Full Scale Vehicle Crashworthiness Testing and Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Testing for the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

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 which is to provide Full Scale Vehicle Crashworthiness Testing and Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Testing for the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

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).  NHTSA’s 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. 

As part of this work, NHTSA conducts a variety of motor vehicle crash tests including, but not limited to, frontal, rear, oblique, side moving deformable barrier (MDB), and side pole impact test modes.  NHTSA also conducts various crash avoidance tests, static and dynamic rollover tests, air bag out-of-position low risk deployment tests, tire testing, and testing in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).  To support future efforts, NHTSA expects to conduct research for future FMVSS, crash avoidance technologies, automated vehicles, and electric vehicles.  The agency may also conduct testing to assess new crash test dummies and child restraint systems and may perform research study vehicle safety defects. 

The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) is a consumer information program conducted by NHTSA.  Its major goals are to: (1) provide consumers with relative safety ratings information to assist them in their vehicle purchasing decisions and (2) use market forces to motivate automobile manufacturers to design vehicles to a higher level of occupant protection.  To accomplish these goals, NHTSA utilizes testing contracts to conduct NCAP testing and release test results to the public as quickly as possible so that consumers can use this information when selecting a new vehicle to purchase. 

The contractor shall support NHTSA’s testing/research efforts by providing inspection, testing, and reporting services for NCAP.  Federal law requires new passenger vehicles to be labeled with NCAP safety ratings information published by NHTSA.  The Contractor shall be responsible to include all the necessary equipment, personnel, facilities, and management of personnel and workflow as identified in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW).