Human Factors (HF) IDIQ

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Human Factors (HF) IDIQ 693JJ923RQ000086 GENERAL INFORMATION Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Product Service Code: AJ11, General Science and Technology R&D Services; General science and technology; Basic Research NAICS Code: 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)- 1,000 Employees The Human Factors/Engineering Integration (NSR-310) at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced and potential small businesses capable of conducting human factors research for the division of the Office of Vehicle Crash Avoidance/Electronic Controls Research for Vehicle Safety Research at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Attachment A provides an overview of the general task requirements, potential areas of research and potential deliverables. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Human Factors (HF) IDIQ SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE This sources sought announcement is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as an obligation on the part of the Human Factors/Engineering Integration (NSR-310) at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 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, Service Disables Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), or Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns that may be interested in and capable of performing the work described herein to proactively plan for future requirements, NSR-310 is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced, and interested parties. These parties should have the range of research skillsets capability to quickly plan, conduct, and document studies that evaluate how various vehicle-based systems affect driver behavior and performance. Methods of assessing driver behavior should include experience with experiments in a laboratory setting, test track, and/or on public roads. In this capacity for NHTSA research, interested parties could act as one of multiple contractors on an IDIQ. At this time, no solicitation exists. 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. This Sources Sought Notice is not a request for proposal (RFP), nor does it restrict the Government as to the final acquisition strategy. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. At this time no solicitation exists. Therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation. Responses in any form are not offers. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this Notice. The results of this sources sought notice will assist the Contracting Officer in determining the best strategy for this procurement. Responses to this synopsis may also be used to aide in establishing realistic and achievable small business participation goals. 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 economic costs due to road traffic crashes. The agency develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering and enforcement programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies associated with vehicle use and highway travel. The NHTSA Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division manages research, which explores how to improve driver performance and reduce unsafe behaviors. An additional focus is to evaluate driver's capabilities that benefit from existing or new in-vehicle technologies. The research supports Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), safety defects investigations, consumer information, and the advancement of knowledge about driver behaviors and performance, including the 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, responding to warnings and alerts from crash avoidance systems, 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 mission, the Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division requires contractor assistance to carry out innovative motor vehicle safety-related research. OBJECTIVE/SCOPE The objective of an anticipated Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is to provide NHTSA with the capability to award Task Orders covering a range of research efforts. The contractor-performed research would be used to evaluate how various vehicle-based systems affect driver behavior and performance using experiments in a laboratory setting on a test track, or on public roads. The Contractor would be required to plan, conduct and document any required studies and report results. Work required under this anticipated IDIQ contract will provide NHTSA with the support needed to: Study deployment of new in-vehicle technologies; (e.g. the benefits and drawbacks to Heads Up Displays) Evaluate technology options; (e.g. use of auditory vs. visual crash avoidance cues) Identify potential safety problems; (e.g. use of onboard IT applications) and Assure that safety is maintained. In order to accomplish these goals and to understand the role of driver/vehicle interaction in crash avoidance systems, various types of human factors studies are needed to obtain data on driver performance and behavior in response to various vehicle system designs. 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); and 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. Collected information might cover such topics as: Driver decision making during different driving tasks (e.g., lane changing); Effects of driver age-related factors on performance; (e.g. To what degree does age factor in to unsafe driving practices) 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; (e.g. how texting affects driver reaction). Driver visual search behaviors; and Driver reaction to automation. (e.g. can automatic safety features actually contribute to unsafe driver performance?) PLACE OF PERFORMANCE The work associated with this requirement will be performed at an authorized contractor location. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The estimated period of performance is for a Base Period of three (3) years with two (2)- one (1) year Option Periods. INCUMBENT There are 5 incumbent contractors awarded under multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts: Battelle Memorial Institute, contract 693JJ918D000003 Toxcel, LLC., contract 693JJ918D000004 Texas A&M Transportation Institute, contract 693JJ9180000005 Virginia Tech Polytechnic Institute and State University, contract 693JJ918D000006 Westat, Inc., contract 693JJ918D000007 SECURITY REQUIREMENT This acquisition does not deal with classified matters. Where applicable, Agency information security requirements will be met through TAR clause 1252.239-70, - Security requirements for unclassified information technology resources. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Interested firms should submit their response to include a capabilities statement covering experience, staffing and technical capabilities. The capabilities statement should address the general task requirements, potential areas of research and potential deliverables outlined in Attachment - A; and demonstrate how the firm's recent past performance (last 3 years) is relevant to the potential task areas, to include listing the dollar value, period of performance, size and scope of the firm's prior contracts. Capability statements should be no more than 10 pages maximum- in - Times New Roman 12-inch font on 8.5 x 11 paper. Respondents must submit documents in Word or PDF format. Neither zipped files will be accepted nor telephone requests be honored. Vendors must demonstrate their ability to comply with the requirements in this Sources Sought Notice in order to be considered capable of satisfying the Government's requirement. CONFIDENTIALITY Do not include proprietary, trade secrets, classified, confidential, or sensitive information in your response to this Sources Sought Notice. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is submitted, as it is clearly stated this type of information shall NOT be submitted. The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation. Responses to this Notice will not be returned. SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES Interested parties having the capability to provide human factors research for the division of the Office of Vehicle Crash Avoidance/Electronic Controls Research for Vehicle Safety Research at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), please submit capability statements to the following contact: contact@example.gov to include Subject Line: Response to Sources Sought- 693JJ923RQ000086, Human Factors (HR). CAPABILITY STATEMENTS To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, firms should respond using the format requested in this Notice. Please provide the following information for your firm and for any teaming or joint venture partners: General Information Company name, address, point of contact name, telephone, and email address. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. Business size and classification (e.g., large, small, small-disadvantaged, SBA Certified 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, woman-owned) based on NAICS code: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). If applicable, potential proposed teaming arrangements to include business size and classification of prime and subcontractors. GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Number (FSS must include NAICS code 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS code: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Technical Capability: Provide a brief synopsis to support the firm's ability to perform all of potential areas of research identified in Attachment - A. Identify each task element and provide information to support the firm's experience, staffing and overall ability to perform the technical area. Evidence of experience and past performance should include contracts/task orders from the past three (3) years similar in scope to this requirement. Examples must include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, periods of performance, and Government points of contact (telephone numbers or email addresses). Documented information to support the firm's ability to provide the range of research skillsets capability to quickly plan, conduct, and document studies; AND personnel required for this effort in a timely fashion. Any data on previous contracts/task orders on personnel retention and succession planning. Additional Information Indicate if your firm will submit a proposal if a Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued, and if your firms interest is for Prime contracting, teaming agreement or Joint Venture. Validation of, or recommended NAICS codes for this effort. Validation of, or recommended contract type. Validation of, or recommended GSA vehicle In each potential areas of research, indicate any Small Business Subcontracting opportunities, as applicable. Other Recommendations Any information missing from this requirement that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired. Please submit any other questions or comments along with your response. CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Department of Transportation (DOT) Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.