In August 2024, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services launched the Business Integrity Challenge to invite innovative teams to submit solutions that address fraud and improve access to state benefits for residents and communities of Washington state.

The Business Integrity Challenge will award one winner for each of the four solution categories who will each receive a contract of up to $250,000 for the development of their solutions over a maximum 12-month project period. Review About to learn more about the initiative.

The Business Integrity Challenge was informed by responses to the RFI 2420-847 DSHS Fraud Prevention Challenge but is not otherwise an extension of it. DSHS is not planning to post a subsequent RFP in this area.

DSHS has identified four categories under which submissions can fall. The Business Integrity Challenge's four solution categories each address a different business need or program area at DSHS. While there may be some overlap in possible solutions, each category will be implemented separately based on specific system requirements and program timelines. Review the page for each solution category to learn more.

• Automated Solutions to improve performance outcomes – Move from a manual review of applications for benefits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and create a solution that automates the process for thousands of applications. 
• Language Services to support benefits access – Create a seamless experience accessing public benefits like food, cash and medical assistance and related workload processes through a language translation solution. 
• Customer-Centric Technology Solutions for Public Benefits – Support enhancement of anomaly detection in food and cash benefits using AI while maintaining a human-centered focus before taking proactive fraud prevention action.   
• Customer-Centric Technology Solutions for Behavioral Health – Create a solution that completes more efficient and targeted data-matching queries to reduce overpayments and fraudulent benefits. 

Eligible Lead Participants may submit a proposal for more than one solution category. You will need to create an account and register using a different username/email for each submission. The email domain can be the same as long as the email address is unique. Only one application for each solution category from the same entity is allowed – submitting more than one application for a solution category may deem your application ineligible. You may not submit for more than one solution category in one application.

Participants may propose an overarching solution and/or similar solutions for each of the solution categories, however we encourage teams to select the approach that best represents your ability to deliver a solution that meets the timeline and scoring criteria in each solution category. Solution categories will be scored separately without reference to whether a solution could be implemented in multiple challenge areas. DSHS may choose to implement a proposed overarching solution in only one of the proposed categories.

Please contact us with any challenge-related questions, requests for help with accessibility and special accommodations, and technical support. Communications regarding Changes in Solicitation Requirements, Complaints, Debriefing Conferences, and Protest should be sent to william.taplin@dshs.wa.gov.

While there is no formal deadline for questions, we strongly encourage questions sent as soon as possible and at least one day ahead of the deadline to questions@businessintegritychallenge.org. Please do not wait until the last minute to send us your questions. We will prioritize those in need of technical support leading up to the submission deadline.

Once you have registered and throughout the challenge, we will send important notifications to the email address associated with your account, as well as the primary and secondary contacts listed on your registration form. You can take three critical steps to make sure these messages are received promptly:

1. Add our email address to your contacts.
2. Whitelist our email address. Here are instructions to add to your whitelist in most major email providers.
3. Update your registration form right away if one of your contacts changes. If you need to make a contact change after the application window has closed, please email us, and we will assist you.

A recording of the Q&A Webinar is available here and a list of the answered questions is here. The list of webinar participants is available on Forums for registered participants.

All of the information available for participants is on the DSHS and Business Integrity Challenge websites. Applicants should not contact DSHS employees to request information about this Solicitation. Please share any questions you have about current processes with questions@businessintegritychallenge.org, and we will provide information when possible. Please note: In order to limit and prevent risk, we will not be sharing very specific information (such as details regarding current processes) until further in the process for those who are awarded contracts and nondisclosure agreements are in place.

The Business Integrity Challenge welcomes applications from United States-based bidders and individuals over the age of 18, who are representing a Lead Participant as an applicant. Each applicant must identify a Lead Participant as the recognized Contractor in the execution of any proposed project contained in an Entry.  

Eligibility related to any Lead Participant by type are as follows: 

• Nonprofit organization located in a state or territory of the United States that is exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 
• An entity organized under the laws of a state or territory of the United States other than a 501(c)(3) organization 
• Individual or team of individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are 18 years of age or older
• Federal, state, and/or local government agencies, including a tribal government or tribal-owned enterprise

Eligible Lead Participants are welcome to collaborate with nonprofit organizations, companies, foundations, schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, individuals, and other entities to develop the solution. 

Refer to the Rules for a complete set of eligibility requirements.