Awareness and Availability of Child Passenger Safety Information Resources

Solicitation: DTNH2215RQ-000XX(NTI-15035) Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541720, Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities, $20.5 Million. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Awareness and Availability of Child Passenger Safety Information Resources 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 conducting a survey regarding the availability and awareness of different child passenger safety resources. The survey will collect information regarding inspection stations and child passenger safety technicians as well as other information resources. 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 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 be made; however, 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 US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (USDOT/NHTSA) Office of Behavioral Safety Research (OBSR) conducts research and evaluation projects related to behaviors and attitudes in highway safety issues. In 2008, a NHTSA study showed that the rate of use of child restraint systems increased from the previous year (81 percent to 86 percent) and that fewer children were unrestrained as compared to the prior year (56 percent to 49 percent) . However, studies have estimated rates of improper installation of child safety seats to be in the range of 70-80 percent . A more recent NHTSA study, the National Child Restraint Use Special Study conducted in 2011, observed and interviewed a nationally representative sample (n = 4,167) of drivers with child passengers regarding child passenger safety . The results revealed five common mistakes (1. wrong harness slot used, 2. improper harness retainer/chest clip position, 3. loose CRS installation, 4. loose harness straps, and 5. improper lap belt placement) regarding child safety seats. Many information resources are available to aid parents and caregivers with proper and accurate child restraint system selection and installation including hands-on instruction. However, the barriers to proper and accurate installation with respect to informational and educational resources are unclear. The OBSR is interested in conducting a survey regarding the availability and awareness of different child passenger safety resources. The survey will collect information regarding inspection stations and child passenger safety technicians as well as other information resources. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this evaluation are to: 1. To estimate the degree of awareness parents/caregivers have of CPST/inspection stations. 2. To determine the relationships between parent/caregiver confidence, risk perception, and the intent to visit an inspection station. 3. To identify additional barriers to use of inspection stations. The Contractor will be responsible for the development of survey items, a sampling plan, and recruitment strategies to address the objectives of the project. The sampling plan shall be designed to allow for statistically valid inferences to be made. The Contractor will conduct all data collection procedures, compile the data, and submit the data file prepared for analysis procedures to the NHTSA. The Contractor will be responsible for submitting a methodological report of the study. The report will include an overview of the study, background information, descriptions of the survey development and procedures, sampling approach, recruitment strategies, and data collection procedures. Of critical importance in the project is experience in survey research and statistical sampling. Capabilities: The corporate capability statement shall address the capabilities necessary to accomplish the scope outlined above as well as the additional tasks and characteristics given below: - Experience and expertise in conducting survey research. - Experience and expertise in sampling and recruitment of participants. - Experience and expertise developing survey instruments and conducting appropriate testing prior to implementation of the survey. - Experience and expertise performing qualitative analysis of open-ended questions. - Experience and expertise performing quantitative analysis including the use of statistical software packages, working with raw data, organizing data, and developing data manuals. - Knowledge of traffic safety data sources. - Experience writing technical and non-technical reports. - Experience and knowledge related to preparing and submitting the documents necessary for OMB clearance and Institutional Review Board approval. Format of Corporate Capabilities Statement: Any interested qualified SB 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 2 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. References to Background Information Provided U. S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analytics. (2009, May). Child Restraint Use in 2008 - Use of Correct Restraint Types (Report No. DOT HS 811 132). Available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811132.pdf Decina, L. E., & Lococo, K. H. (2003). Misuse of Child Restraints (Report No. DOT HS 809 671). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. U. S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analytics. (2012, September). National Child Restraint Use Special Study (Report No. DOT HS 811 679). Available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811679.pdf