The philosophy of benchmark testing a standards-based picture archiving and communications system

The Department of Defense issued its requirements for a Digital Imaging Net work-Picture Archiving and Communications System (DIN-PACS) in a Request fo r Proposals (RFP) to industry in January 1997, with subsequent contracts be ing awarded in November 1997 to the Agfa Division of Bayer and IBM Global G overnment Industry, The Government's technical evaluation process consisted of evaluating a written technical proposal as well as conducting a benchma rk test of each proposed system at the vendor's test facility. The purpose of benchmark testing was to evaluate the performance of the fully integrate d system in a simulated operational environment. The benchmark test procedu res and test equipment were developed through a joint effort between the Go vernment, academic institutions, and private consultants. Herein the author s discuss the resources required and the methods used to benchmark test a s tandards-based PACS. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.