Inactive

****This version removes erroneous white paper references***** Request for Information Innovative Mobile Application to Improve the Military to Civilian Transition and Post Transition/Veteran Status F... ****This version removes erroneous white paper references***** Request for Information Innovative Mobile Application to Improve the Military to Civilian Transition and Post Transition/Veteran Status February 18, 2020 Introduction: This is a Request for Information (RFI) only issued for conducting market research and eliciting industry s input as to the Government s requirement. Accordingly, this RFI constitutes neither a Request for Proposal/Quote (RFP/RFQ) nor a guarantee that one will be issued by the Government in the future; furthermore, it does not commit the Government to contract for any services described herein. Do not submit a Quote/Proposal. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not, at this time, seeking proposals or quotes, and therefore, will not accept, review, or evaluate unsolicited proposals or quotes received in response hereto. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract/order, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted because of this request. The Government does not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with the submission of the information being requested or, reimburse expenses incurred for responses to this RFI. The information provided may be used by VA in developing its acquisition strategy and Performance Work Statement (PWS). Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP/RFQ, if issued. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary; however, any information received shall become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the respondent. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted, or competition sensitive information contained in their response. This is a request for information and does not obligate the Government in any way, nor does it commit the Government to any specific course of action. Requirement: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is on a mission to prevent suicide for service members, Veterans, members of the national Guard, Reserves and their loved ones. Through the Veterans Health Administration, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, there is a requirement for an innovative mobile application meant for service members entering the military to civilian transition along with current and former members of the National Guard or Reserves and all other Veterans looking for employment while increasing their social connection and mental wellness. The components necessary in the mobile application include: Employment (at a minimum, allows users to use the application to search all jobs available, translate occupation codes used in the military and upload resume. The Government is also looking to incorporate logic to streamline matching available jobs to the individual s occupation codes. Build social connection in the app (at a minimum, allows application users to build a social network or squad with current contacts. Users need the ability to post text, photos and multimedia securely. ) Mental fitness/mind gym (at a minimum, allows the user of the application to engage in mental wellness strategies, games, etc. to improve mental wellness and track / manage results over time). Digital Assistant & Resources (at a minimum has a built-in chat-bot backed by necessary technology to engage the app user and provide real-time resources including wellness, mental health, substance use and other suicide prevention resources) All back-end technology to be included which would run the mobile app to include any artificial intelligence, employment search capability, etc. Customer service support for mobile application users to include for problem solving, etc. Identify management system that would allow current or history of military service to be verified. Responses: Please submit the below requested information by 5:00 pm EST on March 4, 2020 via email to Juan.Quinones@va.gov and Matthew.Newell@va.gov. VA reserves the right to not respond to any, all, or select responses or materials submitted. All VA current requirements identified herein are subject to change at any time. If you experience any problems or have any questions concerning this announcement, please contact Juan Quinones or Matthew.Newell@va.gov via email. VA appreciates your time and anticipated response. As part of your RFI response, please provide the following information: GENERAL Include the following identification information: Company Name CAGE/DUNS Number under which the company is registered in SAM/VetBiz.gov Company Address Point of contact name Telephone number Email address Identify existing contract vehicles (NASA SEWP V GWAC, GSA, T4NG, etc.) in which you are a contract holder that can be utilized to procure these services. With respect to the subject effort, would you be the prime contractor? As the Prime Contractor, what tasks describe above would your company perform? Please describe your teaming arrangement. If a small business, what type of small business are you? Are you able to comply with VAAR 852.219-10, VA Notice of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside and with subcontracting limitations in 13 CFR 125.6 in execution of this effort? What experience does your organization have at providing similar services of size and scope to other Federal agencies and/or industry? For Federal awards provide contract number and agency points of contacts. CAPABILITY STATEMENT Please submit a capability statement describing your company s ability to meet the overall effort described above and the questions below. The capability statement shall be limited to 10 pages. Responses should include: VA has developed a mobile application called GRIT to improve the military to civilian transition and post Transition/Veteran Status. This application is an open source application developed and currently hosted by IBM. Offerors should detail if they can migrate and support this application to a separate environment while maintaining all current functionality, and thereafter potentially enhancing and scaling the application. Please provide your approach to this migration, hosting, scaling and enhancement. What is the anticipated cost to host and launch such a mobile application on both Android & iOS devices including the ability to perform necessary updates, customer service and scaling. If the Offeror cannot migrate and enhance this application, is there a mobile application capable of meeting the above requirements for use on both the Android & iOS devices that is currently available and if so, what the estimated price for launching the mobile application to the public would be, including the ability to perform necessary updates, customer service and scaling. Detail on how the data provided through the mobile app would be securely stored and transmitted Detail on your experience and expertise and capabilities in the following areas: Mobile application development and security Veteran cultural competency Mental health and wellness/suicide prevention POST RFI REVIEW PHASE VA envisions that once RFI responses are reviewed, select responders may be invited to provide a face-to-face ore telephonic briefing to VA personnel to answer additional questions with respect to the response given. VA retains sole discretion of whether any post RFI briefings are warranted and which industry partners may be invited to provide additional market research information.