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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 23, 2004 FBO #0940
SOLICITATION NOTICE

66 -- Upgrade of an Immersive Visualization System

Notice Date

6/21/2004
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

NAICS

334516 — Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
 

Contracting Office

Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition and Logistics Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 3571, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-3571
 

ZIP Code

20899-3571
 

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-04-891-4432
 

Response Due

7/7/2004
 

Archive Date

7/22/2004
 

Point of Contact

Carol Wood, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-975-8172, Fax 301-975-8884, - Patrick Staines, Contract Specialist, Phone (301)975-6335, Fax (301)975-8884,
 

E-Mail Address

carol.wood@nist.gov, Patrick.Staines@nist.gov
 

Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.501(a), with Fakespace Systems, Inc. of Marshalltown, IA, for the upgrade of an existing SAVG immersive visualization system (RAVE) in Gaithersburg, and to extend its immersive visualization capabilities to researchers and software developers located at the NIST Boulder Visualization Laboratory. The existing RAVE system is playing a key role in accelerating scientific discovery as large and complex data sets are becoming more common place at NIST. The immersive visualization that can only be done with such a system provides much greater insight into this data by allowing scientists to interactively explore the data by literally putting the scientist inside the data. The goal of this procurement is to extend these benefits to scientists located in Boulder by allowing simultaneous collaboration with scientists located in Gaithersburg. Three key components are needed to produce a fully immersive visualization system a large screen that allows the user to stand in front and have full peripheral vision to the floor; stereo-graphic viewing for depth; and head position tracking to produce proper perspective as the users moves around and thru the data. This procurement will provide components for the Boulder VisLab consisting of a single large screen PowerWall (RAVE compatible) meeting the requirements for fully immersive visualization. The procurement also provides additional tracking capability for the Gaithersburg equipment. Sole source determination is based on the following: This system upgrade, like three (3) previous upgrades require intimate knowledge of the existing system. Only Fakespace has the intimate knowledge of the existing system and software to ensure that the upgrade will integrate into the existing system and be 100% compatible. If the upgrade to the existing system were not 100% compatible, the NIST research that the visualization supports will be severely impacted. The purpose of the Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division is to accelerate scientific research through improved insight into research results gained with immersive scientific visualization. To achieve theses goals, the Division develops software that will bring the research data into the immersive environment. Without 100% compatibility, device specific software will be required, which will double the software effort required to achieve useful visualization of the research data. The planned implementation of this upgrade is the ability to operate the Gaithersburg and Boulder components as one unified system for collaboration between physical and computer scientists in both locations. Without 100% compatibility, this ability to operate as a single unit will be severely impacted. Finally, the current system has an extended warranty service agreement covering repairs of failed components. The upgrade equipment must not void the current warranty. The addition of equipment from any other company or manufacturer another company will void this warranty. Fakespace Systems is a small business. They are the sole manufacturer of this equipment. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations, however, responses received by July 7, 2004, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
 

Place of Performance

Address: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD

Zip Code: 20899

Country: USA
 

Record

SN00606905-W 20040623/040621211708 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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