Attachment _1_RFI_USSOCOM Technical Experimentation Event_Medical Training.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

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Solicitation Number: USSOCOM RFI Technical Experimentation Event: Medical Training Notice Type: Special Notice TYPE: A–Research and Development NAICS: 611310 Medical Training TE Event Publish Date: 20 Oct 2022 Response Date: 21 Nov 2022, 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) Synopsis:

A. INTRODUCTION: Technical Experimentation (TE) This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). USSOCOM invites industry, academia, individuals, and Government labs to submit technology experimentation nominations addressing innovative technologies identified in paragraph 4 below. The intent is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain Special Operations Forces (SOF) insight/perspective on participant technologies.

Technical experimentation will explore emerging technologies, technical applications, and their potential to provide solutions for future SOF capabilities.

This RFI is for the TE event: Medical Training. This event will occur over the period of five days as shown below.

Dates/Theme/Location:

6 February – 10 February 2023 Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), Tampa, FL

B. OBJECTIVE:

1. Technology experimentation events provide an opportunity for technology developers to interact with operational personnel to determine how their technology development efforts and ideas may support or enhance SOF capability needs. The environment facilitates a collaborative relationship between Government, academia, and industry to promote the identification and assessment of emerging technologies.

2. The deadline for nomination package(s) is 21 Nov, 2022 at 12:00 Noon EST.

After review of the TE nomination submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to demonstrate their technologies at the USSOCOM sponsored TE event.

Experiments will be conducted from 6 February – 10 February 2023, at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, Tampa, FL and will explore emerging technology solutions and revolutionary improvements in relevant technologies. Materiel solutions brought to the event should be between a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 and 6 or higher as stated in paragraph 4. Proposed experiments may be between a

2 | T E M e d i c a l T r a i n i n g half day and two days in duration and may be conducted in unimproved expeditionary-like conditions. There is no intention on the part of USSOCOM to purchase or procure equipment based solely on participation in the TE.

3. Experimentation Focus: The primary intent of this event is to highlight technologies that support Medical Training. Submissions should highlight how the technology will assist in learning and increase learner engagement. Optimally, a combination of technologies should complement application learning strategies in the context of instructional system design.

4. Technology areas to explore during the event include the following:

4.1 Pedagogical Improvement Strategies

4.1.1 Technologies to measure the effectiveness of training.

4.1.2 Technologies to measure the level of learner engagement.

4.1.2.1 Technologies to validate the effect of learner engagement on training.

4.1.3 Technologies for learning management.

4.1.3.1 Technologies to rapidly assess skill levels.

4.1.3.1.1 Technologies to rapidly assess a learner’s cognitive capability to perform high level executive decision making.

4.1.3.1.2 Technologies to assess the learner’s psychomotor

capability to correctly perform tasks.

4.1.3.2 Rapidly determine the best level of entrance for individual learners for a given skill using the Five Stage Dreyfus Model of Acquiring Expertise e.g., Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert: or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proficiency scale, e.g., Fundamental Awareness, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert.

4.1.3.3 Record time since last training of a particular skill or competency.

4.1.3.4 Assess the optimal training interval and the factors that affect it.

4.1.4 Methods to provide more rapid skill acquisition.

4.1.5 Methods to improve skill retention and prevent skill degradation.

4.2 Low Fidelity Manikins

4.2.1 Manikins that are inert with little to no joint articulation.

4.2.2 Manikins that can have moulage added or can have sounds sent via wireless or tethered communications to allow for speech, breath sounds, heart sounds, etc.

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4.2.3 A tethered manikin is considered a lower fidelity measure, especially if a manikin is to be transported by litter or buddy carries. But tethering may allow for higher fidelity in some respects.

4.2.4 Low Fidelity Manikins may also be combined with Virtual or Augmented Reality (AR/VR) to add fidelity to an immersive, Virtual Reality Construct (VRC).

4.3 High Fidelity Manikins

4.3.1 High Fidelity Manikins should be tailored to their role based on provider skill level, casualty or clinical scenario, and roles of care as defined by Joint Publication 4-02, Joint Health Services (https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp4_02ch1.pd f?ver=2018-10-10-113551-603).

4.3.2 Manikins that allow for all necessary individual skills to be performed for comprehensive patient management and treatment. Manikins that offer a level of realism approximating a live human patient with very similar to identical feedback and allow for feedback of all performance steps as well as “critical performance steps”. A “critical performance step” is defined as a performance step that if not done, or not done properly the entire task is considered to be a failure. Optimally, these types of task trainers should allow for the most common types of failures and complications of a given task or procedure as well as a responsive physiologic engine to mimic individual patient responses to injuries, interventions, and medical errors as well as the capacity to record “near misses”. A “near miss” is defined as a medical error that nearly occurred.

4.4 Low Fidelity Task Trainers.

4.4.1 Task Trainers that allow for a limited number of individual skills to be performed and are best suited to the mechanical performance steps with little to no feedback or only limited feedback focusing on the critical performance criteria/criterion of the task.

4.5 High Fidelity Task Trainers

4.5.1 Task Trainers that allow for a limited number of individual skills to be performed and offer a level of realism approximating a live human patient with very similar to identical feedback and allow for feedback of all performance steps as well as the “critical performance steps”.

Optimally, these types of task trainers should allow for the most common types of failures and complications of a given task or procedure.

https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp4_02ch1.pdf?ver=2018-10-10-113551-603 https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp4_02ch1.pdf?ver=2018-10-10-113551-603

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4.6 Virtual Reality (VR)-VR commonly refers to healthcare simulation environments in which learners can experience visual stimuli delivered via computer graphics and other sensory experiences.

4.7 Augmented Reality (AR)-AR provides learners with an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information.

4.8 Serious Gaming

4.8.1 The use of Serious Gaming can be app based, VR, or some other user interface modality to speed in learning.

4.8.2 The use of Serious Gaming should be used as part of a

comprehensive training methodology and goal oriented. Examples of goals are as a pre-test to “prime for learning”, as a refresher prior to training of a more difficult training modality such as psychomotor training or testing, or as an aid in memorization.

4.9 Cadavers

4.9.1 Primed Cadavers

4.9.1.1 Cadavers that permit training on mechanical hemorrhage control strategies.

4.9.1.2 Cadavers that permit training on correcting coagulopathies.

4.9.2 Non-Primed Cadavers

4.9.2.1 Cadavers that permit training on anatomy and invasive and non-invasive procedures.

4.10 Role Players (Standardized Patients)

4.10.1 Role Players that add realism to a scenario.

4.10.2 Role Players (Standardized Patients) that provide a human experience and interaction. These Role Players should provide standardized answers to patient interviews as well as nonverbal cues and communication to allow for the practice of interviewing techniques and collection of patient history. Optimally these patients should also provide proper feedback upon physical examination.

4.11 Moulage

4.11.1 Techniques and technologies to rapidly and realistically apply and reapply mock injuries with minimal training.

4.11.2 Visually and tactilely realistic prosthetics, appliques, appliances, and make-up that are simple and effective.

4.12 Use of Animal Models (caprine and/or porcine)

4.12.1 Animal models that permit training on assessment of multisystem trauma and invasive and non-invasive procedures.

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4.12.2 Animal models that provide immediate and autonomous biological and physiological feedback to trainees that indicate specific medical interventions.

5. Security/Classification Requirements: Respondents shall not submit classified information in the technology experimentation nominations.

6. Safety Requirements: All respondents shall review the TE Safety Guide (RFI Notice Attachment 3). Those respondents who are invited to demonstrate their technologies must complete a Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet (Department of Defense Form 2977) (RFI Notice Attachment 4) in accordance with MIL-STD-882E and the Department of the Army Techniques Publication No. 5-19 (ATP 5-19). Risk assessments shall be emailed directly to the tech_exp@socom.mil by 13 January 2023. Respondents should include instructions that describe the safe operation of the device nominated for the experiment.

7. Human Subjects. It is not anticipated that activities being conducted in this TE event will require the use of research or experimentation involving human subjects.

Technology experiment submissions will be reviewed for potential research or experimentation involving human subjects. Any submission that is determined to potentially include research or experimentation involving human subjects will be required to adhere to DoD Instruction 3216.02 “Protection of Human Subjects and Adherence to Ethical Standards in DoD Supported Research” and ensure appropriate Institutional Review Board and DoD Human Research Protections Office approvals prior to conducting those activities.

8. Animal Subjects. If activities conducted in this TE involve the use of animals, those activities must comply with DoD Instruction 3216.01 “Use of Animals in DoD Conducted and Supported Research and Training” and will require review and approval by the appropriate Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the USSOCOM Veterinary Review Office.

9. Other Special Requirements: DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS OR MARKETING

DEMONSTRATIONS. SUBMIT TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTATION NOMINATIONS

ONLY. EXPERIMENTATION NOMINATION SUBMITTALS FOR THIS RFI WILL ONLY

BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE OF 21 Nov 2022, 12:00 Noon EST, for the requirements stated above. No contracts will be awarded based solely on this announcement or any subsequent supplemental RFI announcements.

C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Technology experimentation nominations shall be submitted electronically by creating a Scout Card in the Vulcan system at: https: vulcan-sof.com by the respective deadline.

Scout Cards should be submitted within the Technical Experimentation Event Medical Training Collection. The Vulcan system is best accessed by using Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. Associated technology experiments with distinctly different uses or applications should have a separate nomination submitted by each respondent.

USSOCOM personnel will review submissions to determine whether an experiment submission will be accepted for invitation to attend the TE event.

mailto:exp@socom.mil https://atlas-sof.com/

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A complete submission consists of:

• Creating a Scout Card in the Vulcan system as described above.

• Completely filling in the Supplemental Sheet (RFI Notice Attachment 2) and attaching it to the Scout Card.

• Instructions on how to safely use the technology (as needed).

• If applicable, a picture of the device with a short description of the size (shows the dimensions or places the device next to a ruler, currency, or man-sized object for comparison).

• A signed Photo Release (RFI Attachment 5).

Selected respondents will be invited to participate in USSOCOM experiments.

USSOCOM shall provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical, based on availability of resources and written request as discussed above) personnel at no cost to invited respondent(s). All respondents’ submission costs, travel costs, technology experiments, and experimentation associated costs will be at the respondents’ expense. The TE venue will only provide basic access to training areas or ranges (if approved and applicable) to conduct experiments, a facility to connect to the internet, basic venue infrastructure including frequency coordination/deconfliction, and shore power. Invited respondents must be prepared to be self-sufficient during the execution of their experiments and not dependent on venue resources.

Time and space will be made available for technology developers to conduct real-time modifications and updates to technologies. Technology developers are advised to bring all tools and equipment necessary to present/operate their technology at the event.

D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE:

Selection of respondents to participate shall be based on the extent to which the technology represents a potential capability increase to SOF.

Other considerations include:

• Technical maturity

• Relevance of or adaptability to military operations/missions

• Relevance to current operational needs

• Relevance to Event Focus Area

E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All efforts shall be made to protect proprietary information that is clearly marked in writing. Lessons learned by USSOCOM from these experiments may be broadly disseminated, but only within the Government. If selected for participation in Technical Experimentation, developers may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the experiments.

Future TE events with TENTATIVE themes/focus areas, locations, ANTICIPATED dates and RFI open periods are as follows:

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Number Theme/Focus Area Location Event Dates

RFI Open Period

TE23-2 Special Reconnaissance Related Technologies

FL March

Nov

TE23-3 Information Advantage/Dominance

NC June

Feb

Technology developers invited to this event are encouraged to contact each other using the social media through USSOCOM Technical Experimentation. While USSOCOM Technical Experimentation has access to several social media, the preferred collaboration social media link is LinkedIn www.tinyurl.com/LinkedIn-SOCOMTE.

F. USE OF INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to gain information leading to Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities and to assist in accelerating the delivery of these capabilities to the SOF warrior. All proprietary information contained in the submission and technology experimentation shall be appropriately marked. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish future capability and requirements.

During the event USSOCOM may broadcast technology experiments via video-teleconference back to USSOCOM and/or their operational components. Respondents to this RFI shall review and submit the photography approval form at Attachment 5.

G. SPECIAL NOTICE:

1. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-Government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign non-disclosure statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to approved Government support contractors.

2. There will be foreign attendees (military, government, or industry partners), who are interested in the capabilities being demonstrated at the TE event. Respondents are ultimately responsible for complying with all International Trafficking in Arms (ITAR) /Export Administration Regulations (EAR) requirements associated with their equipment. Before declaring their ITAR/EAR status, respondents to this RFI should verify the ITAR/EAR status of their technology by visiting the US Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (ITAR) website at:

http://www.tinyurl.com/LinkedIn-SOCOMTE

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(https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public) and the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security website (https://www.bis.doc.gov/) for more information on Export Administration Regulations (EAR). USSOCOM event organizers will restrict access as necessary to assist in protecting ITAR/EAR related technology demonstrations.

H. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997):

1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information.

2. Although "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

3. In accordance with FAR 15.209(c), the purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from research and development organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by

USSOCOM.

Contracting Office Address:

7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5323 Primary Point of Contact:

tech_exp@socom.mil

(813) 826-4646 https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public https://www.bis.doc.gov/ mailto:exp@socom.mil