NHTSA NCAP Dynamic Rollover Vehicle Test

The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) has been publishing comparative consumer information on frontal crashworthiness of new vehicles since 1979, on side crashworthiness since 1997, and on rollover resistance since January 2001 (66 FR 3388). The testing and data that will be gathered under the anticipated contract will allow NHTSA to continue the agency's existing NCAP rollover resistance rating program in accordance with the requirements of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000 and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to include dynamic rollover test results in the factors on which rollover resistance ratings are based. Initially, a rollover resistance rating was assigned to a vehicle based solely on a vehicle's Static Stability Factor (SSF), which is the ratio of one half its track widths to its center of gravity (c.g.) height, (see http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Rollover/Variable+Ride-Height). Beginning with the 2004 model year information derived from dynamic rollover testing has been factored in with the SSF in calculations that determine a vehicle's rollover resistance rating. The overall objective of the work to be performed for this requirement is to develop information that can be used in determining the rollover resistance of new vehicles so that these vehicles can be rated in such a way that consumers can consider this information when making a new vehicle purchase. The NAICS Code for the anticipated contract is 541330. Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration Database located at http://www.ccr.gov, and must complete electronic representations and certification on the ORCA database located at http://orca.bpn.gov to be considered for contract award. It is the Government's intent to award a Firm Fixed Price type contract resulting from the solicitation, with or without discussions, to the responsible offeror whose proposal, conforming to the solicitation, is most advantageous to the Government based on the evaluation factors contained in the solicitation. It is the Offeror's responsibility to monitor the FedBizOpps Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential Offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Requests for paper copies of the RFP will not be accepted. The estimated date for release of the solicitation is on or about October 1, 2013. Period of Performance: Base period of twelve (12) months plus four (4) one (1) year option periods for a total of five (5) years. Contract Award: NHTSA intends to issue a full and open, competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) with the intent of making one (1) award. The anticipated award date for the resultant contract is expected to be on or about March 2014.