Modernizing DotNetNuke (DNN) Web Environment

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Information Resource Center (VIReC) requires software and associated support services to modernize its web environment that runs on the open-source DotNetNuke (DNN) platform. This includes commercial off the shelf (COTS) software designed for developing and customizing the open-source DNN platform and optional tasks for support services, professional services for software maintenance, troubleshooting, and customization.

Software capabilities and professional services will also support but are not limited to the following planned enhancements to the web environment: implementing online communities such as discussion forums; site-wide reorganization and redesign; incorporating structured content; integrating content across the web environment; building in more robust search and filter options, collaboration spaces, and tools for knowledge management; ramping up reporting and analytics tools; adding customer support and feedback components; and providing a more seamless user experience.

The Period of Performance (PoP) shall be a 12-month base period from date of award with four (4) 12-month Option Periods to be exercised at the Government s discretion. This effort includes two (2) optional tasks for support services and professional services that can be exercised at any time during the period of performance.

SOFTWARE SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The COTS software shall support development and customization of the DNN open-source platform and shall be maintained and updated regularly to ensure compatibility with the most recent versions of this platform. The COTS software shall be used in four web environments (sandbox, test/development, staging/pre-production, and production) and licensing shall accommodate the addition of any future web environments. The software shall be extensible and include but not be limited to modules for the following:

Online communities and community collaboration spaces (Q&A and topical discussion forums, threaded conversations and comments, community management tools, blogs, Wikis, etc.) Social engagement and community interaction (user profiles; follow topics, tags, users; notifications; gamification and reputation systems; voting/rating; sharing attachments, code, links, etc.) Knowledge organization and publication (structured content with tags, type, group, hierarchy, etc.; admin/user generated tags; taxonomy management system; workflows; permissions; versioning) Global search features (advanced search/filter by tag, type, community; search across all modules/entire site) Improving user experience (responsive user interface (UI); accordion, tabs, tooltips; themes; robust search; centralization of information) Analytics tools (dashboard, measures key metrics like user engagement, participation, page views) SOFTWARE LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE The Contractor shall provide perpetual software licensing for the COTS software, including access to product updates, new features, patches, and documentation and videos provided with the software licenses.

All licenses shall support one production and a minimum of three non-production environments. Product upgrades and software licenses shall be renewed each period of performance as required per licensing term.

Description Part no. Quantity Software to support development and customization of the DNN open-source platform Perpetual License 1 SUPPORT SERVICES (OPTIONAL TASK 1) If exercised, the Contractor shall provide troubleshooting support for technical issues such as bug-fixes, hotfixes, and answering how-to-questions. These support services shall not exceed 470 hours per period of performance.

The labor category to provide these services shall be a Technical Consultant and shall have a minimum of 10 years experience working with software designed for developing and customizing the open-source DNN platform. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (OPTIONAL TASK 2) If exercised, the Contractor shall provide optional services such as, but not limited to:

Consulting on use of the software in DNN development and design, site architecture, module implementation, system integration, user experience (UX) design, and taxonomy development and implementation across integrated software.

Customization support such as building and designing themes, modules, feature requests, COTS software enhancements, custom software and API integrations within the DNN platform, connecting applications, building and implementing an authentication extension that adheres to VA's implementation of single sign-on, and other DNN development.

Project collaboration and management services including using project management platforms (e.g., Teamwork, MS Teams) for managing tasks and project files and using VA GitHub for repository management, version control, and hosting and sharing code files. These optional professional services shall not exceed 1248 hours per period of performance.

The labor category to provide these services shall be a Web Architect with a minimum of 15 years experience in web and software development, including providing custom DNN solutions, improving user experience, project management, and solutions analysis The Contractor shall have experience working on web-based platforms and UX design within a DNN environment.