This solicitation amendment addresses vendor inquiries regarding the request for quote. See continuation page for Questions and Answers. This requirement is for a Drug information electronic database reference subscription and is used as an encyclopedia or online informational book that pharmacists can utilize. Category 1: Requirements Clarification 1. Web-Based or Mobile Application: RFQ Reference: The electronic medical reference will be accessible to employees physically on-site at any facility/office within VISN 9 as well as remotely through Virtual Private Network (VPN), Citrix Access Gateway (CAG) as well as mobile devices (Page 7) Question: Will the solution need to include both a web-based application and a mobile application, or will a responsive web-based interface accessible via mobile devices suffice? A: responsive web-based interface accessible via mobile devices is sufficient 2. Database Updates and Management: RFQ Reference: Database content shall be updated regularly throughout the performance period, at no less than monthly frequency. (Page 7) Questions: Will the contractor be responsible for data migration, creating a new database, or merging updates into an existing database? A: N/A Will users have the ability to manipulate or update data through the application, or is access read-only? A: N/A How large is the existing database schema? A: I don t have an answer to this. Will blob storage be required (e.g., PDFs, Word documents, image files)? A: N/A Is there an estimated number of end users utilizing the product simultaneously? A: I don t have an estimate, but no issue with the incumbent contractor. Will we be expected to create, modify, or view database stored procedures? A: N/A 3. Training Format and Delivery: RFQ Reference: Contractor shall provide online training tutorials to users at no additional expense to the government (Page 7) Questions: Are there any VA preferred formats or software suites for training tutorials, such as webinars (Webex), video tutorials, PowerPoint presentations, or interactive assessments? A: No preference Is there a requirement for certifications or assessments upon completion of the training? A: No Category 2: Technical and Infrastructure Requirements 4. Hosting Environment: RFQ Reference: Authorized Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Personnel will conduct all installations locally. (Page 9) Questions: Will the application be hosted on VISN 9 s web servers (e.g., Windows IIS or Apache), or would a cloud-based solution (Azure, AWS) be acceptable? A: N/A If cloud hosting is allowed, are there any preferred cloud service providers or compliance requirements (e.g., FedRAMP)? A: N/A How many hosting environments would be required during the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)? (e.g., Development, Testing, Staging, Production) A: N/A Is it correct to assume that production would be hosted on VISN 9 servers post-code delivery to OIT, or is cloud hosting acceptable for production as well? A: N/A 5. CI/CD Pipeline and Deployment: Question: Is there a preference for delivering the solution via a CI/CD pipeline (e.g., GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps) or as packaged files for on-premises deployment? A: N/A 6. Integration with Existing Systems: Questions: Will the solution need to integrate with any existing VA systems beyond VPN and CAG access, such as Active Directory or Single Sign-On (SSO) systems? A: N/A 7. License and Certification Questions: Micromedex Drug Information Database: Will the Micromedex Drug Information Database be provided by the VA, or is the contractor responsible for procuring the necessary licenses and access for integration? A: N/A If the contractor is responsible, are there any licensing limitations or preferred vendors we should be aware of? A: N/A Additionally, will the database need to be hosted on VA s infrastructure or can it be hosted on a cloud-based platform as part of the proposed solution? A: N/A Does the Micromedex database currently have an existing API that we can leverage for integration, or will the contractor be responsible for developing a new API? A: N/A If an existing API is available, can you provide information on the API documentation, access requirements, and any limitations? A: N/A If a new API is needed, are there any preferred standards or protocols (e.g., REST or GraphQL) that we should follow? A: N/A Category 3: Documentation and Compliance 8. Documentation Requirements: RFQ Reference: Confirmation of Work (Page 9) Questions: Are there specific requirements for pre-deployment documentation (e.g., architecture diagrams, data flow diagrams, engineering documents) and post-deployment documentation (e.g., user manuals, security plans)? A: No Is there a preferred format or template for these documents? A: No 9. Toolsets and Methodology: RFQ Reference: Confirmation of Work (Page 9) Questions: Does the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) have a preferred set of development tools, project management tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps), or CI/CD platforms? A: No If not, can the contractor propose a toolset as part of the solution? A: No 10. Compliance with VA Technical Reference Model (TRM): RFQ Reference: All information Technology (IT) resources required to provide access to electronic reference shall be documented as approved by VA Technical Reference Module (TRM). Question: Are there any specific TRM-approved technologies or security protocols that should be prioritized in the solution? A: No
