Agency Health Department

Contractor KOGNITO SOLUTIONS LLC

SWIFT Contract Number 173933

Project Name Kognito Solutions LLC

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: Kognito Solutions LLC provided to MDH, the Kognito on line gatekeeper training courseware, At-Risk Suite of Training Simulations", which included nineteen simulation-based suicide prevention training modules. Programs in the suite address the needs of k-12 and higher education, healthcare providers, and military families. The courseware was developed using Kognito's proprietary and award-winning platform. This platform, based on research in social cognition and neuroscience, generates virtual role-play simulations where users engage in practice conversations with intelligent avatars and learn effective communication strategies in managing challenging conversations with individuals exhibiting signs of psychological distress including thoughts of suicide and depression. Kognito simulations are available to users online 24/7 with statewide unlimited access. This training course was one of a kind and met requirements for teacher licensure renewal for Suicide Prevention.

Project Duration

Start Date Mon, 02/24/2020 - 00:00

Original end date Sun, 06/30/2024 - 00:00

Actual end date Sun, 06/30/2024 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $507760

Amendments $1576700

Contract total $2084460

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? State and Federal funding

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) Kognito programs are currently the only commercially available online, simulation-based suicide prevention training programs. Kognito programs are the only online simulation-based prevention trainings that have been assessed in national studies to assess their effectiveness. The studies revealed strong evidence of the courseware's ability to improve learners' motivation and knowledge to identify, approach, and refer individuals exhibiting signs of psychological distress. Kognito's sole source letter, which will be attached an incorporated into this contract includes a list of peer-reviewed studies which
have evaluated the effectiveness of Kognito simulations. Kognito Solutions is the sole provider/sole source of the Kognito on line gatekeeper training courseware. Kognito is the company that developed the courseware, owns all copyright and intellectual property in the courseware, and is the only authorized seller. An extensive literature review was conducted and MDH partners at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) were consulted which resulted in an interagency agreement naming Kognito Solutions LLC as the sole vendor that could provide this interactive, avatar based, on line suicide training that can be offered to learners statewide 24/7 in the most effective manner.
Literature reviews pertaining to the studies of the efficacy of the Kognito At-Risk simulations published in peer-reviewed journals include: • Journal of School Health Study on At-Risk for Elementary Educators:
http://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/kognito-risk-high-school-edictors
• At-Risk for High School Educators: http://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/kognito-risk-high­school-educators
• Results are also summarized: https://go.kognito.com/rs/143-HCJ-270/images/PK-
12 HighSchool ResearchStudy.pdf

Evaluator Name Katie Fritz Fogel

Evaluator Email Address katie.fogel@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Contractor met all deadlines on-time, and was timely in responding to the needs of the program.

Evaluate the contractor's quality The contractor provided quality on-line data resources for the consumers accessing the trainings via the on-line Kognito platform.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The cost was fair and equitable and provided many MN teachers and school staff the opportunity to complete the Kognito on-line training.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance The contractor was able to meet the needs of the contract as well as the need for teachers to accesses and evidence-based program to meet their license requirements.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): No negative action needed to be taken during the duration of this contract.

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied