Canine Thermal Model and Monitor (CTMM)

Background
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) through the Warfighter Protection and Acute Care Project Management Office (WPAC PMO) to gather market knowledge regarding the Canine Thermal Model and Monitor (CTMM).

The mission of the DHA is to preserve and protect the lives of Warfighters by developing medical products that ensure readiness and high-quality medical care for Department of Defense personnel. The CTMM initiative aims to reduce heat injuries in Military Working Dogs (MWDs) by enabling near real-time monitoring of their core body temperature, thus optimizing their deployment and preserving these valuable assets.

Work Details
The RFI seeks information on wearable canine health monitoring products that can monitor various parameters including:
- Activity levels using accelerometry.
- Core body temperature of MWDs.
- Environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature, along with hazard sensing capabilities.
- Geolocation data.

Respondents are also asked to provide details on networking capabilities, including any available Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) or Software Development Kits (SDKs). Additionally, information is requested on how sensor data is transmitted to a handler's End User Device (EUD), including transmission protocols, range, power profiles, and performance in RF-degraded environments. Respondents should describe data rights options they would consider, encryption and cybersecurity capabilities of their systems, and any relevant publications or reports on their products. Furthermore, they should identify gaps between existing canine monitoring capabilities and specialized MWD needs, as well as provide engineering factors such as operating temperature ranges, material composition, relevant engineering tests performed, manufacturing capability/sustainment cost information, and whether their system utilizes an integrated on-animal sensor unit.

Period of Performance
The period of performance has not been specified as this is a Request for Information rather than a solicitation for proposals.

Place of Performance
Fort Detrick, MD

Bidder Requirements
Respondents should have relevant experience in developing wearable health monitoring systems for canines. Specific requirements include providing detailed capabilities statements that address desired characteristics outlined in the RFI, including technical specifications related to monitoring activity levels, core body temperature, environmental conditions, geolocation data, networking capabilities, data transmission methods, cybersecurity measures, and compliance with industry standards.