Sources Sought.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS DESCRIPTION

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is for informational / market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION OR BID, NOR A SYNOPSIS OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION UNDER FAR SUBPART 5.2. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or on any follow up information. NO SOLICITATION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

The purpose for this synopsis is to conduct market research to help identify capable, potential sources and to establish if this requirement can be set-aside for small business or other socio-economic programs to include: Small Business, 8(a) firms, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Women-Owned, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

NAICS Code: 611310 – College, Universities and Professional Schools Small Business Size Standard: $34M PSC/FSC: AJ12 – General Science and Technical R&D Services: Applied Research

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to procure a qualitative evaluation of the current use and assessment for enhancing future usability and impact of the CRISTAL (CAPRI, REACH VET, Risk Indicators, STORM Tool for Analytic Lookup) dashboard that will build on existing contract activities being performed by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) currently.

The goal of VA’s CRISTAL dashboard is to provide key information from VHA medical records on risk of suicide, overdose, and other adverse outcomes to clinicians so they can develop and deliver effective treatment to Veterans.

The Specific Objectives of this project are to:

1. Conduct qualitative interviews with VA mental health clinicians from various disciplines using a usability framework to determine A) how clinicians currently use VA suicide prevention risk information to stratify risk and make treatment decisions; B) which information is most useful; C) how information can be presented most efficiently and effectively to enhance patient-tailored decision-making and workflows; and D) identify preferences for, and best practice materials to develop into decision support modules.

2. Collaborate with partners, other stakeholders, and subject matter experts to identify patient-generated data measures to incorporate into workflows to help clinicians stratify risk.

3. Develop content for two or more decision support modules that can be incorporated into a redesigned CRISTAL platform.

4. Conduct pencil and paper and other storyboard exercises to mockup prototype CRISTAL redesign options.

This contract will cover the planning, recruiting for, and conducting interviews, conducting relevant evidence reviews to guide measure selection, facilitating and summarizing listening sessions, facilitating and preparing materials for work groups, and support consultation with subject matter experts on usability design, human factors and other aspects of informatics as applied to the VA care system. The contract team will also provide information, resources, and support for identifying and developing content for the clinical decision support modules for adaptation to the CRISTAL dashboard. The team will participate in storyboard development and mockup design exercises.

Specific Tasks.

Task 1: Planning/Background

· Obtain appropriate quality improvement, regulatory, and union permissions

· Develop interviewer workplan, timeline, and guide

· Obtain VA data necessary to identify potential participants.

· Organize, analyze and present quantitative data describing CRISTAL use.

· Identify and recruit participants for interviews

Task 2: Conduct qualitative/usability studies

· Refine interview guides

· Conduct interviews with approximately 60 VA mental health clinicians across relevant various disciplines

· Analyze and summarize interviews

Task 3: Identify useful patient-generated data measure(s) to incorporate into CRISTAL

· Conduct focused evidence review to identify measure candidates

· Coordinate sessions with VA and non-VA subject matter experts to select measures and new tools to potentially incorporate into CRISTAL

Task 4: Develop two or more decision support models for the redesigned platform

· Review qualitative results for clinician preferences for clinical decision support modules

· Collect/synthesize up-to-date evidence and best practice information

Task 5: Collect input from mental health clinicians to inform CRISTAL redesign

· Convene focus groups with subgroups of mental health clinicians to gather input on decision support module candidates

· Utilize paper and pencil and story boarding exercises with mental health clinicians to mock-up prototype CRISTAL redesign alternatives.

Period of Performance: 08/01/2025 – 07/31/2026 All work will be performed at the contractor’s site. No need for travel is anticipated.

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND TO SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS:

Any vendor interested and capable of meeting this requirement should provide a written statement to the Contracting Officer. Vendor response must include at a minimum:

· Name of Business

· Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and E-Mail Address

· CAGE Code and UEI Number to show proof of registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) – https://www.sam.gov

· Short Description of Capabilities

· VetBiz certification (if applicable) Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence of the Vendor’s capability of meeting this requirement. Please note, responses will be shared within the Government and project team, but otherwise will be held in strict confidence.

Interested firms shall respond to this synopsis no later than 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time on 07/11/2025. All responses shall be submitted electronically to amy.kuczajda@va.gov