Request for Proposal (RFP) for Virtual Reality Developer/Consultant Vendor of Record (VOR) for Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)
Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA) is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and works with Ontario’s Public and Broader Public Sector employers and workers, providing consulting, training, and resources to reduce workplace risks and prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
PSHSA is committed to serving its market of over 10,000 firms and 1.67 million workers across the province’s health and community care, education and culture, municipal and provincial government, and public safety sectors. For more background on PSHSA and where we’re going, see our 2021-24 Strategic Plan and latest Annual Report.
Product & digital solutions team
PSHSA has a capable Product and Digital Solutions team that delivers high quality classroom and digital learning solutions to external public sector clients in Ontario and occasionally other provinces, as well. However, additional support and capabilities outside the team’s current capacity are required to deliver the technical and consulting portions of a virtual reality feasibility study PSHSA has been funded to deliver.
For this project, PSHSA will work in partnership with an external vendor who will contribute planning, design and development expertise as required to deliver on PSHSA’s commitment project to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD).
The Opportunity
This RFP has been prepared to seek prospective Proponents’ background information and pricing quotations to be PSHSA’s Vendor of Record (VOR) for the Working at Heights Virtual Reality Feasibility Project. (WAH VR).
PSHSA is seeking the services of an experienced developer of virtual reality training simulations to provide project management, consulting, design and development, QA and related services to support a two year WAH VR feasibility project. The project will involve designing, developing, and then incorporating a VR component into the existing Working at Heights Training Program Standard. The modified WAH program will be offered in four pilot sessions where data will be collected to determine operational, financial, technical and market feasibility of the VR-modified WAH program.
Expectations of VOR
The successful Proponent(s) must have all the required experience, resources, facilities, equipment and trained personnel or contractors necessary to perform the work specified in this RFP.
The selected Proponent(s) is also expected to familiarize themselves and their teams with PSHSA’s business, the sectors it represents and its funder for a sound understanding of Ontario’s health and safety system and its priorities as it relates to the WAH program. It is important that our partners understand the system complexities and can work effectively with us in developing content within the context of a highly regulated provincial program.
The successful VR partner will provide VR development expertise to develop a realistic VR scenario, provide hardware and authoring tool recommendations, and conduct QA to ensure the VR product meets all Working at Heights Training Program Standard requirements.
The scenario that should be considered for the purpose of this RFP is the following:
The scenario requires a worker to use several personal protective equipment (PPE) to conduct a safe travel restraint with 100% tie-off that prevents them from reaching a location where a fall hazard exists. Through the travel path, workers anchor to anchorage points that must withstand forces of at least 3,000 lbs (14.2 kN). Anchoring requires the worker to wear body support equipment in the form of a CSA-approved full body harness with D-Ring employing connecting devices such as a CSA-approved positioning lanyard.
Before using the PPE, all equipment must be inspected requiring visual and physical checks before each use. Checklists facilitate keeping track of the status of different sections on the equipment. For this project, we focus on recreating virtual interactions for the Harness, which allows transferring impact forces and minimize injury from a fall. It is important to properly wear and adjust the harness as if it is too loose, it can compromise its effectiveness. To perform the Travel-restraint, Lanyards are flexible lines or straps attached to the harness on one end and lifeline or anchor at the other end. When the lanyard includes a shock absorber, this has to be installed at the worker’s end. By employing a rope grab, the Lanyard can be hooked to a Lifeline to travel across the designated area. Lifelines consist of synthetic, or wire rope set up between two anchorages, allowing the worker to move horizontally along the surface while being connected. Depending on the task, additional connecting components including snap hooks, carabiners, and rope grabs can be needed.
After the inspection, it can be determined if any of the components are required to be removed from service. Various reasons for out of service equipment are deterioration, damaged parts, too much wear, dampness, deployed fall or overload indicators, expired service date, defects, malfunctioning parts, too dirty, and illegible markings.
The selected Proponent(s) will work with a PSHSA Subject Matter Expert (SME), Instructional Designer and the Manager, Product & Digital Solutions to ensure that the scenario meets both the Working at Heights Training Program Standard and the SME’s recommendation regarding scenario tools, equipment, and procedures.
The successful Proponent(s) is also expected to make themselves available for meetings, conference calls, creative and concept presentations.
Scope of Potential Services
VR Design and Development
In some instances, PSHSA will advise and brief the selected Proponent(s) on an already established element of the WAH VR experience. In other cases, PSHSA will look to the successful Proponent(s) to plan and conceptualize options for creative design and effective learner experience that translate the PSHSA’s initial thoughts or ideas.
The VR design must be an immersive experience that takes advantage of the affordances of the medium and will be designed in such a way as to facilitate the collection of data to inform the feasibility study. The virtual scenery, tools and equipment featured in the VR asset must align with requirements specified in the Working at Heights Training Program Standard and SME recommendations.
Consulting
The selected Proponent should be able to advise PSHSA on hardware and best practices.
Out Of Scope
The following services are considered out of scope for the purposes of this RFP.
- Redesign of existing WAH training program
