Thank you for participating in the Business Integrity Challenge. Before you begin, we recommend reviewing all application requirements, Rules, and the scoring rubric used to assess all valid submissions.
The State of Washington and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), as the lead agency, is seeking innovative, accessible, and culturally appropriate and adaptive solutions that leverage technology and GenAI as well as human-centered approaches to enable Washingtonians and communities to access programs, benefits, and services, while reducing the impact of fraud on their lives. DSHS identified four solution categories for this initiative: Automated Solutions, Language Services, CCT Solutions for Public Benefits, and CCT Solutions for Behavioral Health.
Responses to this submission form must be in English. This provides consistency across all submissions during our review process and reduces the risk of misinterpretation or translation error.
DSHS will provide access to this Solicitation document to individuals with disabilities and Limited English Proficient individuals. Please contact questions@businessintegritychallenge.org to request auxiliary aids and services.
This application form saves automatically and the status of your application is available to view on your dashboard. You have the option to request an automated confirmation email after clicking “submit” – be sure to click the checkbox opting into this email when the confirmation message appears.
Your entire submission will be public record and shared with Evaluation Panel members and the Business Integrity Challenge Team during the evaluation process. Portions of your submission may be published online and may be shared with the general public to promote your solution or to highlight results. Those portions may include, but are not limited to, Quick Pitch and Video Pitch. Please keep this in mind as you complete your submission. We encourage you to exclude any sensitive or proprietary information at this stage of the challenge. See Rules for more information.
Prior to submission:
- Confirm the information provided on the Registration Form is correct (go to Submissions and select Registration Form).
- Be sure to review your submission as it will appear after it has been submitted (click the preview button next to Submit).
- When you have completed all requirements, you will be able to submit the application form. Once you have submitted, you will no longer be able to make changes.
Submit your application no later than 3 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Participants who do not submit their completed application by the deadline will not be considered for this challenge.
Contact questions@businessintegritychallenge.org with questions or technical issues.
All fields are required unless otherwise noted.
A. QUICK PITCH
Offer a brief and compelling overview of your solution.
Solution Title (up to 10 words)
Provide a title for your solution that easily identifies and distinguishes it from others.
Solution Summary (up to 75 words)
Provide a concise overview of the most compelling aspects of your solution. This should be a stand-alone summary of the problem and proposed solution.
B. VIDEO PITCH
Submit a video that showcases your solution in a succinct format. This is an opportunity to share your vision and approach in a way that is different from the written proposal format. You may include screen shots, walk-throughs, or other visuals of your solution if you wish. This DOES NOT need to be a professionally produced video – a video shot on a smartphone is acceptable. NOTE: DSHS will save videos for the period of time required by the State of Washington’s records retention policies and practices. Submitted videos may be accessed via a public records request.
To complete this requirement, upload a short digital film using YouTube. Video submissions should follow these guidelines or else it will render the application ineligible:
- 90 seconds in length maximum.
- Must be in English, or if in another language, subtitled in English.
- Must be captioned. See instructions on how to caption YouTube videos here.
- Excludes images of identifiable children (under age 18) without express parental consent.
- Excludes copyrighted material (including, but not limited to, music) for which you do not have a license.
- Set the Privacy Settings on your video to Public or Unlisted – do not set them to Private. Only those with access to the YouTube URL will be able to view the video.
- Check to make sure embedding is turned on.
- Title your video: Business Integrity Challenge 2024 - [Lead Participant Name]
- After uploading the video, go to Video Manager, open your video, click “More,” select “Download,” check “Allow viewers to download,” and then save those changes.
Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:
- Introduce yourself, your partners, and/or team.
- Explain your project and what is unique about it.
- Identify how you will know that you’ve achieved success.
- Demo the solution, share a success story, or describe a use case scenario. Make an effort to connect with your audience of Evaluation Panel judges.
Video Retention
Videos submitted in this application will be downloaded from YouTube and retained as public record by DSHS for the period of time required by the State of Washington’s records retention policies and practices.
- I authorize DSHS and Carrot to download my application video from YouTube and retain the file in accordance with the State of Washington’s records retention policies and practices.
C. THE TEAM
The following information is required to capture a basic understanding of the leadership, structure, vision, and capabilities of the people working on this solution.
Should you receive funding, you must designate a Lead Participant responsible for entering into a Contract, taking accountability for those award funds, and providing project direction, control, and supervision. Your Lead Participant was identified during registration. If your Lead Participant has changed, please select Registration Form from the Submissions menu to update the Lead Participant information. Be sure to review sections 4 and 5 of the Rules for additional information.
Team Structure (up to 200 words)
Describe the roles, responsibilities, and contributions of each key team member or partner. Specify if the team member is full-time or serving as a consultant or external partner. NOTE: DSHS retains the right to approve or reject any replacements to key team members.
Team Biographies (up to 100 words)
Introduce us to up to three individuals who will oversee and be responsible for the success of the project. For each, provide a first/last name, title, and affiliation (if applicable), and a brief biographical statement. Emphasize the expertise and/or credentials that are most relevant to this project. Please include links to key team member/partner LinkedIn profiles.
Capabilities & Track Record (up to 250 words)
Describe your team’s skills, capacity, relationships, and experience to successfully deliver a solution for the Business Integrity Challenge. Be sure to include core competencies and how they apply to your ideas for the challenge, any relevant past efforts or experience, and any other additional details that support your ability to complete the project. You may include a description of any support or endorsements from key decision-makers, local leaders, residents, media, and others. NOTE: Letters of support are not required at this time but may be requested for those who move on to later stages of the Business Integrity Challenge.
D. THE PROBLEM
Demonstrate your understanding of the problem you aim to solve.
Problem Statement (up to 250 words)
Set the stage for your solution and explain why you have committed to help solve this challenge, especially as it relates to the systemic business needs outlined on the challenge website. Describe the problem, how it relates to fraud prevention and community access to programs, benefits, and services, and the specific needs your solution will address. Demonstrate your understanding of any current relevant systems and Washington state-specific local conditions which may affect your plans.
E. THE SOLUTION
Illustrate your approach and the impact your solution will deliver. Demonstrate how you will achieve meaningful results and emphasize how your project aligns with the criteria used to assess each valid application (see scoring rubric).
Solution Category
Solution Category was selected during registration. If this has changed, please select Registration Form from the Submission menu to update.
Project Stage
Select one option that best describes the project stage for your proposed solution.
- Proof of Concept: Has been implementing the strategy for a small number of targeted stakeholders and/or at a small scale.
- Scaling: Has evidence of impact and is expanding and adapting the strategy, but has yet to achieve large-scale implementation.
- Operating at Scale: Has evidence its strategy achieves impact and is delivering the solution at scale, but further iteration / evolution of the solution may increase impact.
Solution Description (up to 250 words)
Describe your solution and the ways in which the use of technology, GenAI, as well as human-centered approaches will enable communities to access programs, benefits, and services, while reducing the impact of fraud. Introduce the measurable impact, outcomes, and benefits of your proposed solution.
Human-centered Design & Accessibility (up to 250 words)
Describe your experience and success utilizing human-centered design principles and approaches. Explain how you will ensure that the design and implementation of your approach is accessible and authentically embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects. What is the approach and process you will use to engage with the DSHS team and incorporate their feedback into your solution?
Innovation (up to 150 words)
Explain how your solution diverges from, enhances, and/or reinforces existing methods/practices. Emphasize unique aspects of your solution and why you believe it will be more effective or impactful than existing efforts to address the problem.
Technical Features (up to 200 words)
Explain how your solution works and identify key features of the solution, especially as they relate to our key principles including flexibility, autonomy, lack of dependency, and configurability. If you are building on an existing technology, describe the baseline and specific changes you intend to make.
Applicable Environments (100 words)
Describe operating systems, platforms, and other environments that work with your solution.
Integration (150 words)
Operating with an up to 12-month project period, explain how you’ll build upon and integrate within the existing systems or technologies currently in use by the State of Washington noted on the solution category pages: Automated Solutions, Language Services, CCT Solutions for Public Benefits, and CCT Solutions for Behavioral Health.
Support (100 words)
Describe the plan for ongoing maintenance and upgrades for your solution should you be selected as an ASB of the Business Integrity Challenge. If not applicable, enter “Not applicable.”
Intellectual Property (100 words)
Explain any and all issues related to the intellectual property that underlies your technology. Identify the owner(s) of the intellectual property. If you are building on an existing or off-the-shelf technology, detail the permissions you have secured to utilize that technology. If not applicable, enter “Not applicable.”
Scalability (150 words)
Identify how your solution differs from, improves upon, and/or bolsters existing methods or practices used by the State of Washington. Share your vision and describe plans to scale your solution as a model that can be applied or adapted to meet the diverse, growing needs of DSHS and its administrations.
User Experience (up to 75 words)
Describe the journey for up to three (3) different types of potential users of the proposed solution. This may include the main flow of actions for primary users/intended audiences, as well as other illustrative use cases the solution can support.
Project Visual
Upload a single PDF that includes a visual representation of your approach, proposed solution, and the user experiences described above. This may include, but is not limited to, examples of related past work, user interface, illustrations, schematics, images, graphs, diagrams, maps, flow charts, organizational charts, table of contents or other visuals to help reviewers to better understand your team and proposed approach. The PDF should not exceed 10MB and up to five pages. The PDF should not contain additional text explanations or be used to circumvent word counts in this application. Some brief labels and/or basic text descriptions are permitted. Any pages beyond the five-page limit, as well as unrelated content to this specific question, will render the application ineligible.
F. PROJECT PLAN & BUDGET
Illustrate your plan and the resources required to successfully implement your solution.
Work Plan Implementation (up to 200 words)
Share your implementation plan for up to a 12-month project period. Include benefits, key dates, and milestones to help track and measure success.
Key Deliverables (up to 200 words)
Provide a summary of key deliverables for your solution.
Risk Management (up to 150 words)
Identify any specific operational or tactical hurdles, principal risks, or challenges to the short- and long-term success of the project and your plans to address them. Explain your understanding of the necessary operations or tactics critical to overcoming implementation challenges, as well as any potential unintended consequences, and your plans to mitigate them. Discuss your experience and capacity to manage technical and/or operational barriers.
Budget Narrative (up to 200 words)
Offer an overview of costs and how you will use the $250,000 award, including projected needs by timeline and category. Describe any anticipated cost efficiencies.
Detailed Budget
Provide a clear budget identifying the cost categories described in the Budget Narrative above for the maximum 12-month project period and a total of $250,000.
You may include any relevant cost categories, including indirect/general costs that support your plans and intended outcomes. You must clearly specify the incurred costs as part of each line item. Review the Rules for more information on use of subcontractors, prohibited use of award funds, and award contract and reporting.
Total Projected Implementation Costs
Provide the estimated total costs (in US dollars) to successfully implement your proposed solution over the course of the maximum 12-month project period. This may include internal, administrative, and other expenses to be covered by sources other than the Business Integrity Challenge award, if applicable.
Other Resources (up to 75 words)
If the total projected implementation costs listed above exceed the $250,000 Business Integrity Challenge award amount, list other key sources of funding with amount secured to date for the proposed solution. Describe how the solution may be impacted if additional funding is not secured. If there are no current commitments for the solution or additional funding is not required, enter “Not Applicable.”
Other Considerations (up to 150 words)
This is your final opportunity to raise any other considerations, emphasize or expand upon a previous point, or provide new information. NOTE: Evaluation Panel judges are instructed to avoid online research and/or review links that may be provided as part of this submission – we recommend you include any key considerations and important information within your responses to this application form.
G. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Provide additional information about the Lead Participant.
Certifications and Assurances
To be responsive, Lead Participants must agree to the Certifications and Assurances.
- I hereby certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington, that the certifications herein are true and correct and that I am authorized to make these certifications on behalf of the Lead Participant.
Proposed Contract Exceptions (Optional)
Any specific areas of dispute with the Proposed Contract Terms and Conditions must be identified in the Response and may, at the sole discretion of DSHS, be grounds for disqualification from further consideration in the award of a Contract.
Bidders must explain why each item proposed as additional contract terms is in DSHS’s best interest as a customer and how it will support DSHS’s business objectives. Under no circumstances is a Bidder to submit their own standard contract terms and conditions as a response to this solicitation.
Instead, Bidder must review and identify the language in the proposed Contract that Bidder finds problematic, state the issue, and propose the language or contract modification Bidder is requesting. DSHS expects the final Contract signed by the ASB to be substantially the same as the contract located under the Rules.
Upload a PDF that describes your proposed Contract exceptions below. The PDF should not exceed 10MB and up to 10 pages. If not applicable, please proceed to the next question.
Variations from Solicitation Requirements (up to 500 words)
Describe any proposed variations from the requirements noted for your selected solution category (Automated Solutions, Language Services, CCT Solutions for Public Benefits, and CCT Solutions for Behavioral Health). Please provide context as to how these variations will benefit DSHS business objectives and benefit end-users. If this is not applicable, enter “Not Applicable.”
Use of Subcontractors
We will accept Responses that include third party involvement only if the Bidder submitting the Response certifies that, as to the State of Washington, Bidder shall retain responsibility for its subcontractors, including, without limitation, liability for any subcontractor’s acts or omissions. Be sure to review sections 4 and 5 of the Rules for additional information.
Will subcontractors be used as part of this project?
- Yes
- No
Subcontractors (up to 100 words)
Please provide the precise legal name (including state of organization) and business address of any subcontractors that will be used as part of this project. If you will not use subcontractors as part of this project, please enter “Not applicable.”
Supplier Diversity Inclusion Plan
All Bidders must complete and upload the Contractor Inclusion Plan form, signed by an individual authorized to bind the Bidder contractually. DSHS requires that Bidder submit this inclusion plan template as part of their submission. Once submitted, the Inclusion Plan template becomes part of the Contract if awarded to the Bidder.
The Bidder shall also include an anticipated list of Washington Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran-owned subcontractors or vendors who may provide services on the project. Responses should reflect the Bidder's sincere efforts to include diverse, Washington Small, and Veteran businesses. Businesses listed in the plan must be certified by OMWBE or DVA, or registered in WEBS as Washington Small businesses. If a company is not certified or registered but may be eligible for certification, the Bidder should encourage the company to become certified.
Inclusion goals are aspirational. No preference is given for inclusion plans or goals in the evaluation of bids. While no minimum level of OMWBE certified, Veteran-owned, or Washington Small Business participation will be required as a condition for receiving an award, the plan must include the actions the Contractor will take to increase subcontracting opportunities for those business types.
Once your Contractor Inclusion Plan is complete, please save the file as a PDF and upload it below. The PDF should not exceed 10MB.
Bidder References
Please share the contact information for three references. Bidder certifies that the references provided to DSHS have worked with Bidder and that such individuals and firms have full permission, without any additional requirement or release, to provide such references and information to DSHS. Bidder authorizes DSHS (or its agent) to contact Bidder’s references and others who may have pertinent information regarding Bidder’s prior experience and ability to perform the Contract, if awarded. Bidder hereby authorizes such individuals and firms to provide such references and release to DSHS information pertaining to the same.
Bidder Reference #1
First Name
Last Name
Organization
Phone Number
Bidder Reference #2
First Name
Last Name
Organization
Phone Number
Bidder Reference #3
First Name
Last Name
Organization
Phone Number
Prior Contracts
Has the Bidder entered into any prior contracts with the State of Washington within the past ten (10) years?
- Yes
- No
Prior Termination
Within the three (3) year period preceding the date of this Competition, has the Bidder had one (1) or more federal, state, or local government contracts terminated for cause or default?
- Yes
- No
Prior Termination Explanation (up to 150 words)
If the above answer was yes, provide an explanation of any federal, state, or local government contracts that were terminated for cause or default. If not applicable, enter “Not Applicable.”
Prior Lawsuits
Has the Bidder been the subject of a lawsuit or administrative proceeding alleging a failure to comply with laws relating to the types of services Bidder proposes to provide pursuant to this Competitive Solicitation?
- Yes
- No
Prior Lawsuits Explanation (up to 150 words)
If the above answer was yes, please list the nature of the allegations, docket number, disposition and date (if applicable) and Bidder’s explanation of how it has changed its practices or operations relative to any alleged deficiencies since that proceeding was filed. If not applicable, enter “Not Applicable.”
H. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If your team is invited to participate in any future phases of this competition, you may be asked to provide additional information (refer to the Rules and Timeline), including but not limited to:
- A separate contract with the State of Washington
- Confirmation of license to do business in the State of Washington
- Washington UBI Number
- Proof of insurance
- Certification as a minority-, woman-, and/or veteran-owned business, if applicable
- Certification as a Washington Small Business, if applicable
- Tax determination letter
- Audited financial statements
- Articles of Incorporation, Charter, or similar documentation
- Evidence of additional funding and resources secured to implement the proposed solution if cost is beyond the $250,000 award
- Evidence of efficacy of the solution, including technical capabilities
- Existing policies, if any, addressing conflicts of interest, whistleblower, internal controls, anti-money laundering, intellectual property, code of conduct, ethics, gifts, and any similar policies governing the Lead Participant and/or partners.
- If selected for an award, any summary of lessons learned, impact, and results.
The State of Washington reserves the right to perform background checks on key individuals associated with the proposal, and the refusal by key individuals to provide necessary authorizations will be a reason to reject any application for further consideration. Background information and the results of any background checks will be kept confidential.