VA’s vision “to provide Veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned,” can only be met if the best and most innovative solutions are coming to VA. To fulfill this vision, VA has launched its Pathfinder website – a guided experience to support vendors and innovators who want to take their idea, product, or solution to VA.
OALC, OHIL and OIT are leading this effort, and it aims to transform their customers’ experiences through increased transparency and support for vendors and innovators.
Vendors and innovators can submit their innovative solutions, product or service to VA
The Pathfinder website offers vendors and innovators a guided virtual experience that is tailored to who they are and how they want to engage with VA. The website provides curated educational resources to support users as they explore collaboration opportunities with VA.
Once users understand the steps to engaging with VA, they can submit their innovative idea, solution, product or service through the submission form hosted on Pathfinder. The submission form is designed to allow interested vendors and innovators to easily submit their company and product information in a straightforward manner.
After submitting the form, the customer’s information is routed to specific VA offices based on how it aligns with the office objectives. Once routed, the information is reviewed, and customers are notified. The submission process allows VA to conduct market research and build an innovation solution repository. VA seeks to understand the current state of health care innovation to ensure the best solutions are brought into VA.
Future plans for the website include offering contracts to vendors based on organizational needs and matching innovation solutions with identified VA problem spaces. VA aims to ensure that Veterans and VA’s staff needs are being identified while also focusing on future procurement and collaboration opportunities.
Want to get involved?
Visit pathfinder.va.gov to learn more about innovating or selling with VA. There, you can also find VHA IE success stories and submit your innovative idea, product, or service!
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Air Force veteran, VA assisted me to obtain my BA degree in 1976. I write and publish education material (eBooks) for primary, high school and university students but the eBooks are also usable for retired seniors (>65). 1) The Academic Planner for Personal Development – for high school and university students; What Do You See? relates to an unorthodox approach to learn STEM – STREEAM (science, technology, robotics, English, engineering, art and mathematics), ages 5 – 8 with a mentor, upper primary, high school, university and retired seniors all using the same eBook; “Master Mind” an abstract land planning activity. All of the material is designed to stretch one’s imagination, particularly “What Do You See?” due to 95% of the answers are subjective, we all have individual mindsets. Currently I am a semi-retired 84 Y.O. architect-builder, photographer, author, publisher, and basketball and tennis coach. I look forward to have an opportunity to market my eBook publications for use by high school and university students but, also retired seniors enther at home or in nursing care facilities.
Cool design, horrible user experience. Twenty seven clicks to get to something that should be on one page or two.