Successful issuance of a VA ATO will be required before live VA data can be used in the system.

Deliverables:

A. VA Implementation Diagram B. FedRAMP System Security Plan (SSP) and supporting documentation C. 3PAO Security Assessment Plan (SAP) D. 3PAO Security Assessment Report (SAR) E. IRP Scenario

If the solution is FedRAMP Authorized and VA Authorized:

1. The information system solution selected by the Contractor shall comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and have a current VA authorization.

2. The Contractor shall comply with FedRAMP requirements as mandated by Federal laws and policies, including making available any documentation, physical access, and logical access needed to support this requirement.

3. The FedRAMP Authorization level and existing VA ATO should be no less than the level required for this use case which has been defined as <<Insert Impact Level from the Data Security Categorization. This should be done by DTC.>>

4. The Contractor shall, where applicable, assist with the VA ATO Sustainment Process to help maintain health and quality of agency authorization of the cloud service or migrated application.

5. The Contractor shall exclusively provide licenses and/or accounts to FedRAMP authorized and VA authorized environments.

6. The Contractor shall afford VA access to the Contractor’s and Cloud Service Provider’s (CSP) facilities, installations, technical capabilities, operations, documentation, records, and databases.

7. If new or unanticipated vulnerabilities are discovered by either VA or the Contractor, or if existing safeguards have ceased to function, the discoverer shall immediately bring the situation to the attention of the other party in accordance with Addendum B, VA Information and Information System Security/Privacy Language

8. The Contractor shall comply with data management requirements.

9. Successful issuance of a VA ATO will be required before live VA data can be used in the system.

10. The Contractor shall participate in monthly Agency and FedRAMP Sustainment meetings following the granting of a VA ATO.

11. The Contractor shall provide continuous monitoring activities including scans, security artifacts, and monthly Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) reports as outlined by FedRAMP requirements.

Deliverables:

A. Continuous monitoring security artifacts B. Continuous monitoring scans C. Plan of Action and Milestones repo

POSITION/TASK RISK DESIGNATION LEVEL(S)

In accordance with VA Handbook 0710, Personnel Security and Suitability Program, the position sensitivity, and the level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access for the following tasks within the PWS are:

Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation Requirements by Task

The Tasks identified above, and the resulting Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation requirements identify, in effect, the Background Investigation requirements for Contractor individuals, based upon the tasks the particular Contractor individual will be working. The submitted Contractor Staff Roster must indicate the required Background Investigation Level for each Contractor individual based upon the tasks the Contractor individual will be working, in accordance with their submitted proposal.

CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Contractor Responsibilities:

1. The Contractor shall prescreen all personnel requiring access to the computer systems to ensure they maintain the appropriate Background Investigation, and are able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Within 3 business days after award, the Contractor shall provide a roster of Contractor and Subcontractor employees to the COR to begin their background investigations in accordance with the PAL template artifact. The Contractor Staff Roster shall contain the Contractor’s Full Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, individual background investigation level requirement (based upon Section 6.2 Tasks), etc. The Contractor shall submit full Social Security Numbers either within the Contractor Staff Roster or under separate cover to the COR. The Contractor Staff Roster shall be updated and provided to VA within 1 day of any changes in employee status, training certification completion status, Background Investigation level status, additions/removal of employees, etc. throughout the Period of Performance. The Contractor Staff Roster shall remain a historical document indicating all past information and the Contractor shall indicate in the Comment field, employees no longer supporting this contract. The preferred method to send the Contractor Staff Roster or Social Security Number is by encrypted e-mail. If unable to send encrypted e-mail, other methods which comply with FIPS 140-2 are to encrypt the file, use a secure fax, or use a traceable mail service.

1. The Contractor should coordinate with the location of the nearest VA fingerprinting office through the COR. Only electronic fingerprints are authorized. The Contractor shall bring their completed Security and Investigations Center (SIC) Fingerprint request form with them (see paragraph d.4. below) when getting fingerprints taken.

b. The Contractor shall ensure the following required forms are submitted to the COR within 5 days after contract award:

1) Optional Form 306

2) Self-Certification of Continuous Service

3) VA Form 0710

4) Completed SIC Fingerprint Request Form The Contractor personnel shall submit all required information related to their background investigations (completion of the investigation documents (SF85, SF85P, or SF 86) utilizing the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) after receiving an email notification from the Security and Investigation Center (SIC).

The Contractor employee shall certify and release the e-QIP document, print, and sign the signature pages, and send them encrypted to the COR for electronic submission to the SIC. These documents shall be submitted to the COR within 3 business days of receipt of the e-QIP notification email. (Note: OPM is moving towards a “click to sign” process. If click to sign is used, the Contractor employee should notify the COR within 3 business days that documents were signed via e-QIP).

1. The Contractor shall be responsible for the actions of all personnel provided to work for VA under this contract. In the event that damages arise from work performed by Contractor provided personnel, under the auspices of this contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for all resources necessary to remedy the incident.

1. A Contractor may be granted unescorted access to VA facilities and/or access to VA Information Technology resources (network and/or protected data) with a favorably adjudicated Special Agreement Check (SAC), completed training delineated in VA Handbook 6500.6 (Appendix C, Section 9), signed “Contractor Rules of Behavior”, and with a valid, operational PIV credential for PIV-only logical access to VA’s network. A PIV card credential can be issued once your SAC has been favorably adjudicated and your background investigation has been scheduled by OPM. However, the Contractor will be responsible for the actions of the Contractor personnel they provide to perform work for VA. The investigative history for Contractor personnel working under this contract must be maintained in the database of OPM.

1. The Contractor, when notified of an unfavorably adjudicated background investigation on a Contractor employee as determined by the Government, shall withdraw the employee from consideration in working under the contract.

Failure to comply with the Contractor personnel security investigative requirements may result in loss of physical and/or logical access to VA facilities and systems by Contractor and Subcontractor employees and/or termination of the contract for default.

Identity Credential Holders must follow all HSPD-12 policies and procedures as well as use and protect their assigned identity credentials in accordance with VA policies and procedures, displaying their badges at all times, and returning the identity credentials upon termination of their relationship with VA.

Deliverable:

A. Contractor Staff Roster

METHOD AND DISTRIBUTION OF DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall deliver documentation in electronic format, unless otherwise directed in Section B of the solicitation/contract. Acceptable electronic media include: Microsoft 365, MS Word 2000/2003/2007/2010/2019, MS Excel 2000/2003/2007/2010/2019, MS PowerPoint 2000/2003/2007/2010/2019, MS Project 2000/2003/2007/2010/2019, MS Access 2000/2003/2007/2010, MS Visio 2000/2002/2003/2007/2010/2019, AutoCAD 2002/2004/2007/2010, and Adobe Postscript Data Format (PDF).

PERFORMANCE METRICS

The table below defines the Performance Standards and Acceptable Levels of Performance associated with this effort.

2. Efficient and effective in meeting requirements

3. Meets technical needs and mission requirements

4. Provides quality services/products

5. Incorporates “ease of use” Human Centered Design principles in any software developed.

Satisfactory or higher

2. Products completed, reviewed, delivered in accordance with the established schedule

3. Notifies customer in advance of potential problems Satisfactory or higher

2. Personnel possess necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform tasks Satisfactory or higher

The COR will utilize a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) throughout the life of the contract to ensure that the Contractor is performing the services required by this PWS in an acceptable level of performance. The Government reserves the right to alter or change the surveillance methods in the QASP at its own discretion. A Performance Based Service Assessment will be used by the COR in accordance with the QASP to assess Contractor performance.

FACILITY/RESOURCE PROVISIONS

N/A

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Contractor shall complete the Master Delivery Schedule in accordance with the Instructions and shall coordinate with the COR for specifics. The Master Delivery Schedule shall be provided after award and updated prior to and after each delivery timeframe.

Shipment/Delivery Kick-off Meeting

The Contractor shall conduct a Shipment/Delivery Kick-off Meeting with the VA PM, COR, Delivery Date Coordinator, Implementation Manager, and Facility CIOs (or designee) to discuss delivery schedule requirements and facilitate delivery of equipment. This meeting may be held in conjunction with the post award conference or identified technical kickoff meeting. The Contractor shall also present the Shipment/Delivery Weekly Progress Report format for review and approval by the Government.