UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS & COLLABORATION PLATFORM

  • Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

  •  ITSS (Information Technology Support Services)

  • 75N92023F00253

  • $32,109,500

  • October 2023 - Present

  • Time & Materials (T&M) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

  • Prime Contractor

Challenge

ARPA-H required a comprehensive unified communications and collaboration (UCC) infrastructure to support a geographically distributed federal workforce conducting cutting-edge biomedical research. The agency needed enterprise-grade voice, video, messaging, and collaboration capabilities, seamless integration across multiple platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Cisco), conference room technology supporting hybrid meetings, 24/7 operational support for mission-critical communications, secure communications meeting federal compliance requirements, and audiovisual support for executive meetings and research presentations. The solution needed to facilitate information exchange among researchers, administrators, and external partners while maintaining security and reliability.

Solution

DAWNE IT Solutions designed, implemented, and operates a comprehensive unified communications and collaboration platform providing enterprise-grade communication services across all ARPA-H locations. The solution integrated voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a seamless user experience with robust security and 24/7 support.

Unified Communications Components

  • Enterprise Voice Infrastructure:

    • Cloud-based voice services (Microsoft Teams Phone System)

    • Direct routing for PSTN connectivity

    • Auto-attendant and call queuing

    • Voicemail and voicemail-to-email

    • Call forwarding and simultaneous ring

    • Presence-based routing

    • Emergency calling (E911) compliance

    • Toll-free and direct inward dial (DID) numbers

    Mobile and Remote Voice:

    • Mobile device integration (iOS, Android)

    • Softphone applications for desktop and laptop

    • Seamless handoff between devices

    • International calling capabilities

    • Call quality monitoring and optimization

    • Multi-Platform Video Support:

      • Microsoft Teams video conferencing

      • Zoom enterprise video platform

      • Cisco Webex integration

      • Interoperability between platforms

      • Screen sharing and content collaboration

      • Recording and transcription services

      • Live captioning for accessibility

      Conference Room Technology:

      • Logitech meeting room devices (Rally, MeetUp, Tap)

      • NEAT collaboration devices

      • Cisco video conferencing endpoints

      • One-touch meeting join

      • Wireless presentation systems

      • Interactive displays and digital whiteboards

      • Camera tracking and intelligent framing

    • Instant Messaging Platform:

      • Microsoft Teams chat and channels

      • Persistent chat for team collaboration

      • File sharing and co-authoring

      • @mentions and notifications

      • Presence indicators (available, busy, away, do not disturb)

      • Integration with Outlook calendar

      • Mobile messaging applications

    • Collaboration Tools:

      • Microsoft SharePoint for document management

      • Microsoft OneDrive for personal file storage

      • Teams channels for project collaboration

      • Shared calendars and scheduling

      • Task management and tracking

      • Wiki and knowledge base capabilities

      • Integration with third-party applications

    • Onsite Meeting Support:

      • Pre-meeting technology setup and testing

      • Real-time technical support during meetings

      • Troubleshooting and issue resolution

      • Hybrid meeting facilitation

      • Recording and streaming services

      • Executive meeting white-glove support

      • Proposers' Day event technology coordination

      Conference Room Design & Implementation:

      • Room design and technology specification

      • Equipment procurement and installation

      • Audio system design and tuning

      • Video display configuration

      • Control system programming

      • Cable management and infrastructure

      • Signage and room scheduling displays

  • Executive AV Support:

    • Executive presentation preparation

    • High-stakes meeting technology coordination

    • VIP visitor meeting support

    • Board meeting technology services

    • Town hall and all-hands meeting support

    • External stakeholder presentation support

    Event Technology Services:

    • Large-scale event planning and coordination

    • Multi-room event technology

    • Live streaming and webcasting

    • Hybrid event facilitation

    • Recording and post-production

    • Technical rehearsals and run-throughs

  • Operational Support:

    • 24/7/365 monitoring and support

    • Proactive system monitoring and alerting

    • Incident response and resolution

    • Change management and maintenance

    • Patch management and updates

    • Performance optimization

    • Capacity planning and forecasting

    User Support Services:

    • Help desk support for UCC issues

    • User training and onboarding

    • Quick reference guides and documentation

    • Executive assistant training on meeting technology

    • Best practices and optimization recommendations

    • Troubleshooting and technical assistance

  • UCC Infrastructure Design:

    • Enterprise architecture design and documentation

    • Scalability and high availability design

    • Quality of Service (QoS) implementation

    • Network optimization for real-time communications

    • Redundancy and failover configuration

    • Integration with existing systems

    Next-Generation Technology Research:

    • Emerging UCC technology evaluation

    • Pilot programs networking and collaboration

    • Resource sharing and best practices

    • Monthly challenges and competitions

    • Success story showcases

    • Ongoing support and mentorship

  • Federal Agency Applications:

    • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) use cases

    • National Institutes of Health (NIH) research applications

    • Department of Defense (DoD) operational efficiency

    • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) security applications

    • General Services Administration (GSA) procurement optimization

    • Veterans Affairs (VA) service delivery improvement

    State & Local Government Applications:

    • Public safety and emergency response

    • Social services case management

    • Transportation and infrastructure planning

    • Education and workforce development

    • Tax and revenue optimization

    • Constituent services and engagement

    Compliance & Security:

    • NIST AI Risk Management Framework

    • Federal AI Executive Orders and guidance

    • FedRAMP compliance for AI tools

    • Privacy Act and PII protection

    • FISMA security requirements

    • Section 508 accessibility compliance

    • Records management and retention

  • Instructor Credentials:

    • Federal AI project experience (ARPA-H GRACE AI, enterprise applications)

    • Cybersecurity and compliance expertise

    • Government contracting and operations knowledge

    • Adult learning and instructional design

    • Industry certifications and advanced degrees

    Authority & Credibility:

    • Real-world federal AI implementation experience

    • $32M+ in federal AI contracts delivered

    • Proven track record with HHS, NIH, ARPA-H

    • Published thought leadership and case studies

    • Speaking engagements and conference presentations

  • Program Certification:

    • Government Employee AI Practitioner (Foundations)

    • Government AI Professional (Professional tier)

    • Government AI Executive Leader (Executive tier)

    • Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available

    • Digital badges and certificates

    • LinkedIn profile credentials

  • Learning Management System:

    • Squarespace Member Areas for content delivery

    • Secure login and user management

    • Progress tracking and completion certificates

    • Mobile-responsive design

    • Downloadable resources and materials

    • Video streaming and on-demand access

    Payment Processing:

    • Stripe payment integration

    • Recurring subscription billing

    • Multiple payment options (credit card, ACH)

    • Government purchase card acceptance

    • Invoice billing for agencies

    • Flexible cancellation policies

  • Target Audience:

    • Federal government employees (GS-5 through SES)

    • State and local government staff

    • Government contractors and consultants

    • Agency leadership and executives

    • IT and data professionals

    • Program managers and analysts

    Marketing Channels:

    • Government conferences and events

    • LinkedIn and professional networks

    • Federal agency partnerships

    • Government training catalogs

    • Email marketing campaigns

    • Webinars and free workshops

    • Case studies and testimonials

  • Program Evolution:

    • Monthly content updates with latest AI developments

    • New modules based on user feedback

    • Emerging technology coverage

    • Guest expert sessions

    • Industry trend analysis

    • User success stories and case studies

    Feedback & Iteration:

    • User surveys and feedback collection

    • Completion and engagement analytics

    • Learning outcome assessments

    • Continuous curriculum refinement

    • Community-driven content requests

    • A/B testing for optimal learning experiences

Technologies Used

Learning Platform

Squarespace Member Areas

Video Creation

AI-generated videos, screen recording tools

Analytics

Google Analytics, platform analytics

Payment Processing

Stripe

Communication

Email automation (Mailchimp, ConvertKit)

CRM

HubSpot for lead managemen

Video Hosting

Vimeo, YouTube (private)

Community

Private forum or Slack workspace

Implementation Phases

Phase 1: Program Development (Months 1-3)

  • Curriculum design and module development

  • Video content creation (AI-generated and recorded)

  • Platform setup and configuration

  • Payment processing integration

  • Marketing materials development

  • Beta testing with pilot users

Phase 3: Growth & Scaling (Months 7-12)

  • Content expansion and updates

  • Additional tier offerings

  • Corporate/agency group subscriptions

  • Partnership development

  • Certification program formalization

  • Revenue optimization and scaling

Phase 2: Launch & Marketing (Months 4-6)

  • Public launch and announcement

  • Marketing campaign execution

  • Enrollment and onboarding

  • First cohort live sessions

  • Community building and engagement

  • Feedback collection and iteration

Phase 4: Expansion (Year 2+)

  • Industry-specific versions (healthcare, education, etc.)

  • Advanced specialization tracks

  • Train-the-trainer programs

  • Agency white-label partnerships

  • International expansion

  • Enterprise licensing

Results & Outcomes

  • 500+ government employees enrolled across all tiers (first 6 months)

  • $400,000+ revenue generated (first 6 months, on track for $1M annual goal)

  • 95% course completion rate for engaged learners

  • 98% user satisfaction rating

  • 40% productivity improvement reported by users

  • 200+ AI workflows created by participants

  • 85% of users report implementing AI in daily work within 30 days

  • 50+ agency testimonials and success stories

  • 75% subscriber retention rate month-over-month

  • 30% referral rate from existing subscribers

  • Featured in government technology publications

  • Partnership discussions with 5 federal agencies for group subscriptions

User Success Stories

Business Value

    • Practical AI skills applicable immediately to daily work

    • Career advancement through emerging technology expertise

    • Increased productivity and efficiency

    • Reduced manual, repetitive work

    • Enhanced decision-making capabilities

    • Professional development and certification

    • Workforce upskilling without expensive consultants

    • Improved operational efficiency and cost savings

    • Secure, compliant AI adoption

    • Innovation and modernization

    • Competitive advantage in talent recruitment

    • Measurable productivity improvements

    • Recurring revenue stream ($1M annual target)

    • Brand authority and thought leadership

    • Lead generation for consulting services

    • Scalable business model

    • Diversified revenue beyond government contracts

    • Market differentiation and competitive advantage

    • Expandable to commercial sector (healthcare, finance, education)

    • Corporate training partnerships

    • Government agency licensing

    • International markets

    • Advanced specialization tracks

    • Consulting and implementation services upsell

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