Android App to run an offline library against substances, local and in real time

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done The application will primarily be used by non scientific personnel to determine the immediate threat to individuals based upon substances that are present. This will reduce the threat to individuals and identify if the substances are hazardous or require specialist PPE. In addition to the safety of the personnel in the vicinity of the substances, having an application containing an offline library will allow them to understand if the potential combined result of a number of the substances could have been used to manufacture/ produce a resulting compound that could be hazardous to the personnel in the near vicinity, but also to inform relevant authorities if it is believed a hazardous compound has been developed. for Problem to Be Solved Scientific Subject Matter Expert's cannot be in multiple places simultaneously and it often tales time or communication to get an assessment of chemical compounds to determine hazard to personnel or wider threat. Who Are the Users DSTL Scientists need to be able to: -deploy users to sites where there may be hazardous chemicals -give non scientific users the ability to easily identify chemicals/ substances based on appearance/ labels/ names -create/ modify a database to ne held on a android platform for a user to query against. -give non scientific users the ability to determine if there is a threat/ need for PPE and what that threat is (eg corrosive/ flammable) -give non scientific users the ability to determine if the chemicals/ substances present could have been used to manufacture/ mix into a different hazardous substance -give non scientific users an (as near real time as possible) indication of what the potential threat could be, how that decision was reached and what the confidence level is -give the user the ability (where possible) to export the data via a mobile phone standard messaging to the scientific SME for confirmation Early Market Engagement There are some applications available open source. these require an internet connection and/ or a subscription. The library behind the applications/ website are suitable but the need for online connectivity is not, DSTL cannot add its own fields to these open source applications/ websites (both from an individual compound and potential resulting compound) Work Already Done Existing Team The team will consist of: Scientific Subject Matter Expert Technical Authority Project Manager End User Representative End User Current Phase Discovery Work Location Work can be carried out remotely at the suppliers premesis but the supplier will need to attend meetings and workshops at DSTL Porton Down and potentially another site in the West Mindlands Working Arrangments The Supplier will work with the existing scientific research team at DSTL Porton Down which is based primarily in Lichfield. Some on-site meetings and workshops will be required at DSTL Porton Down and possibly a further site in the West Midlands, but remote working will be the standard. Travel & Subsistence will not be paid for as part of the contract Security Clearance Staff with access to project information must have a minimum of NSV MOD Security Clearance (SC) checks. Additional T&Cs Skills & Experience Confirm that the application will run on multiple android handsets Confirm that the application can be password protected confirm that the application data can be encrypted inside a secure container/ folder confirm that the application can have a 'kill' function to delete all data confirm that the application requires no external connectivity confirm that a query can be exported as a file including; input substance, resulting substance, confidence scoring, picture, position confirm that the handset screen can be used for all data entry confirm that all fields in the data base will present in the compound entry box using predictive text from the local database (if present) confirm that the application will allow a user to take a photograph with the handset and attach it to a entry confirm that the application will allow the user to attach the GNSS position to an entry if desired confirm that the local database can be updated using removable media confirm that the size of the database and the number of queries should be limited by nothing other than the device memory confirm that the database will allow for a single substance to have multiple identifiers/ names/ symbols confirm that the database allows for weighting for each record to allow certain calculations to be scored higher if critical chemical is present Confirm each database record should allow for the following: Name, Alias (link to other record), Chemical Symbol, CAS Registry Number, Safety Considerations, PPE/ Handling requirements Confirm each database record should allow for the following; known applications/ industries, likely places to be found, weighting, composition (if a resultant of other compounds) Confirm that the application will display all possible products that could be produced in order of likelihood/ confidence Confirm that the application will apply a RAG status to all possible outputs to show the user the level of confidence of each Confirm that the application will allow the user to apply filters to the results Confirm that the results file 'export' can be sent using standard communications on the device (email/ whatsapp etc) Nice to Haves Confirm that the device camera can be used to capture imagery of a label and use OCR to input a chemical name/ compound into the application Confirm that the application will interface to the ATAK application Confirm that the application will have a 'discreet' mode to reduce the light emissions from the EUD Confirm that the application can be hidden from the main user screen (if required) Confirm that a user manual will be provided with the application Confirm that a logfile is kept on the device showing all queries and results confirm that they will present their soulution in a written proposal No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 10 Proposal Criteria technical solution approach and methodology how the approach or solution meets user needs estimated timeframes for the work how they’ve identified risks and dependencies and offered approaches to manage them Cultural Fit Criteria work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers Be able to work with a mixed team of Military, MOD Civil Service and contractor personnel Display values and behaviours in line with MOD core values Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions Payment Approach Fixed price Assessment Method Case study Work history Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 10% Price 25% Questions from Suppliers No questions have been answered yet Budget range bidders to supply quotes