SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY - IMMERSIVE/VR EXPERIENCE
- Notice Date
- 10/28/2020 8:47:07 AM
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 511210
— Software Publishers
- Contracting Office
- ACQUISITIONS - AQM MOMENTUM WASHINGTON DC 20520 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20520
- Solicitation Number
- 19AQMM21Q0008
- Response Due
- 11/2/2020 7:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 11/17/2020
- Point of Contact
- Terry Lord, Maurice Fitzgibbon
- E-Mail Address
-
lordtg@state.gov, FitzgibbonME@state.gov
(lordtg@state.gov, FitzgibbonME@state.gov)
- Description
- The Department of State Office of Acquisitions Management (DOS/AQM), on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), issues this special notice of its intent to negotiate a sole source purchase order with �Shenandoah University for an Immersive (VR/AR) Experience contract. More specifically, the requirement is to provide a detailed, historically accurate immersive/virtual reality (VR) experience that transports ECA�s virtual exchange participants to the 1787 Constitutional Convention to help international visitors better understand and participate in the framing of the United States constitution.� The experience needs to accommodate multiplayer interaction, where possible, with spatialized audio (if conceivable) with the possibility of moderator interaction.� Participants should be able to create avatars, don VR headsets and engage in a real-time participatory debate over the Electoral College in an episodic manner. The work is anticipated to be performed either remotely or at Shenandoah University. These supplies/services require that players use avatars to roleplay key delegates at the 1787 Convention to debate the formation of the Electoral College. This initiative will allow the Office of Collaboratory to accomplish ECA�s functional bureau strategy goal of fostering greater understanding of the United States and its foreign policy objectives through flexible, targeted, and responsive exchange programs, even when a global pandemic limits the ability of bringing exchange students physically together. ECA has identified Shenandoah University as a uniquely capable�entity for expert virtual reality / augmented reality (VR/AR) experience delivery, to include the following points:� Shenandoah University, through SCIL, has already built the virtual, 3D model of Constitution Hall, recorded voices of the founders, and conducted research with historians at the University (a significant �value add� which will allow the government the best chance to meet its deadline of March 2021). With this additional funding, they will create multiplayer, episodic content that can serve as an immersive experience for ECA participants. They are a 503(c) corporation with specific competency in virtual reality design and creation, being one of Virginia�s first universities to offer a virtual reality design program.� In addition, the university hosts the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL), which aims to create human-to-human connectivity within mixed realities, transforming ideas into living experiences through immersive technology.��� They are industry experts that provide oversight to production for SCIL, which means that the products meet industry standards while giving its students the opportunity to explore new technologies that could be useful to accomplish ECA�s FBS goals of increasing mutual understanding. They have experience running global design workshops, such as their Global Game Jam.� Participants design with virtual reality hardware and software such as Oculus Quest, 360 cameras, ambisonic audio capture, 3D modeling software, the Unity game engine, and more. Specialists from Shenandoah University faculty and staff are on hand throughout the event to offer mini-workshops and guided instruction.� In January 2019, 47,006 jammers created 9,010 games at 860 sites in 113 countries � all on the same weekend. The jam encourages collaboration and is compatible with ECA�s mission.� Shenandoah University is one of forty universities in the world that offers degree programs in virtual gaming, and one of the only American universities that focuses on virtual gaming.� As a result, they have expertise in game design and construction few other American institutions can offer.� Shenandoah is the first higher education institution in Virginia to offer a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in AR/VR design.� In addition, Shenandoah University's SCIL is a student-run production company, which increases the profile of the University and could prove to be an effective recruiting tool for Education USA, one of ECA�s most visible exchange programs.� Increasing international student enrollment is one of ECA�s policy goals. Should potential offerors believe they have the capabilities, respond to this Notice by submitting written capabilities/specifications of the products to the Acquisitions contact at the email address provided. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes; however, all responses received by the deadline located in this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government whether a competitive procurement is feasible may be based upon responses to this notice and is solely at the discretion of the Government. If no affirmative responses are received by the deadline to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, an award will be negotiated with Shenandoah University. � The resulting purchase order/contract is to be processed using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (FAR 13) in conjunction with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. There is no solicitation package available.�
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/17c760b4a478423ea1ce33e9c62d5b7d/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN05839852-F 20201030/201028230148 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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