diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-app.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy-app.yaml
index 7585f28..90d55c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-app.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-app.yaml
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build Frontend Application
         run: npm run build
         working-directory: ./frontend/app
+        env:
+          REACT_APP_FUNCTION_APP_URL: https://${{ env.ENVIRONMENT }}-alpinebot-func.azurewebsites.net
 
       - name: Deploy to Azure Web App
         uses: azure/webapps-deploy@v2
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-function.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy-function.yaml
index 87d6fbe..e217c4e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-function.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-function.yaml
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           app-name: ${{ env.ENVIRONMENT }}-alpinebot-func
           package: ./backend
+          scm-do-build-during-deployment: 'true'
+          enable-oryx-build: 'true'
 
       - name: Output deployment information
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
index 53ae9f7..750a6bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
@@ -230,6 +230,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           app-name: ${{ env.ENVIRONMENT }}-alpinebot-func
           package: ./backend
+          scm-do-build-during-deployment: 'true'
+          enable-oryx-build: 'true'
 
       - name: Output deployment information
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/destroy-infra.yaml b/.github/workflows/destroy-infra.yaml
index 3fe42b2..186a091 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/destroy-infra.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/destroy-infra.yaml
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "TF_VAR_az_subscription_id=${{ secrets.AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_az_container_name=${{ env.ENVIRONMENT }}-bkd-alpinebot-co" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_sp_object_id=${{ secrets.AZURE_SP_OBJECT_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "TF_VAR_az_openai_key_value=${{ secrets.AZURE_OPENAI_KEY }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_postgresql_admin_password=${{ secrets.POSTGRESQL_ADMIN_PASSWORD }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_postgresql_admin_username=${{ secrets.POSTGRESQL_ADMIN_USERNAME }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_google_client_id=${{ secrets.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
diff --git a/.github/workflows/destroy.yaml b/.github/workflows/destroy.yaml
index e318e7b..25df441 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/destroy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/destroy.yaml
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "TF_VAR_az_subscription_id=${{ secrets.AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_az_container_name=${{ env.ENVIRONMENT }}-bkd-alpinebot-co" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_sp_object_id=${{ secrets.AZURE_SP_OBJECT_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "TF_VAR_az_openai_key_value=${{ secrets.AZURE_OPENAI_KEY }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_postgresql_admin_password=${{ secrets.POSTGRESQL_ADMIN_PASSWORD }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_postgresql_admin_username=${{ secrets.POSTGRESQL_ADMIN_USERNAME }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "TF_VAR_google_client_id=${{ secrets.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
diff --git a/backend/function_app.py b/backend/function_app.py
index fa192a0..66769f7 100644
--- a/backend/function_app.py
+++ b/backend/function_app.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def get_openai_client():
         azure_endpoint=api_base
     )
 
-@app.route(route="chat", methods=["POST"], auth_level=func.AuthLevel.FUNCTION)
+@app.route(route="chat", methods=["POST"], auth_level=func.AuthLevel.ANONYMOUS)
 def chat(req: func.HttpRequest) -> func.HttpResponse:
     """
     HTTP trigger function for chatbot queries.
diff --git a/frontend/app/.env.example b/frontend/app/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ed43d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/app/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Azure Function App URL for chat API
+# Format: https://<environment>-alpinebot-func.azurewebsites.net
+# Example for dev: https://dev-alpinebot-func.azurewebsites.net
+REACT_APP_FUNCTION_APP_URL=
diff --git a/frontend/app/README.md b/frontend/app/README.md
index 61b6217..4a21beb 100644
--- a/frontend/app/README.md
+++ b/frontend/app/README.md
@@ -82,6 +82,20 @@ npm start
 
 **Note**: When running locally, the Azure App Service authentication endpoints (`/.auth/me`, `/.auth/login/*`, `/.auth/logout`) will not work unless you configure a local development proxy or mock these endpoints.
 
+### Environment Variables
+
+The application requires the following environment variable to connect to the backend API:
+
+- `REACT_APP_FUNCTION_APP_URL`: The URL of the Azure Function App (e.g., `https://dev-alpinebot-func.azurewebsites.net`)
+
+For local development, create a `.env.local` file (see `.env.example` for reference):
+
+```bash
+REACT_APP_FUNCTION_APP_URL=https://dev-alpinebot-func.azurewebsites.net
+```
+
+This variable is automatically set during CI/CD deployment based on the environment.
+
 ### Building for Production
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/frontend/app/src/HomePage.js b/frontend/app/src/HomePage.js
index 0913b0d..3e73817 100644
--- a/frontend/app/src/HomePage.js
+++ b/frontend/app/src/HomePage.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const HomePage = ({ user, onLogout }) => {
     scrollToBottom();
   }, [messages]);
 
-  const handleSend = (e) => {
+  const handleSend = async (e) => {
     e.preventDefault();
     if (!inputValue.trim()) return;
 
@@ -43,20 +43,62 @@ const HomePage = ({ user, onLogout }) => {
     };
 
     setMessages((prev) => [...prev, userMessage]);
+    const currentMessage = inputValue;
     setInputValue("");
     setIsTyping(true);
 
-    // Simulate bot response (placeholder for future API integration)
-    setTimeout(() => {
+    try {
+      // Get Function App URL from environment variable
+      const functionAppUrl = process.env.REACT_APP_FUNCTION_APP_URL || "";
+      
+      if (!functionAppUrl) {
+        throw new Error("Function App URL not configured");
+      }
+
+      // Build conversation history for API
+      const conversationHistory = messages.map((msg) => ({
+        role: msg.type === "user" ? "user" : "assistant",
+        content: msg.text,
+      }));
+
+      // Call Azure Function App API
+      const response = await fetch(`${functionAppUrl}/api/chat`, {
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: {
+          "Content-Type": "application/json",
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          message: currentMessage,
+          conversation_history: conversationHistory,
+        }),
+      });
+
+      if (!response.ok) {
+        throw new Error(`API error: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}`);
+      }
+
+      const data = await response.json();
+
       const botMessage = {
         id: Date.now() + 1,
         type: "bot",
-        text: "I'm a placeholder response. Integration with Azure OpenAI will be implemented in future tasks.",
+        text: data.response || "I apologize, but I couldn't generate a response.",
         timestamp: new Date(),
       };
       setMessages((prev) => [...prev, botMessage]);
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Log error without sensitive details
+      console.error("Error calling chat API");
+      const errorMessage = {
+        id: Date.now() + 1,
+        type: "bot",
+        text: "I apologize, but I'm having trouble connecting to the service. Please try again later.",
+        timestamp: new Date(),
+      };
+      setMessages((prev) => [...prev, errorMessage]);
+    } finally {
       setIsTyping(false);
-    }, 1500);
+    }
   };
 
   const handleVote = (messageId, vote) => {
diff --git a/modules/function_app/main.tf b/modules/function_app/main.tf
index b7e4e6f..b6464f1 100644
--- a/modules/function_app/main.tf
+++ b/modules/function_app/main.tf
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ resource "azurerm_linux_function_app" "function_app" {
       "FUNCTIONS_WORKER_RUNTIME"              = "python"
       "AzureWebJobsFeatureFlags"              = "EnableWorkerIndexing"
       "APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING" = var.app_insights_connection_string
+      "SCM_DO_BUILD_DURING_DEPLOYMENT"        = "true"
+      "ENABLE_ORYX_BUILD"                     = "true"
     },
     var.app_settings
   )