VA eyes vendors for IT follow-on

PCHS-2 RFP

The Department of Veterans Affairs' new chief information officer, John Gauss, has approved a request for proposals for a follow-on contract for hardware and software worth up to $1.37 billion.

The VA seeks at least two vendors for PCHS-2 Procurement of Computer Hardware and Software-2 and requires at least 40 percent of the subcontracts to be awarded to minority-, woman- or veteran-owned businesses.

The RFP calls for a one-year base contract with four one-year options. Proposals are due Sept. 24 to replace the VA's PCHS-1 contract that ends next January.

"We need to have a contract that allows us to buy commodity hardware and software," Gauss said. "We want PCHS-2 to be a commodities product, standard space and interchangeable."

In addition, the new contract will include leasing provisions that did not exist in PCHS-1, Gauss said.

The contract will include information technology solutions, networks, security, health care automation and paperless office products. It also calls for handheld computers and a portable system that's powerful enough to perform as a desktop PC replacement.

In its fourth year as a governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC), PCHS-1 has been a popular contracting option for providing personal computer hardware and software at competitive prices. Total sales have exceeded $631 million.

Gauss said there was no plan to turn PCHS-2 into a GWAC, but other government agencies will be allowed to buy off the contract.