Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF MAY 22, 2016 FBO #5294
DOCUMENT

B -- Veterans Benefits Optimization Modeling - Attachment

Notice Date

5/20/2016
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

NAICS

541611 — Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs;Veterans Benefits Administration;Office of Acquisition;1800 G. Street N.W.;Washington DC 20006
 

ZIP Code

20006
 

Solicitation Number

VA101V16N0251
 

Response Due

5/31/2016
 

Archive Date

6/20/2016
 

Point of Contact

Ross Byrne
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) INTRODUCTION THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this Request for Information in accordance with FAR 8. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation; therefore, do not submit a quote. There is no obligation for the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in developing its acquisition strategy and to revise the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Only electronic responses to this RFI will be accepted. The Government will not pay for any time expended or information submitted in response to this RFI. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. BACKGROUND The VBA has a need for advanced predictive and simulation modeling, database assimilation, and econometric and analytical consultative services to support VBA leadership decisions on the delivery of future benefits and services to Veterans. QUESTIONS AND CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERESTED CONTRACTORS Responses are solely treated as information for the Government to consider. Direct or Indirect costs incurred in response to this RFI are at the expense of the vendor, not the Government. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any contract that may be awarded will not be based on information received or derived from this RFI, but rather on the outcome of a subsequent competitive process. It is requested that all vendors interested in participating in this effort note their interest by responding to the areas identified in the "Company Details", "Capabilities Statement", and "General Questions" sections below. Company Details The page limit for responses to this section is 1 page. 1.Provide company point(s) of contact information (name, email address, address, telephone, and fax numbers). 2.Identify if your company are any of the following business concern statuses (include all that apply): Small Business (SB); Certified Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) firm; Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB); Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB); Economically Disadvantage Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB); Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB); Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HubZone) Small Business; Large Business 3.Provide contracting vehicles your company holds, such as GSA schedules. Capabilities Statement The page limit for responses to this section is 5 pages. 1.Provide an overview of your firm's capabilities to fulfill the requirements of the PWS, to include organizational and staff capability and experience. 2.Provide a brief narrative summary of your technical approach to meet VA's high-level requirements in the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). 3.Provide an examples of development and use of predictive models; econometric analyses including maximum likelihood estimation, simulation modeling, database analysis. 4.Describe your experience in combining and assimilating multiple data sources, including VA, public use, and non-public data and development of comprehensive, combined analytic files. 5.Provide summary of qualifications of specific personnel that your company proposes to perform the services required in the PWS, including publications in peer reviewed journals. 6.If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, please address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. 7.Provide up to three (3) contracts that your company has performed for the same or similar requirement and of comparable size, complexity and scope. Describe scope and similarities and differences as pertinent. Identify tools that were part of your solution, emphasizing econometric and simulation tools. Please be specific and provide a complete reference to include: contract number, contract title, description, period of performance, and award amount; as well as identify whether you performed as a prime contractor, sub-contractor, teaming partner, or as a project manager.. General Questions The page limit for responses in this section is 1 page. 1.Provide feedback and recommend any changes to better support the requirements detailed in the PWS. RESPONSE SUBMISSION Please submit responses via email to ross.byrne@va.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time, May 20 2016. VA reserves the right to not reply to any emails, responses, and/or materials submitted. **DRAFT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT A.GENERAL INFORMATION 1.Title of Project: Veterans Benefits Optimization Model 2.Scope of Work: This contract shall provide advanced predictive modeling, simulation modeling, and analytical consultation services in support of Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leadership decisions on delivery of future benefits and services to Veterans. The contract shall identify quantitative elements for prioritizing demand and capacity requirements and establish a functional system for accurately and continuously measuring impact of VBA services on Veteran socio-economic outcomes. 3.Background: Currently VBA's forecast methods for determining benefits demand and output capacity differ across Line of Business (LOB). These approaches do not consider how the demand and outputs from one LOB affects those of another LOB in a consistent and integrated way. The project will create a uniform and quantitative method to forecast benefits demand, measure output capacity, identify mission requirements gaps between demand and capacity, an estimate the resource cost to close the gap, and the consequences to the Veteran of not closing the gap. This project will allow VBA to create an integrated format for demand forecasting, determine the interdependencies between LOB activities, and evaluate resource prioritization. It is critical that resource planning be done to determine improvements in workforce capabilities. The improvements that can be achieved require longer term planning so that the workforce capabilities are optimized to deliver benefits to service members, Veterans, family members, and survivors in an efficient and effective manner. Moreover a better understanding is needed to determine how benefits and combination of benefits affects the Veteran so that the right priorities and tradeoffs can be made. 4.Period of Performance: The period of performance is one (1) twelve (12) month base period plus three (3) optional twelve (12) month periods. 5.Place of Performance: The Contractor personnel shall be performing at both government site and Contractor business locations. The Government will provide work and meeting space for two on-site Contractor personnel at VBA central office located at: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration, Office of Strategic Planning 1800 G St., NW Washington, DC 20006 Additionally the government will also provide a laptop and printing for each onsite personnel. The Contractor shall provide space and equipment at their business locations for the remaining personnel. B.SPECIFIC TASKS and DELIVERABLES Task 1: Project Management Plan (PMP): Focused on tasks, dependencies between tasks, level of effort per task, and estimated due dates. Deliverable 1.1: Initial project management plan (PMP) that identifies all tasks, deliverables, resources to be utilized, timetables, milestones and delivery dates for the base year and each option years. The PMP shall be submitted within 20 work days after the award of the contract for the base year and with 20 work days after the commencement of each option years. Deliverable 1.2: A bi-weekly status report meeting with an agenda prior to the meeting, followed up with meeting minutes. Deliverable 1.3: A monthly report emailed three (3) work days after the last work day of every month on the project status. Task 2: Integrated Demand Forecasting Models: Develop demand forecasting and simulation models using state of the art econometric methods and encompassing performance standards, Veteran demand, and the relationship between resources and productivity. Inform VBA on an integrated, enterprise-wide level the organizational performances needed to meet Veteran services demand. Ascertain areas where forecasted demand exceeds performance capacity and quantitatively demonstrate the level of resources and performance improvements necessary to meet standards. The models shall be integrated across LOBs utilizing VBA internal Veteran and claim data from the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW), data collected from each LOB, and external socioeconomic factors from other government data, such as the American Community Survey, to identify evidence- based resources requirements as a function of: oVeteran demographics (e.g., age, sex, race/ethnicity) oService characteristics (e.g., time since active duty separation, theater of war) oService-connected disability rating oState of the economy (e.g., labor market conditions, housing market conditions) oEmployment and income status of Veteran oValue of the benefit or service to the Veteran Deliverable 2.1: Descriptive plan listing the specification of the demand models, the data components and sources for the development of the demand models, and the econometric methods used to estimate the models. The plan shall be submitted within 30 work days from the commencement of the project. Deliverable 2.2: Interim predictive and simulation models for demand forecast developed in VBA approved statistical software and compatible with VA IT environment. The interim models shall be submitted 6 months from the commencement of the project. Deliverable 2.3: Final predictive and simulation models for demand forecast developed in VBA approved statistical software and compatible with VA IT environment. The final models shall be submitted 11 months from the commencement of the project and shall incorporate feedback and inputs from VBA leaderships and stakeholders. Deliverable 2.4: Documentation of validation results, model methodology and mechanics. The documentation shall be submitted 10 work days after the acceptance of deliverable 2.3. Task 3: Integrated Organizational Capacity Models: Develop uniform, consistent capacity models across VBA LOBs utilizing uniform measurement for LOB outputs. The models should account for the effect of staffing and other resources on capacity, and be able to predict output, cycle time, and backlog, given resources and demand, and evaluate changes in processing methods or policy on these values. Encompass employee and organizational engagement to include: "People: Experience, Grade, Position Type (e.g., VSR), Training for Employees "Process: Claim management, DoD-VA policies to improve transfer from military to civilian life, Pre-application Initiatives (e.g., Claims clinics, Pre-discharge programs), and Virtual work and optimized use of facilities "Technology: Common data and integrated IT solutions Deliverable 3.1: Descriptive plan listing the data components and sources for the development of the capacity models. The plan shall be submitted within 30 work days from the commencement of the project. Deliverable 3.2: Interim organizational capacity models developed in VBA approved statistical software and compatible with VA IT environment. The interim models shall be submitted 6 months from the commencement of the project. Deliverable 3.3: Final organizational capacity models developed in VBA approved statistical software and compatible with VA IT environment. The final models shall be submitted 11 months from the commencement of the project and shall incorporate feedback and inputs from VBA leaderships and stakeholders. Deliverable 3.4: Documentation of validation results, model methodology and mechanics. The documentation shall be submitted 10 work days after the acceptance of deliverable 3.3. Task 4: VBA Enterprise-wide Impact Assessments: The project shall assess the impact of VBA benefits and services on Veteran wellbeing in iterative fashion alongside the development of the demand and capacity models. Resource and mission requirements gaps will be linked to performance gaps and expressed in terms of Veteran socioeconomic impact. The gap identification will then be used by VBA leadership in making objective determinations in resource prioritization relative to Veteran impact. Deliverable 4.1: Develop an integrated database of internal and external data to support complex analysis of Veteran socioeconomic impact in the context of VBA benefits and services. The database shall be submitted for interim review 3 months from the commencement of the contract and shall be completed 6 months from the commencement of the contract. Deliverable 4.2: Conduct interim policy analyses in parallel with the database to isolate impact of VBA of benefits on Veteran socioeconomic wellbeing. The analyses shall include comparisons of measures of socioeconomic wellbeing of Veterans who utilize VBA benefits to Veteran non-users as well as demographically similar non-Veterans. These measures should include income, employment status, education and homeownership and attempt to account for any selection bias using state of the art statistical and econometric methods. The interim findings of the analyses shall be submitted 3 months from the commencement of the project and the final findings of the analyses shall be submitted 6 months from the commencement of the contract. Deliverable 4.3: Conduct final analyses of VBA benefit impact on Veteran wellbeing utilizing findings from the interim analyses and the integrated database to further refine and quantify the socioeconomic impact of VBA's portfolio of benefits and services. The final analyses shall be submitted 9 months from the commencement of the project. Deliverable 4.4: Document the findings of the final impact analyses and translate them into objective, quantitative performance outputs for VBA leadership resource prioritization decisions. The documentation shall be submitted 11 months from the commencement of the project. Task 5: Base Year Briefings and Training: The contractor shall provide briefings and training to ensure that VBA staff assigned to the project understands and are able to maintain the models after the conclusion of the contract. Deliverable 5.1: Within 10 work days of acceptance of deliverables under 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3 and 4.1, the contractor shall provide training session to designated VBA staff on the maintenance of the models, including training manuals, workshops, and presentations. Deliverable 5.2: Within 5 work days of acceptance of deliverables 4.2 and 4.3 the contractor shall provide a briefing of the analyses findings to designated VBA staff and facilitate group discussions on potential policy implications and gather feedback, and provide a written summary of the facilitation session. Deliverable 5.3: Within 15 work days of acceptance of deliverables 2.3, 3.3, and 4.3 the contractor shall provide an executive briefing to the senior VBA leadership on the major findings and/or capabilities of the deliverables, gather leadership feedback, and provide written summary of the briefing. Deliverable 5.4: At the conclusion of deliverable 5.3, the contractor shall produce a publication discussing the methodology and description of the system of models. The intended audience of the publication is VA enterprise wide as well as key external stakeholders. The level of quality of the publication must be consistent with for mathematical and econometric industry publications. The purpose of the publication is to establish a broad, enterprise-wide engagement and generate support for a uniform VA quantitative approach in conducting analytics and forecasting. Task 6: Qualitative Strategic Level Veteran Outcome Determination: A qualitative analysis of the implications of measuring Veteran Outcomes. The task includes defining what a Veteran Outcome is or could be, theorizing how the society's expectations can be linked to a Veteran Outcome, and the merits of including or excluding a Veteran's actions from a determination of Veteran Outcome achievement. Task intention is to develop a clear and concise vision of the outcome expected from VBA benefits and services. Baseline standards for Veteran demographics shall be formulated. Various drivers of change in this relationship shall also be analyzed. Deliverable 6.1: Analytical report on Strategic Veteran Outcomes on the following elements: "Relationship between current benefits provided and desired effect on Veteran Outcomes. "Analysis of the effect of Veteran choice on the achievement of desired Veteran Outcomes. "Mapping of VBA service delivery model. Task 7: Quantitative Interpretation of Strategic Veteran Outcome Determination: Once a qualitative Veteran Outcome has been established, a quantitative interpretation of that baseline must be defined in order to establish credible indicators for measurement. The best feasible quantitative measures shall be identified to capture the qualitative outcome measure. Task intentions are to apply statistical theory to the establishment of Veteran Outcomes, providing a mathematical and statistical description of the societal expectations. Topics of research include data modelling, and collecting, summarizing, interpreting data and applying the data to draw inferences regarding Veteran qualitative outcomes. Quantitative measures developed in this way shall not only reflect qualitative baselines but also inform revisions of those original baselines. Defined outcome standards shall satisfy acceptable levels of Veteran Outcome performance. Deliverable 7.1: Quantitative analysis report on Strategic Veteran Outcomes on the following elements: "Identification of relevant Veteran and civilian population cohorts. "Establishment of significant comparative metrics between Veterans and civilians. "Analysis of variable factors that compose the level of socio-economic stability for analyzed populations including employability and education level. "Current measurement capabilities shall be inventoried and gaps in data measurement capabilities shall be identified. Gap solutions shall be recommended. Data sources shall include VBA operational data, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics data, census data and survey opportunities. "IT infrastructure requirements for an initial and continuous comprehensive measurement system shall be defined. Data organization and classification shall also be explored. Task 8: Option Year 1 Briefings and Training: The contractor shall provide briefings and training to ensure that VBA staff assigned to the project understands and are able to maintain and update the analyses after the conclusion of the contract. Deliverable 8.1: Within 10 work days of acceptance of deliverables under 6.1 and 7.1, the contractor shall provide training session to designated VBA staff on the components, maintenance, and periodic updates to the analyses, including training manuals, workshops, and presentations. Deliverable 8.2: Within 5 work days of acceptance of deliverables 6.1 and 7.1 the contractor shall provide a briefing of the analyses findings to designated VBA staff and facilitate group discussions on potential policy implications and gather feedback, and provide a written summary of the facilitation session. Deliverable 8.3: Within 15 work days of acceptance of deliverables 6.1 and 7.1 the contractor shall provide an executive briefing to the senior VBA leadership on the major findings and/or capabilities of the deliverables, gather leadership feedback, and provide written summary of the briefing. Deliverable 8.4: At the conclusion of deliverable 7.1, the contractor shall produce a publication discussing the methodology, description of the analyses, findings and conclusions from Task 6 and 7. The intended audience of the publication is VA enterprise wide as well as key external stakeholders. The level of quality of the publication must be consistent with for mathematical and econometric industry publications. The purpose of the publication is to establish a broad, enterprise-wide engagement and generate support for a uniform VA quantitative approach in conducting analytics and forecasting. Task 9: Operational Level Veteran Outcome Determination for Specific Benefits: Current VBA benefits must be examined to identify what portion of established Veteran outcome standards are captured by current benefits and services operation. Measurements of current benefits should be individually identifiable and relevant to current VBA operational goals and objectives. Providing a link between strategic level outcomes and operational goals is necessary to ensure future adoption of measurement standards by output-based operations within VBA. A facilitative effort will be necessary to accurately gauge and capture the input of VBA operational offices that will further refine and inform strategic Veteran Outcome baselines and improve the accuracy of quantitative measurements. Deliverable 9.1: Analytical report on Operational Veteran Outcomes on the following elements: "Current benefit operations influence on strategic level Veteran outcome achievement shall be isolated and analyzed in order to identify overlap and gaps. "Examination of gaps in current benefit performance measures. Task 10: Tactical Level Veteran Outcome Determination: Measurement of Veteran Outcome achievement must occur throughout the enterprise and translate from Customer-facing employees to the Department's organizational goals and missions. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Veteran-touching operations shall be derived from outputs of pervious tasks. KPIs developed shall need to provide insight into how VBA's services and benefits are providing for desired outcomes. The value of the different data sets involved in a benefit transaction shall be evaluated and tested for fidelity and efficacy. The task intention is to link full time equivalent employees (FTE) and automated workloads at the end of VBA value stream with strategic goals as well as identify gaps that shall inform operational decisions. Deliverable 10.1: Analytical report on Tactical Key Performance Indicators including the following elements: "Identification relevant and informative KPIs for Veteran-touching operations including parameter analysis and capacity modelling. "Analysis of the relationship between VBA's service delivery model and benefit value stream. "Modeling of Veteran experience before, during, and after benefit transactions. "Identification of relevant and informative data points and their measureable factors. "Data management and review system for KPIs shall be evaluated for compatibility with current systems with gaps identified. Task 11: Governance of Measurement System: The intention of developing relevant and informative Veteran Outcome measurements is to provide for a continuous system for reviewing Veteran Outcome satisfaction levels. VBA shall need to develop a regular process for accurately determining the level of Veteran Outcome achievement that Veterans are able to obtain with provided benefits. Deliverable 11.1: Governance recommendation report for Veteran Outcome measurement system including the following elements: "Automated data systems shall be reviewed for adaptability and accuracy in accurately depicting current relevant parameters of Veteran and civilian populations. "Necessary governance policies shall be identified to ensure system continues to provide accurate outputs. "System utilization procedures and policies shall be examined. "Analysis of human resources needed for system maintenance. Task 12: Option Year 2 Briefings and Training: The contractor shall provide briefings and training to ensure that VBA staff assigned to the project understands and are able to maintain and update the analyses after the conclusion of the contract. Deliverable 12.1: Within 10 work days of acceptance of deliverables under 9.1, 10.1, and 11.1, the contractor shall provide training session to designated VBA staff on the components, maintenance, and periodic updates to the analyses, including training manuals, workshops, and presentations. Deliverable 12.2: Within 5 work days of acceptance of deliverables 9.1 and 10.1, and 11.1 the contractor shall provide a briefing of the analyses findings to designated VBA staff and facilitate group discussions on potential policy implications and gather feedback, and provide a written summary of the facilitation session. Deliverable 12.3: Within 15 work days of acceptance of deliverables 9.1, 10.1 and 11.1 the contractor shall provide an executive briefing to the senior VBA leadership on the major findings and/or capabilities of the deliverables, gather leadership feedback, and provide written summary of the briefing. Deliverable 12.4: At the conclusion of deliverable 11.1, the contractor shall produce a publication discussing the methodology, description of the analyses, findings and conclusions from Task 9, 10, and 11. The intended audience of the publication is VA enterprise wide as well as key external stakeholders. The level of quality of the publication must be consistent with for mathematical and econometric industry publications. The purpose of the publication is to establish a broad, enterprise-wide engagement and generate support for a uniform VA quantitative approach in conducting analytics and forecasting. Task 13: Implementation of Veteran Outcome Measurement System: The current and future VBA business environment shall be analyzed in order to create a roadmap for system implementation that maximizes benefit access, quality, and stakeholder consensus while setting attainable goals for the next planning and programming cycle period. Deliverable 13.1: Environment-scan report including roadmap and recommendations on the implementation of developed Veteran Outcome measurement system including the following elements: "Examination of current initiatives and vehicles that support the Veteran Outcome measurement. "Investigation on related historical examples of performance indicator measurement systems in the public benefit sector. "Identification of parties and policies that could support and inform further development of a measurement system. "Report on utilizing Veteran Outcome metrics in support of new or currently existing Agency Priority Goals (APGs). Task 14: Forecasting Policy Impacts on Veteran Outcomes Established through Measurement System: Upon completion and validation of the Measurement System, a forecasting functionality shall be added to the system using proven statistical methodologies to predict the impacts of changing strategic initiatives, policies, demographics, and other environmental factors with continuous impacts. Deliverable 14.1: Create forecasting functionality within Measurement System: "Apply statistical and simulation methodologies to historical trends identified in the Measurement System to create a forecasting functionality capable of evaluating impact of strategic initiatives and policy proposals. "Verify and validate forecasting results and adjust statistical methods as needed to improve the veracity of projections. Task 15: Briefings and Training: The contractor shall provide instructional briefings and training in coordination with the Tasks 6 through 12 to ensure that VBA staff assigned to the project understands and are able to maintain the models and reports after the conclusion of the contract. The contractor shall provide leadership briefings in coordination with Tasks 6 through 12 to present, discuss, and justify the findings and recommendations from these report to senior VBA and VA leaders. Deliverable 15.1: Within 10 work days of acceptance of deliverables under 13.1 and 14.1, the contractor shall provide training session to designated VBA staff on the components, maintenance, and periodic updates to the analyses, including training manuals, workshops, and presentations. Deliverable 15.2: Within 5 work days of acceptance of deliverables 13.1 and 14.1, the contractor shall provide a briefing of the analyses findings to designated VBA staff and facilitate group discussions on potential policy implications and gather feedback, and provide a written summary of the facilitation session. Deliverable 15.3: Within 15 work days of acceptance of deliverables 13.1 and 14.1, the contractor shall provide an executive briefing to the senior VBA leadership on the major findings and/or capabilities of the deliverables, gather leadership feedback, and provide written summary of the briefing. Deliverable 15.4: At the conclusion of deliverable 14.1, the contractor shall produce a publication discussing the methodology, description of the analyses, findings and conclusions from Task 13 and 14. The intended audience of the publication is VA enterprise wide as well as key external stakeholders. The level of quality of the publication must be consistent with for mathematical and econometric industry publications. The purpose of the publication is to establish a broad, enterprise-wide engagement and generate support for a uniform VA quantitative approach in conducting analytics and forecasting. C.PERSONNEL AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall provide personnel capable of performing predictive and econometric modeling, statistical analysis using large databases development of state of the art econometric models and microsimulation models, process analysis and re-design for successful accomplishment of the work to be performed under this contract. Additionally, Contractor personnel must demonstrate knowledge and expertise on relevant data structures through successful past performance of analytical efforts similar to tasks described. Task leaders for modeling should have advanced degrees in statistics or economics, and proven capability in quantitative modeling with a record of publications in peer reviewed journals. The qualifications should include familiarity with multivariate logit models, other limited dependent variable models, regression, maximum likelihood methods, and microsimulation modeling. They should also be familiar with VA data, and public use data sources such as the American Community Survey, Current Population Survey and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. They should also be familiar with statistical software to include SAS and STATA. D.SECURITY REQUIREMENTS All contractor employees are subject to the same level of investigation as VA employees who have access to VA sensitive information or access to VA facilities. The background investigation includes the following requirements: 1) Completed documentation 2) Fingerprints 3) Completion of OPM's e-QIP Questionnaire. The Contractor is required to fulfill all of the security requirements. The Contractor, upon completion of fingerprinting, and an initial suitability determination, may be authorized tentative access to start the performance period of the contract, but only on condition of completion of all security requirements. This requirement is applicable to all subcontractor personnel requiring the same access. The contractor shall bear the expense of obtaining background investigations. If the investigation is conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through the VA, the contractor shall reimburse the VA within 30 days. Access to VA Information and VA Information Systems VA will supply the contractor with the minimum logical (technical) and/or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for employees, sub-contractors: (1) to perform the services specified in the contract, (2) to perform necessary maintenance functions for electronic storage or transmission media necessary for performance of the contract, and (3) for individuals who first satisfy the same conditions, requirements, and restrictions that comparable VA employees must meet to have access to the same type of VA information. All contractors and subcontractors working with VA Sensitive Information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of regular VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level of background security investigation will be in accordance with VA Directive 0710, Handbook 0710, which are available at: http://www1.va.gov/vapubs, and VHA Directive 0710 and Implementation Handbook 0710.01, which are available at: http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/index.cfm. Contractors are responsible for screening their employees. The following are VA's approved policy exceptions for meeting VA background screenings/investigative requirements for certain types of contractor personnel: "Contractor personnel not accessing VA information resources, such as personnel hired to maintain the medical facility grounds, construction contracts, utility system contractors, etc. "Contractor personnel with limited and intermittent access to equipment connected to networks on which no VA sensitive information resides. "Contractor personnel with limited and intermittent access to equipment connected to networks on which limited VA sensitive information resides and with limited and intermittent access to facilities at which they are escorted. VA Information Custodial Requirements VA information provided to the contractor for either the performance or administration of this contract shall only be used for those purposes. No other use is permitted without the CO's express written authorization. This clause expressly limits the contractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data - General, FAR 52.227-14(d)(1). The Government shall retain the rights to all data and records produced in the execution or administration of this contract. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, the contractor will not destroy information received from VA or gathered or created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the CO. A contractor destroying data on VA's behalf must do so accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management, and its Handbook 6300.1, Records Management Procedures, and applicable VA Records Control Schedules. All data and reports shall be transferred to VBA upon contract completion. The contractor shall not make copies of VA information, electronic or otherwise, except as necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor needs to be restored to an operating state. The contractor shall not use technologies banned in VA in meeting the requirements of the contract (e.g., Bluetooth-enabled devices). Physical Security If the contract requires taking VA data to a contractor site and the data contains Personally Identifiable Information, the contractor will provide an independent physical security assessment of their facility to the COR prior to commencing work. General guidelines for physical security can be found in VA Directive 0730, Section 6 (Physical Security) and VA Memorandum (subject: IT Oversight & Compliance Information Physical Security Assessments) dated October 24, 2007. Training All contractor and subcontractor personnel requiring access to VA information and VA information systems shall complete the following before being granted access to VA information and networks: 1.Sign and acknowledge understanding of and responsibilities for compliance with the National Rules of Behavior related to access to VA information and information systems. 2.Successfully complete VA Information Security Awareness training and annual refresher training, as required. 3.Successfully complete VA Privacy Awareness training and annual refresher training as required. 4.Successfully complete any additional Information Security or Privacy training as required for VA personnel with equivalent information system access. The contractor shall provide to the COR a copy of the training certificates for each applicable employee within one week of the initiation of the contract and annually thereafter, as required. These online courses are located at www.tms.va.gov. To self-enroll, click the "Create New User" button on the red bar and complete the assigned training. The COR will provide the contractor with the appropriate information to complete self-enrollment. Technical issues with TMS should be directed to the TMS help desk at vatmshelp@va.gov or 1.866.496.0463. Failure to complete this mandatory training within the timeframe required will be grounds for suspension or termination of all physical and/or electronic access privileges and removal from work on the contract until such time as the training is completed. Contractor Personnel Security All contract employees who require access to the VA site(s) and/or access to VA local area network (LAN) systems shall be the subject of a background investigation and must receive a favorable adjudication from the VA Security and Investigations Center (SIC). These requirements are applicable to all subcontractor personnel requiring the same level of Background Investigation.
 

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