Notice ID: 36C24124Q0626
The VA anticipates issuing a solicitation for this requirement on or about June 30, 2024.
VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide (2018-2028) defined a broad vision for implementation of a public health approach to end suicide. Within VA’s national strategy, promoting connectedness (Goal 3) and evaluation (strategic direction 4) of programs remain a key goal in VA’s efforts to prevent suicide.
Moreover, In VA’s Suicide Prevention 2.0, community-based activities remain a prominent feature and critical to the VA’s Public Health Model for Suicide Prevention. In support of this, VA Bedford Healthcare System staff are seeking to bolster this mission through developing and evaluating community-based social intervention.
Scope or Purpose. The “Using Gaming to Increase Social Connection and VA access among Younger Veterans” project is approved and funded by the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) as a suicide prevention demonstration project. The demonstration project seeks to develop and evaluate a social intervention that utilizes gaming to increase social connection among Veterans. This project promotes social connectedness which is a protective factor against Veteran suicide. Through in-person and online gaming events (10 total, 8 in year 1), an online and in-person community will be created to 1) connect Veterans to one another and 2) enhance their knowledge and access to VA information and resources. Information gathered through this project will help develop guidance to VA and community organizations for sustainable solutions to enhance Veteran connectedness and decrease loneliness and social isolation through gaming.
The project requires a vendor who that can provide consulting services, facilitate gaming events, online platform management, content expertise in Veteran gaming culture and event production, and mental health evaluation expertise. Specifically, to assist with developing and evaluation social intervention through gaming to meet Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) goals. The vendor will develop strategic outreach strategies (e.g., Instagram post) to reach potential stakeholders and promote the gaming events. The vendor will be responsible for coordinating, marketing, and implementation online and in-person gaming events (10 total), and assistance with protocol development, and evaluative (non-research) data collection. The vendor will manage selected venues and lead social intervention and assist in evaluation procedures. Other requirements include successful completion of similar tasks in the past. A vendor who has successfully fostered a community for Veterans with a common interest in video and tabletop games. Moreover, an organization that has facilitated in-person and online gaming events in the Massachusetts area and worked with Veteran serving organizations, VA hospitals, student Veteran organizations, and experience in mental health sectors would best serve the needs of this project.
The contract period of performance will be for one year starting at time of award. There is another 1-year option for this contract.
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