Eye Tracking Package
Statement of Work:
Scope
1.1 The Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System needs to purchase equipment that tracks eye movements during the presentation of images on a computer screen. This equipment must include 1) an infrared eye tracker for monitoring eye movements, 2) a computer for running the eye tracking software, 3) software for recording the eye movement data, 4) installation and training by the eye tracking manufacturer, 5) a laptop for cognitive task presentation, 6) a monitor for the subject to view, 7) software for cognitive task presentation, 8) a button box for the subject to indicate responses, 9) software for statistical analyses of the data, 10) cables to connect the eye tracker to the power source and eye tracking computer, the eye tracking computer to the stimulus presentation computer, and the stimulus presentation computer to the EEG acquisition machine, 11) two moveable tables on which to place the monitor and other computing equipment.
Figure 1. Visual paired comparison task (VPCT). (A) Encoding trial. The subject is instructed only to view the images. Two identical pictures are shown, side by side. In normal performance, fixations on the two pictures are of equal duration. (B) Delay. The images are followed by a darkened screen for two minutes. Ten seconds prior to the recognition trial, the subject is warned that images are about to appear on the screen. (C) Recognition trial. The subject is instructed to view the two pictures, side by side. One picture is the same as that shown during the encoding trial, and one picture is new. In normal performance, eye movements demonstrate a preference for the novel picture. This finding implicitly indicates recognition of the old picture. (D) Inter-block interval. The images are followed by a darkened screen for 20 seconds before the next encoding trial begins.
1.2 One goal of this funded investigation is to assess memory in healthy controls and people with epilepsy using eye tracking. Healthy subjects shown a previously studied item alongside a novel item will spend proportionally less time looking at the previously studied item within the stimulus pair. This finding is an implicit measure of recognition memory, as it indicates that the studied item is recognized as being old. We intend to compare recognition memory in patients with epilepsy using this task (called the visual paired comparison task or VPCT ) and compare the results to 1) performance of this task in healthy controls, 2) more traditional pencil and paper tests of memory, and 3) a button press indicating which item is remembered. These data will be collected in preparation for a larger study. The VPCT will be performed during electroencephalography (EEG), to correlate the presence of abnormal EEG discharges in patients with epilepsy to performance on the task.
The VPCT requires the ability to measure the total time and number of fixations on each approximately 4 x 4 inch image.
1.3 The vendors will deliver an eye tracking system that includes the tracking device and software for tracking eye movements. Cables (to connect the eye tracker to the power source and eye tracking computer, and to the EEG acquisition machine) may also be provided as part of a package. The vendor will install the above equipment and software (specifications in Section 2) and provide a one-day on-site training session for use of the equipment. They must offer a two-year hardware warranty and one year of software and technical support provided by telephone, email, and website FAQs. Software upgrades should be provided when available.
The laptop for cognitive task presentation, monitor for the subject to view, software for cognitive task presentation, button box for the subject to indicate responses, software for statistical analyses of the data, and adjustable table will be purchased separately. The computer to run the software and necessary cables will be purchased separately if not provided as part of a package by the eye tracking vendor.
2. Specifications, Purpose, and Objectives
2.1 Infrared eye tracker for monitoring eye movements. LEDs will illuminate the eye while a high speed, near-infrared sensitive camera records the pupil and corneal reflections. At a minimum, spatial resolution of B1 0.75 degrees and temporal resolution of 16 msec must be attained. This corresponds to a 60Hz sampling rate. The tracking system must be calibrated by asking subjects to fixate on various areas within a 9-point array, in order to map fixations to positions on the computer screen. Calibrations must remain stable over a 50 to 100 minute VPCT testing period. The system must be accurate, with gaze sampling variability no more than 0.1Hz, accuracy of at least 0.4 degrees, and precision of at least 0.34 degrees. Total system latency must be less than 35 msec, with immediate gaze recovery time after blinks and minimal recalibration time after turning away from screen.
As subjects will be wearing scalp EEG leads during eye tracking, the equipment must minimize interference with the EEG. This means that eye tracking glasses and headrests cannot be used and associated cables must be fiber optic.
Hardware must connect with computer via HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0, and/or Thunderbolt 3 interfaces.
Hardware must be compatible with the following system specifications:
Intel Core I7
32GB 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
256 GB SATA Drive
AMD FirePro Graphics Card
Windows 10 Pro
A warranty for at least 2 years from the time of purchase is required.
2.2 Software for recording the eye movement data. This must be provided by the manufacturer of the eye tracking hardware. The software must be able to provide 1) the time spent looking at each of two images on the screen (to calculate the percentage of time spent looking at one image compared to the percentage of time looking at the other image), and 2) the number of fixations made on each image during stimulus presentation (defining fixation as gaze sustained within 1 degree for at least 100 msec). Data output must include time stamps and x/y coordinates of gaze position for each eye every 16 msec.
Software must be compatible with the following system specifications:
Intel Core I7
32GB 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
256 GB SATA Drive
AMD FirePro Graphics Card
Windows 10 Pro
23.8 HD display
2.3 Software for cognitive task presentation. The software will be placed on the stimulus presentation laptop. It must allow for the presentation of a series of images on the computer monitor, which is connected to the laptop by a fiber optic cable. The user must be able to control what images are presented, in what order, and for how long. There must be no appreciable delay between the presentation software and the image on the screen. The software must also be able to interface with the EEG acquisition system, to input markers whenever an image appears on the screen, the subject makes a button press response, and the image disappears from the screen. It must place the markers without appreciable delay between the event and the marker appearing on the EEG. The software must also interface with the eye tracking computer via fiber optic cable ( eye tracker interface or eye tracker extension ).
The timing and duration of stimulus presentation/offset must be accurate, with less than or equal to one millisecond precision timing.
The program must output data files that record timestamps, trial numbers, and subject responses in a standard format (i.e. Excel) which can be saved for later analysis.
The software selected will dictate the laptop specifications.
Software must be compatible with the following system specifications:
Intel Core I7
32GB 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
256 GB SATA Drive
AMD FirePro Graphics Card
Windows 10 Pro
23.8 HD display
2.4 Cables to connect the eye tracker to the power source and eye tracking computer, the eye tracking computer to the stimulus presentation computer, and the stimulus presentation computer to the EEG acquisition machine and monitor. Cables must be fiber optic to avoid interference with the EEG acquisition. The cables should be provided by the eye tracking vendor, and should be covered by a warranty for 2 years from the date of purchase.
3. Standards of Performance
3.1 The equipment outlined above must be delivered to the requesting point of contact at the designated medical center location at a mutually agreed upon time frame. The vendor shall not add or substitute components or alter componentry without prior approval from the Principal Investigator.
3.2 A One-day on-site training session, 2-year warranty on hardware, and one year of software and technical support provided by telephone, email, and website FAQs shall be provided by the eye tracking vendor.
4. Period of Performance
The VA anticipates a one-time delivery of the equipment outlined above on a firm fixed quoted price basis.
5. Place of Performance
This solicitation is intended for the New York Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan Campus:
VAMC MANHATTAN
423 E 23rd Street
New York, NY 10462
6. Recalls
The Vendor shall immediately notify all affected VA Medical Centers and designated POC in the event of a device recall, removal, required adjustment, or required modification that is suggested or mandated by the Vendor, distributor, manufacturer, or any regulatory or government agency. The following information shall be included in this notification:
A complete item description and identification (to include lot and serial numbers where
applicable);
Administrative identification data including order numbers and order date;
Reasons for recall, removal, adjustment, or modification; and
Instructions for appropriate corrective action.
7.0 Defective Items/Warranty
Vendor warrants to the original purchaser of the product that should it prove defective by reason of improper worksmanship and/or materials:
7.1 Systems and Components: For two years from the date of original purchase at retail, the vendors will repair or replace, at the vendors options, any defective part of the 1) eye tracking system (including the eye tracker, computer, and cables) and 2) stimulus presentation laptop without charge for the part or labor if an inspection proves the claim. Parts used for replacement must be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period. This policy is also preferred for the monitor and response button box.
7.2 To obtain warranty service, the POC will call the vendor(s) for further instructions. If shipping is required, expenses are the purchaser s responsibility. Proof of purchase is required when requesting warranty service.
7.3 Defects due to modification, alteration, repair, or service of the product by anyone other than the vendor or an authorized service center, physical abuse to, misuse of the product, or operation thereof in a manner contrary to the accompanying instructions, or shipment of the product to the vendor or authorized service center for service are not covered. The warranty also excludes all costs arising from installation, cleaning or adjustments of user controls.
7.4 Any express warranty not provided herein, and any remedy for breach of contract which, but for this provision might arise by implication or operation of law, will be excluded and disclaimed. The implied warranties for the merchantability and of fitness for any particular purpose are expressly limited to a term of two years. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so that the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to the purchaser. The warranties set forth will be in lieu of any and all other warranties express or implied including the warranty of merchantability and fitness. The buyer acknowledges that no other representations were made to him or relied upon by him with respect to the quality and function of the goods sold. No person, firm, or corporation is authorized to assume for the vendor any liability in connection with the sale of these goods.
8.0 Government Furnished Property/Equipment
VA New York Harbor Healthcare System will provide appropriate space and storage for the products requested. Storage will meet all regulatory requirements for the storage of the product.
9.0 Education and Training Requirements
The Vendor shall be responsible for ensuring that vendor employees providing work on the required equipment are fully trained and completely competent to perform the required work.
VA INFORMATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY/PRIVACY language FOR Inclusion into CONTRACTS, as appropriate
GENERAL
Contractors, contractor personnel, subcontractors, and subcontractor personnel shall be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks as VA and VA personnel regarding information and information system security.
ACCESS to VA INFORMATION AND VA INFORMATION SYSTEMS
A contractor/subcontrator shall request logical (technical) or physical access to VA information and VA information systems for their employees, subcontractors, and affiliates only to the extent necessary to perform the services specified in the contract, agreement, or task order.
All contractors, subcontractors, and third-party servicers and associates working with VA information are subject to the same investigative requirements as those of VA appointees or employees who have access to the same types of information.B The level and process of background security investigations for contractors must be in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability and Security Program.B The Office for Operations, Security, and Preparedness is responsible for these policies and procedures.
The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state.B If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed.
If VA determines that the contractor has violated any of the information confidentiality, privacy, and security provisions of the contract, it shall be sufficient grounds for VA to withhold payment to the contractor or third party or terminate the contract for default or terminate for cause under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12.
Except for uses and disclosures of VA information authorized by this contract for performance of the contract, the contractor/subcontractor may use and disclose VA information only in two other situations: (i) in response to a qualifying order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) with VA s prior written approval.B The contractor/subcontractor must refer all requests for, demands for production of, or inquiries about, VA information and information systems to the VA contracting officer for response.
Notwithstanding the provision above, the contractor/subcontractor shall not release VA records protected by Title 38 U.S.C. 5705, confidentiality of medical quality assurance records and/or Title 38 U.S.C. 7332, confidentiality of certain health records pertaining to drug addiction, sickle cell anemia, alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus.B If the contractor/subcontractor is in receipt of a court order or other requests for the above mentioned information, that contractor/subcontractor shall immediately refer such court orders or other requests to the VA contracting officer for response.
For service that involves the storage, generating, transmitting, or exchanging of VA sensitive information but does not require C&A or an MOU-ISA for system interconnection, the contractor/subcontractor must complete a Contractor Security Control Assessment (CSCA) on a yearly basis and provide it to the COTR.
The contractor/subcontractor shall certify to the COTR that applications are fully functional and operate correctly as intended on systems using the VA Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC), and the common security configuration guidelines provided by NIST or the VA.B This includes Internet Explorer 7 configured to operate on Windows XP and Vista (in Protected Mode on Vista) and future versions, as required.
The standard installation, operation, maintenance, updating, and patching of software shall not alter the configuration settings from the VA approved and FDCC configuration.B Information technology staff must also use the Windows Installer Service for installation to the default program files directory and silently install and uninstall.
Applications designed for normal end users shall run in the standard user context without elevated system administration privileges.
The security controls must be designed, developed, approved by the VA, and implemented in accordance with the provisions of the VA security system development life cycle as outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-37, Guide for Applying the Risk Management Framework to Federal Information Systems, VA Handbook 6500, Information Security Program and VA Handbook 6500.5, Incorporating Security and Privacy in System Development Lifecycle.
The contractor/subcontractor is required to design, develop, or operate a System of Records Notice (SOR) on individuals to accomplish an agency function subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (as amended), Public Law 93-579, December 31, 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and applicable agency regulations.B Violation of the Privacy Act may involve the imposition of criminal and civil penalties.
Bio-Medical devices and other equipment or systems containing media (hard drives, optical disks, etc.) with VA sensitive information must not be returned to the vendor at the end of lease, for trade-in, or other purposes.B The options are:
B B Vendor must accept the system without the drive;
B B VA s initial medical device purchase includes a spare drive which must be installed in place of the original drive at time of turn-in; or
B B VA must reimburse the company for media at a reasonable open market replacement cost at time of purchase.
B B Due to the highly specialized and sometimes proprietary hardware and software associated with medical equipment/systems, if it is not possible for the VA to retain the hard drive, then;
B B The equipment vendor must have an existing BAA if the device being traded in has sensitive information stored on it and hard drive(s) from the system are being returned physically intact; and
B B Any fixed hard drive on the device must be non-destructively sanitized to the greatest extent possible without negatively impacting system operation.B Selective clearing down to patient data folder level is recommended using VA approved and validated overwriting technologies/methods/tools.B Applicable media sanitization specifications need to be pre-approved and described in the purchase order or contract.
B B A statement needs to be signed by the Director (System Owner) that states that the drive could not be removed and that (a) and (b) controls above are in place and completed.B The ISO needs to maintain the documentation.
TRAINING
All contractor employees and subcontractor employees requiring access to VA information and VA information systems shall complete the following before being granted access to VA information and its systems:
B B Sign and acknowledge (either manually or electronically) understanding of and responsibilities for compliance with theB Contractor Rules of Behavior, Appendix E relating to access to VA information and information systems;
B B Successfully complete the VA Cyber Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training and annually complete required security training;
B B Successfully complete the appropriate VA privacy training and annually complete required privacy training; and
B B Successfully complete any additional cyber security or privacy training, as required for VA personnel with equivalent information system access [to be defined by the VA program official and provided to the contracting officer for inclusion in the solicitation document e.g., any role-based information security training required in accordance with NIST Special Publication 800-16, Information Technology Security Training Requirements.]
The contractor shall provide to the contracting officer and/or the COTR a copy of the training certificates and certification of signing the Contractor Rules of Behavior for each applicable employee within 1 week of the initiation of the contract and annually thereafter, as required.B
Failure to complete the mandatory annual training and sign the Rules of Behavior annually, within the timeframe required, is grounds for suspension or termination of all physical or electronic access privileges and removal from work on the contract until such time as the training and documents are complete.
Shari Lee
shari.lee@va.gov
contract officer
