This challenge is seeking innovative solutions to provide superior sound quality for remote interpretation (RI) as current devices do not provide sufficient voice frequency (VF) range for interpretation and can cause workplace injuries and interruptions of service.
Sponsoring Department: Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Funding Mechanism: Contract
Opening date: October 18, 2018
Closing date:January 17, 2019, 14:00 Eastern Standard Time
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Challenge
Summary
This challenge is seeking innovative solutions to provide superior sound quality for remote interpretation (RI) as current devices do not provide sufficient voice frequency (VF) range for interpretation and can cause workplace injuries and interruptions of service. The Bureau is seeking a solution that meets ISO standards.
Problem Statement
The Translation Bureau has experienced a sharp increase in over the phone interpretation assignments. These teleconferences with simultaneous interpretation are regularly conducted for conferences and working group meetings.
The sound quality coming from various devices such as conference phones and cellphones does not meet the ISO standards required for quality simultaneous interpretation and creates other challenges with respect to occupational health and safety for interpreters who deliver the service.
An example of an occupational health and safety issue: to hear the incoming sound from a teleconference, an interpreter needs to increase the volume to a higher setting as the quality of the audio signal coming in is not good enough to provide accurate interpretation. By doing so, there are greater chances of audio spikes that induce injuries. The Bureau has recorded several safety incidents within the last 2 years as a result, and in some cases, interpreters required immediate medical attention.
Historically, regular landlines provide a frequency spectrum of 4 kHz. The ISO standard has identified that a spectrum of 15 kHz is required to allow enough bandwidth in order to get a richer sound. We are looking for solutions involving some sort of live sound processing filtering technology. Enabling videoconferencing would also allow the interpreters to have a visual contact with the clients that will facilitate their work (lip reading, sign language, facial expressions).
Desired outcomes and Considerations (bolded text updated on December 17, 2018)
Essential Outcomes
The proposed solutions must:
- Ensure interpreters have a visual of the person who is speaking when applicable;
- Consistently reproduce 15 kHz; and,
- Be easy for remote clients to implement on their side without significant disruption and cost; and,
- The technical solution must comply with ISO 20109 standards for interpretation.
Additional Outcome:
N/A
Background and Context
At this time, remote participants are joining the main event using conference phones, hands-free devices and landlines. These devices are not ISO compliant and regularly lead to service interruption since the poor sound quality does not allow the interpreters to properly hear what is being said. Interpreters need better sound quality than passive listeners as their own voice covers part of the speaker's voice.
The Translation Bureau would like to attain the ISO Standards (20108 and 20109). Those standards have both the audio and the video components. The audio is essential and the video is important as well when and as applicable.
Currently, the Translation Bureau has very little control over the types of equipment or their use with respect to remote clients and this is part of the problem. To solve the problem of sound issues for interpreters, the Translation Bureau has to be able to control the sound input coming from remote sites. To do so, the Translation Bureau must have a technological solution that will be easy for remote clients to implement on their side without significant disruption and increased costs for equipment.
Current Situation
Desired Solution
Maximum value and travel
Maximum contract value:
Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.
The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $50,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 6 months.
The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $400,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 2 years. Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.
This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.
Travel:
For Phase 1 it is anticipated that three meetings will require the successful bidder(s) to travel to the locations identified below:
- Kick-off meeting
Gatineau, QC - Mid-project meeting
Gatineau, QC - Final Review Meeting
Gatineau, QC
Eligibility
Solution proposals can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:
- for profit
- incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially)
- 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employeesFootnote *
- research and development activities that take place in Canada
- 50% or more of its annual wages, salaries and fees are currently paid to employees and contractors who spend the majority of their time working in CanadaFootnote *
- 50% or more of its FTE employees have Canada as their ordinary place of workFootnote *
- 50% or more of its senior executives (Vice President and above) have Canada as their principal residenceFootnote *
Application guide
Evaluation Criteria
The official source of the Evaluation Criteria for this challenge is the Government Electronic Tendering System (Buy and Sell) (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-18-00846769)
In the event of a discrepancy between the information below and the information published on Buy and Sell, Buy and Sell will take precedence.
Part 1: Mandatory and Minimum Pass Mark Criteria
Proposals must meet all mandatory criteria (Questions 1a and 2) and achieve the minimum pass mark for Question 3 in order to be deemed responsive and proceed to Part 2.
Question | Evaluation Schema |
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1 a. Scope Describe your proposed solution and how it responds to the challenge. Include in your description the scientific and technological basis upon which your solution is proposed and clearly identify how your solution meets all of the EssentialOutcomes (if identified) in the Desired Outcomes and Considerations section in the Challenge Notice. |
Mandatory - Pass/Fail Pass Fail |
2. Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
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Mandatory - Pass/Fail Pass: The Applicant/Bidder has demonstrated that the proposed solution is currently between TRLs 1 and 4 (inclusive), and provided justification by explaining the research and development (R&D) that has taken place to bring the solution to the stated TRL. Fail: The Applicant/Bidder has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the current TRL is between 1 to 4 (inclusive) including:
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3. Innovation Describe the novelty of your solution and how it advances the state-of-the-art over existing technologies, including competing solutions. |
Point Rated with Minimum Pass Mark The minimum pass mark for this criteria is 4 points. 0 points/Fail: The Applicant/Bidder has not demonstrated that the proposed solution advances the state-of-the-art over existing technologies, including available competing solutions; OR The stated advancements are described in general terms but are not substantiated with specific, measurable evidence. 4 points:
6 points:
8 points:
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Part 2: Point-Rated Criteria
Proposals that do not achieve the overall minimum score of at least 55 points out of a possible 110 points (50%) will be declared non-responsive and given no further consideration.
The overall minimum score is determined by adding the Applicant/Bidder's scores from the following questions together (1b, 3, 4-13).
Question | Evaluation Schema |
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1b. Scope Describe how your proposed solution addresses the Additional Outcomes (if identified) in the Desired Outcomes and Considerations section in the Challenge Notice. If no Additional Outcomes are identified in the Challenge Notice, Bidders/Applicants will receive 10 points |
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4. Phase 1 Science and Technology Risks Identify potential scientific and/or technological risks to the successful development of the proof of concept and how they will be mitigated in Phase 1? |
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5. Benefits to Canada Describe the benefits that could result from the successful development of your solution. Applicants/Bidders should consider the potential benefits using the following three categories:
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6. Phase 1 Project Plan Demonstrate a feasible Phase 1 project plan by completing the table. Include:
Note: Phase 1 cannot exceed 6 months and TRL 4. |
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7. Phase 1 Project Risks Identify potential project risks (eg. Human resources, financial, project management, etc) to the successful development of the proof of concept and how they will be mitigated? |
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8. Phase 1 Implementation Team Demonstrate how your project implementation team has the required management and technological skill sets and experience to deliver the project plan for Phase 1 by completing the table. A member of the implementation team can have more than one role. Include the labour rates and level of effort for each member. A day is defined as 7.5 hours of work, exclusive of meal breaks. The labour rates and level of effort will be reviewed as part of the evaluation for Question 10. |
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9. Inclusivity If your business were to receive funding from Innovative Solutions Canada, describe what actions (e.g., recruitment strategy, internships, co-op placements, etc.) might be taken in Phase 1 to support the participation of under-represented groups (e.g., women, youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, visible minorities) in the research and development of the proposed solution. |
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10. Phase 1 Financial Proposal Demonstrate a realistic financial proposal for the Phase 1 project plan by completing the table. |
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11. Phase 1 Financial Controls, Tracking and Oversight Describe the financial controls, tracking and oversight that will be used to manage the public funds throughout Phase 1. |
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12. Phase 2 Strategy Describe a realistic strategy for the prototype development if selected to participate in Phase 2. Responses should include:
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13. Commercialization Approach Describe your overall commercialization approach for the proposed solution. Responses should include:
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Questions and answers
Please refer to the tender notice for this challenge on Buy and Sell.
Please visit Buy and Sell for all Questions and Answers related to the Call for Proposals.
If you have a question about a challenge, please send it to ISED-ISDE@canada.ca.
You can also consult the Frequently asked questions about the Innovative Solutions Canada Program.
A glossary is also available.