VA SPRUCE IDIQ
General Overview
The AVB Digital II joint venture, comprised of Bixal and Vaultes, holds a prime position on the Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) Secure, Performant, Reliable, and User-Centered Experiences (SPRUCE) contract vehicle; Blue Guardian IT is a subcontractor to the joint venture. This Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract allows AVB Digital II to support VA’s mission to deliver high-quality, digital-first services that enhance veterans' access to the benefits and care they deserve.
SPRUCE is the mechanism by which VA is introducing software development services comparable to those used in the commercial sector for internal and external users of their digital platforms. The new contract vehicle scales the success accomplished in the current Customer Experience, DevOps and Agile Releases (CEDAR) IDIQ, while expanding access to exceptional vendors with more diverse skillsets and enabling larger task orders as appropriate.
Details of the SPRUCE IDIQ Contract
The SPRUCE IDIQ focuses on the user experience, security, reliability, and performance of VA digital platforms. This includes initiatives to:
- Enhance accessibility for veterans navigating VA services.
- Streamline digital processes and reduce complexity for end users.
- Incorporate innovative technologies that improve the overall performance of VA’s systems.
Support VA’s overarching mission of ensuring veterans receive the best possible care and services.
Contractor Capabilities
The AVB Digital II joint venture integrates each organization’s expertise—human-centered design, technical innovation, and cybersecurity—providing a holistic approach to the ongoing project of making the US government’s digital services more accessible, intuitive, and equitable.
SPRUCE reinforces AVB Digital II’s commitment to delivering secure, scalable, and human-centered outcomes, and enables us to support VA in addressing its growing need for digital-first solutions that are nimble, sustainable, and guided by an ethos of continuous learning.
Our Expertise
- Human-Centered Design: Bixal’s approach to design places veterans at the center of every digital solution, ensuring that services are intuitive and user-friendly.
- Cybersecurity and Innovation: Vaultes brings advanced technical expertise, ensuring that VA platforms remain secure and resilient in the face of evolving cyber threats.
- Digital Advisory and Modernization: Blue Guardian IT, a trusted partner of VA’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) and Office of Connected Care (OCC), provides strategic advisory services to ensure that VA’s digital services meet the highest standards of performance and security.
Why This Matters
"Being awarded a prime position on the VA SPRUCE contract reflects Bixal’s commitment to delivering digital solutions that empower veterans and improve their access to essential services," said Carla Briceno, CEO and cofounder of Bixal.
"This partnership brings together the best of all worlds—Bixal’s design thinking, Vaultes’ cutting-edge cybersecurity expertise, and Blue Guardian’s close working knowledge of VA’s technology infrastructure," said David Nazario, managing partner at Vaultes.
How We Support VA’s Mission
This contract aligns with Bixal’s mission to create digital solutions that are equitable and sustainable for underserved communities, including the veteran community. It builds on our extensive experience in government contracting and digital transformation to improve service delivery for millions of people, with a particular focus on the lived experience and expressed needs of those who have served.
How to Work with Us
Government agencies interested in partnering with Bixal can leverage the SPRUCE contract at VA, along with our many other contract vehicles. Learn more about how Bixal supports digital transformation across the public sector by visiting our contract vehicles page.
Key Points of Contact
To contact us for information on the VA SPRUCE IDIQ vehicle, please use the following contact information:
Michelle Ruhlin, Director of Business Development[email protected]
703.634.5701
Information
Prime Contractor: Bixal and Vaultes via AVB Digital II joint venture.
Subcontractor: Blue Guardian IT.
Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).
Period of Performance: 10/1/24–09/30/29.
Ceiling: $2,442,037,228.80.
Contract Number: 36C10B25D0008
Award Date: October 1, 2024