vaWashington PR shop District Communications Group has defended a six-figure pact to handle communications for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs' push to provide its services through mobile apps, following a review.

The VA, in a project dubbed its Mobile Health Initiative, is developing apps for veterans, caregivers and clinicians that integrate with its data systems to streamline its vast healthcare services.

DCG, on a new contract valued at $474K, is tasked with guiding outreach, including external and internal communications, for the initiative.

The firm is led by former Burson-Marsteller and Hill+Knowlton Strategies VP Adam Clampitt, a military reserve PAO who handled PA and social media under Gen. Stanley McChrystal for the NATO-led security force in Kabul.

DCG has previously worked on the mobile effort and the VA's electronic health records project, My HealtheVet, and earlier was a subcontractor on the VA's suicide prevention campaign.