R408--DHO, INTEROPERABILITY PLEDGE PROGRAM SUPPORT (CONVENER)

This solicitation incorporates tiered evaluations (i.e., cascading) as an evaluation approach, where proposals are evaluated considering a priority of socioeconomic business categories consistent with agency policy and authority. The order of priority for awarding a resultant contract from this solicitation is as follows: Tier 1 - Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), then Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Concerns Tier 2- 8(A) participants, then HUBZone Small Business Concerns Tier 3- Women-Owned Small Business Concerns, then all other Small Business Concerns Tier 4- Other than Small Business Concerns Further details regarding the tiered evaluation approach can be found in Addendum 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services of this solicitation. The NAICS Code for this requirement is 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. The total Period of Performance (POP) is for five (5) years (inclusive of a 1-year base and four 1-year option). The contract POP is anticipated to begin on or around September 30, 2025. Offerors shall submit all questions relating to the solicitation on Attachment B RFP questions by the specified date and time to the Contracting officer and Contract Specialist as specified in the Instructions to Offerors. A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) must be in place with VHA in order for Protected Health Information (PHI) or Electronic Protected Health Information (EPHI) to be disclosed to a VA component that is Business Associate. A Business Associate is an entity, including an individual (other than a member of VHA s workforce, for example VA s Office of General Counsel), company, organization, or another Covered Entity, that performs or assists in the performance of a function or activity on behalf of VHA. BAAs obligate VHA Business Associates to provide PHI protections and safeguards and agree to only disclose PHI as required by VHA and allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. The successful Offeror is required to maintain or establish a BAA upon award. See Attachment J, Business Associate Agreement Template. The BAA is a stand-alone document managed by VHA.