Overview
The purpose of this three-phase project is to demonstrate how a closed-circuit television (CCTV) that leverages facial recognition, surveillance algorithms with alerts, and an easily accessible user interface can be used by managers in Army Child Development Centers (CDCs) to improve the health and safety of service members’ children. The proposer will pair the facial recognition technology with the existing video monitoring capabilities in the CDCs.
- The assessment phase will entail performing site assessments, system integration assessments, and preliminary biometric data collection to ensure a full understanding of the CDC operational environment.
- The development phase will entail the proposer developing a user interface that is easily accessible by CDC management to respond to alerts. Backend application development will be undertaken by the proposer to ensure that the appropriate analytics scenarios and alerts are available to the CDC staff. The following analytics scenarios will be explored for implementation:
Ratios: identify room occupants, ensure that room populations are correct, and ensure mandated ratio requirements between children and caretakers are met.
Accountability: ensure children are accounted for during fire drills and group movements between locations, children leave with an approved guardian, children are never left alone, and children are not left alone with one teacher for a prolonged amount of time. - The delivery phase will involve the full technology implementation at the Goss Rd CDC, Redstone Arsenal, AL. Through this process the CCTV application user interface will be made available to CDC management at Redstone Arsenal so they can provide feedback. The proposer will perform algorithm tuning and user interface editing. Once system tuning and editing is completed the final application will be delivered to the CDC staff. All data will remain on CDC servers under an Authority to Operate (ATO). Mechanics of data collection and transfer will be detailed for Institutional Review Board (IRB) and known Privacy Act requirements. ERDC Human Protections Administrators Office (HPAO) will review the project to understand requirements (timeline and scope) for IRB review. This work is in support of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment (OASA (IE&E)) and their efforts to integrate innovative technology into the operations of installations to support readiness, build resilience, increase efficiency, lower costs, and improve the quality of life of service members and their families.
Estimated Government Funding Profile
$850,000 for a total solution
Estimated Period of Performance
To be completed within 14 months from the date of the award
Project Manager
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
Project Security Classification
☒ UNCLASSIFIED
☐ SECRET
☐ TS/SCI
Background and Problem Statement
Audio-enabled closed-circuit television systems in CDCs are used primarily for the prevention of child abuse but also used to monitor adult/child ratios, staff/child interactions, unauthorized removal of children/youth, wandering children, training needs, staff accountability, and general classroom observations. Facial recognition technology integrated with security algorithms, alarms, and dashboard visualizations has the potential to automate many of the child abuse prevention, staff accountability, and monitoring tasks currently being performed by CDC management. This real-time monitoring and alert system will enhance the safety and well-being of service members’ children, therefore providing their parents with even more peace of mind and allowing them to focus on their mission.
Army Child and Youth Services (CYS) supports the readiness of service members by reducing worry and easing the stress of balancing parental responsibilities with mission requirements. Army CYS delivery options include CDCs, Family Child Care homes, School Age Care, Youth Centers, and Youth Sports and Fitness activities around the world. All Army-operated child development programs must meet statutory requirements for national accreditation and successfully complete four annual unannounced inspections resulting in Department of Defense (DoD) certification (equivalent to state licensing) to operate. Technology that can facilitate meeting DoD program and safety standards will provide CDC managers the means to operate more efficiently and effectively, provide more time to interact with children, parents and staff, and give peace of mind to service members and their families.
Desired End State
The objective of the effort is to form and implement a solution to monitor the health and well-being of children in the Goss Road CDC by maximizing the use of state-of-the-art facial recognition and machine learning algorithms. Details of the video surveillance system (VSS) solution architecture and the active monitoring data are critical deliverables to ERDC-CERL for the development of the business case analysis report. ERDC-CERL seeks a service provider to design and demonstrate state-of-the-art analytics technology with mature facial recognition capabilities to address use cases aligned with AR 608-10 at the Goss Rd CDC, RSA. The intent is to acquire results and relevant data to analyze the ability of video analytics to improve service members’ and family quality of life, reduce base costs, and enhance mission readiness. The system design shall integrate with existing Army CDC systems, incorporate smart and automated technologies coupled with data analytics, data fusion, and artificial intelligence to provide faster awareness and decision options for Redstone Arsenal, AL, with a framework that can be scalable to other installations.
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on the criteria described in ERDC’s CSO Solicitation document. Evaluations will be conducted by a project team comprised of nationally recognized government experts.
Submissions for this project may be shared with other ERDC teams when there appears to be a fit with other projects being undertaken or planned by ERDC researchers.
Notional Project Schedule
Proposed project milestones include:
| 18 Aug 2022 | Project Announced, Submissions Open |
| 06 Sep 2022 | Submissions Close |
| 13 Sep 2022 | ERDC Completes Evaluation of Submissions |
| 14-16 Sep 2022 | Virtual Pitch Hosted by ERDCWERX (optional)* |
| 21 Sep 2022 | ERDC Selects Final Candidates |
| 21-30 Sep 2022 | Scope Collaboration, Full Proposal Submission, FP Evaluation |
| By or before 31 October 2022 | Anticipated Contract Award |
*If needed; dates may vary to accommodate project team and participant availability.
How to Participate
Qualified parties may submit by completing a submission form and uploading required documentation as defined in the CSO Solicitation document.
1. Develop proposal in solution brief format (download solution brief template)
2. Complete the submission form; attach solution brief and pitch deck PDF(s)
Questions:
Interested parties may submit questions using this form until 30 August 2022.
Submission Instructions: This solicitation is issued consistent with the authority granted to the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) through the establishment of its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) with a focus on “Installations of the Future” solutions. Submissions must follow the requirements as detailed in the CSO Solicitation document.
Submissions must meet stated requirements and be received no later than 10:00 am CST on Tuesday, 06 September 2022.
ERDC-CERL is conducting this project announcement on a full and open basis and intends to award contracts in accordance with FAR part 12 and the FAR part that is deemed most appropriate for the solution proposed (i.e. FAR part 13, 15, and/or 35); the government reserves the right to award prototype agreements (e.g. Other Transaction Agreements), in accordance with 10 U.S.C. §2371b, if deemed appropriate and in the government’s best interest.