Health Virtual Reality Development Software

The vendor is required to provide virtual reality (VR) development software scenarios designed specifically to support pediatric practice in dental hygiene and dental assisting education.
- Each VR scenario will:
•    Replicate realistic pediatric dental care environments; 
•    Integrate industry-recognized tools and techniques as interactive virtual assets; 
•    Support development across psychomotor (technical), cognitive (critical thinking), and affective (emotional) learning domains;
•    Include tiered levels of difficulty to allow students to progressively build competence and confidence; and 
•    Be based on agency-provided learning outcomes, with storyboards and scripts developed collaboratively between the proponent and agency.
1. VR scenarios
•    Scenarios must be designed for meta quest 3 headsets and demonstrate publishable-quality realism and interactivity; and 
•    Each scenario must include two levels of complexity (intermediate and advanced) and integrate authentic pediatric oral health content validated by agency SMEs.
2. Storyboards and scripts 
•    Detailed storyboards, scripts, and interaction flowcharts developed collaboratively with agency to define narrative pathways, decision points, and performance criteria; and 
•    Minimum of two review and revision cycles to ensure educational alignment and instructional quality.
3. Software and source files 
•    Delivery of the final compiled VR software in fully tested, functional format, preloaded onto agency existing headsets (meta quest 3); and 
•    All associated source code, project files, and assets upon project completion to ensure sustainability, future updates, and institutional ownership.
4. Documentation
•    Comprehensive technical documentation, including:
o    Installation and deployment instructions;
o    System architecture overview;
o    API references and asset management details; and
o    Maintenance and troubleshooting guidance.
•    End-user documentation (faculty and learner manuals) describing navigation, scenario objectives, and performance feedback features.
- Requirements
1. VR environment - basics
•    Use real-world physics and gamification pedagogy to create an engaging, immersive experience that promotes repetitive practice;
•    Include realistic ambient sounds and environmental effects to heighten sensory fidelity while mitigating the “uncanny valley” experience for end users;
•    Be developed using the latest version of unity or unreal engine; 
•    Be device-agnostic, supporting multiple VR platforms. 
•    Agency currently uses meta quest 3 headsets; 
•    Provide 10 to 20 minutes of immersive learning per session;
•    Supports solo and multiplayer modes, including observer or “ghost” roles for peer or instructor engagement; 
•    Incorporate generative AI to produce fluid, contextually appropriate responses; 
•    Offer multiple clinical pathways allowing learners to explore, make decisions, and problem-solve in realistic environments; 
•    Function as an open-world clinical setting with minimal on-screen prompting or scripted direction. 
•    Instead, interactive assets within the environment should be visually highlighted to guide the learners when prompts are required; 
•    Include two levels of complexity: intermediate and advanced; 
•    Provide different decision-making criteria aligned with certified dental assistant and dental hygienists’ scopes of practice;
•    Include an in-scenario clock that can either track real time or scenario-based timing depending on instructional design needs; 
•    Provide a 2-minute guided tutorial for first time users with visual and haptic prompts; and 
•    Comply with agency branding, including logos, colors, and guidelines.
2. VR environment – oral health specifics
•    Fully functional dental chair operatories with appropriate lighting and instrumentation; 
•    Industry-recognized virtual tools and equipment, such as radiology units, small dental instruments and other clinical assets referenced from authentic source materials; 
•    Ambient dental clinic sounds (e.g., suction, handpieces, monitors, and background chatter) to enhance realism and immersion; 
•    A detailed pediatric oral cavity environment replicating the anatomy of the human mouth; 
•    Representation of common pediatric dental pathologies, as identified by agency SMEs; 
•    Branching pathways with cause-and-effect relationships and at least one correct clinical route aligned with agency learning outcomes; and 
•    Adherence to healthcare simulation best practices to enhance realism, learning fidelity, and psychological safety.
3. Oral health VR scenario and software development process
•    Developing scenario sequences, pathways and levels in collaboration with agency through storyboarding; 
•    Incorporating critical evaluation points that will be identified by agency that may result in the immediate end of a scenario if a serious clinical error occurs; 
•    Creating opportunities for learners to continue through scenarios even if objectives are missed, with these areas identified later in the post-scenario feedback and debrief to support reflection and ongoing learning; 
•    Incorporating learner freedom to make independent clinical decisions, allowing for cause-and effect learning experiences that foster critical thinking and clinical reasoning; and 
•    Review and validation of storyboards and flowcharts detailing gameplay interactions, branching pathways, and decision points with two review cycles.
•    Alpha sign-off: confirmation that VR environment and interactions have been established (placeholder scenario objects are acceptable) with SME testing for initial feedback; 
•    Beta sign-off: review of polished scenario objects, finalized audio, ready for end-user testing and refinement of user experience and resolution of any defects identified during testing; and 
•    Post-pilot adjustments: resolution of any bugs or defects identified in the first three months of use.

- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: November 13, 2025