RFI 36C10X25Q0047.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Benefits Modernization Support Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Department of Veterans Affairs

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

POINT OF CONTACT*

Mr. LaShawn Knight lashawn.knight@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL About the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC) - Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Justification Statement for Short Response Time on RFI This RFI is issued with a response deadline of 2-3 days due to the imminent expiration of the current contract on February 28, 2025. The urgency is driven by unforeseen operational needs that require immediate feedback from potential contractors to ensure continuity of services.

DESCRIPTION

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Benefits Modernization Support Services

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes. There is no obligation for the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by VA in developing its acquisition strategy and informing, refining, and finalizing a Performance Work Statement (PWS). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, confidential, restricted, or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Only electronic responses to this RFI will be accepted. The Government will not pay for any time expended or information submitted in response to this RFI. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this RFI.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Regulations, Appeals, and Policy (10B-GRAP) plays a vital role in ensuring the efficient and equitable delivery of healthcare benefits to Veterans. This includes oversight of VHA regulatory and policy compliance related to benefits management, including eligibility and enrollment, beneficiary travel, and clothing allowance.

VHA operates within a complex and evolving landscape, facing increasing demands for services, advancements in information technology, and continuous legislative and regulatory changes. The Veteran Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA) mandated significant reforms to the appeals process, aiming to reduce the backlog of pending appeals, streamline adjudication, and improve the overall experience for Veterans.

10B-GRAP is responsible for leading and supporting critical benefits modernization efforts. This includes:

• Overhauling appeals processes: Streamlining procedures, implementing new technologies, and improving data management to expedite and standardize the resolution of appeals.

• Ensuring compliance with the AMA: Implementing the provisions of the AMA across all VHA programs and ensuring adherence to all relevant laws and regulations.

• Improving data-driven decision making: Collecting, analyzing, and reporting on appeals data to identify trends, measure performance, and inform policy improvements.

• Collaborating with key stakeholders: Working closely with other Veterans Affairs (VA) administrations, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, Office of Inspector General, and other external stakeholders to ensure efficient and transparent benefits management.

This contract will support 10B-GRAP in achieving these objectives by providing critical assistance in project management, mail processing, data governance, training, IT governance, and policy support.

The Contractor shall provide assistance on a variety of issues involving VHA’s benefits modernization efforts, including compliance with the AMA. Services will include project and change management, mail processing, interagency coordination, data governance, training, and policy support.

See attached for draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for more details.

3.0 QUESTIONS AND CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERESTED CONTRACTORS

This request for capabilities information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Your responses may be shared with all stakeholders, thus the information received will not be considered proprietary. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:

3.1 Capabilities Statement

Cover Sheet – 1 page Please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, and web site.

2. Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number.

3. Business size (large or small). If small, please provide type of small business.

4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that best fits these task areas.

5. If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule, and SIN category.

Index – 1 page Please provide an index to assist the Government in identifying where you have addressed each question below in your Capabilities Statement and Market Information. Please provide question number and corresponding page and section heading and/or paragraph number.

Proven Track Record and Experience– 5 pages

1. Describe relevant past performance providing services similar in scope and complexity to the tasks/deliverables within the attached PWS.

2. Provide examples of successfully completed projects, including project duration, key deliverables, and customer references.

Scalability and Capacity

1. Explain your capacity to scale operations to meet VHA’s requirements for workload management and service delivery.

2. Describe how your company ensures quality assurance, maintains service levels, and mitigates risks associated with large-scale government contracts.

3. Indicate any subcontracting or teaming arrangements that would be utilized to fulfill requirements.

Vendor Considerations

1. What information about our organization or technical requirements would you need to craft a proposal tailored to our needs?

2. What specific challenges or risks would you anticipate in implementing your solution for a federal agency?

3. Are there best practices or lessons learned from previous implementations you would recommend we consider?

4. What contract type or pricing structure does your firm expect to see for this acquisition based on the PWS (Firm-Fixed-Price, Cost, T&M/LH)? Please explain your rationale.

5. What additional information if any do you have to share with the technical and procurement teams?

6. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated to deliver technical capability, address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

4.0 STRUCTURE AND SUBMISSIONS OF REPSONSES

Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this RFI by February 10, 2025 by 3 PM ET via e-mail. All responses under this RFI must be emailed to lashawn.knight@va.gov. Limit all responses to 15 pages.

Sources Sought Notice