Request for information Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Wiley Medicine and Nursing ejournals Collection (Brand Name or Equal) RFI #: VA701-16-N-0003 Issue Date: 10/19/2015 Response Due Date: 10/23/2015 10:00 am EDT E-mail: Communicate directly with Michaeljon Joris, Contract Specialist by email at
[email protected]. Please ensure all email correspondence contains: RFI# VA701-16-N-0003 in the subject line of the email. Issued by: This Request for Information is being issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Program Contract Activity - Central (PCAC) on behalf of VA, VHA Office of Informatics an Analytics (OIA). RFI Purpose: This RFI is set forth to survey the commercial market place for written responses with information to assist in identifying potential sources that are interested and reasonably capable of performed the work described herein. Requirement Background: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requires an existing commercial off the shelf web based, (brand name or equal) Wiley Medicine and Nursing ejournals Collection product that will be made available throughout the VHA healthcare system. This product will enable the VHA in achieving its goal to ensure uniform availability of high quality, clinical healthcare knowledge based resources across the VHA system to improve clinical decision making. 1) Providing access nationwide to standard knowledge based clinical healthcare information resources will build on the enterprise wide availability of the web based version of New England Journal of Medicine and other online resources. 2) Initiating a nationwide, centralized purchase to capitalize on the economies of scale offered by vendors. 3) Wiley Medicine and Nursing ejournals Collection available through CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System), the VA's Electronic Health Record, nationwide to insure consistent access at the bedside for all VHA health professionals and staff. Minimum Product Requirements: A. The desired goals of the nationwide provision of a commercial Wiley Medicine and Nursing Journals Collection (brand name or equal) are as follows: 1) The vendor will provide all sites on the VHA network with access to a single online, web-based product. Authentication will be through IP address validation on an enterprise basis, eliminating the need for users to enter identification, username and/or password. 2) An unrestricted number of simultaneous users are to have immediate access from any web-enabled computer within VHA. It is required that all authorized remote users with VPN access have access to the product. This license must cover all Department of Veterans Affairs employees as authorized users no matter their physical work location or point of access to this product. This license will also allow for authorized user access at all Department of Veterans Affairs current and future physical facilities included but not limited to current and future medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, DOMs, vet centers and all other locations where Department of Veterans Affairs employees work. 3) Currently there are 152 VHA libraries providing remote access through Athens authentication service. This product should have technical capability to include Athens authentication for remote users in this contract. B. Information Scope: 1) Knowledge based information covering medicine and nursing healthcare, for use by healthcare providers. 2) Information that reflects current practice issues and supports clinical decision making. 3) Comprehensive information in a single product available for stand-alone purchase or license, independent of complementary products offered by the vendor. C. Information Quality: 1) Information is accurate, authoritative, and relevant. D. Usability: 1) Navigation within the system is logical and is EASY to use. 2) The product has "USER FRIENDLY" HELP and DIRECTIONAL AIDS. E. Currency 1) Journals should be maintained with the most current issues available WITH NO embargo period. F. Access, Content, Support 1) Product is 508 compliant. (http://www.section508.gov/) 2) Access to be granted through IP address validation on an enterprise basis, eliminating the need for users to enter identification, username and/or password. 3) An unrestricted number of simultaneous users are to have immediate access from any web-enabled computer throughout VHA. It is required that all authorized remote users (with VPN, dial-up, wireless, etc. access) have access to the product through any VA networked computer and/or CPRS. A username and/or password option must be offered for remote users if needed. 4) All site content and support of the web site is the responsibility of the contractor. This includes tech support to VHA users nationwide. 5) The product's licensing agreement shall permit free use for educational purposes of all pictures and graphics. 6) Usage statistics are available to the system administrator on an enterprise level. 7) The contractor shall offer training services. Training session (web-based or live) shall be set up to train VHA staff on use of the product. Submittal Information: All potential sources who are interested and believe their business is reasonably capable of fulfilling the requirement are invited to submit, in writing, a capability statement with sufficient information to substantiate your business is reasonably capable of performing the work. The capability statement must demonstrate a business's ability to fulfill the requirement. Submission Contents: Please include: A. Cover Sheet: 1. Company Name 2. Company Address 3. Point of Contact 4. Telephone Number 5. E-mail Address 6. DUNS Number 7. Company business size and socioeconomic status (i.e., Large Business, Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business,). Specify any teaming arrangements and how those arrangements will impact the structure of services their company can provide including technical expertise provided by each company. Please specify the percentage of work the each company will perform. 8. If the company holds a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract, list the GSA Contract Number and relevant Special Item Numbers (SINS) applicable to this requirement. B. Capabilities / Qualifications: 1. A written response providing clear and unambiguous evidence to substantiate the capacity to fulfill this requirement. RFI Point of Contact (POC): Michaeljon Joris Contract Specialist VHA Program Contract Activity Central 6150 Oak Tree Boulevard Suite 300 Independence, OH 44131 Please submit electronic responses (via email) to Michael Joris at
[email protected]. no later than 10:00 AM EDT on Friday, October 23rd , 2015. Additional Information: All information received in response to this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses will assist in determining the acquisition strategy used for this procurement. For example, if enough interested Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) respond and are determined to be reasonably capable of fulfilling the requirement, the acquisition strategy may be set-aside for SDVOSB concerns; therefore, interested vendors who believe their business is capable of performing the work are strongly encouraged to respond by the date specified. At this time no acquisition strategy has been decided. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. 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. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. End of Document