Compiled_Q_A_as_of_08_30_2017.pdf

Compiled Q&A as of 08/30/2017

Question: When do you plan to make a decision on the award? What is the planned start date for the contract?

Answer: The Government’s intent is to award before the end of the Fiscal Year. The contract start date will be the same as the effective date of award.

Question: In the vendor expected to host the simulation on its own server and LMS? It mentions that in a few places but there is also a mention of local hosting so we want to verify.

Answer: Yes, Contractor shall provide hosting. VHA requires a URL link which will be placed on the VHA LMS in order to connect the learners to VISTS. Contractor is not required to provide the LMS, assuming all other requirements are met without an LMS.

Question: Are the Chrome or Firefox browsers installed on the VHA computers? If so what versions are installed? Can these alternate browsers be installed and utilized for this application instead of IE 11?

Answer: No, VA work stations only use Internet Explorer 11.

Question: Does the CD/DVD version need to track results either on the local hard drive or on a server?

Answer: The CD/DVD version does not need to track results.

Question: Can the CD/DVD version of the application be installed on an internal hard drive resident on each VHA computers or is the application expected to run entirely from the CD/DVD

ROM?

Answer: The application is expected to run entirely from the CD/DVD ROM.

Question: In section 52.212-2, Factor 2, item 7 a requirement to not use ActiveX controls was put forth. Does that also exclude using the Flash ActiveX control, listed as being part of the VA image, as a means of running content in the browser? Would the VA be open to using either Chrome or Firefox for this application so that the content can be developed in the latest iterations of the HTML5/WebAssembly standard? HTML5/WebAssembly is a W3C standard and would allow for the content to be developed at a higher level of fidelity and with greater cross browser compatibility than if it were produced using either Flash or the incomplete HTML5 implementation that IE11 provides. Using HTML5/WebGl would also future proof the content by putting it in a format that will work better with the new Edge browser present in next version of the VA’s Windows Client based on Windows 10 and set the stage for the simulations to be accessible via mobile devices.

Answer: Flash ActiveX is allowed. Also, see answer to question #3, above.

Question: Can you confirm that the only sections of the RFP to be responded to are the sections indicated in the evaluation factors. Example, if Factor 1 says to respond to section 3.0 and the paragraph labeled 3.0 has an explanation in it but there are 5 other sections to 3.0 such as 3.1, 3.2 etc, do we respond only to 3.0 or the entire section of 3.0?

Answer: The Government will evaluate all proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria;

however, an offeror’s proposal shall meet all requirements of the SOW and SRD. As stated in the solicitation’s Instructions to Offerors, “All proposals must clearly and convincingly demonstrate that the Offeror has a thorough understanding of the requirements and associated risks, and currently has commercially available products that meet the requirements. Mere reiteration of the requirement or standard reference material is inadequate. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to present sufficient information to be meaningfully evaluated without discussions.

The Offeror is advised that quality of information is more important than quantity. The Offeror’s proposal shall be clear, concise, and include sufficient detail for effective evaluation and for substantiating the validity of stated claims. Clarity and readability are very important. The Government will not infer meanings from vague or ambiguous language (e.g., “The Offeror understands/can comply/will comply with the SOW;” “Standard procedures will be employed;”

“Well known techniques will be used.”).

Question: What information should be contained in the Cost Volume and the Administrative Volume?

Answer: After further review, you bring up a good point, there is no need for a Price/Cost volume. Please complete the price/cost schedule in the solicitation and return that with your technical volume. As for Administrative, there is no need to complete that as well. An amendment to make the appropriate changes will be forthcoming.

Question: The table of contents and cover letter don't count against the ten pages correct?

Answer: If an offeror elects to submit a table of contents and cover letter, each shall not exceed one page.

Question: Delivery of CLIN 0001 is required within 60 days of ADC. There is some confusion about the definition of CLIN 0001. Page 3 of the RFQ states “VISTS Software”. The CDRL states “Test Procedure” and says the “test procedures are due 45 days before prior to system delivery” (block 12). Block 13 of the CDRL for this CLIN says “revisions as required through the life of the contract”. What is due 60 days ADC? Delivering test procedures at day 15 is not possible. We would only be able to deliver the prototype of the software at day 60 ADC, and would be updating periodically throughout the first year. Block 8 says this data item is critical and “requires advanced written approval by the procuring agency before the contractor can proceed.” What does this mean with respect to the answer to this question?

Answer: The VISTS base software, minus the scenarios, are due 60 days ADC to demonstrate the base software capabilities, provide an opportunity for the VHA to review the capabilities currently resident within the software and provide feedback to the Contractor on changes required, if any, to be compliant with SOW 3.2.2 through 3.2.8 and SRD 3.1, 3.3 through 3.5.

The test procedures captured in CDRL A001 refer to the test procedures to validate that the VISTS software and scenarios meet the requirements of the SOW & SRD respectively. These are due 45 days before final system delivery.

Question: Under Evaluation, Factor 2, item 9 (p. 27) – “The offeror’s proposal provides details of the Virtual Interview Skills Training software as commercially available (SOW Paragraph 3.2)”. But in section 3.2 of the SOW (pp. 87-89, we find no mention of commercially available software mentioned. Does the proposed software have to be commercially available? If so, what is the definition of commercially available? (described on our web site? in operation by others?)

Answer: Yes, the software has to be commercially available. Based on market research, we have determined that there are commercially available VISTS type software in the market.

For this particular requirement, commercially available means a type customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and--

(i) Has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or,

(ii) Has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public.

For a complete definition of commercial, see FAR Part 2.101.

Question: The SRD item 3.2.6 states that the VISTS software design must comply with the VA’s Technical Reference Model (TRM). The TRM calls out the Unity game engine as a standard. Does the avatar capability for VISTS have be built within the Unity game engine?

Answer: Whichever game engine you choose would need to be listed in the Technical Reference Model (TRM) to be approved for use by the VA. If a technology/standard is not listed in the TRM, it is considered unapproved for use. Either an assessment or a waiver signed by the Deputy CIO of Architecture, Strategy & Design (ASD) based upon a recommendation from the Architecture Engineering Review Board (AERB), must be obtained in order to use the technology.

The current One-VA Technical Reference Model v17.7 presents a list of assessed technologies and standards used to develop, operate, and maintain enterprise applications. Entries on this list have undergone a strategic assessment based upon the nature of the technology. The TRM entry contains guidance, along with any known applicable constraints, on the permissible range of technologies or standards that a VA user, Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) administration support team or Project Development Team may select or shall use.

Additionally, the VISTS software must be compatible with the existing VA workstations per paragraph 3.2.4, 3.2.8 of the SOW and including the configuration in 3.7 of the SRD.

Question: It is not clear from the RFQ whether the VISTS avatar capability has to contain speech recognition and text-to-speech. Item 2 on p. 27 (and similar statements elsewhere) require that the avatar have verbal and non-verbal behaviors including … tone of speech, which implies a text-to-speech capability. Item 4 on the same page requires “nearly free flowing conversation that dynamically presents learner response options and simulated patient reactions.” Further item

3.2.12 (p. 94) states “provide the learner with a minimum of three (3) responses at each decision point with an average of four (4) responses across all decision points.” This sounds like text to text communication between the avatar and learner, in which the learner is given a pull-down menu of statements to make at each point. Does the learner pick from a pull-down menu rather than type text or speak to the avatar? Far more and complex decision points will be presented to the learner if the learner either types or response or speaks a response that the learner develops internally rather than selecting from a pull-down menu. Note – addressing tone of speech behavior with a commercial speech engine (e.g., Nuance) is probably not possible.

Answer: The VISTS simulated patient may be either Avatar or Actor/Video based. The simulated patient must present audio include verbal behaviors and tone of voice (talk to the user).

At a minimum, the Contractor shall deliver a VISTS user interface that provides for suggested text responses selected through the GUI. If part of the existing software solution, the interface may also include verbal audio input (speech to text) or free-text options for user inputs in accordance with (IAW) SRD 3.2.6 and 3.2.12.1.

Addressing the pull-down menu, it is up to the Contractor to propose how they plan on satisfying the requirements of SRD 3.2.12.

Question: Regarding the requirement to have verbal and non-verbal behaviors including posture, facial expression and tone of voice (item 2 on p. 27 and SRD 3.2.6, please provide examples of posture, facial expression and tone of voice. There are many examples of posture and facial expression in the MI literature that the learner should be on the look out for, not all of which are possible with an avatar. Are there specific posture and facial expressions that are most important? Tone of voice can be achieved by volume, inflection, and even word choice; is word choice alone sufficient?

Answer: There are no specific posture and facial expressions that are most important. It is up to the Contractor to propose how they plan on satisfying the requirements of SRD 3.2.6. In regards to tone of voice, word choice alone is not sufficient. Both volume and inflection must be included.