The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is excited to post this summary announcement for the MTEC-24-05-AutoDocSensor Request for Project Proposals (RPP) with the objective of developing a system of sensor suites that can reliably and passively collect the core data needed to identify casualty status, key tasks performed by medics, and real-time resource use in casualty care scenarios under realistic battlefield conditions. As stated at the end of this announcement, the full RPP is posted to the MTEC website (mtec-sc.org); this notice is intended only to notify interested parties of the available solicitation. Background: The Military Health System (MHS) lacks a robust, accurate, and reliable methodology to collect, store, and track tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) data. Establishing a prehospital environment medical data set is an essential, foundational step to modernizing Military TCCC medical care. Without a means to collect and seamlessly transmit data reliably and passively from the point of need/care (e.g. point of injury [POI] through higher echelons of care), the MHS will continue to lack the essential data to develop a trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) stack to support future concepts that will sustain Military medical operations in the various environments of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), including, but not limited to Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). By leveraging trustworthy AI in future conflicts, the MHS can reduce the caregiver cognitive load and mitigate impacts of a LSCO medical asset overburden, enabling greater efficiencies and capabilities. Military prehospital care often occurs in austere, chaotic environments. Military medics and combat lifesavers in the battlespace are focused on prioritizing casualty severity and managing a large patient load with limited supplies and assistance. During times of intense activity, they must prioritize their patients over documenting delivering care to save the lives of their fellow warfighters. Medical documentation for these providers is challenging, if not impossible in many instances. Being able to capture the medical care being delivered in these venues may be secondary to saving lives in that moment; however, the need for timely, accurate medical documentation remains. In the near term, this data generates valuable information to higher echelons of care, medical resupply/logistics systems, and Command situational awareness (SA). To enhance TCCC and improve medical documentation in the MHS, a passive, (e.g., with minimal human effort) autonomous documentation solution of medical care in operational environments is an essential requirement to establishing these critical TCCC data sets. Furthermore, it is vital that the processes in collecting this data does not distract the medic/caregiver’s capability and capacity to deliver care. Current medical IT capabilities rely on combat medics diverting their attention away from care delivery to document their efforts. This either detracts from the medics’ capability and capacity for performing essential care tasks or necessitates documentation in a delayed manner, often under significant time constraints, that reduce the quality and accuracy of the documentation. In future LSCO engagements, medical assets will be significantly stressed, increasing the likelihood of absent, poor-quality, or incomplete documentation. The development and use of passive, autonomous documentation in tactical military medical care, largely independent of caregiver interactions, will lead to opportunities to inform and potentially achieve the following modernizations: Semi-autonomous casualty care delivery Autonomous resource triage/assessments Autonomous resupply Autonomous resupply / medical regulating Just in Time (JIT) decision making across echelons of care JIT situational awareness for military leaders / decision makers Technical Objective: To augment and supplement the current processes of medical documentation for TCCC, it is necessary to develop passive data inputs into the medical IT systems of record to reduce and or eliminate the need for manual entry of care delivery into these systems. This will allow the medic/combat lifesaver to remain focused on their primary task, saving lives. The Autonomous Casualty Care (AC2) Research Portfolio and the Passive Data Collection using AutoDoc project seeks to develop systems of sensor suites that passively collect accurate and reliable data about casualty status, caregiver (e.g., medic and/or combat lifesaver) actions, and real time resource usage. This passive data collection will be leveraged in a follow-on project phase to create algorithms that will autonomously document a TCCC card (e.g., DD Form 1380). The current aim of the AutoDoc project being solicited for in this upcoming RPP is to establish a system of sensor suites that can reliably collect the core data needed to identify casualty status, key tasks performed by medics, and real-time resource use in casualty care scenarios under realistic battlefield conditions. This system is expected to be a multi-modal suite of sensors (medic and/or casualty-worn, environmental, robotic or drone based) that can provide a reliable source of passive data to algorithms that can describe casualty care activities including: Medic performance of casualty care (e.g., medic registration, actions, tasks, decisions, etc.); Patient status (e.g., registration, physiologic, injury patterns, mental status, etc.); and Resource utilization (e.g., IVs, blood, tubing, bandages, dressings, medications, etc.). The Government is seeking Solution Briefs describing a passive technology solution set(s) that supports the above-mentioned aim of the Passive Data Collection using the AutoDoc project. Offerors should describe the current capabilities of their passive technology solution set(s) and explore the art of the possible (e.g., using mature sensor technologies in novel ways to support passive data collection for autonomous TCCC). Candidate passive technology solution sets described in proposals will NOT be constrained to tactical communications in this initial phase, but those constraints should be considered for future phases (for example, follow-on work and RPPs). Desired Solution Characteristics: Proposed solution sets should expect to conform to the following desired solution characteristics to satisfy a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), characterized by Technology Requirements, Data Output Requirements, and Documentation Requirements outlined below. Offerors are encouraged to propose solutions that meet as many of the desired solution characteristics (listed below) as possible at the time of proposal submission with clear strategies for incorporating all other desired characteristics during the period of performance. Desired solution characteristics of the Technology Solution Sets Comprised of 2 or more commercial off the shelf (COTS) sensors and includes a physical data aggregation point. Support passive monitoring of patient, caregiver, and resource consumption. COTS Sensors are inclusive, but not limited to, audio, video, physiological monitors/VSMs, wearables and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies. Distinguish between patient and caregiver generated data. Comprised of existing, proven sensor technologies Reliable, valid, effective, and intuitive (easy to use). Efficient with respect to size, weight and power (SWaP) (minimum of 2 hours run time) Relevant/applicable to data collection for combat casualty care Data processing is effective and efficient Suitable for future use in austere, tactical environments Key information relevant to the data outputs: All data from the physical data aggregation point can be downloaded in a format that will be organized and timestamped using a common clock and inclusive of descriptive information (e.g., meta tagging et al.) Data outputs conform to industry standards (e.g., not proprietary/inaccessible). Raw sensor data outputs are strongly preferred. Additional documents that Offerors may be required to provide throughout the RPP process: List of DD Form 1380 (TCCC card) fields targeted with their sensor suite solution. Data Formats/Interoperability Standards used. Estimated Data Output/Bandwidth Estimated Power requirements and/or battery life. Description of software (if applicable) User manuals Training plan (end user & tech operator focused) Conceptual project plan (future phases) Potential Follow-on Tasks: Under awards resulting from this RPP, there is the potential for award of one or more non-competitive follow-on tasks based on the success of the project (subject to change depending upon Government review of completed work and successful progression of milestones). Potential follow-on work may be awarded based on the advancement in prototype maturity during the PoP. Potential follow-on work may include tasks related to advancement of prototype maturity, and/or to expand the use or utility of the prototype. Potential Funding Availability and Period of Performance : The U.S. Government (USG) currently has available a total of approximately $1.5 million (M) for anticipated awards to be made through this effort during Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Award and funding from the Government is expected to be limited to the funding specified above and is contingent upon the availability of federal funds for this program. MTEC expects to make up to two awards to a qualified Offeror(s) to accomplish the scope of work with a Period of Performance (PoP) not to exceed 24 months. Acquisition Approach : The technical requirements of this effort have been inspired and informed the previous MTEC-E24-02-AutoDocPrize effort. However, this RPP is a separate, open, competitive effort supporting the development of sensor suite technology. Participation in this RPP is not limited to those who submitted for the AutoDocPrize effort. The RPP will be conducted using a multi-stage acquisition approach. Stage 1 [Solution Brief]: MTEC Members are invited to submit a Solution Brief using the format contained in the upcoming RPP. Stage 2 [Solution Brief Pitch]: Offerors who are favorably evaluated during Stage 1- Solution Brief based on the RPP criteria will be invited to present and discuss their proposed solution with the Government sponsors via a virtual “pitch” of the proposed project along with a SOW/Milestone Payment Schedule and cost information. Stage 3 [Virtual Demonstration]: Offerors selected to advance to Stage 3 will arrange for 4 complete fully functional passive technology solution set(s) to be shipped to TATRC headquarters (Fort Detrick, MD). After an initial live virtual demonstration by the Offeror, the Government will conduct a technical evaluation of the product over the course of four (4) weeks. During this time, the Government expects a technical representative from the offeror to be available for phone or video conferencing to answer questions from the Government. Stage 4 [Selection for Award]: Upon completion of the Government’s evaluation, Offeror(s) will be notified of the final award decision. Those Offeror(s) selected for award will be invited to submit a detailed Cost Proposal in accordance with the MTEC Proposal Preparation Guide (PPG). MTEC Member Teaming: While teaming is not required for this effort, Offerors are encouraged to consider teaming during the proposal preparation period (prior to submission) if they cannot address the full scope of technical requirements of the RPP or otherwise believe a team may be beneficial to the Government. Refer to the RPP for resources that may help Offerors form a more complete team for this requested scope of work, such as the MTEC M-Corps, MTEC’s Database Collaboration Tool, and the dedicated MTEC Teaming Connect. MTEC : The MTEC mission is to assist the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) by providing cutting-edge technologies and supporting life cycle management to transition medical solutions to industry that protect, treat, and optimize Warfighters’ health and performance across the full spectrum of military operations. MTEC is a biomedical technology consortium collaborating with multiple government agencies under a 10-year renewable Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001, with the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). MTEC is currently recruiting a broad and diverse membership that includes representatives from large businesses, small businesses, “nontraditional” defense contractors, academic research institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Point of Contact : For inquiries, please direct your correspondence to the following contacts: Questions concerning contractual, cost or pricing related to this RPP should be directed to the MTEC Contracts Administrator,
[email protected] Technical and membership questions should be directed to the MTEC Research Associate, Dr. Chuck Hutti, Ph.D.,
[email protected] All other questions should be directed to the MTEC Program Manager, Mr. Evan Kellinger,
[email protected] To view the full-length version of this RPP, visit www.mtec-sc.org/solicitations/.