Aquia Inc., a cloud and cybersecurity digital services firm, today announced it has been awarded its first prime contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a standalone entity, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Under the sole-source contract, Aquia will digitize several VA forms on VA.gov as part of the Critical Veterans Services Initiative (CVSI), with the ambitious goal of achieving initial functionality by Veterans Day. The four initial forms include:
- VA 21-2680: Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance
- VA 21-4192: Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits
- VA 21-0779: Request for Nursing Home Information in Connection with Claim for Aid and Attendance
- VA 21P-530a: Application for Interment Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 23
The initiative aims to expedite claims processing and improve the digital experience for Veterans and survivors seeking benefits. Using agile software development methodologies, Aquia will deliver production-ready forms that integrate with VA.gov’s existing design system, content style guide, and claims systems.
The team will focus on reducing the average number of days to complete claims, eliminating paper form processing costs, improving data fidelity, and optimizing forms for automated processing through enhanced data validation.
“This sole-source award represents both a tremendous honor and a perfect match for our team’s expertise and commitment to serving Veterans,” said Brandon Utt, vice president of business development, Aquia. “As a Veteran-owned small business, we understand firsthand the importance of efficient, user-friendly systems when accessing critical benefits. We’re dedicated to leveraging our agile development capabilities to deliver meaningful improvements that directly impact the lives of those who served.”
The initiative supports the VA’s vision of providing Veterans and survivors with an effortless online experience to easily apply and receive their benefits, with a goal of processing claims within one business day.
This builds on Aquia’s current work at VA through its joint venture (JV) with Nava Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), Aquia Nava II, where the JV serves as a prime contractor supporting VA’s Disability Benefits Crew, as well as several other key VA initiatives where Aquia serves as a subcontractor.
