Noteboom The Law Firm

The VA is Offering Contracts for Innovative Ideas

June 16, 2010 - In the last couple of years the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken a more aggressive approach in seeking new ways to improve veteran health care and benefits. Resultantly, the VA has expanded and improved many areas of veteran care by adopting and developing different programs and incentives.

In keeping with their goal of providing veterans with the best possible care, the VA is offering contracts for innovative ideas. More specifically, they are offering $80 million in contracts to the winners of their Industry Innovation Competition (VAi2).

The Federal Business Opportunities website describes the competition's goal as improving the way the VA manages their programs. More than that, though, the VA is hoping the competition will generate new programs that can help veterans. It is hoped these ideas will help the VA:

• Increase veterans' access to VA services;
• Decrease or manage costs;
• Improve program performance; or
• Improve the quality of health care provided to veterans.

Every VA awarded contract will demand performance within 2 years. Additionally, the contracts will be fixed-price whenever possible and appropriate. Contractors should submit ideas focusing on:

• Innovative housing for homeless veterans;
• Remote telehealth solutions;
• New models for dialysis & prevention of renal disease; and
• Solutions for helping veterans with new business start up.

 This is the third round of VAi2 programs. This particular stage is limited to industry competition. The first 2 rounds consisted of the VA soliciting employees for ideas to improve claims processing and soliciting ideas to improve their IT system, respectively.