New Human Factors IDIQ Contract

Action Code: Sources Sought Classification Code: A Solicitation: DTNH2216RQ-00279 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: New Human Factors IDIQ Contract Description(s): The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice to identify potential qualified Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a) Certified SDB, HUBZone SB, SDVOSB, or WOSB concerns that may be interested in and capable of performing the work described herein to conduct research to quickly plan, conduct, and document studies which evaluate how various vehicle-based systems affect driver behavior and performance using experiments in a laboratory setting, test track, or on public roads. NHTSA welcomes all qualified Small Business concerns, 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 project 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; 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: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) which directs the highway safety and consumer programs established by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the Highway Safety Act of 1966, the 1972 Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, and succeeding amendments to these laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. The agency develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering, and enforcement programs with the goal of ending vehicle crash tragedies and reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. The Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division conducts extensive research, data collection and analysis activities to provide the scientific basis needed to support the Agency's motor vehicle and traffic safety goals. In addition to supporting internal NHTSA efforts, NHTSA-sponsored research provides high-quality publicly-accessible data that serves as the basis for countless other research endeavors. The NHTSA Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division (NVS-331), manages research which explores how to improve driver performance and reduce unsafe behaviors. An additional focus is to evaluate driver's capabilities to benefit from existing or new in-vehicle technologies. The research supports Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, safety defects investigations, consumer information, and advancement of knowledge about driver behaviors and performance that can be applied to development of vehicle technologies that are compatible with driver capabilities and limitations. This interaction between the driver and the vehicle occurs through operation of controls, reading displays, interpreting signal light cues from other vehicles, and observing roadway events through direct and indirect visibility systems (i.e., windows and mirrors). These interactions define the interfaces between the driver and the vehicle. The manner in which these interfaces are designed and implemented can influence the ability of drivers to accurately sense, understand, and respond to potential traffic conflicts. An interface design that is not matched to the capabilities of the driving population can cause driver errors, distraction, slow response, misperception, and other problems that can contribute to crash causation. To meet NHTSA's agency, and the Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division mission objectives, NVS-331 is seeking innovation and partner solutions for multiple-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Objective: The objective of this Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract is to provide NHTSA with the capability to award Task Orders for a range of research to quickly plan, conduct, and document studies which evaluate how various vehicle-based systems affect driver behavior and performance using experiments in a laboratory setting, test track, or on public roads. The human factors tests and experiments performed under this IDIQ Contract will provide the support needed by NHTSA to: • Advance deployment of new in-vehicle technologies; • Assure that safety is maintained; • Evaluate regulatory options; and • Identify potential safety problems. 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: In order to accomplish these goals and to understand the role of driver/vehicle interaction in crash avoidance, various types of human factors studies are needed to obtain data on driver performance and behavior in response to various vehicle system design parameters. Examples of crash avoidance systems of interest to NHTSA include: • Advanced technology displays and controls, including driver assistance technologies • Active safety systems (such as Forward Crash Avoidance) and automation • Passive Safety Systems (such as Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats) • Forward and rearward lighting/signaling systems • Mirrors and other indirect visibility systems (i.e., video) • Vehicle glazing that affects driver visibility Detailed information on how drivers interact with these types of vehicle subsystems is needed to better understand how they affect crash risk, to define system performance requirements that are compatible with the range of driver capabilities, and to predict the effectiveness of possible countermeasures. This information might include such topics as: • Driver decision making during different driving tasks (e.g., lane changing) • The effects of driver age-related factors on performance • The factors affecting driver brake application reaction time and pedal force • Driver expectations and their influence on driver behavior • Driver risk taking and effects on decision making • Measurement of driver distraction • Driver visual search behaviors • Driver reaction to automation Format of Corporate Capabilities Statement: Any interested qualified Small Business firms, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(a) Certified SDB, HUBZone SB, SDVOSB, or WOSB concerns 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 7 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice.