STATEMENT OF WORK
Background:
The Army National Guard (ARNG) continues to struggle with the Army Hearing Readiness requirements. Over the past year hearing readiness has ranged between 76-78%, which is well below the national readiness goal of 90%. The ARNG Chief Surgeons (CSG) office is purchasing audiometric equipment to increase organic testing capabilities to complete required readiness testing.
Scope.

The following items are being requested by the ARNG-CSG office.
Description Quantity Minimum Specification
Microprocessor Mini System Audiometer

Extended maintenance warranty of 7 years from date of invoice

Upgrade Assurance 86 ea • Microprocessor Mini Audiometer
• A/C power supply
• Computer connection cable
• Expansion audiometer cable
• Appropriate mounting bracket and supplies
• Headset
• Response Button
Microprocessor Mini Expansion Audiometer

Extended maintenance warranty of 7 years from date of invoice
228 ea • Microprocessor Mini Audiometer
• Expansion audiometer cable
• Appropriate mounting bracket and supplies
• Headset
• Response Button
Bio-Acoustic Simulator 314 ea • Bio-Acoustic Simulator
• Mounting bracket and supplies
• Audiometer connection cable

Audiometers and equipment will be compatible with the current operating system in place across the ARNG and DoD components. Microprocessor audiometer (MA) requirements are as follows:
1) The MA shall be fully responsive to this specification and be capable of performing its full range of capabilities with the computer provided by the Government. Response time shall be compatible with the full family of computers utilizing the MA, i.e., 2.8 GHz or better Pentium processors. Specific versions of the software are required for Microsoft Windows 7, 8 and 10, and maintain functionality in the next Microsoft environment. The Windows 10 software version, including device drivers, shall meet Microsoft's Windows 10 certification specifications and be certified by Microsoft. The Windows version, including device drivers, shall meet Microsoft's 7, 8, and 10 certification specifications and be certified by Microsoft. The MA shall comply with Microsoft's "Plug and Play" standards for equipment interoperability. The MA will be evaluated for performance with specific attention to the interface application between the MA, the microcomputer and its' graphical user interface (GUI) and DOEHRS-HC (version 7.50 for the 64 bit version of Windows 10). The Contractor shall furnish a multi-station (one-to-eight audiometer boards) MA consisting of compatible connecting cables and software interface; one bio-acoustic simulator for each audiometer; three noiseless and repairable handswitches for each audiometer; two sets of earphone cords for each audiometer; and two microphones for each audiometer
2) Specific MA Requirements also refer to Appendix I:
a. Weight: The complete MA system shall not exceed 5 lbs shipping weight (for ease of portability and shipping).
b. MA Connectivity: the MA shall be able to be stacked and interconnect in groups of up to eight. The MA shall also have the capability of being mounted inside the booth
c. MA Multi-User Environment: The MA shall be expandable to provide for operations supporting up to eight (8) MA stations simultaneously. Each MA shall be able to operate independently. Synchronization of multi-test stations is not required.
d. Earphones: Telephonics TDH-39 (or equivalent) earphones shall be provided for each MA. They shall be repairable, 10 ohm earphones in MX41/AR or Type 51 ear cushions, with no otocups. Earphone headband suspension systems shall be spring steel bands with fabric padding. Wire "coat hanger" suspension systems are not acceptable. A built-in safety feature shall be part of the headphones so they turn off when the audiometer is turned on, e.g., at the beginning of the test day, after a power failure, etc. Use of this feature would repress a possible squelch from coming through the headphones which could cause listener discomfort and/or a temporary shift in the listener's hearing.
e. Code Conformance: All equipment shall conform to the National Electric Code (ANSI/NFPA 70-current version), the National Electrical Safety Code (C2-current version), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, and the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) S3.6 Current Version, "Specifications for Audiometers", as applicable.
f. Mounting brackets: Due to the conditions under which ships and mobile hearing test vehicles operate, specified system components shall include mounting brackets and bolts to firmly fasten the MAs in place to resist shifting under emergency maneuver conditions. The MA shall be attached by brackets to work surfaces, deck plates, bulkheads, etc. The MA mounting brackets shall not interfere with normal operation of the equipment. The MA shall be removable from the mounting brackets, using normally available hand tools. If removed from the mounting brackets, the MA shall remain fully functional as an unmounted MA. The Contractor shall provide all hardware for stacking the equipment (brackets, bolts, nuts, etc.) for each MA in excess of one (1). The Contractor shall provide all hardware (brackets, bolts, nuts, etc.) to wall mount each bioacoustics calibrator. All brackets shall be predrilled for mounting purposes.
g. MA Internal Hardware Software Modification and Maintenance: The MA internal hardware switches shall be configurable through software. All internal MA Software (firmware) shall be software upgradeable through the GFE. MA software is compatible with the DOEHRS-HC software (version 7.50, 64-bit Windows 10 compatible) so that the system is fully and successfully operational within one application. The MA shall communicate directly with the DOEHRS-HC software.
h. Automated Instructions: The MA system shall be able to execute the automated voice instructions in the following languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic plus the ability to record and play other languages through the provided interface
3) Stimulus Features:
a. Test Frequencies: The test frequencies shall include 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 6000 Hertz (Hz) presented in the automatic mode, beginning with the left ear at 1000 Hz, then testing 500 Hz, then completing a 1000 Hz retest followed by testing 2000 - 6000 Hz. The same testing procedure shall then be followed in the right ear. An additional option to test 8000 Hz, in either ear, shall also be available. A selectable "right ear first" option will be available for each test station. The ability to test only one ear as a completed test must also be available.
b. Intensity Range: The intensity range must extend from -10 decibels (dB) hearing threshold level (HTL) to 100 dB HTL. Attenuation shall occur in 5 dB steps. The intensity range shall not exceed 100 dB HTL.
c. Frequency Accuracy: There shall be no more than one percent (1%) deviation from the crystal controlled timer
d. Test Signal: The test signal shall be user configurable to a pulsed or steady tone for each test station. The default setting shall be pulsed tone. The stimulus shall continue to be presented after the test is complete, until indicated by the examiner through the use of the Pause or Stop features of the software.
e. Tone Character: The presentation of the tone shall be 0.2 second on and 0.2 second off for the pulsed tone mode, i.e., a fifty percent (50%) duty cycle with three pulsed tone presentations and a 1.2 second duration for a continuous tone. Rise and decay times are 35 milliseconds (msec) and shall meet specifications for tone switches in ANSI S3.6 Current Version.
f. Harmonic Distortion: Total harmonic distortion shall not exceed three percent (3%) as specified in ANSI S3.6-Current Version.
g. Interstimulus Interval: There shall be random interstimulus intervals with periodic increased intervals (0.75 second minimum and 5 second maximum) throughout the test cycle. Interstimulus intervals shall have a user configurable option.
h. Amplitude Linearity: The amplitude linearity shall be no greater than 1 dB for every 10 dB increment with a maximum accumulated error of 2 dB or less relative to the calibration level.
i. Threshold Determination (validation): The threshold shall be determined by the lowest level at which a response occurs in at least one-half of a series of ascending trials, with a minimum of two out of three responses, or two consecutive responses, at a single level. The stimulus presentation shall start at 30 dB HTL at 1000 Hz and increase by 20 dB HTL until a response is obtained, the initial response will then be confirmed, then the modified Hughson-Westlake procedure (down 10 dB, up 5 dB) will begin. The next frequency search shall begin at the intensity of the previous test frequency threshold. When changing test ears the first presentation shall be at 30 dB HTL. Threshold level and determination processes shall have a user configurable option, including the ability to bypass the Hughson-Westlake method for daily calibration checks.
j. Threshold Entries: The MA shall automatically enter the HTLs for the current audiogram and the date of the current audiogram, upon completion of the test. The audiometer software shall be able to receive any alphabetical letter, or number value in multiples of 5 (for manual threshold entry), regardless of the range of decibel levels that the audiometer can actually generate. Threshold entries that are transferred from the MA must range from at least -10 to 100 dB, in multiples of 5.
k. Response Window: The response window shall begin 50 msec after the onset of the test signal or pulse train and end, as a minimum, 10 to 20 msec before the onset of the next test signal. The test signal shall stop as soon as the handswitch response button is pressed. Total response window will be 1.8 seconds after initial tone presentation at each frequency.
l. Test Time: The MA shall be able to perform the following functions in 10 minutes or less for all listeners: assignment of the test station, determination of the HTLs for all test frequencies, including automatic retests.
m. Automatic Retest: An automatic retest shall be available and be user configurable. The default configuration should be established so that at the completion of the test an automatic retest (without operator intervention) will be performed if:
i. A threshold change of +/- 15 dB HTL or greater occurs at any frequency, during testing, as compared to the reference audiogram.
ii. An average threshold change of +/- 10 dB HTL or greater occurs at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz, during testing, as compared to the reference audiogram in either ear.
iii. Any frequency has an HTL of 90 dB or greater.
iv. There is an HTL difference of 40 dB or more between ears at the same frequency.
v. The HTL at 500 Hz is greater than 30 dB. This will not occur with the Biological Calibration Check.
vi. There is a difference of 50 dB or greater for an adjacent frequency.
vii. An HTL is not validated due to inconsistent responses, e.g., the handswitch button is continually depressed or is not pressed when tones are presented, etc.
4) Fault Codes: The MA should be able to identify the fault code. A Fault Code is an immediate warning (an on-screen visual and auditory signal; the intensity of the auditory signal is controlled via hardware or software), given to the technician when:
a. A listener response is not obtained for the first ear tested at 1000 Hz.
b. There is no validation for the first test ear response at 1000 Hz when 1000 Hz is re-tested, or when too much time has elapsed without achieving threshold validation. (Validity Check - Each ear is tested twice at 1000 Hz and the thresholds must agree within +/- 5 dB. If agreement is achieved, the lower of the two threshold levels is retained. If agreement is not achieved, the test is stopped; the technician is summoned; and the entire test is repeated.)
c. There is no release of the handswitch button.
d. More than one response per frequency is given without additional tone presentations.
e. The retest did not validate the HTLs at the required one or two frequencies. A maximum of 20 tone presentations or 60 seconds shall be allowed at each test frequency.
f. There is no validation of the HTLs at three frequencies.

5) Manual Test Mode: The MA shall have a PC interface-driven manual test option to enable the technician to present tones in selected frequency intervals and decibel levels. The manual test mode shall not allow for the acceptance of fewer HTL responses than the automatic test mode, as identified above.

6) Display: The interface must generate an interactive display to allow visual monitoring of the test, while it is in progress and when it is completed, for each individual station. The frequency and intensity display will indicate the Fault Codes for each station with appropriate instructions to the operator for counseling the listener. In addition, a voice chip interface will provide the listener with instructions for the appropriate Fault Code or standard instructions for taking a hearing test. Use of voice communication is an option which will be activated by the operator.

7) Hearing Test Screen Display: The MA hearing test screen display must show all stations currently in use and their corresponding listener station assignments. Threshold searches, for each frequency and each listener, should be displayed on the screen. Alternating, or all unique, colors must be used for each different listener on the same screen. Additional required on-screen features include: help, patient instructions, error codes, and function keys.

8) MA Calibration: The MAs must be capable of being electro acoustically calibrated by existing Government calibration personnel. Calibration and signal-to-noise ratio must be in accordance with the American National Standard Institute, S3.6-Current Version. The MA circuit board must be removable for ease in calibrating. The MA software must communicate the annual calibration date to DOEHRS-HC after an exhaustive calibration without direct user interaction/access.

9) Acoustical Calibration Mode: Calibration of the earphones will be controlled by the software through the use of the mouse or keyboard. The frequency must require no adjustment. The calibration routine will appear on the screen with instructions and the ability to set the output level for the earphones at the keyboard. In addition, a calibration service switch will be provided, changing the signal to a 70 dB continuous tone beginning at 500 Hz with subsequent manual frequency and earphone selections. Right and left earphones will be individually calibrated. Software programs for acoustical calibration will be provided. Electro acoustic calibration of the firmware will be performed by keyboard via software. The calibration date, in YYYYMMDD format, must be captured electronically at the time of calibration. Entry into the calibration mode is to be limited with password protection, and not requiring a hardware device.
10) Biological Calibration Mode: A biological calibration check will be controlled by the MA. Multi-station systems must permit more than one listener to check the MA stations at the same time. Bio-acoustic simulators will be provided for each audiometer to check the acoustic output of each test station for 500 - 6000 Hz inclusive. Biologic calibration checks will be completed with a quick, streamlined testing process not employing the use of the Hughson-Westlake procedure, automatic retest or fault code functions. Results of the calibration check, including threshold levels, audiometer serial number and test date, will be passed to and recorded within the DOEHRS-HC software. All Bio-acoustic simulators will supply their credentials to DOEHRS-HC when the biological calibration results are being retrieved into DOEHRS-HC. The audiometer software will not provide the end user with a means to print test results.

11) Functional Check: The MA must include a functional check involving a sequence of tone presentations for both earphones. The MA will initiate and present tones of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 6000 Hz and an optional 8000 Hz at 60 dB in the left ear and then switch to the right ear. In the right ear, the MA will present a 1000 Hz tone descending in 10 dB increments from 70 dB HTL to 0 dB HTL. The technician will be able to repeat any tone presentation by pressing the handswitch button.

12) Microprocessor Audiometer Interface Software: The characteristics set forth below represent the minimum requirements for the software interface program required for the efficient operation of the MA and the DOEHRS-HC software.

13) Operating Program: The following specific O/P interface software must be operational with the GFE operating system provided and with Windows 10 and Windows 7. MA software is adaptable and incorporated into DOEHRS-HC software so that the system is fully and successfully operational within one application.

14) External Audiometer Software Interface: The Contractor shall provide an Application Programming Interface (API) to allow the Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) product to communicate with the Audiometer software and control all aspects of conducting a hearing test, to include transferring data to and from the audiometer software, and starting and stopping tests. This interface should, at a minimum, be backwards compatible with the existing HC application. Ideally this audiometer software would be a control that could be inserted into the HC application to function as one system. If not provided as a control to insert into the GOTS product, the installation of the application must be seamless, allowing the GOTS product to control all aspects of the configuration via command line parameters and be transparent to the user.
Specific Tasks.
Task 1 - Delivery
The contractor will deliver the above items to the Minnesota Army National Guard (MNARNG) Medical Materiel Warehouse, BLDG 11-63 East 15000 HWY 115, Little Falls, MN 56345, POC MSG Brent Ambuehl, 320-616-3038. All equipment will be distributed to the warehouse NLT than 6 months from the award date.
Deliverables:
All applicable software and firmware will be delivered to the facility:
MSG Brent Ambuehl
MNARNG Medical Materiel Warehouse
BLDG 11-63 East, 15000 HWY 115
Little Falls, MN 56345-4173
Task 2. Installation and Assembly
The vendor will not be responsible for installation of equipment at the user level. Upon receipt the MNARNG Medical Material Warehouse will inventory items for components and a complete listing of equipment. Once equipment has been verified as correct it will be shipped to the appropriate State. If equipment is incomplete, defective or missing components the MNARNG Medical Material Warehouse will contact the COR directly, who will work with the vendor to rectify issues, at no cost to the ARNG. The hearing technician at the individual State will be responsible for validating receipt of equipment as well as performing functional checks to ensure the equipment is not defective. Defective equipment will be returned to the vendor and the vendor will be responsible for replacing without charging any additional costs to the ARNG-CSG.
Performance Monitoring
The COR will monitor the successful delivery of the equipment by maintaining contact with the vendor and coordinating with the MNARNG Medical Material Warehouse personnel. The COR will ensure that missing or defective equipment is reported to the vendor and that the vendor rectifies without additional cost to the ARNG-CSG. Once equipment is operational at the state level, routine maintenance and calibration will be handled by the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center through an MOA established and signed in 2018 (Jan-March).
Security Requirements
The contractor will ensure that equipment meets the security and software compatibility requirements as mandated by the DoD and ARNG and outline in the DA Pam 40-501.
Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).
There will be no Government-Furnished Equipment or Government furnished Information provided to the vendor.
Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations.
a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work
Possible follow on work for dysfunctional equipment and calibration will be coordinated through the current MOA with Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. If the MOA does not last the period of equipment warranty, then equipment will be sent directly to vendor for repairs at no cost to the ARNG.

b. Identification of Potential Conflict of Interest (COI)
There are no known potential conflicts of interest.

c. Identification of Non-Disclosure Requirements
The vendor will not have access to any ARNG sensitive information or proprietary information.

d. Packaging, Packing, and Shipping Instructions
Items will be packaged based off attached spreadsheet. This will enable the MNARNG to properly inspect as well as ensure proper equipment is going to the proper state and location. Packages will be number to correlate with the orders on spreadsheet and contain the proper equipment that is to be sent to each individual location.

e. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.
Products will be inspected upon arrival by the MNARNG Medical Materiel Warehouse staff. Once equipment is verified, COR will be notified to complete acceptance of transaction.
Risk Control
There is minimal risk to the ARNG for use of this product. The ARNG is using DoD approved DOEHRS-HC software which has been determined worthy to be placed on network for use. Software can only be used by individuals that have be trained and certified through appropriate channels and are issued a unique log-in through Army Public Health Center. Medical records are exported through a secure connection to a data repository and can only be accessed by those with a valid CAC who have been approved for access.
Place of Performance.
The equipment will be used in 38 locations across the ARNG at individual State level.
Period of Performance.
One time buy for this equipment, life span is typically 7 years or greater depending on normal wear and tear.
Delivery Schedule.
The items listed above shall be delivered to the MNARNG Medical Materiel Warehouse once the purchase has been finalized. Equipment can be sent in phases but timeframe is not to exceed 6 months after the contract is let.
Appendix I

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

The current audiometers meet or exceed ANSI standard S3.6. Up to eight audiometers may be operated simultaneously within the DOEHRS-HC environment. The current specifications are:

Dimensions 9.5" x 6.25" x 1.5"
Weight 3 lbs. with headset and mounting bracket
Case White ABS chassis
Storage Temperature Range 0 to 120° F (-18 to 49° C)
Operating Temperature Range 50 to 90° F (10 to 32° C)
Operating Humidity 20 to 80%, non-condensing
Test Frequencies .5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K, and optional 8K Hz +1% typical, + 3% maximum
Stimulus Continuous (1 second) or Pulsed (200 milliseconds pulse, 2.5 pulses/second)
Output Level -10 to 100 dB HL ±3 dB, 5 dB step
Output Rise/Fall Time Not greater than 50 milliseconds, nor less than 20 milliseconds, 30 milliseconds typical
Distortion Less than 3% at full output
Output On/Off SN Ratio Greater than 70 dB, 90 dB typical
Transducer Telephonics TDH39 10 Ohm earphones with MX41/AAR cushions
Power Requirements 24V DC nominal 75 mA/unit maximum
Memory Backup Battery Panasonic BR2032

 

 

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