SOURCES SOUGHT
69 -- Virtual Reality System for the NIOSH Mine Rescue and Escape Training Laboratory
- Notice Date
- 11/10/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Pittsburgh), Post Office Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15236-0070
- ZIP Code
- 15236-0070
- Solicitation Number
- 2010-N-11855
- Archive Date
- 12/16/2009
- Point of Contact
- Darrin P Barber, Phone: (412) 386-5239
- E-Mail Address
-
dbarber@cdc.gov
(dbarber@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this announcement is two-fold. The first purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform this potential requirement. The second purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. Background: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is responsible for conducting acquisitions in support of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This potential project is intended to assist NIOSH in fulfilling its mission of eliminating occupational diseases, injuries, and fatalities from the mining workplace through a focused program of research and prevention. As part of its Strategic Goals, NIOSH is to "assist the mining community to maintain and improve mine escape, rescue, and emergency response capabilities through realistic training exercises and the development and implementation of new or improved training aids and exploration, rescue, and escape technologies." Purpose and Objectives: NIOSH plans to create a Mine Rescue and Escape Training Laboratory in Pittsburgh, PA which includes a two-part virtual reality system. One component will be a 360 degree stereoscopic immersive environment appropriate for group training situations and the other will be a large curved screen display appropriate for 3D visualization and display of 2D content. The trainee audiences are mine rescue team members and the general workforce of underground coal mines in the United States. Project Requirements: The Government seeks to purchase a turnkey solution which will include procurement and installation of hardware and related software and training on use of the system. Demonstration software for system training and for demonstration of system capabilities must be included. Four training modules for use with the system are also required. The training is to be set in a virtual environment which includes an underground coal mine longwall panel and a development section. The immersive environment must be large enough for simultaneous training and observation of a full mine rescue team with 3 other individuals playing the role of "victims" during the session. The projection screen must be 360 degrees and tall enough to give the illusion of wrapping overhead of the trainees. The proposed installation site is approximately 43 feet by 46 feet with a height of approximately 18 feet. Suggested screen dimensions are approximately 10 meters (32.8 feet) in diameter by 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) high. The image projected must be seamless. The projection system must allow the display of both 3D and 2D content. Methods for trainee interaction with the virtual environment and for capturing trainee responses during training are required. The potential for adding motion tracking capabilities to the system in the future is desired. Surround sound audio capabilities must be included. The curved screen will be used for projecting training modules, such as those related to hazard recognition or equipment maintenance, and geological or engineering data sets. It should not rely on head tracking for point of view. The display should have the capability to provide one seamless image. A method for displaying traditional content, such as slides and video, should also be provided. Surround sound audio capabilities must be included. The proposed installation site is approximately 9.1 meters (29.9 feet) wide with a floor to ceiling height of 3.4 meters (11.2 feet). Maximum screen size within those dimensions is preferred. Software providing a training environment which includes longwall panel and a development section in a virtual underground coal mine is required. Four training modules to be set in the "virtual mine" should be appropriate for use during federally mandated underground coal mine training sessions. Two modules should be simulations similar in content and length to mine rescue problems which are conducted during mine rescue contests. Two modules should be simulations for general miners covering knowledge and skills needed for successful emergency mine evacuations. Module content outlines will be provided by NIOSH. Interactive elements and a method for capturing trainee responses are required. The four modules will be used for research and demonstration purposes by NIOSH staff. Ability for NIOSH researchers to make future modifications to the software is desired. Anticipated Period of Performance: A system is to be installed and fully operational with 2 training modules at the NIOSH site within 6 months after the award of a contract. The final 2 modules must be complete within 9 months after award of a contract. Other Important Considerations: This project is currently contingent upon approval of facility modifications and commitment of funding. Capability Statement / Information Sought: A capability statement should be submitted in response to this notice. In order to ensure full consideration by the Government, the submission should include the following - (1) Respondents' DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact (with telephone number and email address), and size and type of business (e.g., large, small, HUBZone, SDVO, 8(a), veteran-owned, woman-owned, or SDB) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code elsewhere identified in this notice. (2) Respondents' opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition, possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace, and information regarding innovative ideas or concepts. (3) Respondents' information in regard to; (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Any information provided by the Respondent but not requested by the Government under this notice, such as a Respondents' rough order of magnitude of cost or time required for the project, would be used for planning purposes only. Detailed estimates are not requested nor desired. Information Submission Instructions: To ensure consideration under this notice, submissions should - * Be submitted by email attachment (in PDF format only) to the Contracting Officer's email address provided elsewhere in this notice by not later than the response date also provided elsewhere in this notice. * Be organized in the order outlined in the submission content instructions (1-3e above) * Be limited to 10 pages (including any reference pages) Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. It is the responsibility of interested parties to stay abreast of additional postings regarding this notice at the FedBizOpps Internet site. To enhance the potential list of targets for potential collaboration, this notice provides for vendors to indicate interest and also review a listing of interested vendors within the FedBizOpps Internet site. This "interested vendor" designation is managed (added or removed) at the sole discretion of the vendor. Confidentiality: NO proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/CMBP/2010-N-11855/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15236, United States
- Zip Code: 15236
- Zip Code: 15236
- Record
- SN02001581-W 20091112/091110235411-b307232bd5dbf86429d8aad21975015d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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