7A21-- OVAHCS Employee Recognition Platform and Services (VA-26-00052104)

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Technology Acquisition Center in Eatontown, New Jersey, is soliciting offers for a healthcare-driven digital, cloud-based employee recognition platform under solicitation number 36C10B26Q0396, with a Women-Owned Small Business set-aside under NAICS code 541519. The contract requires the implementation of a Software-as-a-Service solution that supports at least 6,648 OVAHCS employees with real-time, two-way feedback mechanisms—pulling insights from patients, peers, caregivers, and family members while pushing personalized recognition and actionable data to staff. The platform must include a companion mobile application for Android and iOS, integrate with existing HR and authentication systems via Single Sign-On, and provide real-time analytics and leadership reporting tools to enhance staff engagement and Veteran experience outcomes. The solution must be hosted in a secure cloud environment, comply with the VA OIT Technical Reference Model, adhere to Section 508 Chapter 2 accessibility standards, and meet all VA Critical Security Controls, Zero Trust architecture requirements, and Trusted Internet Connection 3.0 guidelines. The contract includes a 12-month base period with four additional 12-month option periods, exercisable under FAR 52.217-9, and requires compliance with a range of federal and VA-specific clauses, including data segregation, ICTS supply chain security, Unbiased AI Principles, and mandatory audit rights for VA, OIG, and GAO. Offerors must submit quotes via email to Allison.Fulton@va.gov and Mina.Awad@va.gov no later than July 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, with all documents under 5 MB and no hyperlinks or embedded attachments permitted. Proposals must be submitted on an “all or none” basis, with complete pricing for all line items, including base and optional years, and must include an OEM certification letter for all listed products. A current, active System for Award Management registration is mandatory and serves as a non-negotiable eligibility gate; failure to maintain SAM certification results in automatic disqualification. Invoices must be submitted electronically in arrears upon delivery acceptance per VAAR 852.232-72, with payments processed via electronic funds transfer according to FAR 52.232-33. Compliance with data protection standards, including physical and logical segregation, encryption, and media sanitization,