Mobile Pedestrian Rig

Action Code: S Classification Code: A Solicitation: DTNH2215RQ-00236 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, 500 Employees. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Mobile Pedestrian Rig Description(s): The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice to identify potential qualified Small Business concerns that may be interested in and capable of performing the work described herein to purchase the equipment needed for a new Ground Based Drive System for Pedestrian Crash Avoidance Mitigation (PCAM) Test Method Development. NHTSA welcomes all qualified Small Business concerns, and any other firms with the appropriate NAICS Code and past experience to submit their Corporate Capability Statements that demonstrate their ability to successfully accomplish the goals of the proposed types of projects as listed below. NHTSA does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses to this notice or otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made; and no formal evaluation of the information received will be conducted by NHTSA. NHTSA may; however later on issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). However, should such a requirement fail to materialize, no basis for claims against NHTSA shall arise as a result of a response to this notice. BACKGROUND: NHTSA is developing Pedestrian Crash Avoidance Mitigation (PCAM) test methods that potentially would be used for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or as part of the New Car Assessment Program conformation test. One of the challenges of this type of testing is that NHTSA cannot use human subjects to measure the vehicles ability to mitigate or avoid potential crashes. Up to this point NHTSA has used commercially available poseable test mannequins that are mounted to a pole and moved across the roadway via an overhead gantry or mannequins that are coupled to a platform and are pulled across the road surface. Moving forward NHTSA has decided to evaluate the vehicles PCAM performance using ground based propulsion to move the mannequin. This decision was made based on concerns that the pole used in conjuction with the gantry could cause PCAM systems to misclassify the mannequin. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to provide to procure a commercially available product that is specifically designed to move a mannequin on a road surface. NHTSA has a need for a commercially available product designed to move a test mannequin on a road surface. Specifically, a transportable ground based drive system for outdoor applications capable of moving a payload (test mannequin and/or platform) across a flat surface without the aid of an overhead structure. The ground based drive system components should have minimal radar-cross-section and minimal optical features. Capabilities: The corporate capability statement must address the capabilities necessary to accomplish the scope outlined above as well as the additional tasks and characteristics given below: NHTSA would like to procure a commercially available product that is specifically designed to move a mannequin on a road surface. This product should have the following performance capabilities: •· Installation time < 1 hour (2 people) •· Setup requires no test surface modifications •· Operates from battery or from fixed line power •· Configurable triggering methods for control of mannequin movement •· Capable of being dynamically positioned by open or closed loop control •· Perform crossing path scenarios •· Repeatable and accurate position in respect to the test vehicle and roadway within 2.55 cm (1 in) •· Propulsion system shall accelerate payload (platform and mannequin) to 10.08 kph (6.2 mph) in 1.0 meters. Payload •· Components that will come in contact with a test vehicle shall be capable of being struck by a car at speeds of 60 kph (37.2 mph) •· Platform shall provide adequate mannequin stability to test in winds up to 25 kph (15.5 mph) •· Platform shall have minimal radar-cross-section and minimal optical features •· Platform shall have a coupling system to hold mannequin in position during motion. Coupling system shall allow the mannequin to break away either by fixed magnet, electromagnetic, or other mechanical means when struck. •· Mannequin should detach from platform when impacted by a moving vehicle with minimal damage to the mannequin. Time to reset system after movement should be under 2 minutes. Format of Corporate Capabilities Statement: Any interested qualified small business firms should submit their Corporate Capability Statement, which demonstrates the firm's ability and past experience in no more than 10 pages to perform the key requirements described above to the identified NHTSA point of contact listed herein. Any proprietary information should be marked as such. All respondents are asked to certify the type and size of their business organization is in-line with the requirements of this Sources Sought Notice, and must be received no later than 5 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice.