Single Source Procurement: WIC Virtual Assistant Enhancement and Expansion

Pursuant to New York State Finance Law § 163.10(b), The New York State Department of Health is presenting the following summary of relevant circumstances, and material and substantial reasons why a competitive procurement was not feasible. The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Supplemental Food Programs, has made a determination to issue a Single Source Procurement to one (1) vendor to support ongoing currently funded projects.

AdirA will provide enhancement and expansion of the WIC Chatbot Services (WANDA). This single source proposal provides continued customer assistance for determining eligibility for the NYS Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, referrals to additional services when appropriate, and adds Spanish language access, as well as an integration of a live chat feature into the existing Chatbot experience. The contract will also cover ongoing maintenance, updates, and all project management. Given AdirA’s level of knowledge and vital understanding of WANDA functionality and necessary enhancements, it would not be feasible at this stage of development of the Chatbot for NYS DOH to develop a formal competitive process that would ensure the same level of service and efficacy without significant disruption.

Procurement/Program Name	WIC Virtual Assistant Enhancement and Expansion
Contractor Name(s)	AdirA
Contract Period	10/1/2023 – 9/30/2025
Contract Numbers	C038945