App Validation Study AMENDMENT 2 (page 5)

Overview: Respiratory protection research and panel sizing requirements currently rely on manual measurements based on the NIOSH Bivariate Panel (face length and width measurements) and the NIOSH Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Panel (10 facial measurements). NIOSH has developed a beta version of a mobile application for smartphones and tablets for measuring people’s faces and classifying them into the NIOSH panels.

Additionally, the application will provide a prediction of respirator models with a likelihood to fit. This contract is for the application validation testing, user experience study testing, development of a low-cost face measuring tool (such as a paper-printed ruler or paper face size template) and its assessment, and additional respirator fit testing to support the application’s respirator fit predictions.

This contract requires human participant testing to support validation of a mobile application Beta version developed by NIOSH. The primary objective of NIOSH’s validation study is to estimate discrepancies between panel classifications and facial dimension measurements determined by calipers, currently the standard instrument for taking such measurements, and those determined by the mobile application. The contractor shall assist NIOSH in refining the study design and developing test protocols.

The contractor shall recruit test participants of diverse face sizes and races/skin tones, to potentially include some participants whose face/head size fall outside the panels. The contractor shall perform all participant measurements and respirator fit testing. To complement the validation study, the contractor shall work with NIOSH to develop a survey-based user experience study.

Additionally, to accommodate those who do not have access to mobile devices, the contractor shall develop a low-cost face measuring tool (such as a paper-printed ruler or paper face size template) and work with NIOSH to assess the performance of this tool relative to the calipers and mobile application. The contractor shall work closely with NIOSH to ensure the success of this project.