66 -- IMMERSE ROOM SURROUND SCREEN PROJECTION SYSTEM

Notice Date

May 16, 2001

Contracting Office

Naval Research Laboratory, Code 3220, 4555 Overlook Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20375-5326

ZIP Code

20375-5326

Solicitation Number

N00173-01-R-MS04/0001

Response Due

May 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Mary Sandy, Contract Specialist, Code 3220.MS, F. Janilea Bays, Contracting Officer, (202) 767-3710

Description

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions from potential offerors and extend the due date for offers. Question 1: Does this RFP include the removal of the existing Immersive Room surround screen projection system by the new contractor? Answer 1: The projectors, tracking system, audio components, and user interface devices that are part of the existing Immersive Room will remain the property of the government. Except for these, the contractor will remove all or portions of the existing system necessary to install the new system. The government reserves the right to keep any or all portions of the existing Immersive Room after disassembly and removal from the construction area. Question 2: Does this RFP call for only the projectors/screen physical system replacement or does it include other display signal processing equipment? Answer 2: The requirement is for the projectors/screen/and other physical components of the system. Question 3: If the projectors/screen physical system is to be removed can the new contractor elect to re-use portions of the existing system? Answer 3: No portion of the existing system may be re-used. We expect new projectors, framework, mirrors, and display surfaces that reflect current advances in Immersive Room technology. Question 4: Does the current display source utilize field sequential interlaced or light polarization technology to create 3D images? Answer 4: The current display source utilizes field sequential interlacing. Question 5: Will the existing signal processing units (i.e.: demultiplexors,) remain or are they to be supplied with the new system? Answer 5: The combined synopsis/solicitation does not include replacement of the existing VDE/200 receivers (demultiplexors). Question 6: What system or means of control is currently used to operate the four-video projectors? Is this projector control to remain? Answer 6: Each projector currently has its own hand held remote control unit. New remote controls for the new projectors must be provided by the contractor. Question 7: Are the existing speakers to be re-mounted to the new screen frames by the new contractor under this RFP? Answer 7: No, the government has responsibility for the audio system. Question 8: Will the government provide the mounting brackets for the Ascension Inc., Flock of Birds acquisition system to the new contractor? Answer 8: The existing mounting brackets will be provided to the contractor. It is the contractor's responsibility to determine the suitability of this bracket and to provide an alternative bracket if required for successful integration and operation with the new Immersive Room. For proper operation, the Flock of Birds transmitter must be mounted above the center of the immersive room. (Note: the length of each of the tracking system receiver cables is 16 feet). Question 9: Is plenum rated cable required for the work under this contract? Answer 9: Plenum rated cable is not required for the work under this contract. Question 10: Please describe in detail the signal flow path, from the point of origin of the signal to be displayed through to the video projectors. Indicate any pieces of equipment currently in the signal path and whether or not they are to be removed by the existing contractor prior to work being performed under this RFP. Answer 10: The video signal origin for each projector is the output of one of four Extron Corporation model RGB112 Plus computer-video interface units mounted in the equipment rack. Question 11: Please provide a detailed description of the cable path encountered when running the required cables from the projection areas to the equipment rack cited in the RFP. Answer 11: The equipment rack will be repositioned to a new location determined by the contractor (somewhere along the south wall but not occluding the fiber optic patch panel) that allows for reasonable access to the equipment. Determining the path for routing the cables from the equipment rack to the projectors is the responsibility of the contractor. Question 12: Please provide specific evaluation criteria, and any scoring/weighting information, regarding the 'Technical capability' evaluations to take place. Answer 12: The evaluation criteria is listed in the combined synopsis/solicitation and evaluation will follow the procedures in accordance with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. Question 13:. Please indicate the anticipated work hours that contractors would have access to the facility during the installation phase of the work. Answer 13: Access to the Laboratory by contractors is from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am -- 5:30 pm. Question 14: Are they interested in quotes on new projectors for the current system? Or for an entire new systems? Answer 14: This combined synopsis/solicitation, N00173-01-R-MS04, is for an entirely new system to include the latest advances in Immersive Room Technology. Question 15: . Depending on answer to 1, what items from the existing system is expected to be re-used? Emitters? Cables? Interfaces? Audio? Mirrors if possible? Screens? Structure? Floor? Answer 15: See questions and answers for 3 and 7. Question 16: If a new system, what will the supplier be required to Install & Integrate: projection and tracking only (tracking integration was specified in RFQ) or audio, user interface devices (what and how many). Answer 16: The contractor will be required to install the projection and tracking systems. The government is responsible for the audio system. Question 17: What A/V devices would the supplier be required to integrate and set-up projection modes? Answer 17: See answer for question 7. Question 18: What are there long term goals for projector performance (resolution, brightness, color, contrast). Answer 18: Please refer to combined synopsis/solicitation N00173-01-R-MS04. Note that we require all contractors to have significant Immersive Room construction experience and selecting optimal price/performance for projectors for a given Immersive Room design is a key experience component. Question 19: Is the current Lightwave equipment capable of supporting the bandwidth required for computer resolutions of 1280x1024 Stereo @ 96Hz? Answer 19: The current Lightwave equipment is VDE/200 model 350. Question 20: Will there be any facility remodeling taking place? Answer 20: There will be no facility remodeling taking place. Question 21: Any computer sources other than SGI? What are specs on the SGI that will be used? (model, vintage, graphics pipes, RMs, etc.) Answer 21: While the current video source is a Silicon Graphics Onyx2 with 2 pipes and 4 RM's, the combined synopsis/solicitation does not specify any particular video source. The video signal origin for each projector is the output of one of four Extron Corporation model RGB112 Plus computer-video interface units mounted in the equipment rack. Question 22: How will customer sign-off/system acceptance be determined? Answer 22: Inspection/Acceptance for items is outlined in FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Condition-Commercial Items, which applies to this acquisition as stated in the original combined synopsis/solicitation. Question 23: Who is responsible for the removal and disposal of the existing hardware systems? Answer 23: The contractor will be responsible for dismantling the current system and placing dismantled hardware in an area to be designated by the government, in or in close proximity to, the VR Lab. The government will be responsible for the disposal of the hardware thereafter. Question 24: In the CBD, Item 1b states that the minimum acceptable size for the floor screen is 10 ft x 10 inches. Should this read 10 ft by 10 ft? Same comment regarding item (4). Answer 24: This should read 10 feet by 10 feet for all items. Question 25: Would NRL accept a CAVE environment that has wall dimensions of 8 x 8, floor dimensions of 8 x 8 instead of wall dimensions of 7ft 6inches tall by 10 feet wide. Projection space and walls and floors is actually dead space for a none cubed system. Answer 25: NRL requires an Immersive Room of the dimensions given in the combined synopsis/solicitation. 8 ft x 8 ft is not satisfactory. All wall space must be projected on and the corners must correctly match. Question 26: Pls. Describe the exact components that are GFE with the tracking system. Answer 26: The existing tracking system is an Ascension Technologies Flock of Birds extended range transmitter, sensors and assorted appropriate cables. See Answer 8. Question 27: Who is responsible for moving existing conduit and cabling and running new conduit and cabling if required? Answer 27: The contractor will remove and/or move all or portions of the existing system necessary to install the new system. Question 28: Can NRL provide a list of companies and contacts for those vendors that participated in the site survey on May 3, 2001? Answer 28: The following companies attended the site visit: a) Frank A. Clancy, Communication Project Management Company, b) Mike Hancock and Mark Bethel, Mechdyne c) Edward Lee and William Lackner, Fakespace d) Jody Hensin, SGI and e) Robert Hendricks, Systems Installation Group. Question 29: Can NRL please provide a detailed configuration of the input sources for the immersive environment. Some input sources cannot achieve the 1280 x 1024 resolution. Answer 29: The video signal origin for each projector is the output of one of four Extron Corporation model RGB112 Plus computer-video interface units mounted in the equipment rack. Question 30: What does NRL intend to do with the existing system. Answer 30: We do not wish to restrict government options at this time. If there is trade in value for the old system, contractor may make that an option in the contract (but it must be only optional and not intrinsic to the proposal). Question 31: Is NRL planning on just upgrading the current display environment or is NRL asking for a new replacement system. Answer 31: This combined synopsis/solicitation, N00173-01-R-MS04, is for a new system to include the latest advances in Immersive Room Technology in projectors, wall material, mirrors, flooring, etc. The due date for offers is extended to May 30, 2001.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010518/66SOL006.HTM (W-136 SN50M2U0)