DG11--CJIS VAPD

The Department of Veterans Affairs Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System is procuring a secure, dedicated point-to-point metro Ethernet circuit to establish uninterrupted connectivity with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for access to the Criminal Justice Information System, a mission-critical service requiring strict adherence to FBI CJIS security standards. The contract, issued under solicitation 36C26226Q0491 through simplified acquisition procedures, mandates delivery of a 10 Mbps circuit with a complementary 2 Mbps iQ Internet Port integrated with existing onsite Fortinet FortiGate 61F Secure SD-WAN infrastructure. Performance is required at the Prescott, Arizona facility beginning May 8, 2026, with a base year and four option years extending through 2031, and all work must conform to VA Handbook 6500.6 and other federal IT security protocols. Proposals must demonstrate technical capability through compliance with Special Standards, past performance history indicating low risk, and competitive pricing, with award determined using a trade-off approach favoring the most advantageous offer rather than lowest price technically acceptable. All submissions are to be delivered via email to Jamie ElBedawi, Contract Specialist, no later than 5:00 p.m. MST on May 5, 2026, and must include four required volumes: Business Proposal, Special Standards, Past Performance, and optionally SDVOSB/VOSB Credit documentation. The solicitation requires active SAM registration, UEI and CAGE code certifications, and affirmative representations regarding small business, veteran-owned status, and compliance with prohibitions on Kaspersky, ByteDance, and other restricted technologies. The contractor must conduct a Contractor Security Control Assessment within 30 days of award and annually thereafter, ensure all personnel meet VA and Joint Commission standards, and adhere to federal labor requirements including minimum wage and paid sick leave mandates. Payment will be made electronically via Tungsten Network using EDI-compliant formats, and the contract incorporates multiple FAR clauses covering ethics, whistleblower rights, trafficking in persons, employment verification, supply chain security, and service contract reporting. No packaging or delivery specifications beyond FOB Destination are defined, and the contract is structured as a firm fixed price, non-severable service agreement with no subcontractor flow-down unless critical security clauses apply.