AN11--Survey Services for EVOLVE for Women's Healthcare

Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products and commercial services prepared in accordance with the format Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.202, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ) and the solicitation number is 36C24E26Q0043. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01. This solicitation is a 100% set-aside for small business concerns. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541990, with a small business size standard of $19.5 million. The FSC/PSC is AN11. The VA Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East is seeking to purchase survey services necessary for a study led by the Research Department at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System (Seattle). A firm-fixed price contract will be awarded for the purchase of services in accordance with all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications, and schedule of this solicitation herein. Quotes shall contain the Quoter s best terms for cost/price and technical capabilities of the requirement. All interested parties must be registered with System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov upon submission of their response. The government reserves the right to award without discussions. All interested companies shall provide quotations for the following in accordance with the Statement of Work: 1.0 Supplies/Services Line Item Description Quantity Unit of Measure Unit Price Total Price 0001 Task 1 Obtaining IRB Approval 1.00 JB 0002 Task 2 Survey Programming 1.00 JB 0003 Task 3 Developing Recruitment Materials 1.00 JB 0004 Task 4 Training of staff and soft launch 1.00 JB 0005 Task 5 Recruitment and data collection 1.00 JB 0006 Task 6 Telephone Follow-up and data collection to non-responders 1.00 JB 0007 Task 7 Data management and generating reports 1.00 JB 0008 Task 8 Project Management and communication with study team 1.00 JB 1.1 STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW): Multimodal Survey to Evaluate Veterans Reproductive Healthcare Access, Quality and Outcomes Background. VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Health Services Research is requesting a contract with an external contractor (herein referred to as Vendor ) to conduct a survey for a VA Health Services Research (HSR) funded Investigator Initiated Research project titled Evaluating Veterans Reproductive Healthcare Access, Quality and Outcomes in a changing Landscape (EVOLVE). The research project is funded to examine changes over time in Veterans contraceptive utilization and clinical outcomes, to test for current disparities in person-centered contraceptive care measures, and to contextualize these findings through qualitative interviews with Veterans. Data collection for this study involves fielding a large nationally representative survey of approximately 3,600 reproductive-age women Veterans. Dr. Lisa Callegari (located at VA Puget Sound) is leading this project along with Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Deirdre Quinn (VA Pittsburgh) and a team of co-investigators and project staff located at VA Puget Sound, VA Pittsburgh and VA Greater Los Angeles. The project has current VA Central Institutional Review Board (CIRB) approval as well as Research & Development Committee approval at VA Puget Sound VA Pittsburgh and VA Greater Los Angeles (IRBNetID 1829172) Scope. The requested contract is to conduct a one-time survey, obtaining survey responses from approximately 3,600 reproductive-age female Veterans. VA Puget Sound will provide a participant list of approximately 9,000 Veterans divided into two strata. Participant list will include Veterans first and last names, unique study identifier, email addresses, and phone numbers The participant list will be supplied to the Vendor via a study VA Box.com account before survey recruitment efforts begin The participant list will include 1,200 Veterans in stratum 1 and 7,800 Veterans in stratum 2 for a total of 9,000 Veteran records. Vendor will invite Veterans from both strata of the participant list to participate in the study survey. The Vendor will conduct recruitment efforts until a minimum of 3,600 responses have been obtained (470 from stratum 1 and 3,130 from stratum 2). If the minimum of 3,600 responses is not achieved from the participant list, VA will provide a second participant list consisting of approximately 3,000-6,000 Veterans (400-800 in stratum 1 and 2600-5200 in stratum 2). Vendor will utilize multimodal forms of contact to invite Veterans to participate in the survey. Multimodal forms of contact will be: E-mail (Respondents can complete survey via web or call in on 800#) Text Message (Respondents can complete survey via web or call in on 800#) Phone (the Vendor will call non-responders and offer them the opportunity to complete the survey via web or over the phone) The survey will consist of approximately 150 questions. The survey length is expected to be 20 to 25 minutes when self-administered online. This will be translated into 35 to 40 minutes in length if completed over the telephone. The Vendor will host all Veteran data (including the participant list and Veterans survey responses) on a secure encrypted server that is FIPS 140-2 compliant. Salient Characteristics: Vendor must have a minimum of 3 years of experience conducting multimodal surveys (email, text message and telephone) for more than one VA research project with Veterans. Vendor must have a minimum of 3 years of experience setting up and managing secure texting for multimodal VA surveys for Veterans. Vendor must have a minimum of 3 years of experience training staff for multimodal secure surveys for Veterans. Vendor staff must already be trained on the use of the Veterans Crisis Line and able to employ an emergency protocol (including making a warm hand-off to the Veterans Crisis Line) if necessary. Vendor must be able to launch survey within three months of contract execution. Vendor must have a call center that is available to make calls in the evenings and on weekends (non-business hours) in all United States time zones. All outbound calls must originate from United States telephone numbers and be placed from within the United States by United States-based personnel. Vendor must be able to host web surveys via a VA domain that is mobile-friendly and 508 compliant. Due to the short period of performance, vendor must be able to execute a Data Use Agreement (DUA) with the VA upon award and prior to survey launch. Vendor must be able to store and transmit VA sensitive information in an encrypted form, using VA-approved encryption tools that are, at a minimum, FIPS 140-2 validated. Vendor must be able to securely transfer data via VA Box.com. Vendor s firewall and Web services security controls shall meet or exceed VA s minimum requirements. Vendor must be able to support and comply with IRB requirements (including reliance agreements or vendor IRB review, if required) prior to survey launch. Tasks. Task 1 Obtaining IRB approval The Vendor will independently apply for an IRB determination from their own IRB of record prior to beginning data collection. Task 2 Survey Programming The Vendor will program the survey for web and telephone administration. The web-based option will be mobile device friendly and 508 compliant. Survey questions will be provided by study team. The survey will consist of 140-170 questions. Vendor will conduct rigorous testing to ensure the survey is programmed correctly. In addition, Vendor will provide VA team access to online survey so they may test and confirm it is programmed correctly. Task 3 Developing Recruitment materials Working collaboratively with the study team, the Vendor will draft and finalize recruitment materials (e.g., text messages, emails) and provide final versions to study team so the study team can submit the final versions for VA CIRB review and approval. In addition, Vendor will set up an 800# for Veterans to call to opt-out, complete the survey, and/or ask questions about the study. Recruitment materials will include: Study information statement Invitation email Invitation text message language Reminder email Reminder text message language Final reminder email Final reminder text message language Script for outbound telephone calls Script for leaving a voicemail Task 4 Training of staff and soft launch Vendor will train staff in conducting survey recruitment and administration via telephone, including making active referral and/or warm handoff to the Veterans Crisis Line if needed. Vendor will conduct a soft launch in which trained staff conduct practice calls to gain comfort with the survey. Task 5 Recruitment and data collection (Email and text message invitations and follow-up to Veterans) Vendor will send recruitment text and e-mail communication to Veterans with a cell phone number (expected to be 90%) and/or e-mail address (expected to be 60-70%) with options to complete the survey online (i.e., link to the survey) or by calling an 800# (set up and maintained by the Vendor) to complete the survey via telephone. The text messages will inform Veterans they may opt-out of further contact by responding with the word STOP. Email messages will inform Veterans they may opt-out by calling a telephone number. Veterans who wish to complete the survey online will be able to click the survey link and complete study enrollment and survey immediately. Veterans who wish to complete the survey via telephone will be able to call the 800# and (if during normal business hours) complete the survey immediately. For telephone-based surveys, Vendor staff will enter data as the surveys are being conducted by telephone. The Vendor must utilize full disk encryption and a FIPS 140-2 Encryption (or equivalent) with the Windows Server for data entry. The contact process is expected to follow this outline (but is subject to change and review by VA s Central IRB): Invitation/recruitment email and text message sent simultaneously, including a link and #800 for completing the survey If there is no response from Veteran, reminder email and reminder text message sent 2-7 days later, including a link and #800 for completing the survey (may be sent simultaneously or separately according to Vendor s discretion) If there is no response from Veteran, final reminder email and final text message sent 2-7 days later Task 6 Telephone Follow-up & data collection to non-responders The Vendor will make up to 2 telephone calls to all non-responders starting 2-7 days after the final reminder email and text message are sent. If the Veteran does not pick up the phone, the Vendor will leave a voice message. Vendor will encourage the Veteran to complete the survey via the web or over the telephone. Vendor will have the ability to e-mail or text the survey link from their workstation. If respondents request to have consent and survey administered over the telephone, the Vendor will comply; however, the goal will be to have respondents complete the survey via the web. For telephone-based surveys, Vendor staff will enter data as the surveys are being conducted by telephone. The Vendor must utilize full disk encryption and a FIPS 140-2 Encryption (or equivalent) with the Windows Server for data entry. Task 7 Data management and generating reports Vendor will track survey completes by recruitment strata to ensure the survey obtains at least 470 responses from stratum 1 and at least 3,130 responses from stratum 2 of the participant list. Vendor will send weekly reports via encrypted email, providing a cumulative net response rate, average survey length (minutes), counts of key variables requested by the study team (example: number of Veterans responding yes to question #8), and a list of study IDs for Veterans who have completed the survey. After survey recruitment and administration is complete (i.e., Vendor has collected at least 470 responses from stratum 1 and at least 3,130 responses from stratum 2), Vendor will provide the VA with preliminary and then final data files and disposition files via the study s VA Box.com account. Task 8: Project management and communication with study team The Vendor will provide project management services for the entirety of the project. Vendor will participate in weekly 30-minute conference calls/meetings with the VA study team to review project deliverables and milestones. Deliverables. Deliverable Delivery Date Deliverable description 1 Within 1 month of date of award Obtain IRB determination from Vendor s IRB of record. 2 Y1Q1 Program 140-170 question survey for web and telephone administration. Conduct rigorous testing to ensure the survey is programmed correctly. Allow VA study staff access to online survey so they may test and confirm it is programmed correctly. 3 Y1Q1 Finalize recruitment materials (study information statement; invitation, reminder and final reminder emails; language for invitation, reminder and final reminder text messages; script for follow up phone calls and voice messages) with VA study team. Set up 800# for incoming interviews, opt outs, and questions. 4 Y1Q1 Conduct training of staff for telephone recruitment and survey administration. Conduct soft launch in which Vendor staff conduct practice calls to gain comfort with survey. 5 Y1Q2 Y1Q3 Initial recruitment and survey data collection: Send invitation emails and text messages to eligible Veterans with cell phone # or email address on file. Send reminder emails and text messages to non-responders. Conduct telephone recruitment among non-responders. Staff 800# such that Veterans may call with questions, to enroll and complete the survey, or to opt out. Conduct incoming & outgoing telephone survey completes. Monitor survey completes by recruitment strata to ensure minimum number of completes per stratum. 6 Y1Q2 Y1Q3 Telephone follow-up and data collection to non-responders: Conduct telephone recruitment among non-responders. Conduct incoming & outgoing telephone survey completes. 7 Y1Q2 Y1Q4 Data management and generating reports: Vendor will provide weekly reports of recruitment progress, survey completion rates, and lists of study IDs for Veterans who have completed the survey on a weekly basis via encrypted email Participate in weekly 30-minute conference calls/meetings with project team to review project deliverables and milestones. After survey recruitment and administration is complete, Vendor will provide final data files and disposition files including all survey responses and a detailed codebook with variable names and definitions via the study s VA Box.com account. Data files will be provided in .csv format 8 Y1Q1 Y1Q4 Participate in weekly 30-minute conference calls/meetings with project team to review project deliverables and milestones. Performance Monitoring. Dr. Lisa Callegari, VA Puget Sound project lead, will provide oversight of the work, which will be measured by meeting project deadlines in a timely fashion and regularly assessed quality of the work in achieving the stated project goals. Email communications and meeting notes relating to the performance of the Vendor will be available to the Station POC for review. The Station POC will work with Dr. Callegari and the research team to complete the required annual performance evaluation. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI). No government equipment will be furnished. Government-Furnished Information will be provided to the vendor as outlined above. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations. VA Form 10-0593 Assignment of Functional Categories. VA Form 10-0593, Assignment of Functional Categories, must be used to document the assignment of functional categories to VHA personnel on an annual basis. VHA personnel includes contractors. All contractor staff working on this project with access to Individually Identifiable Health Information (IIHI) and/or Protected Health Information (PHI) are required to review and sign VA Form 10-0593. Vendor staff are required to complete the VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training and Privacy and HIPAA training. Vendor will need to set up TMS accounts in order to complete these trainings. Vendor staff are required to review and sign the Contractor Rules of Behavior. Place of Performance. This work will be undertaken at the Vendor s place of business. Security Requirements. The Vendor will not require access to the VA internal network. The C&A requirements do not apply, and Security Accreditation package is not required. Vendor will store collected survey data on a temporary basis while conducting the project. Period of Performance. 12 months from the time of contract award. Privacy Office Language. The vendor does not require access to VA internal network. The C&A requirements do not apply, and Security Accreditation package is not required. Vendor will store collected survey data on a temporary basis while conducting the project. GENERAL Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security. ACCESS TO VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEMS A contractor/subcontractor shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order. All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information. The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program. The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures. Contract personnel who require access to national security programs must have a valid security clearance. National Industrial Security Program (NISP) was established by Executive Order 12829 to ensure that cleared U.S. defense industry contract personnel safeguard the classified information in their possession while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not have a Memorandum of Agreement with Defense Security Service (DSS). Verification of a Security Clearance must be processed through the Special Security Officer located in the Planning and National Security Service within the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness. Custom software development and outsourced operations must be located in the U.S. to the maximum extent practical. If such services are proposed to be performed abroad and are not disallowed by other VA policy or mandates, the contractor/subcontractor must state where all non-U.S. services are provided and detail a security plan, deemed to be acceptable by VA, specifically to address mitigation of the resulting problems of communication, control, data protection, and so forth. Location within the U.S. may be an evaluation factor. The contractor or subcontractor must notify the Contracting Officer immediately when an employee working on a VA system or with access to VA information is reassigned or leaves the contractor or subcontractor s employ. The Contracting Officer must also be notified immediately by the contractor or subcontractor prior to an unfriendly termination. VA INFORMATION CUSTODIAL LANGUAGE Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data - General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1). VA information should not be co-mingled, if possible, with any other data on the contractors/subcontractor s information systems or media storage systems in order to ensure VA requirements related to data protection and media sanitization can be met. If co-mingling must be allowed to meet the requirements of the business need, the contractor must ensure that VA s information is returned to the VA or destroyed in accordance with VA s sanitization requirements. VA reserves the right to conduct on site inspections of contractor and subcontractor IT resources to ensure data security controls, separation of data and job duties, and destruction/media sanitization procedures are in compliance with VA directive requirements. Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/created by the contractor in the course of performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in 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, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract. The contractor/subcontractor must receive, gather, store, back up, maintain, use, disclose and dispose of VA information only in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable Federal and VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies. If Federal or VA information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies become applicable to the VA information or information systems after execution of the contract, or if NIST issues or updates applicable FIPS or Special Publications (SP) after execution of this contract, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to implement the information confidentiality and security laws, regulations and policies in this contract. The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state. If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed. If VA determines that the contractor has violated any of the information confidentiality, privacy, and security provisions of the contract, it shall be sufficient grounds for VA to withhold payment to the contractor or third party or terminate the contract for default or terminate for cause under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12. If a VHA contract is terminated for cause, the associated BAA must also be terminated and appropriate actions taken in accordance with VHA Handbook 1600.01, Business Associate Agreements. Absent an agreement to use or disclose protected health information, there is no business associate relationship. The contractor/subcontractor must store, transport, or transmit VA sensitive information in an encrypted form, using VA-approved encryption tools that are, at a minimum, FIPS 140-2 validated. The contractor/subcontractor s firewall and Web services security controls, if applicable, shall meet or exceed VA s minimum requirements. VA Configuration Guidelines are available upon request. Except for uses and disclosures of VA information authorized by this contract for performance of the contract, the contractor/subcontractor may use and disclose VA information only in two other situations: (i) in response to a qualifying order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) with VA s prior written approval. The contractor/subcontractor must refer all requests for, demands for production of, or inquiries about, VA information and information systems to the VA contracting officer for response. Notwithstanding the provision above, the contractor/subcontractor shall not release VA records protected by Title 38 U.S.C. 5705, confidentiality of medical quality assurance records and/or Title 38 U.S.C. 7332, confidentiality of certain health records pertaining to drug addiction, sickle cell anemia, alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus. If the contractor/subcontractor is in receipt of a court order or other requests for the above mentioned information, that contractor/subcontractor shall immediately refer such court orders or other requests to the VA contracting officer for response. For service that involves the storage, generating, transmitting, or exchanging of VA sensitive information but does not require C&A or an MOU-ISA for system interconnection, the contractor/subcontractor must complete a Contractor Security Control Assessment (CSCA) on a yearly basis and provide it to the COTR. INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Information systems that are designed or developed for or on behalf of VA at non-VA facilities shall comply with all VA directives developed in accordance with FISMA, HIPAA, NIST, and related VA security and privacy control requirements for Federal information systems. This includes standards for the protection of electronic PHI, outlined in 45 C.F.R. Part 164, Subpart C, information and system security categorization level designations in accordance with FIPS 199 and FIPS 200 with implementation of all baseline security controls commensurate with the FIPS 199 system security categorization (reference Appendix D of VA Handbook 6500, VA Information Security Program). During the development cycle a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) must be completed, provided to the COTR, and approved by the VA Privacy Service in accordance with Directive 6507, VA Privacy Impact Assessment. The contractor/subcontractor shall certify to the COTR that applications are fully functional and operate correctly as intended on systems using the VA Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC), and the common security configuration guidelines provided by NIST or the VA. This includes Internet Explorer 7 configured to operate on Windows XP and Vista (in Protected Mode on Vista) and future versions, as required. The standard installation, operation, maintenance, updating, and patching of software shall not alter the configuration settings from the VA approved and FDCC configuration. Information technology staff must also use the Windows Installer Service for installation to the default program files directory and silently install and uninstall. Applications designed for normal end users shall run in the standard user context without elevated system administration privileges. The security controls must be designed, developed, approved by VA, and implemented in accordance with the provisions of VA security system development life cycle as outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-37, Guide for Applying the Risk Management Framework to Federal Information Systems, VA Handbook 6500, Information Security Program and VA Handbook 6500.5, Incorporating Security and Privacy in System Development Lifecycle. The contractor/subcontractor is required to design, develop, or operate a System of Records Notice (SOR) on individuals to accomplish an agency function subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (as amended), Public Law 93-579, December 31, 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and applicable agency regulations. Violation of the Privacy Act may involve the imposition of criminal and civil penalties. The contractor/subcontractor agrees to: Comply with the Privacy Act of 1974 (the Act) and the agency rules and regulations issued under the Act in the design, development, or operation of any system of records on individuals to accomplish an agency function when the contract specifically identifies: (a) The Systems of Records (SOR); and (b) The design, development, or operation work that the contractor/subcontractor is to perform; Include the Privacy Act notification contained in this contract in every solicitation and resulting subcontract and in every subcontract awarded without a solicitation, when the work statement in the proposed subcontract requires the redesign, development, or operation of a SOR on individuals that is subject to the Privacy Act; and Include this Privacy Act clause, including this subparagraph (3), in all subcontracts awarded under this contract which requires the design, development, or operation of such a SOR. In the event of violations of the Act, a civil action may be brought against the agency involved when the violation concerns the design, development, or operation of a SOR on individuals to accomplish an agency function, and criminal penalties may be imposed upon the officers or employees of the agency when the violation concerns the operation of a SOR on individuals to accomplish an agency function. For purposes of the Act, when the contract is for the operation of a SOR on individuals to accomplish an agency function, the contractor/subcontractor is considered to be an employee of the agency. Operation of a System of Records means performance of any of the activities associated with maintaining the SOR, including the collection, use, maintenance, and dissemination of records. Record means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and contains the person s name, or identifying number, symbol, or any other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a fingerprint or voiceprint, or a photograph. System of Records means a group of any records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual. The vendor shall ensure the security of all procured or developed systems and technologies, including their subcomponents (hereinafter referred to as Systems ), throughout the life of this contract and any extension, warranty, or maintenance periods. This includes, but is not limited to workarounds, patches, hotfixes, upgrades, and any physical components (hereafter referred to as Security Fixes) which may be necessary to fix all security vulnerabilities published or known to the vendor anywhere in the Systems, including Operating Systems and firmware. The vendor shall ensure that Security Fixes shall not negatively impact the Systems. The vendor shall notify VA within 24 hours of the discovery or disclosure of successful exploits of the vulnerability which can compromise the security of the Systems (including the confidentiality or integrity of its data and operations, or the availability of the system). Such issues shall be remediated as quickly as is practical, but in no event longer than 10 days. When the Security Fixes involve installing third party patches (such as Microsoft OS patches or Adobe Acrobat), the vendor will provide written notice to the VA that the patch has been validated as not affecting the Systems within 10 working days. When the vendor is responsible for operations or maintenance of the Systems, they shall apply the Security Fixes within 10 days. All other vulnerabilities shall be remediated as specified in this paragraph in a timely manner based on risk, but within 60 days of discovery or disclosure. Exceptions to this paragraph (e.g. for the convenience of VA) shall only be granted with approval of the contracting officer and the VA Assistant Secretary for Office of Information and Technology. INFORMATION SYSTEM HOSTING, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, OR USE For information systems that are hosted, operated, maintained, or used on behalf of VA at non-VA facilities, contractors/subcontractors are fully responsible and accountable for ensuring compliance with all HIPAA, Privacy Act, FISMA, NIST, FIPS, and VA security and privacy directives and handbooks. This includes conducting compliant risk assessments, routine vulnerability scanning, system patching and change management procedures, and the completion of an acceptable contingency plan for each system. The contractor s security control procedures must be equivalent, to those procedures used to secure VA systems. A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) must also be provided to the COTR and approved by VA Privacy Service prior to operational approval. All external Internet connections to VA s network involving VA information must be reviewed and approved by VA prior to implementation. Adequate security controls for collecting, processing, transmitting, and storing of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), as determined by the VA Privacy Service, must be in place, tested, and approved by VA prior to hosting, operation, maintenance, or use of the information system, or systems by or on behalf of VA. These security controls are to be assessed and stated within the PIA and if these controls are determined not to be in place, or inadequate, a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) must be submitted and approved prior to the collection of PII. Outsourcing (contractor facility, contractor equipment or contractor staff) of systems or network operations, telecommunications services, or other managed services requires certification and accreditation (authorization) (C&A) of the contractor s systems in accordance with VA Handbook 6500.3, Certification and Accreditation and/or the VA OCS Certification Program Office. Government-owned (government facility or government equipment) contractor-operated systems, third party or business partner networks require memorandums of understanding and interconnection agreements (MOU-ISA) which detail what data types are shared, who has access, and the appropriate level of security controls for all systems connected to VA networks. The contractor/subcontractor s system must adhere to all FISMA, FIPS, and NIST standards related to the annual FISMA security controls assessment and review and update the PIA. Any deficiencies noted during this assessment must be provided to the VA contracting officer and the ISO for entry into VA s POA&M management process. The contractor/subcontractor must use VA s POA&M process to document planned remedial actions to address any deficiencies in information security policies, procedures, and practices, and the completion of those activities. Security deficiencies must be corrected within the timeframes approved by the government. Contractor/subcontractor procedures are subject to periodic, unannounced assessments by VA officials, including the VA Office of Inspector General. The physical security aspects associated with contractor/subcontractor activities must also be subject to such assessments. If major changes to the system occur that may affect the privacy or security of the data or the system, the C&A of the system may need to be reviewed, retested and re-authorized per VA Handbook 6500.3. This may require reviewing and updating all of the documentation (PIA, System Security Plan, Contingency Plan). The Certification Program Office can provide guidance on whether a new C&A would be necessary. The contractor/subcontractor must conduct an annual self assessment on all systems and outsourced services as required. Both hard copy and electronic copies of the assessment must be provided to the COTR. The government reserves the right to conduct such an assessment using government personnel or another contractor/subcontractor. The contractor/subcontractor must take appropriate and timely action (this can be specified in the contract) to correct or mitigate any weaknesses discovered during such testing, generally at no additional cost. VA prohibits the installation and use of personally-owned or contractor/subcontractor-owned equipment or software on VA s network. If non-VA owned equipment must be used to fulfill the requirements of a contract, it must be stated in the service agreement, SOW or contract. All of the security controls required for government furnished equipment (GFE) must be utilized in approved other equipment (OE) and must be funded by the owner of the equipment. All remote systems must be equipped with, and use, a VA-approved antivirus (AV) software and a personal (host-based or enclave based) firewall that is configured with a VA-approved configuration. Software must be kept current, including all critical updates and patches. Owners of approved OE are responsible for providing and maintaining the anti-viral software and the firewall on the non-VA owned OE. All electronic storage media used on non-VA leased or non-VA owned IT equipment that is used to store, process, or access VA information must be handled in adherence with VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization upon: (i) completion or termination of the contract or (ii) disposal or return of the IT equipment by the contractor/subcontractor or any person acting on behalf of the contractor/subcontractor, whichever is earlier. Media (hard drives, optical disks, CDs, back-up tapes, etc.) used by the contractors/subcontractors that contain VA information must be returned to the VA for sanitization or destruction or the contractor/subcontractor must self-certify that the media has been disposed of per 6500.1 requirements. This must be completed within 30 days of termination of the contract. Bio-Medical devices and other equipment or systems containing media (hard drives, optical disks, etc.) with VA sensitive information must not be returned to the vendor at the end of lease, for trade-in, or other purposes. The options are: Vendor must accept the system without the drive; VA s initial medical device purchase includes a spare drive which must be installed in place of the original drive at time of turn-in; or VA must reimburse the company for media at a reasonable open market replacement cost at time of purchase. Due to the highly specialized and sometimes proprietary hardware and software associated with medical equipment/systems, if it is not possible for the VA to retain the hard drive, then; The equipment vendor must have an existing BAA if the device being traded in has sensitive information stored on it and hard drive(s) from the system are being returned physically intact; and Any fixed hard drive on the device must be non-destructively sanitized to the greatest extent possible without negatively impacting system operation. Selective clearing down to patient data folder level is recommended using VA approved and validated overwriting technologies/methods/tools. Applicable media sanitization specifications need to be pre-approved and described in the purchase order or contract. A statement needs to be signed by the Director (System Owner) that states that the drive could not be removed and that (a) and (b) controls above are in place and completed.  The ISO needs to maintain the documentation. SECURITY INCIDENT INVESTIGATION The term security incident means an event that has, or could have, resulted in unauthorized access to, loss or damage to VA assets, or sensitive information, or an action that breaches VA security procedures. The contractor/subcontractor shall immediately notify the COTR and simultaneously, the designated ISO and Privacy Officer for the contract of any known or suspected security/privacy incidents, or any unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including that contained in system(s) to which the contractor/subcontractor has access. To the extent known by the contractor/subcontractor, the contractor/subcontractor s notice to VA shall identify the information involved, the circumstances surrounding the incident (including to whom, how, when, and where the VA information or assets were placed at risk or compromised), and any other information that the contractor/subcontractor considers relevant. With respect to unsecured protected health information, the business associate is deemed to have discovered a data breach when the business associate knew or should have known of a breach of such information. Upon discovery, the business associate must notify the covered entity of the breach. Notifications need to be made in accordance with the executed business associate agreement. In instances of theft or break-in or other criminal activity, the contractor/subcontractor must concurrently report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement entity (or entities) of jurisdiction, including the VA OIG and Security and Law Enforcement. The contractor, its employees, and its subcontractors and their employees shall cooperate with VA and any law enforcement authority responsible for the investigation and prosecution of any possible criminal law violation(s) associated with any incident. The contractor/subcontractor shall cooperate with VA in any civil litigation to recover VA information, obtain monetary or other compensation from a third party for damages arising from any incident, or obtain injunctive relief against any third party arising from, or related to, the incident. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR DATA BREACH Consistent with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. §5725, a contract may require access to sensitive personal information. If so, the contractor is liable to VA for liquidated damages in the event of a data breach or privacy incident involving any SPI the contractor/subcontractor processes or maintains under this contract. The contractor/subcontractor shall provide notice to VA of a security incident as set forth in the Security Incident Investigation section above. Upon such notification, VA must secure from a non-Department entity or the VA Office of Inspector General an independent risk analysis of the data breach to determine the level of risk associated with the data breach for the potential misuse of any sensitive personal information involved in the data breach. The term 'data breach' means the loss, theft, or other unauthorized access, or any access other than that incidental to the scope of employment, to data containing sensitive personal information, in electronic or printed form, that results in the potential compromise of the confidentiality or integrity of the data. Contractor shall fully cooperate with the entity performing the risk analysis. Failure to cooperate may be deemed a material breach and grounds for contract termination. Each risk analysis shall address all relevant information concerning the data breach, including the following: NATURE OF THE EVENT (LOSS, THEFT, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS); DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT, INCLUDING: (A) DATE OF OCCURRENCE; (B) DATA ELEMENTS INVOLVED, INCLUDING ANY PII, SUCH AS FULL NAME, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, HOME ADDRESS, ACCOUNT NUMBER, DISABILITY CODE; (3) NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED OR POTENTIALLY AFFECTED; (4) NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS AFFECTED OR POTENTIALLY AFFECTED; (5) EASE OF LOGICAL DATA ACCESS TO THE LOST, STOLEN OR IMPROPERLY ACCESSED DATA IN LIGHT OF THE DEGREE OF PROTECTION FOR THE DATA, E.G., UNENCRYPTED, PLAIN TEXT; (6) AMOUNT OF TIME THE DATA HAS BEEN OUT OF VA CONTROL; (7) THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL OR HAS BEEN COMPROMISED (MADE ACCESSIBLE TO AND USABLE BY UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS); (8) KNOWN MISUSES OF DATA CONTAINING SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION, IF ANY; (9) ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL HARM TO THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS; (10) DATA BREACH ANALYSIS AS OUTLINED IN 6500.2 HANDBOOK, MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY AND PRIVACY INCIDENTS, AS APPROPRIATE; AND (11) WHETHER CREDIT PROTECTION SERVICES MAY ASSIST RECORD SUBJECTS IN AVOIDING OR MITIGATING THE RESULTS OF IDENTITY THEFT BASED ON THE SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. Based on the determinations of the independent risk analysis, the contractor shall be responsible for paying to the VA liquidated damages in the amount of $37.50 per affected individual to cover the cost of providing credit protection services to affected individuals consisting of the following: (1) NOTIFICATION; (2) ONE YEAR OF CREDIT MONITORING SERVICES CONSISTING OF AUTOMATIC DAILY MONITORING OF AT LEAST 3 RELEVANT CREDIT BUREAU REPORTS; (3) DATA BREACH ANALYSIS; (4) FRAUD RESOLUTION SERVICES, INCLUDING WRITING DISPUTE LETTERS, INITIATING FRAUD ALERTS AND CREDIT FREEZES, TO ASSIST AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS TO BRING MATTERS TO RESOLUTION; (5) ONE YEAR OF IDENTITY THEFT INSURANCE WITH $20,000.00 COVERAGE AT $0 DEDUCTIBLE; AND (6) Necessary legal expenses the subjects may incur to repair falsified or damaged credit records, histories, or financial affairs. SECURITY CONTROLS COMPLIANCE TESTING On a periodic basis, VA, including the Office of Inspector General, reserves the right to evaluate any or all of the security controls and privacy practices implemented by the contractor under the clauses contained within the contract. With 10 working-day s notice, at the request of the government, the contractor must fully cooperate and assist in a government-sponsored security controls assessment at each location wherein VA information is processed or stored, or information systems are developed, operated, maintained, or used on behalf of VA, including those initiated by the Office of Inspector General. The government may conduct a security control assessment on shorter notice (to include unannounced assessments) as determined by VA in the event of a security incident or at any other time. TRAINING All contractor employees and subcontractor employees requiring access to VA information and VA information systems shall complete the following before being granted access to VA information and its systems: Sign and acknowledge (either manually or electronically) understanding of and responsibilities for compliance with the Contractor Rules of Behavior, Appendix E relating to access to VA information and information systems; Successfully complete the VA Cyber Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training and annually complete required security training; Successfully complete the appropriate VA privacy training and annually complete required privacy training; and Successfully complete any additional cyber security or privacy training, as required for VA personnel with equivalent information system access as assigned by the VA program official in order to be compliant with for e.g., any role-based information security training required in accordance with NIST Special Publication 800-16, Information Technology Security Training Requirements. The contractor shall provide to the contracting officer and/or the COTR a copy of the training certificates and certification of signing the Contractor Rules of Behavior for each applicable employee within 1 week of the initiation of the contract and annually thereafter, as required. Failure to complete the mandatory annual training and sign the Rules of Behavior annually, within the timeframe required, is grounds for suspension or termination of all physical or electronic access privileges and removal from work on the contract until such time as the training and documents are complete. Records Management Language for Contracts Required. The following standard items relate to records generated in executing the contract and should be included in a typical Electronic Information Systems (EIS) procurement contract: Citations to pertinent laws, codes and regulations such as 44 U.S.C chapters 21, 29, 31 and 33; Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552); Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a); 36 CFR Part 1222 and Part 1228. Contractor shall treat all deliverables under the contract as the property of the U.S. Government for which the Government Agency shall have unlimited rights to use, dispose of, or disclose such data contained therein as it determines to be in the public interest. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract using Government IT equipment and/or Government records. Contractor shall not retain, use, sell, or disseminate copies of any deliverable that contains information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 or that which is generally protected by the Freedom of Information Act. Contractor shall not create or maintain any records containing any Government Agency records that are not specifically tied to or authorized by the contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all data/records produced as part of this contract. The Government Agency owns the rights to all electronic information (electronic data, electronic information systems, electronic databases, etc.) and all supporting documentation created as part of this contract. Contractor must deliver sufficient technical documentation with all data deliverables to permit the agency to use the data. Contractor agrees to comply with Federal and Agency records management policies, including those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. These policies include the preservation of all records created or received regardless of format [paper, electronic, etc.] or mode of transmission [e-mail, fax, etc.] or state of completion [draft, final, etc.]. No disposition of documents will be allowed without the prior written consent of the Contracting Officer. The Agency and its contractors are responsible for preventing the alienation or unauthorized destruction of records, including all forms of mutilation. Willful and unlawful destruction, damage or alienation of Federal records is subject to the fines and penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. 2701. Records may not be removed from the legal custody of the Agency or destroyed without regard to the provisions of the agency records schedules. Contractor is required to obtain the Contracting Officer's approval prior to engaging in any contractual relationship (sub-contractor) in support of this contract requiring the disclosure of information, documentary material and/or records generated under, or relating to, this contract. The Contractor (and any sub-contractor) is required to abide by Government and Agency guidance for protecting sensitive and proprietary information. 2.0 Instructions to the Quoter Basis for award resulting from this RFQ will be made via comparative evaluation that provides a complete package pursuant to the requirements set forth in FAR 52.212-1(AUG 2025) (DEV). The Government will evaluate quotations using the comparative evaluation process in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of RFO FAR 12 where quotations will be compared to one another to determine which provides the best benefit to the Government. The Government reserves the right to consider a quotation other than the lowest price that provides additional benefit(s). Quotations may exceed minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to select a quotation that provides benefit to the Government that exceeds the minimum requirements of the solicitation but is not required to do so. Each response must meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government is not requesting or accepting alternate quotations. The evaluation will consider the following: 2.1 Evaluation Factors for Award Factor 1: Technical Capabilities All quoters must meet or exceed all requirements and salient characteristics as listed in the Statement of Work. Factor 2: Past Performance Past Performance will be based on the most current CPARS Report. (Lack of past performance with government entity will be rated as neutral .) Factor 3: Price Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://sam.gov/. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(c). The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. 2.2 FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services ADDENDUM to FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (DEVIATION AUG 2025) Provisions that are incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date), have the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The version of FAR 52.212-1 in the addendum is tailored for Simplified Acquisition Procedures and supersedes the current version of FAR 52.212-1 contained in the FAR. The following provision is incorporated into 52.212-1 as an addendum to this solicitation: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services (DEVIATION AUG 2025) (a) Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. As a minimum, offers shall include (1) The solicitation number; (2) The name, address, telephone number of the Offeror; (3) The Offeror s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and, if applicable, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator; (4) Information necessary to evaluate the factors contained in the provision at 52.212-2 or as described in the solicitation; (5) Responses to provisions that require Offeror completion of information, representations, and certifications (other than those collected via the System for Award Management (SAM)); and (6) A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation and any solicitation amendments. (b) Period for acceptance of offers. The Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. (c) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers. (1) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers and any modifications or revisions to the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. (2) Any offer, modification, or revision received after the time specified for receipt of offers is late and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made and the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition. However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer that makes its terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted. (3) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that offers cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume. (4) Offerors may withdraw their offers by written notice to the Government received at any time before award. (d) Contract award (not applicable to Invitation for Bids). The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with Offerors. Therefore, the Offeror s initial offer should contain the Offeror s best terms. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions, if necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest, accept other than the lowest offer, and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received. (e) Debriefings. If a postaward debriefing is given to requesting Offerors, the Government will disclose the following information, if applicable: (1) The agency s evaluation of the significant weak or deficient factors in the debriefed Offeror s offer. (2) The overall evaluated cost or price and technical rating of the successful Offeror and the debriefed Offeror and past performance information on the debriefed Offeror. (3) The overall ranking of all Offerors when any ranking was developed by the agency during source selection. (4) A summary of the rationale for award. (5) For acquisitions of commercial products, the make and model of the product to be delivered by the successful Offeror. (6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions posed by the debriefed Offeror as to whether the agency followed source-selection procedures set forth in the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities. (End of provision) The following solicitation provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2021) (DEVIATION OCT 2025) FAR 52.229-11 Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements Notice and Representation (JUN 2020) (DEVIATION SEP 2025) FAR 52.240-90 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions Representations and Certifications (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2023) (DEVIATION OCT 2025) FAR 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) FAR 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (NOV 2023) FAR 52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) FAR 52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting With Contractors Debarred, Suspended, Proposed for Debarment, or Voluntarily Excluded. (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting With Inverted Domestic Corporations. (NOV 2015) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations. (FEB 2024) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. (NOV 2020) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.219-28 Postaward Small Business Program Rerepresentation (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-3 Convict Labor. (JUN 2003) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities. (JUN 2020) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards. (AUG 2018) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-41 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires. (MAY 2014) FAR 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons. (NOV 2021) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-54 Employment Eligibility Verification. (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-55 Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026 (JAN 2022) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706. (JAN 2022) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.222-90 Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors (APR 2026) FAR 52.224-1 Privacy Act Notification (APR 1984) FAR 52.224-2 Privacy Act (APR 1984) FAR 52.224-3 Privacy Training. (JAN 2017) FAR 52.226-8 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving. (MAY 2024) FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management. (OCT 2018) FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors. (MAR 2023) FAR 52.233-3 Protest after Award. (AUG 1996) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim. (OCT 2004) (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.240-91 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions. (DEVIATION NOV 2025) FAR 52.252-5 Authorized Deviations in Provisions (NOV 2020) VAAR 852.201-70 Contracting Officer s Representative (DEC 2022) VAAR 852.203-70 Commercial Advertising (MAY 2018) VAAR 852.209-70 Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCT 2020) VAAR 825.215-72 Notice of Intent to Re-solicit (OCT 2019) VAAR 852.232-72 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (NOV 2018) VAAR 852.235-70 Research Misconduct (DEC 2022) VAAR 852.235-71 Protection of Human Subjects (DEC 2022) VAAR 852.235-74 Acknowledgement of Support and Disclaimer (DEC 2022) VAAR 852.235-75 Scientific and Technical Reports (DEC 2022) VAAR 852.242-71 Administrative Contracting Officer (OCT 2020) VAAR 852.252-70 Solicitation Provisions or Clauses Incorporated by Reference (JAN 2008) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2023) (DEVIATION OCT 2025) To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows: "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition." OR "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" Quoters shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any. 2.3 Point of Contact Quotes shall be submitted via email to shannon.hukriede@va.gov and Quoters must reference Solicitation 36C24E26Q0043 in the subject of the email. Deadline for questions is Wednesday, May 27, 2026, by 11:59 AM, ET. No telephone requests for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered non-responsive. All quotes must be received by the closing date, Friday, May 29, 2026, no later than 11:59 AM ET.