SOURCES SOUGHT
U -- Simulated Learning Enhancement and Advanced Research Network
- Notice Date
- 3/25/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veteran Affairs;Employee Education System (EES);Attn: Contracting Office BLDG 50;#1 Jefferson Barracks Dr;Saint Louis MO 63125
- ZIP Code
- 63125
- Solicitation Number
- VA-777-10-RI-0116
- Response Due
- 4/8/2010
- Archive Date
- 6/7/2010
- Point of Contact
- Department of Veteran AffairsVAMC, EES
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(derrick.harris@va.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Request for InformationOffice of Information & Technology in support of the Employee Education System SimLEARN Center 1.PURPOSE THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. It is a part of the VA's OI&T (Office of Information & Technology) market research for a virtual patient authoring and delivery system for a new SimLEARN (Simulated Learning Enhancement and Advanced Research Network) national center. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, a Solicitation, a Request for Quote, or an indication that the Government will award a contract for the items contained in this RFI. It should be not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government does not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the information being requested, or reimburse expenses incurred for responses to this RFI. Companies are encouraged to respond if they have the capability to provide any/all of the requested information. Based on the responses to this RFI, the government may issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) at an undetermined time in the future. Information submitted in response to this RFI will be used confidentially by the Government for the SimLEARN Center project. 2.BACKGROUND The Employee Education System (EES) is an administration-wide, comprehensive, virtual, education-focused organization supporting Veterans Health Administration (VHA) continuing learning objectives through all-employee training, education, performance support, development, and consultation. SimLEARN is a new national simulation training, education and research program which is organizationally aligned under EES and will be responsible for developing the strategic vision and system-wide plan for simulation process modeling, training, education and research for VHA. The program includes the creation of a national SimLEARN Center in 2010 in Orlando, Florida. The planned physical layout of the national SimLEARN Center will potentially include: 1)Virtual Environment Space 2)Process Modeling Space 3)Mannequin Simulation Rooms with a control center. The rooms will be configured to simulate a variety of hospital locations (ICU, Floor, ER, etc.) and levels of patient care. 4)A Reception Area 5)A Task Trainers/Debriefing Room 6)A New Technology Lab 7)An Operating Room/Web Lab 8)A Library and Computer Training Room 9)Standardized Patient Rooms with a control center. The rooms will be configured to simulate a variety of hospital locations (ICU, Floor, ER, etc.) and levels of patient care. 10) A Conference Room 11) Staff Offices The planned facility IT infrastructure of the national SimLEARN Center will potentially include: 1)One or more gig-E LAN(s) or better to support real-time simulators 2)10GE uplinks 3)Switches 4)Routers 5)Application Servers 6)Virtual Reality Support Servers 7)File and Print Servers The SimLEARN Center also plans to include virtual patient clinical simulations (vendor yet to be determined). A virtual patient is a computer-based clinical simulation used for medical education and assessment where the learner plays the role of a health care provider by interacting with the virtual patient. This typically includes making clinical decisions such as which diagnostic tests to obtain, determining a diagnosis, and prescribing therapy. More sophisticated virtual patients respond to learner interventions by dynamically changing and tracking performance metrics like time, cost, and patient satisfaction. Virtual patients are not physical simulations such as standardized patient actors, mannequins, and part-task trainers. Simple computer-based cases that do not unfold based on learner input are not considered virtual patients either. 3.INFORMATION REQUESTED The information requested below is for a virtual patient authoring and delivery system for the VA's new SimLEARN national center. Partial responses are encouraged if some of the sections do not apply to your company or institution. Any comments which are relevant to this RFI are also encouraged even if they are not specifically addressed. I.Virtual patient Authoring & Administration What is the best virtual patient authoring system for the SimLEARN Center? Please provide a detailed description of the features and functionality of your proposed solution and whether your proposed solution includes: 1)A web-based interface for authors to create virtual patient simulations, which runs on both Mac and Windows workstations. 2)A separate administrator web-based interface with which authorized administrators can a.create and manage role-based accounts (authors, editors, etc.) for individuals and group b.restrict learner access to virtual patient simulations c.allow authors to restrict access to their virtual patient simulations d.set high-level preferences and features e.control high-level network options f.separate functional components of the system to one or more servers or databases 3)Data entry screens which: a.are easy-to-use and intuitive b.are full featured for entering case information c.allow the author to embed standard multimedia training materials such as images, video, audio, and animation d.allow the import of features compliant with the MedBiquitous virtual patient XML data standards e.allow the import of reusable normal values from pre-populated normal clinical data sets (examinations, labs, therapy, etc.) f.include a Flash-based drag-and-drop visual interface 4)A library of standard templates which can be used as a starting point for creating new virtual patients. The templates should be pre-populated with data such as: a.standard patient history b.physical exams c.laboratory results d.imaging e.therapeutic data 5)The ability to designate any virtual patient simulation as a template so it can be used as a starting point for creating new virtual patients. 6)The ability for authors to clone templates for their own use. 7)The ability to design both simple linear and complex branched-narrative virtual simulations based on multiple choice questions. 8)Versioning functionality which allows a virtual patient simulation to be rolled-back to previous published versions. 9)The ability to easily display simulations in outline format by representing screens and decisions with a map of nodes and branches flow charts. 10)The ability to import and edit existing virtual patient simulations created on other virtual patient authoring systems which are compliant with MedBiquitous virtual patient XML data standards. 11)The ability to export virtual patient simulations in format compliant with MedBiquitous virtual patient XML data standards for sharing with others. 12)The ability to export virtual patient simulations as SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) compliant learning objects. 13)The ability to incorporate educational features into the simulations such as: a.scoring b.cost tracking c.time spent on a patient d.quality of patient care e.decision points that have consequences affecting the patient f.decision points which can be associated with learning objectives g.learner feedback 14)Professional support for software updates, maintenance, and technical support 15)Full system documentation for the author and administrator components 16)Author feedback on the quality of the virtual patient simulation 17)Learner feedback a.pre and post case assessment to assess the learner's understanding of the course material b.during the simulation scenario based on decisions, score, money, time spent, and quality of patient care 18) Training services for authors and administrators which include: a.training materials b.best practices and guidelines to assist new authors c.video tutorials d.an optional on-site "train-the-trainer" course for authors and administrators e.an option to purchase advanced training f.an option to purchase consulting services 19)Remote web-based access to allow authors at other VA facility to create virtual patient simulations. Also, please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate for your virtual patient authoring system and a list of the hardware/software/network requirements to host the system. II. Virtual patient Delivery What is the best virtual patient delivery system for the SimLEARN Center? Please provide a detailed description of the features and functionality of your proposed solution and whether your proposed solution includes: 1)A web-based learner interface (player) for running virtual patient simulations which: a.is intuitive and easy to use without prior training b.runs on both Mac and Windows workstations c.does not require a software client to be installed 2)A separate web-based administrator interface which runs on both Mac and Windows workstations and will allow authorized administrators to: a.create and manage user accounts for learners and learner groups b.restrict access to virtual patient cases to individual learns or learner groups c.customize the overall look and feel of the play such as adding branding d.generate reports of learner completions e.generate reports of learner performance 3)Section 508 compliant for the learner interface (player) which entails: a.interface information readable by a text reader b.data displayed and readable without style sheets c.media has substitutes that are text-based and machine readable d.all graphic elements have alternative text descriptors e.navigation without mouse input, just using a screen reader and assistive device 4)Tools to assist learners utilizing the training materials such as video playback. 5)Learner feedback based on decisions, score, money, time spent, and quality of patient care. 6)Scalability and load balancing of the player application to allow multiple VA facilities and locations to be supported and administrated from the system centrally hosted from the SimLEARN Center if the VA chooses to expand access at a later date. 7)The capability to interface with the VA's existing LMS (Learning Management System) either: a.Directly via a web services structure to pass completion data upon the purchase of custom integration services b.Indirectly by allowing materials to be exported in formats that can be hosted on the VA's LMS infrastructure. c.Indirectly by supporting unique hyperlinks to virtual patient simulations so that simulations can be launched from within the VA LMS and learners can self certify completions. 8)Full system documentation for learner and administration components. 9)Training services for learners which include: a.training materials b.video tutorials c.an optional on-site "train-the-trainer" course for learners Also, please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate for your virtual patient authoring system and a list of the hardware/software/network requirements to host the system. 4.HOW TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE Responses should be submitted within 30 days to the EES Contracting Officer who published this RFI. Respondents should identify their company name, address, email, telephone number, and a name and telephone number of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with government representatives. Please limit your responses to 30 pages or less. The preferred formats are MS Word or pdf. 5.INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFI may be directed to: St. Louis Employee Education Resource Center VA Medical Center, 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive Bldg 50, Attn: Acquisitions/Contracting St. Louis, MO 63125 (314) 894-6460 eeeprocurements@va.gov
- Web Link
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FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/VAAAC/VAAAC/VA-777-10-RI-0116/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02103151-W 20100327/100325235530-094d3d517054173491dec97bc83a6e93 (fbodaily.com)
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