DA10--Firely Simplifier Tool (VA-26-00034718)

Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition

This document justifies a sole-source contract action for Firely Simplifier, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The platform is required for creating, validating, documenting, and publishing Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) specifications.

• SaaS subscription licenses for the Firely Simplifier platform (Simplifier Enterprise Plus with Single Sign-On, Forge Seats, Projects).

• Associated maintenance, updates, and vendor-provided training.

• Capabilities include authoring/maintaining FHIR API Implementation Guides, validating FHIR artifacts against HL7 standards, managing structure definitions, value sets, code systems, capability statements, test cases, and example resources, generating human-readable and machine-consumable specifications, and enterprise collaboration for FHIR specifications.

• The tool replaces manual methods (spreadsheets, text editors) to improve productivity and reduce rework in standards development.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Period of Performance: One (1) 12-month base period with four (4) 12-month option periods.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the contract action does not exceed $900,000.

This document is a justification for sole-source procurement, not a solicitation. Therefore, proposal submission and evaluation criteria are not applicable.

This is a sole-source justification, citing "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements" (FAR 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)).

• Market research confirmed that Firely Simplifier is the only commercially available, supported SaaS tool meeting VA's requirements for enterprise FHIR specification development.
• Open-source alternatives (HL7 IG Publisher, Lantana Consulting Group's Trifolia on FHIR) were evaluated and found to be unsupported, discontinued, or lacking enterprise capabilities.
• Firely USA Inc. is the exclusive provider of the Simplifier SaaS platform.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) specification development platform. The platform will provide integrated capabilities for collaborative authoring, standards conformance validation, version control, documentation generation, and publication of FHIR Implementation Guides (IGs) for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its trading partners. The goal is to replace existing manual processes with a web-based SaaS environment to improve productivity and reduce delays in standards development.

• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

• Capabilities include: Authoring/maintaining FHIR API IGs and companion specifications; validating FHIR artifacts against HL7 standards; managing Structure Definitions, Value Sets, Code Systems, Capability Statements, test cases, and example resources; generating and publishing human-readable and machine-consumable specifications; and enterprise collaboration, reuse, and lifecycle management of FHIR specifications.

• Products include: Simplifier Enterprise Plus with Single Sign-On (SSO), Forge Seats, Projects, and Simplifier Maintenance.

• Compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

• Compliance with the VA OIT Technical Reference Model (VA TRM).

• Implementation of VA Critical Security Controls by July 1, 2025.

• Support for IPv6-Only environments.

• Adherence to Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) Initiative requirements.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: One (1) 12-month base period with four (4) 12-month option periods.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but pricing is detailed in Section B.4.

• Offer Due Date: May 11, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT.

• Submission Method: Email to Contract Specialist Keith Long and Contracting Officer Matthew Truex. File size limit is 5 MB per email.

• Evaluation Basis: Lowest priced, responsive, responsible offer that conforms to the solicitation requirements. The Government may evaluate the total proposed price first and then the lowest priced offeror's quote.

• Quotes must be "all or none" and must not deviate from the Government's minimum terms and conditions.

• Offerors must provide an authorization letter or other verification from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

• The acquisition is listed as "UNRESTRICTED".

• NAICS Code: 513210, Size Standard: $47 Million.

• The solicitation incorporates by reference numerous FAR and VAAR clauses and provisions.

• Contact Information: Keith Long (Contract Specialist) at Keith.Long2@va.gov and Matthew Truex (Contracting Officer) at matthew.truex1@va.gov.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services, issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ) under Federal Acquisition Regulations subpart 12.2. It serves as the only solicitation, and no separate solicitation will be issued. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract for Firely Simplifier Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription licenses.

• Firely Simplifier platform licenses.

• Associated maintenance and updates.

• Vendor-provided training.

• Contract Type: Sole source, firm-fixed-price.

• Period of Performance: One 12-month Base Period, with four (4) 12-month Option Periods.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the NAICS code size standard is $47.0 million.

• This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested.

• Specific submission instructions are referenced in an attachment (RFQ 36C10B26Q0228).

• Key Deadline: Response Date/Time/Zone is 05-11-2026 12:00PM EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA.

• This is a sole source award.

• The requiring activity is the Veterans Health Administration, Digital Health Office, Office of Clinical Informatics, Knowledge-Based Systems directorate, Director of Standards & Interoperability.

• The vendor is Firely USA, Inc, located at 228 East 45th Street, Suite 9E New York, NY 10017.

• NAICS Code: 513210 (Software Publishers).

• Product/Service Code: DA10.

• Contracting Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Technology Acquisition Center, Eatontown, NJ.

• Point of Contact: Keith Long, Contract Specialist (Keith.Long2@va.gov).

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis and solicitation for the Firely Simplifier Tool, identified by solicitation number 36C10B26Q0228. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Technology Acquisition Center, is procuring this tool.

Specific requirements or deliverables are not detailed in the provided text, but the document is identified as a solicitation for the "Firely Simplifier Tool."

• Contracting Office ZIP Code: 07724

• Contracting Office Address: Department of Veterans Affairs, Technology Acquisition Center, 23 Christopher Way, Eatontown NJ 07724

• Product Service Code: DA10

• NAICS Code: 513210 (Software Publishers)

• Response Date/Time/Zone: May 11, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Time, New York, USA

• Archive: 60 days after the response date.

Information regarding set-aside or specific eligibility requirements is not detailed in the provided text.

• The primary point of contact is Keith Long, Contract Specialist, at Keith.Long2@va.gov.
• The solicitation document itself is attached.
• This is a combined synopsis and solicitation notice.