DA01--Benefits Intake Optimization - Contract #2 (VA-25-00104517) Vets First Sole Source

The Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center Austin is procuring software development and support services to optimize the intake process for VA health benefits applications. This sole source procurement specifically focuses on technical work for the VA.gov 21-8940 and 21-4140 forms, along with related health benefits applications and potential upstream and downstream integration support. The contract objectives include digitizing paper forms into user-friendly electronic submissions, reducing claims processing time, improving data validation, and ensuring compliance with VA design standards and accessibility requirements. The work will utilize agile software development methodologies to create Minimal Viable Product (MVP) and Enhanced Form versions for each targeted form. Responses to this solicitation are due by September 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, providing interested parties with an extremely tight one-day response window.

This procurement is set aside exclusively for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) under the Veterans First Contracting Program, with Pingwind, Inc. of Annandale, Virginia identified as the sole source contractor. The total contract value is $34 million, structured as a 12-month base period running from September 9, 2025, to September 9, 2026, with eight optional tasks available for additional form digitization work. The contract authority stems from 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5) and 38 U.S.C. 8127(c), which permits direct contracting with veteran-owned businesses without full and open competition. The primary work involves developing digital versions of two specific VA forms while maintaining the flexibility to expand digitization efforts to additional forms through the optional task structure. Performance will support the VA's broader initiative to transition from paper-based to electronic benefit application processes across the VA.gov platform.