BAA for Kidney Disease Questions and Answer 3

Broad Agency Announcement for Kidney Disease

Question and Answers

June 29, 2017



Please note that answers to additional questions about the BAA may be found on the VA Center for Innovation website using the following link:

https://www.innovation.va.gov/faq.html



Question: Can we submit more than one concept paper? For example, one for Topic 1 and one for Topic 2 (or one for each as the case may be)?

Answer: Offerors are not limited by the number of concept papers they are allowed to submit in total or per topic area; however each proposal should be a genuinely separate idea. Do not submit the same concept for multiple topics. If you think your concept could be applicable across multiple topics, please submit it only for the one topic where you think it will have the greatest impact and list which other topics it might address in the submission.



Question: If we can submit more than one concept paper, can we reference the other submissions, at least in a general sense? I understand that each concept must address a single topic and be able to stand on its own, as directed in the BAA. Typically in the approach to any one of them we deploy and rely on components from the other three. Therefore we would love to have the evaluators understand the big picture of how we could leverage the synergy across all four areas to accomplish even more than any one on its own could?

Answer: If you think your concept could be applicable across multiple topics, please submit it only for the one topic where you think it will have the greatest impact and list which other topics it might address in the submission.



Question: Are the contract funding limits discussed in the BAA for the entire process or per topic/proposal? So does Topic 1 get $750k, Topic 2 the same, etc or will all proposals for all topics have to be a slice of a $750k total? I realize no specific funding has been reserved or committed but understanding the ballpark size will help me plan.

Answer: The contract funding limits stated in Section II.F. of the BAA are per individual contract awarded in a particular topic. There is no pre-determined number of awards per topic area and it is anticipated that there may be multiple contract awards in a single topic. The total funding levels for the program have not yet been determined.

Question: In the notice is says that Current VA employees, including staff, clinicians, and uncompensated employees, are prohibited from participating in particular matters involving conflicting financial, employment, and representational interests (see, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 203, 205 & 208).  Therefore, they may not legally participate in concept paper or proposal preparation."

In our case, we want to submit a proposal for a program that would be carried out in collaboration with a physician (or group of physicians) at a VA facility.   For the concept paper, we don't need to talk to VA clinicians. However, when it comes to submitting a proposal, we would want to discuss the idea with potential VA collaborators, to determine how to best integrate with existing workflows, minimize burden on clinicians, etc.  Is there some level of collaboration/discussion that would not violate the rule above? 

Answer: Interested potential offerors are not restricted from conducting due diligence that may involve contacting subject matter experts within the VA to learn more about existing programs, technologies, or methodologies as they prepare their concept papers. As noted in Section VI, Project Co-Design, Offerors who receive an invitation to submit a full proposal will have approximately 30 days to communicate with the VA to gain further insight into the problem their innovation addresses, general resource requirements, the feasibility of developing the innovation, and the structure of the piloting phase of the project for the VA. If needed, VACI can help facilitate introductions. These types of discussions would not violate the rules stated in the question above. Proposals that include a field test/piloting phase as an optional period may include details of a VA pilot location and the role of specific VA employees in order to fully execute the proposed activities. It is acceptable for the offeror to consult with these employees during the Co-Design period. Please note that VA employees who provide advice and assistance regarding concepts or proposals will not be allowed to review these submissions.

Question: Can companies submit multiple concept papers, or only one?

Answer: Yes, Offerors may submit more than one concept paper; however, each proposal should be a genuinely separate idea. Do not submit the same concept for multiple topics. If you think your concept could be applicable across multiple topics, please submit it only for the one topic where you think it will have the greatest impact and list which other topics it might address in the submission.

Question: Is it permissible for offerors to propose activities that include collaboration or participation with VA employees who are also employees of the offeror s institution or company?



Answer: All VA employees are bound by a host of ethics law, regulations and policies, and it is each employee s responsibility to be aware of and fully comply with such rules.  VA employees with specific questions concerning compliance, especially in light of possible employment with and/or financial interests in a potential offeror under this BAA, should seek the guidance of a VA Office of General Counsel Ethics attorney, who can offer a specific legal opinion concerning such compliance.  Moreover, any potential for a conflict should be disclosed in an offeror s proposal.



Question: The Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation (VACI) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Kidney Disease 2017 VA118-17-R-2144 states that Offerors should not identify more than one topic area number for the concept paper .  Is it permissible to submit more than one concept paper if innovations for multiple topic areas can be proposed?



Answer: Offerors are not limited by the number of concept papers they are allowed to submit in total or per topic area; however each proposal should be a genuinely separate idea. Do not submit the same concept for multiple topics. If you think your concept could be applicable across multiple topics, please submit it only for the one topic where you think it will have the greatest impact and list which other topics it might address in the submission.



Question: I am a VA employee and plan to be a cofounder of a company in the near future along with a non-VA employee who is interested in submitting a concept paper. The company does not yet exist. Is it acceptable for a non-VA employee who will eventually be cofounder with me to apply for the competition? If selected, can I be involved as a VA-employee collaborator on the project?



Answer: VA employees are bound by a host of ethics law, regulations and policies, and it is each VA employee s responsibility to be aware of and fully compliant of such rules. VA employees with specific questions concerning compliance, especially in light of possible employment with and/or financial interests in a potential offeror under this BAA, should seek the guidance of a VA Office of General Counsel Ethics attorney, who can offer a specific legal opinion concerning such compliance.



Question: I am a VA employee and a consultant for a company that is interested in submitting a concept. May I advise them during the preparation of their concept paper and/or proposal?



Answer: VA employees are bound by a host of ethics law, regulations and policies, and it is each VA employee s responsibility to be aware of and fully compliant of such rules. VA employees with specific questions concerning compliance, especially in light of possible employment with and/or financial interests in a potential offeror under this BAA, should seek the guidance of a VA Office of General Counsel Ethics attorney, who can offer a specific legal opinion concerning such compliance.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Technology Acquisition Center (TAC), located at 23 Christopher Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724, intends to issue the 2017 VA Center for Innovation (VACI) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under Request for Proposal (RFP) number VA118-17-R-2144. The BAA will be available on or about June 16, 2017. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to make an award or pay concept paper or proposal preparation costs generated in response to this announcement. No contract award(s) will be made unless funds are available.

This BAA invites interested offerors to contribute innovative ideas in the specific areas of: Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment; Data Science Advances to Improve Health Care of People with Kidney Disease; Rehabilitation of Patients with Kidney Failure and Education for People with or at Risk for Kidney and/or their Caregivers. The specific areas of interest will be detailed in the BAA. The BAA allows for multiple awards. Each award will have a period of performance of no more than 24 months. VA intends to award only Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) type contracts resulting from this BAA. Additionally, the following funding limits have been established: for Development Phase maximum funding is $250,000.00; for Field Test (Piloting) Phase maximum funding is $500,000.00; and combined/Development Phase and Field Test (Piloting) maximum funding is $750,000.00.

The point of contact for any questions related to this announcement and subsequent BAA may be addressed to Contract Specialist, Raymond Mesler at raymond.mesler@va.gov and Contracting Officer, Carol Newcomb at Carol.Newcomb@va.gov.