Question: Does the ASPEN system have any API's (programming interfaces) within which one can input/output data?
Answer: Not currently, but we will work closely with whomever wins the solicitation.
Question: Are there any existing wireless PDA systems currently in use by DOT?
Answer: I do not know. I have heard of some other initiatives, but I don't know the outcome of those ideas.
Question: Is there a process flow(list of steps) of how the currently used system works?
Answer: See our website: http://infosys.fmcsa.dot.gov
Question: Any other insightful websites/points of contact pertaining to this topic.
Answer: See our website: http://infosys.fmcsa.dot.gov
Question: How does the DOT envision the use of the resulting product in the field? Also of what priority is a solution to this topic within the DOT?
Answer: We envision the product would be used as an "assistant" to the existing ASPEN software program. For example; this assistant would gather driver, vehicle and perhaps violations discovered during the intial interview with the driver. Then the assistant would wirelessly transmit the data to the ASPEN system to complete the inspection process. As for priority, we are very interested to see if we can incorporate a PDA solution into our existing system.
Question: The solicitation explicitly mentions the physical attribute of "unit ruggedness". This is somewhat of a relative term. PDAs such as Palm Handhelds, and cellular telephones may be coined "rugged" by some users, however this is not necessarily true, and is dependent upon the actual type of usage and frequency. Do you envision the proposed wireless device to be "Palm-like", or something more robust, such as a small handheld tablet, e.g., a "Federal Express" tablet.
Answer: We envision the device to be Palm-like. The ruggedness description was included because the unit will be used by state police along side of a highway or around a commercial motor vehicle weight station.
Question: Are there any physical (dimensional) size restrictions on the envisioned wireless device?
Answer: There are no restrictions, but we would like it to be compact much like a Palm-like device.
Question: For the purposes of developing the Cost proposal, are there any "predetermined", or desired number of Technical Interchange Meetings (TIM) envisioned, if so, how many, and may these be performed via Teleconference/Televideo to help save travel time and money?
Answer: There is no predetermined number of meetings, but certainly a desired number of meetings would be perhaps 3 or 4. Meetings could be performed via teleconference.
Question: In the project description, where it states to "strongly consider building an adjunct or "assistant" does this mean the device itself, or the device and software included?
Answer: It includes both the device and the software.
Question: In the category I have chosen, 02-FM1, it states "Potential respondents should strongly consider building and adjunct or "assistant"....Does this mean I would have to build or modify an existing device and the software, or just the software?
Answer: The vendor would have to provide a device and the software to capture the data collected.
Question: On some of the appendices questions, it asks if the potential offerer will need a government facility to perform the research? My question is...do I necessarily have to perform this research at a government facility? I have briefly evaluated what has to be done, and it wouldn't require a whole facility or extra equipment.
Answer: The research does not have to be completed at a Government facility.
Question: Is this research topic confined to IT-based research?
Answer: Yes, it is confined to IT-based research.
Question: Does it involve any mechanical engineering-based design of the hand-held device?
Answer: No mechanical engineering-based design. Should use mainstream PDA equipment.
Question: If it does involve ME-based design, is it possible to bid only for ME design part?
Answer: See answer above.
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