SOLICITATION NOTICE
D -- Develop Software for Objective Classification Software: Cat
- Notice Date
- 11/17/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Ord Service Center/Nerl, Rtp Procurement Operations Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
- ZIP Code
- 27711
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-RT-06-00024
- Response Due
- 11/30/2005
- Archive Date
- 12/31/2005
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541511 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is RFQ-RT-06-00024 and the solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-4. The associated North Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 541511 and the size standard is 18.0 million dollars. Full and open competition procedures will be utilized. A firm, fixed price purchase order using Simplified Acquisition Procedures is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. This procurement is for the acquisition of : Objective Classification Software: CaT. Statement of Work: Develop software to objectively and efficient identify and quantify biological structures (e.g., tube and tunnels produced by macrobenthic organisms) within sediment cores such that the input, is operable on Windows- based computer platforms, and data output is in standardized formats. Statement of Need: AED has need of an efficient way to process computer aided tomography (CT) image data that is acquired from sediment cores as part of ongoing studies to monitor, predict and manage ecological conditions in aquatic systems. Analysis of sediment cores using medical imaging techniques has been done over the last 20 years and has usually been restricted to simple x-rays. Recently, computer aided tomography has been applied to sediment samples and has enable multidimensional visualization and quantitative analyses of sediment cores. The physical and biological structures in sediment, the formation of tubes and tunnels, as well as alterations in sediment texture, have been shown to be correlated with the health of benthic communities. Foe example, the community is healthier when tubs and tunnels and diversity of biological structures are observed in the sediment. The date, the identification of these structures in CT images of cores is subjective and time-consuming in that the investigator has to find them, identify them, and quantify them in a non-routine manner. Because data sets from a single core are large (150 Mb) and skill is required for the data processing, analysis with the existing system can take months. Consequently, there is a strong need to shorten the processing time, improve consistency and quality of data interpretation, make the method more widely available and easier to learn, and increase information derived from the data. These needs can be met with development and use of Ct image-analysis and quantification software that automatically and objectively classifies data from medical-based CT imagery of sediment cores. Scope of work, including EPA and Vendor Responsibilities: (A) EPA Responsibilities: (1) Provide a set of data from sediment cores that have been previously CT imaged and analyzed. Data for each core will include 1) DIACOM-format data from a commercial medical CT imaging unit, 2) Specifications of the sediment core dimensions and description of the core barrel and sediment, 3) interpreted and quantified data previously generated by EPA for selected cores, and 4) written requirement to contractors for quality assurance of software. (2) Provide cores and listing of minimum types of fearures to be quantified in soft bottom sediments. (B) Vendors Responsibilities: Deliver Software that is Operational and meets the Specifications and Performance Criteria stated here: (1) Develop software capable of performing the following: (a) Operate on a Windows-based platform. (b) Be User-friendly" in that a non-specialist can learn to operate the software and output data with less than 8 hrs of training. (c) Read image data in DIACOM format and generate a database that allows random access of raw and semi-reduced data on each imaging unit/core slice. (2) Software allows user to view raw and reduced data for any plane in the core and be able to concatenate sections/files for 3D rendering. (3) Functionality for unsupervised classification of sediments based on the extraction of sediment features capturing voxel (a unit of graphic information that defines a point in three dimensional space) texture and intensity. This should classify or aggregate groups of similar features. This process will be determined in an objective and documented manner. (4) Functionally for supervised classification of sediments based on the extraction of features capturing voxel texture and intensity. That is, create a reference set of sediment core features as defined by the user. This is create a reference set of sediment core features as defined by the user. This reference set will be used to segment sediment core images in various classes. (5) Functionality to store the results in a manner (e.g. Excel) that subsequent quantitative analysis can be performed. The output data should also contain a least one measure of confidence associated with each record, as an aid in determining accuracy of results. (6) Functionality to calculate, using supervised classification procedures, (a) the volume of tubes and tunnels produced by macrobenthic organisms within the EPA cores image data set and (b) the volume of additional classes identified and (c) render all sediment classes in 3D for viewing. (7) Compliance with published EPA and Federal requirements for quality assurance for software development and of handicapped access for software. Evaluation Criteria: (1) Vendor must provide demonstration of operation on Windows based platform with user/help subroutines displayed. (2) Vendor must provide demonstration of 3D rendering of raw image date and selected sediment classes (e.g., tubes and tunnels) using EPA supplied sediment image data. (3) Vendor must provide demonstration of unsupervised and supervised classification of EPA sediment image data, (4) Vendor must provide demonstration of data transfer from software to Excel or similar data analysis software. (5) Vendor must provide demonstration that automated data reduction and display performed by the software is capable of calculating the volume of tubes and tunnels in the EPA test image data set within 10% of EPA's figures. (6) Software is compliant is compliant with Section 508 of American Disabilities Act (http://intranet.epa.gov/accessibility/sw.htm). Evaluation Criteria for Objective Classification Software using CaT: (1) Vendor must provided documentation demonstrating the production of software using image data and associated analysis tools. (2) Previously developed software must have either used existing or developed classification algorithms for one or more of their analysis tools. (3) One or more of the vendors software packages is widely used on the open market by academia, government and commercial entities. (4) Delivered f.o.b. to Narragansett, RI 02882. The Government intends to award a single purchase order to the responsible contractor whose quotation meet all the required specifications and represents the overall best value to the Government. The Government reserves the right to require additional pricing information if necessary to determine that the proposed price is reasonable. The following FAR provisions shall apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items. All offerors are to include with their offer a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items. The following FAR clause applies to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and -0Conditions--Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies; 52.2225-1, Buy American Act--Balance of Payments Program-Supplies; 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration. Vendors should review the Statement of Work and other information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Arrow down to the REQUEST FOR QUOTATION section and click on the solicitation. A completed Representations and Certifications must be included with the price quote. COMMERCIAL BUY CLAUSES are provided for your convenience on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Please submit quote to Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Pamela E. Smith (E105-02), RTP Procurement Operations Division, 4930 Page Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27703. All offers are due by November 30, 2005, 4:30 p.m., quotes can be faxed to: (919) 541-1075 or e-mailed to smith.pamela@epa.gov .
- Record
- SN00933910-W 20051119/051117212316 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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