The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is excited to post this pre-announcement for a Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on conducting assessments to understand the psychological or physiological effects of augmented reality (AR) medical simulations that may impact learning effectiveness in humans. The ultimate goal of this research is to identify psychological and physiological limitations of AR medical simulation training in the diverse high pressure and stressful context anticipated in the various military echelons of care, which will help ensure optimal development and utilization of AR technology to address the identified capability gaps in military medical simulation training.
AR is the use of a computer-based simulation engine to add non-real sensory information to the real sensory world. Essentially, AR directs participants’ attention to either existing information that they would have not been consciously aware of or to new information that changes their perceptual information. Although this co-registered information can be visually projected directly onto real objects, AR information is often presented directly to the recipient by a device attached to the recipient.
APPEAR maps to DHA’s Joint Evacuation and Transport Simulation (JETS) and Point of Injury and Trauma Simulation (POINTS) programs, under the JPC-1/MSIS Medical Simulation portfolio. It addresses the capability gaps in the Virtual Patient System (VPS) of JETS and POINTS. The VPS provides intelligent, scalable, modular medical training products, tools, and devices across globally distributed, integrated, and interconnected Live, Virtual, Constructive, and Gaming training environments. Technology using AR is a significant piece of the VPS, at point of injury (POINTS) and point of demand across the complete chain of evacuation (JETS).
The RPP will be posted to the MTEC website and a notice will be posted on FedBizOpps.gov to notify interested parties. MTEC membership is required for the submission of a Solution Brief in response to this upcoming MTEC RPP.
The requested work will be separated into two tasks.
Proposed studies are not limited to a specific medical domain and all areas of medicine are encouraged for submission (i.e., dental, dermatology, obstetrics, ophthalmology, and surgical fields); however, medical domains that have higher alignment with (or must have at least one demonstrated tool with traumatic/multi-casualty) treatment of traumatic and acute injuries/multi-casualty are preferential.
Offerors must be MTEC Members in good standing.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) currently has available a minimum of $2.5 Million (M) for this effort. A period of performance no greater than 24 months is expected, and faster timelines are acceptable.
It is expected that MTEC will make at least two awards of $1.25M each to a qualified team to accomplish all tasks. Up to four awards may be made, contingent on the availability of additional funds.
