Enforcement Standards for FMVSS No. 304, "Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Container"

Action Code: Sources Sought Classification Code: H Solicitation: DTNH2217RQ00003 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541380, Testing Laboratories, $15.0 M. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Enforcement Standards for FMVSS No. 304, "Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Container" 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 perform inspection and compliance testing services to determine conformance of motor vehicles to the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The data generated in these studies will provide the results of testing to FMVSS No. 304, "Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Container," which sets forth the minimum performance requirements for compressed natural gas containers used for fuel storage in motor vehicles. The test provisions include a pressure cycling test which simulates container fatigue resulting from in-use refueling, a hydrostatic burst test which determines whether or not a container meets the minimum strength requirements. 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'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 Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance conducts extensive research, development, testing, crash investigation, and 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. As part of its mission to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration promulgates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) through vehicle compliance testing under IDIQ Multi-Standard Vehicle Testing Contracts. Manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment are required to certify that each product they sell in the United States meets the requirements of all applicable safety standards. Objective: The objective is to procure inspection and compliance testing services of CNG fuel containers to ensure that the Government can determine whether CNG fuel containers, designed for use in motor vehicles, comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 304 to meet the requirements of the safety standards. 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: B.l SUPPLIES/SERVICES The Contractor shall provide the necessary qualified personnel, facilities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services as identified in the SOW, which are necessary to perform the Compliance Test Program for the following Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor Vehicle Regulations (FMVR): FMVSS No. 304, "Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Container" At the time of award the contractor must have all necessary personnel, facilities and equipment. Results of work conducted under this contract will facilitate the reduction of motor vehicle crash-related injuries and fatalities. 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 10 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice.