SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Robust VA Search Engine, Innovation # 242 VHA/OI&T II
- Notice Date
- 6/8/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541511
— Custom Computer Programming Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;Technology Acquisition Center;260 Industrial Way West;Eatontown NJ 07724
- ZIP Code
- 07724
- Solicitation Number
- VA11810RI0451
- Response Due
- 6/16/2010
- Archive Date
- 8/15/2010
- Point of Contact
- Sarah H Basilotto
- E-Mail Address
-
ct
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Introduction This market research is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any contract that might be awarded based on information received or derived from this market research will be the outcome of a competitive process. The purpose of this RFI is to identify qualified contractors who are able to meet VA's requirements, determine if commercial items are available or, could be modified to meet VA's requirements, determine the appropriate contract type i.e., firm fixed-price or cost-reimbursement or time and material, understand commercial pricing practices and other market information readily available. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is seeking potential sources to enter into a contract for a Robust VA Search Engine, Innovation # 242 VHA/OI&T II. Background Veterans Health Administration together with VA's Office of Information and Technology is sponsoring an Information Technology Innovation Program. VA intends to retain its "innovative spirit" among those employees involved with medical informational technology support and developed the Health Information Technology Program to strengthen this important aspect. VA selected 26 innovations prototypes for development out of 6500 submissions. These innovation prototypes will undergo an evaluation of the functional prototype which may result in further development for a VA-wide deployment. The development of a Robust VA Search Engine is one of the 26 innovations selected for prototype and evaluation. Currently, there is a vast array of documents, forms, bulletins and memoranda VA employees need to access to complete their tasks. This information exists on the web, but it exists in many places, on national, program, network and local sites, and locating them is a tedious, time-consuming, and manual process. A robust VA search engine would improve the efficiency of locating documents and information needed on a daily basis throughout the VA. This would result in achieving the following goals: 1.Reduce the time it takes for VA staff to locate reference material to perform their duties. 2.Greatly increase productivity of VA administrative staff by reducing the amount for time used to locate forms and other materials by 75 percent or more. 3. Empower infrequent users (e.g., physicians), giving them immediate access to reference material and VA or other health organization administrative documents. 4.Impact the broadest number of VA staff: All VA staff needs to locate documents and information in the performance of their day-to-day operations and responsibilities. 5.Addresses an unmet need: Information is vital to VA staff and the creation of a single tool that permits search capabilities for VA's and other organization information sources will demonstrate efficiency and increase staff knowledge and satisfaction. 6.Help meet an organizational requirement: The Joint Commission Accreditation Health Organization Standards and other VA Directives and Handbooks searches are difficult to locate within VA's existing intranet functionality. Requirements The project will implement a dynamic search tool that VA staff may use to easily and quickly access VA and or Standard Forms, reference material, regulatory and other information they require to complete their daily tasks efficiently and effectively. The tool will appear as a link on most if not all Veterans Health Administration web pages and will access a powerful search engine; providing, VA employees a gateway to web pages across the Veterans Health Administration. Included would be the ability to search within a particular healthcare system (intranet), the larger Veterans Integrated Service Network, and nationally within the Veterans Health Administration. Solutions developed at one VA Medical Center will be easily accessible, adopted, or modified by other VA medical centers. This will also create an additional benefit which is maximizing on VA employee's ideas. The prototype includes hardware and software technology for the web-indexing, programming, and configuration required to safely set up and operate a multi-intranet search engine. A search engine link shall be created for a limited number of intranet web pages within a VA Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) which is a cluster of medical centers and clinics the deliver health care benefits within a specific geographic region, or a combination of two or more Veterans Integrated Services Networks. Submittal Information It is requested that interested contractors submit a response (electronic submission) of no more than 10 pages in length, single spaced, 12 point font minimum that addresses the above information. In response to the RFI, interested contractors shall submit the following information with an initial cutoff date of June 11, 2010 and an extended date of June 16, 2010 for submissions. 1.2. Capabilities/Qualifications - Description of the capabilities/qualifications/skills your company possess to perform the work. 2.Teaming Arrangements - Description of Teaming Partners, Joint Ventures that your company would consider to perform the work. 3.Commercial availability - Description of the length of time your product/solution has been commercially available or, if necessary to modify your commercial product/solution, what is the impact to the commercial price, availability and magnitude of modification. 4.Socio-Economic Status - Indicate whether your company, subcontractors, teaming partners, joint ventures have a Federal Socio-Economic status, e.g., Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Disadvantaged Small Business, and Hub Zone. If Service-Disabled or Veteran Owned Small Business, is your company and or partners registered in VA's VetBiz repository? 5.Price information - Provide your commercial price history and rough order of magnitude for the same or similar products/solutions. 6.Other Market Information - Provide any other relative information, however this information must be included within the 10 page limitation. Responses are requested no later than close of business on June 11, 2010 with an extended date of June 16, 2010, via email to sarah.basilotto@va.gov and anne.vasconcelos@va.gov. Point of Contacts: Anne Marie Vasconcelos, Contracting Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center, Phone (732) 578-5485, Email anne.vasconcelos@va.gov and Sarah Basilotto, Contract Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center, Phone (732) 578-5463, Email sarah.basilotto@va.gov.
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