REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PAPERS FOR SUICIDE ALERT MONITOR (SAM) SENSOR TECHNOLOGY PURPOSE: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is conducting market research to gather information about electronic sensor technology. The purpose of this information is to determine the most suitable approach for acquiring this technology, if it is available or can be developed to meet the BOP's requirements. The BOP is requesting this market information in the format of a concept paper, which is explained below. INTRODUCTION: The BOP, Office of Security Technology, in conjunction with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Science and Technology, is soliciting pre-proposal concept papers for the acquisition of inexpensive electronic sensor technology capable of quickly and reliably detecting an inmate attempting to commit suicide within the confines of their prison cell. The system would then alarm, notifying staff of a suicide in progress, allowing staff to rapidly respond. If the Suicide Alert Monitor (SAM) sensor technology were to become fully operational and installed throughout the corrections community, it could, within the controlled confines of a prison or jail, have the potential to eliminate most inmate suicides. The BOP could expect significant annual savings if SAM is fully implemented. DESIGN OBJECTIVE: Identify and refine a remote (wireless) sensing and signal processing technology capable of adaptively learning to accurately detect the presence/absence, and/or variation of at least one human vital sign (respiration, heartbeat, pulse, temperature, etc.) in order to identify an individual that is attempting to commit suicide or other significant health emergency, and then to alarm with sufficient speed for responding staff to access the problem and perform necessary life-saving functions. This all must be accomplished with an extremely high probability of detection and a minimum false alarm and nuisance alarm rate. TECHNICAL APPROACH: An individual cell would be equipped with a hardened, unobtrusive sensor capable of constantly monitoring at least one human vital sign, without coming in direct/physical contact with the inmate. The sensor would be routinely collecting remote electronic telemetry emitted from the body during normal daily activities. As the electronic data is collected and refined into useful vital sign signatures, the system would electronically be monitoring for a vital sign that begins to move outside an expected and learned range of normal activity for some specified period of time. As a unique vital sign moves further from expected norms, it could become increasingly indicative of an inmate possibly attempting to commit suicide. The system would alert appropriate correctional staff when a vital sign has moved beyond the normal range of expected activity, progressed through a period of unusual activity and sound an alarm when a vital sign parameter reached a critical point. PURPOSE AND ADVISORY NATURE OF CONCEPT PAPERS: This announcement seeks concept papers for a potential BOP and National Institute of Justice project that could benefit federal, state, and local corrections. If your concept paper shows promise as a viable approach to the problem of implementing a Suicide Alert Monitor (SAM), you will be encouraged to refine your concepts and submit a full proposal at a later time. The concept paper process is to facilitate the federal selection procedures and to help prospective applicants, make an informed decision on whether to invest the time and money to prepare a full proposal. Use the feedback provided on your concept paper to make your own "offer/no offer" decision. Concept papers are not required and the recommendations made by the BOP/NIJ in response to them are strictly advisory. Concept papers will not affect the evaluation of the full proposal in any way. You may still submit a full proposal even if the BOP/NIJ discourages one or you did not submit a concept paper. However, regardless of the concept papers, you will have to submit a full proposal in response to the actual solicitation in order to compete for the BOP/NIJ SAM project. The BOP/NIJ will use the results of this market research and the information obtained from the concept papers to determine its acquisition strategy. Specifically, this information will assist in determining if qualified sources capable of satisfying this requirement exist; whether commercial items or non-developmental items are available and can modified or incorporated at the component level; determine the practices of firms engaged in developing, producing, distributing, and supporting the items, such as terms for development, financing arrangements, distribution, maintenance, warranties, etc. CONCEPT PAPER CONTENTS AND FORMAT: Your concept paper should be a clear, succinct summary of your SAM idea, what you intend to do and how it will conform to our requirements. While it is understood that the project details may not be fully developed, your concept paper should provide sufficient information with respect to all the expected requirements to permit a review that gives you the most accurate possible feedback. Concept papers must be no more than one cover page, six pages of text and four pages of diagrams/illustrations (maximum of 75 words per diagram/illustration) and written in layman terms, understandable by non-technical staff. The cover page should include the following information: 1) Concept paper title; 2) Single point of contact with name, title, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address; 3) Estimated cost; and 4) Brief concept draft (maximum 100 words), without any business-sensitive information. The original and four copies of the concept paper must be submitted no later than October 15, 1998 to Federal Bureau of Prisons, ADP Contracting Section, 320 First Street, N.W. -- 5006, Washington, DC 20534. Papers sent by fax, e-mail or received after the due date may be disregarded. CONCEPT PAPER FEEDBACK: Staff from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, National Institute of Justice and other Government officials from the corrections community will review your concept papers. By November, 1998, you will receive feedback indicating if your concept shows promise as a SAM project. REVIEW CRITERIA FOR CONCEPT PAPERS: In no particular order of importance: total development/customization costs, cost per unit -- installed, cost realism, within constraints, inmate health issues, feasibility of scientific/technical approach, professional/corporate credentials, capabilities and related experience, and development time/schedule. FUTURE FUNDS EXPECTED: At this time, it is anticipated that there may be approximately $500,000 -- $1,000,000 available for the research and development of the Suicide Alert Monitor system. This funding is subject to internal agency priorities and legislated funding levels. OVERALL PROGRAM SCHEDULE (ESTIMATED): September 1998 -- Advertise in Commerce Business Daily for concept papers; October 15, 1998 -- Concept papers due; November 1998 -- Concept paper feedback issued; April 1999 -- Approval to proceed; September 1999 -- Issue Request for Proposals (RFP); November 1999 -- RFP closing date; April 2000—Award Contract. LEGAL NOTICE -- PROPRIETARY NATURE OF INFORMATION AND LICENSES: Submission of a concept paper constitutes the grant of a license to the Federal Government to evaluate the concept paper for the purposes of the electronic sensing of the remote human vital signs/Suicide Alert Monitor project. Each concept paper is expected to contain technical and business ideas. Restrictive legends, in the top and bottom margins, asserting the proprietary nature of a concept paper may be used (e.g. "Proprietary Data: Do not Disclose"). For purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, the BOP and the National Institute of Justice consider that concept papers contain commercial or financial information submitted on a privileged basis. BOP/NIJ considers each concept paper submitted to be a literary work fixed in a tangible medium of expression and, therefore, subject to the author's copyright. Employees of BOP/NIJ and other federal officials may evaluate the concept papers. All Government employees are bound by Statute (18 U.S.C. S1905) not to disclose proprietary information and will not execute individual non-disclosure statements with each party who submits a concept paper. However, state and local officials, or contract administrative support staff may assist in the evaluation of the concept papers. These individuals will sign a single non-disclosure statement for this project. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: (1) Estimated cost per unit -- less than $3,000 per prison cell (installed); (2) Observation cycle, maximum -- constantly on (24 hours per day x 7 days per week x 365 days per year; (3) Observation cycle, minimum -- 24 hours per day/ 4 days; (4) Alarm time -- less than 2 minutes; (5) Alert time (pre-alarm) -- less than 2 minutes (30 seconds ahead of alarm); (6) Sensor cycle -- does not have to be constant (less than 1.5 minutes); (7) Alarm notification -- Cell specific -- audio/visual with closed circuit television (CCTV) relay; (8) Remote alarm -- control panel in control center; (9) Alarm contact relay -- used for CCTV assessment; (10) False alarm/nuisance alarm rate -- less than 1 per cell, per month; (11) probability of detection -- 99.9%; (12) Sensor location -- on the facility/not on the inmate; (13) Active sensors -- health issues within acceptable norms; (14) Health issues -- fully defendable with documentation; (15) Passive sensors -- preferred/not mandatory; (16) Hardened sensor -- inmate tamper proof; (17) Unobtrusive sensor -- no visible light, sound, etc.; (18) System may be networked -- multiple cells linked together; (19) Wireless installation -- preferred/not mandatory (minimal wire); (20) Number of inmates per cell -- 1 (2 preferred); (21) Type of cell -- high security special housing and psychiatric; (22) Order of install (typical) -- psychiatric (20), special (20), all cells (500). FACILITIES INFORMATION: (a) Cell size -- 8 feet wide x 12 feet deep x 8 feet high (average cell); (b) Cell equipment (maximum) -- bunk-bed, toilet, sink, shower, table; (c) Cell equipment (minimum) -- single bed, toilet/sink combination; (d) Cell construction -- masonry, cast/precast concrete 3 or 4 sides; (e) Windows -- security glass in rear wall and/or door; (f) Security rebar -- in cell walls, 8 inches OC; (g) Cell door -- metal with openings or open steel bars; (h) Prison construction dates -- early 1900's to 1998. ADDITIONAL STATISTICS: (A) National prison/jail population (1997) 1,195,568; (B) Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) population -- 119,000+ (Texas and California have higher populations); (C) Number of Federal prisons -- 97; (D) BOP inmate suicides (1997) -- 15; (E) BOP inmate attempted suicides (1997) -- 373; (F) Prison suicides, nationally (1996) -- 168. Contact: Sandra Bellinger, Contracting Officer, (202) 616-6150. E-MAIL: E-mail link for Contracting Officer, sbellinger@bop.gov. Posted 08/31/98 (W-SN243922).

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