Immersive Visualization Environment Upgrade for High Performance Computing and Visualization Research

**Amendment 003: The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for quotations through December 5, 2023 5:00 p.m. ET.** **Amendment 002: The purpose of this amendment is to respond to questions posed by prospective quoters and extend the due date for quotations through November 29, 2023 3:00 p.m. ET. Reference Amendment 002 documents for complete details of amendment. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.** **Amendment 001: The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for quotations through September 29, 2023 5:00 p.m. The Government anticipates a forthcoming amendment following this amendment to respond to questions posed by prospective offerors. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.** THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED; AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (I.E. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.5 TEST PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the requirement is 334310 - Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 750 employees. This is a 100% small business set-aside. Simplified acquisition procedures will be utilized. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The High Performance Computing and Visualization Group (HPCVG), is located in the Applied and Computational Mathematics Division (ACMD) in the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Group develops novel algorithms and implementations for parallel and distributed computation, as well as innovative techniques for immersive scientific visualization in a variety of local and distributed hardware environments. They also develop and utilize techniques and tools of mathematical analysis, parallel and distributed computing, machine learning, and visualization to improve measurement science, including the extension of traditional measurement science to the virtual world. This is all in support of the NIST mission: - To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. HPCVG owns and operates a CAVE (CAVE Automatic Visualization Environment) for its immersive visualization work at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD site. A CAVE is a real-time hardware system that enables the user to see perspective-based true 3D images. For this to function correctly, the hardware system must be designed with real-time capability that enables viewing of real-time images. This Immersive Visualization Environment (IVE), along with the software that the Group develops, is on a critical path for all research in the Group. Its role is critical in HPCVG's High Performance Computing work as it serves to speed code development and enable quick checking for errors as well as validation tests. It enables the visualization, measurement on visualizations, and analysis of results. This has led to solving critical outstanding problems in industry and contributing to the creation of standard reference materials and data. For example, it played a crucial role in the development of the standard reference materials for cement paste, mortar, and concrete. The CAVE has come to the end of its life as the display system can no longer be maintained. In order to ensure continuity of research efforts and to keep pace with the rapid advancement of technology in this area, it is important that the IVE be upgraded. NIST requires an upgrade to the IVE/CAVE on the NIST Gaithersburg, MD campus with newer display technology. Higher resolution and more complex data visualizations require a higher resolution and brighter display system with collaborative visualization capability. NIST has identified that a Direct View Light Emitting Diodes (LED) display system would offer a higher resolution and brighter display compared to its existing projection-based visualization system. Furthermore, a Direct View LED system would also be able to support dual view stereoscopic visualization where both users would have their own unique view angle of the visualization. Thus, NIST requires interested parties to be capable of quoting both a single-view display system and a dual-view display system, as described in the attached Statement of Need. NOTE: Reference attached documentation for complete Combined Synopsis Solicitation.