DA01--Chat Bot (VA-26-00059859)

Quick Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to award a Firm Fixed Price contract on a sole source basis to Aurelius Talent Solution, LLC, an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), for the optimization and augmentation of the SOPHROSYNE chatbot. This presolicitation notice outlines the requirement for iterative clinical workflow design, in-clinic piloting, and toolkit development for the VA-owned substance use disorder (SUD) chatbot. Interested parties who possess unique, system-specific knowledge of SOPHROSYNE may submit a capabilities statement by June 26, 2026.

Scope of Work

This requirement focuses on enhancing the SOPHROSYNE chatbot, a VA-owned clinical intervention tool designed to support Veteran education on SUD risks, motivate treatment engagement, and reduce substance use. The contractor will provide support for:

• Iterative design, testing, and revision of clinical workflows and protocols for in-clinic and independent Veteran use of SOPHROSYNE.
• Optimization and versioning of the chatbot to ensure clinical accuracy, usability, and alignment with Motivational Interviewing principles.
• In-clinic piloting at VA sites, coordinated with the VA Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE).
• Formative evaluation, including structured usability testing, end-user walk-throughs, and feedback collection from Veterans, staff, and subject matter experts.
• Development and maintenance of an implementation toolkit, user guides, training materials, and a final maintenance guide for VA staff. All work must adhere to VA security, privacy, and information technology requirements, including VA Handbook 6500. Option Year 2 is limited to sustainment, maintenance, and policy-driven updates.

Contract Details

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price
• Period of Performance: Base Year (August 15, 2026 – August 14, 2027), with two option years extending through August 14, 2029. Option Year 2 is for sustainment only.
• Estimated Value: $1,731,864 (base year); $4,680,640 (base year plus all options).
• Place of Performance: Primarily at Aurelius Talent Solution, LLC facilities in Ellicott City, Maryland, with limited temporary access to VA pilot sites.
• Set-Aside: None - Sole Source. Award is intended for Aurelius Talent Solution, LLC, an SBA-certified SDVOSB, under the Veterans First Contracting Program (38 U.S.C. 8127(c) and VAAR 819.7007).
• Basis for Sole Source: Aurelius Talent Solution, LLC was the original developer of the SOPHROSYNE chatbot and possesses unique, comprehensive system-specific knowledge (architecture, coding, logic, content) critical for effective modification and optimization. The VA's Office of Information and Technology (OIT) lacks the specialized skillset, and alternative vendors would require significant onboarding time.

Submission & Evaluation

This is an informational notice; the Government is not soliciting competitive offers. However, interested parties who believe they possess the unique technical qualifications—specifically, detailed system-specific knowledge of the SOPHROSYNE chatbot—may submit a capabilities statement.

• Capabilities Statement Due: June 26, 2026, by 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Submission Method: Electronically to Contract Specialist Derek Devine at derek.devine@va.gov.
• Requirements: Statements are limited to five pages and must address specific technical knowledge of SOPHROSYNE, AI/chatbot development qualifications, ability to perform within 30 days, and current SDVOSB/VOSB certification and SAM.gov registration.
• Evaluation: A credible demonstration of system-specific knowledge could lead the Contracting Officer to reassess the sole source determination.

Additional Notes

Technical details regarding the SOPHROSYNE system are withheld due to security concerns (FAR 5.202(a)(1)). The contract is subject to the Service Contract Labor Standards, with applicable wage determination WD 2015-4265, Revision 33.