Employee Recognition Service (VA-26-00052104)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), specifically the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS), has issued a Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) for a Healthcare-driven Digital, Cloud-based Employee Recognition Platform. This platform will enable recognition of OVAHCS staff by employees, patients, caregivers, and family members. This RFI is set aside for Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Responses are due by April 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST.
Scope of Work
The VA seeks a platform utilizing a push/pull technology approach to facilitate real-time feedback and deliver personalized recognition. Key capabilities include:
- Generating detailed reports on patient satisfaction, patient safety, and staff recognition data.
- Capturing real-time, in-the-moment patient feedback.
- Providing prioritized, real-time results and insights.
- Offering marketing and communication tools to improve patient experience and employee engagement.
- Accessibility on Android and Apple devices, supporting up to 6,648 OVAHCS employees.
- Technical support services to ensure continuous functionality.
Salient characteristics include digital recognition by Veterans and families, mobile accessibility, multi-language support, feedback routing, integration with existing recognition programs (e.g., DAISY Award), configurable questions, real-time notifications, and reinforcement of VA's ICARE values. The platform must be a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) hosted in a secure cloud environment with a companion mobile application and Single Sign-On (SSO) integration.
Compliance & Security
The platform must adhere to stringent security and compliance standards, including:
- ISO27001 and HIPAA for Information Security Management.
- SOC 2 Type II certification.
- VA Critical Security Controls (effective July 1, 2025).
- SSN reduction, IPv6-Only environments, and Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) requirements.
- Strict adherence to Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) requirements, prohibiting public AI services for VA-sensitive data and requiring comprehensive AI system documentation.
- Section 508 accessibility standards.
RFI Response Requirements
This RFI is for planning purposes only and is not a solicitation. Vendors must:
- Provide company information (Name, Address, POC, Business Size/Status with SBA certification for VOSB/SDVOSB, NAICS code(s), socioeconomic data, UEI Number).
- Summarize capability to meet the draft Product Description (PD) requirements (10-page limit, no marketing materials).
- Address intent and ability to meet the Certified SDVOSB set-aside, including personnel, financial resources, proposed team members, and subcontracting plans (not more than 50% to non-SDVOSBs).
- Indicate if the draft PD sufficiently details technical requirements and provide technical comments/recommendations if not.
Contract & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- NAICS Code: 541519 (Computer Systems Design Services) with a 150-employee size standard.
- Set-Aside: Total Set-Aside for Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).
- Response Due: April 23, 2026, 2:00 PM EST.
- Published: April 15, 2026.
Submission Details
Responses are limited to 10 pages and must be submitted via email to Allison Fulton (Allison.Fulton@va.gov) and Mina Awad (Mina.Awad@va.gov). The email subject line must be "RFI - Employee Recognition Service", and the file size must not exceed 5 MB. Mark submissions as "Proprietary Information" if applicable.