Specifications include, but are not limited to: · Ability to contact groups of people, including: o Sending a single message to a current population of 19,000 individuals. o Allowing Department staff and on behalf of stakeholders the ability to create messages, defining message body, recipients/recipient groups, time and frequency. o Capable of receiving texts on behalf of the WIC program and forward them to the WIC program, in English, via email. · Safe and secure transmission of communications. o Data shall be encrypted both during in transit and at rest. o All data shall be stored in the Continental United State. · Ability to send predetermined messages, including: o Appointment reminders; o Appointment rescheduling notification; o Appointment cancellation confirmation; o Office closure – weather or other reason; o Office Information Changes—Hours, locations, contact numbers, etc.; and o Ad hoc messages. · Merge the predefined message text with other data associated with a message recipient. o For example, an appointment reminder message would have the recipient’s name, appointment date, and appointment time merged into the appointment message. · Ability to send text messages in the language of the recipient, including: o Amharic, Arabic (including Sundanese); o Acholi; o Bengali; o Cambodian; o Dari; o English; o Farsi; o French; o Khmer; o Kinyarwanda; o Lingala; o Maay; o Mandarin; o Pashto; o Portuguese (Brazilian, Creole and European); o Rundi; o Russian; o Spanish; o Somali; o Swahili; o Thai; o Tigrinya; and o and Vietnamese. · Ability to send messages based on data conditions, or variables, of WIC participants, including: o Due date range; o Birth date; o Language; o Clinic; o Appointment date; o Appointment time; o All children turning one; o Clinics hosting farmers markets; o Weather closures; o Application status; o Renewal period pending; and o Others, as directed by the Department. · Generating ad hoc messages to participants by town, age, age of child, breastfeeding status or other indicators in the Participant or Retailer record, or as requested by the Department. · Generate messaging based on Participant details in the Maine SPIRIT MIS system using an interface. · Store messaging history for all participants in SPIRIT MIS. · Ability to substitute voice communication in lieu of text communication when the recipient’s phone cannot process text messages. o For voice calls, the texting platform will display the caller ID number for each local or state office that serves the participant, retailer or other recipient with each message sent. · Allow individuals to opt-in or opt-out of receiving communications. · Handle multiple messages to the same phone number is a receipt-friendly way. · Support scheduled delivery of messages. · Support on-demand delivery of messages. · Support service to all domestic cellular telephone providers. · Ability to survey participants and track results anonymously or identify participants.
