IST Announces Simulation for Healthcare Education and Learning Laboratory (SHELL): Equipment Proposals

Purpose

The purpose of this Call for Proposals is to procure hardware and/or software in order to create a Simulation for Healthcare Education and Learning Laboratory (SHELL) in Partnership III. SHELL will make resources available to faculty and their students who would desire to help equip and use computer simulation technology to conduct Healthcare related research. This laboratory is intended to expand the profile of Simulation and Training beyond the immediate community into areas which otherwise may not, or traditionally have not, used simulation as part of research and training. Ultimately, it is expected that increased awareness, interest, and activity in computer based simulation for healthcare will expand the scientific underpinnings needed to extend the use simulation in this field and create a sustained and supported infrastructure for continued research and education.

Proposal Content

Submit a 1000�1500 word proposal (separately include equipment budget) describing a healthcare related research plan, along with an inventory of equipment needed to facilitate the simulation methods utilized in conducting the research experiments. If selected, funding will be awarded toward procurement of the proposed equipment, which will vest with IST at UCF, and will be available in the Partnership III building for faculty to use and support. Funding will be based on the eligibility level of the contestant teams. Preference will be given to teams having compelling proposals that also use other funds to leverage the purchased equipment (to be housed at IST) from approved sources.

Eligibility

Faculty-level teams (or individuals) must include at least one University of Central Florida faculty member, one of whom must be designated as the team's principal investigator.

Graduate-level teams (or individuals) must include at least one University of Central Florida graduate student (currently enrolled in any UCF Master or Doctorate program), one of whom will be designated as the team's team leader. Student teams must have a faculty advisor who will be designated the principal investigator.

Additionally, either team level may include secondary members who are UCF graduate or undergraduate students, or professionals from an industry related to the submission topic.

Awards

Faculty Level: $125K x 2 awards, maximum. The awarded amounts will be used exclusively to fund the proposed equipment, which will vest with the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) at UCF, and will be available at IST spaces (Partnership III building) for faculty to use and support.

Student Level: up to $25K x 4 awards, maximum. The awarded amounts will be used exclusively to fund the proposed equipment, which will vest with the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) at UCF, and will be available at IST spaces (Partnership III building) for faculty to use and support.

Rules

1. Each eligible team must submit 1000�1500 word proposal (separately include equipment budget) describing a Healthcare-related research plan, along with an inventory of equipment needed to facilitate the simulation methods utilized in conducting the research experiments (details found below).
2. Proposed equipment must augment equipment already in the department or be used to create a new capability at UCF. That is the equipment being requested should not be used to replace existing equipment which is in need of repair/update or at the end of its useful life.
3. Requested equipment must be a one-time purchase of assets. Recurring license fees, maintenance costs, and/or leases must be identified, but cannot be funded. However, such equipment may be included if the team provides outside funding, and the arrangement is approved by the sponsors of the Challenge. Any needed recurring costs must be explained with respect to expected future source of funding.
4. All equipment funded as a result of this proposal will vest with IST at UCF, and will be available at IST spaces (Partnership III building) for faculty to use and support. Winning teams will be given priority access for usage.
5. The proposed research plan can supplement an existing project.
6. Any funding not used to procure equipment will revert to IST.

Selection Criteria

1. Potential to attract or support additional research funding (plan for sponsored research)
2. Clarity in defining the intended research (plan for putting into service)
3. Commitment to use (e.g., teaching, demonstrations, external users)
4. Statement of sustainability beyond initial research function�how the equipment will be of use to faculty after funding is received.
5. Degree of application toward relevant Healthcare issues identified in the proposal
6. Level of project viability risk�particularly with the student level
7. Degree of specific orientation of equipment to computer based simulation for training and education (e.g., electronic health record topics will not score well)

Proposal Format and Content

1. 11-pt. or 12-pt. font; single or 1.15 line spacing
2. The Proposal should include the following sections:
   1. Section 1: Summary�Introduction to topic and research agenda
   2. Section 2: Purpose�How the equipment will be used to further research agenda
   3. Section 3: Budget�Inventory of equipment; sources, prices, and lead time to buy
   4. Section 4: How the equipment will be sustained
   5. Section 5: Conclusions and future work

Timeline

1. Call for Proposals will begin Monday, August 29, 2011.
2. Proposal submission deadline will be Friday, October 28, 2011.
3. Judging will conclude by Friday, November 11, 2011.
4. Award notification will occur by Friday, November 18, 2011.
5. Equipment procurement will have begun (with P.O. issued) by Friday, December 9, 2011.

Sponsor

The University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training

Please contact Brian Goldiez (bgoldiez@ist.ucf.edu) with any questions. All proposals should be submitted to Brian Goldiez by October 28th.