# DoD and VA Join TEFCA Network

On November 5, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs had joined the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), expanding secure electronic health-record exchange across military, veterans, and civilian care. TEFCA reports nearly 25,000 participating organizations and more than 2 billion records exchanged since December 2023. The announcement identifies no new solicitation, award value, or procurement timeline, but reinforces federal demand for interoperable health IT and secure data exchange.

- Health IT contractors can position interoperability, secure data-routing, and FHIR API capabilities for future federal needs; the announcement itself does not create a new procurement or mandate a specific purchase.
- Separately, the signals identify the Defense Intelligence Agency’s planned SIA 4 intelligence-analysis vehicle, with an approximately **$17 billion ceiling**. RFI responses are due **November 24, 2026 (16 days from the current date)**, and vendors need an active Top Secret Facility Clearance to participate.
- The signals also report new CISA post-quantum cryptography guidance. The December 3, 2026, Healthcare Summit is an identified forum for discussions on federal health priorities.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Healthcare, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Contracting Vehicles, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** November 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
- Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

### Vendors
- The Sequoia Project (TEFCA recognized coordinating entity and contractor to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology)

### Key Quotes
> Many of America’s veterans and warfighters receive care in multiple locations, making it critical for their providers to have access to secure, timely health information. TEFCA will help ensure their providers can get up-to-date information no matter where they receive care.
> — Thomas Keane, National Coordinator for Health IT

### Sources
- [
        DoD and VA join forces to increase electronic health information security - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/podcast/federal-newscast-podcast/dod-and-va-join-forces-to-increase-electronic-health-information-security) - Federal News Network
- [
        DoD and VA join forces to increase electronic health information security - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2026/11/dod-and-va-join-forces-to-increase-electronic-health-information-security) - Federal News Network
- [VA, Pentagon Join Nationwide TEFCA Health Data Exchange – MeriTalk](https://www.meritalk.com/articles/va-pentagon-join-nationwide-tefca-health-data-exchange) - MeriTalk