NHTSA Occupant Protection Surveys: NOPUS and NSUBS

Action Code: Sources Sought Classification Code: B Solicitation: DTNH2217RQ00061 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541910, Marketing Research and Public opinion Polling, $15.0 M. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: NHTSA Occupant Protection Surveys: NOPUS and NSUBS 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 conduct of large scale surveys to determine the degree to which vehicle operators and passengers use occupant protection devices. Those surveys include, but are not limited to: - The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), - The National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS). The Government reserves the right to conduct any or all of these surveys in a given year, in addition to other occupant protection related surveys in the area of general traffic safety as needed. 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 NOPUS is the vehicle through which the Agency tracks progress in restraint use (namely, safety belt use, child restraint use, and motorcycle helmet use) and estimates the use of cell phones by drivers. In addition to providing the Agency's official estimates in these subject areas, the survey provides information on who is using restraints and in what circumstances, which is in turn used to target the Agency's occupant protection outreach programs where they are most needed. The purpose of the NSUBS is to produce the Agency's first estimates of booster seat use and to better inform the Agency on the extent to which children are in the proper type of child safety seat for their size. In addition to providing the Agency's official estimates in these areas, the survey's detailed results will help the Agency target its child occupant protection outreach programs where they are most needed. 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 professional services in support of the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) and the National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS). The Contractor may also be required to provide additional survey-related services. As required, these ad hoc services will be ordered through issuance of Task Orders. Examples of Task Order requirements include: 1) conducting the NOPUS and/or NSUBS during a year subsequent to the first Base Year; 2) design and selection of new samples; 3) investigations into ways to improve survey preparation, data collection, or data analysis for the surveys; 4) feasibility of incorporating changes to the surveys or conducting new related surveys desired by the Agency. 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: NHTSA Occupant Protection Surveys: NOPUS and NSUBS The Contractor shall perform the requirements as specified below. Deliverables are subject to COR (TO) approval, and the COR (TO) may require changes to Deliverables that do not meet the Government's requirement. In performing the work required under specific requirements, the Contractor shall use the survey methods, whether for data collection, estimation, editing, or other survey procedures, that are explained in a work plan, as approved by the Government. The work plan may be based on the contractor's technical proposal submitted in response to the agency's solicitation. A draft copy of the work plan shall be provided at the kick-off meeting as described in the following. All methodologies used shall be based on statistically sound principles. The observation sites visited, data items collected, and estimates produced shall be the same as for the previous year's survey. The site visitation schedules shall be determined by the Contractor in a statistically sound manner that reduces the variance of the year-to-year change estimates. The Contractor shall ensure that all data collected remain strictly confidential and shall not respond to public inquiries regarding the data without the express written permission of the CO. All public requests for information under this contract shall be forwarded to COR (TO) immediately. The microdata files provided by the contractor shall contain information and documentation sufficient for the COR (TO) to reproduce the estimates provided, at no additional cost. The final presentations referred to in the Schedule of Milestones and Deliverables shall cover the following topics: data items collected, survey protocols utilized, description of PDA software (if applicable), summary of training materials, summary of data collection activities, summary of quality control procedures, treatment of unknowns, estimates produced, and major survey results. At the completion of the survey process, the contractor shall provide a final report. The contractor shall also provide a final presentation to NHTSA staff at DOT Headquarters in Washington, D.C. at the discretion of NHTSA. Specific Requirement 1: THE 2018 NATIONAL OCCUPANT PROTECTION USE SURVEY (NOPUS) The Contractor shall conduct the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), in June, if so directed by the Government. The sample of observation sites used shall be the same as that used for the previous year's survey, except as modified to replace sites with low traffic volume. The Contractor shall: prepare data collection instruments and materials used to train data collectors and field supervisors; hire and train data collectors and field supervisors; collect the survey data; quality check and edit the survey data; produce tables of estimates; and create files of the survey microdata. The Contractor shall provide the COR (TO) with diagram of tablet data collection screenshots, table shells of estimates, training materials, tables of estimates, microdata files, and the final report and presentation, in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables. To perform the task, the contractor shall consider the detail described in the following. Major estimates: national estimates of safety belt use, child restraint use, motorcycle helmet use, and driver cell phone use Number of estimates produced: about 2,000 point estimates and 2,000 variance estimates Years conducted: 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Related projects: an evaluation of the 2014/2015 redesign of the NHTSA Occupant Protection Surveys (NOPUS and NSUBS); an investigation into ways to improve survey preparation, data collection, or data analysis for the surveys, for example, the 2017 NSUBS Research Task Data collection sites: approximately 1,800 roadway sites across the U.S. Means of data collection: observation of vehicles in traffic recorded on Personal Data Assistants using specially designed software Number of observations: approximately 200,000 vehicles The NOPUS is the vehicle through which the Agency tracks progress in restraint use (namely, seat belt use, child restraint use, and motorcycle helmet use) and estimates driver mobile phone use. In addition to providing the Agency's official estimates in these subject areas, the survey provides information on who is using restraints and in what circumstances, which is in turn used to target the Agency's occupant protection outreach programs where they are most needed. The survey data are obtained annually by sending trained data collectors to a probability sample of roadway sites, where they observe use of restraints and driver cell phone use in actual traffic. The Contractor shall collect data from the roadside of non-expressway sites and from moving vehicles traveling expressways. Since 2006, all data have been collected on electronic devices (currently tablet computers). Collected data are then downloaded to a central computer, where statistical editing, estimation, and variance estimation procedures are applied to produce estimates and margins of error, and to perform elementary data analysis (such as calculating category significance and confidence levels that use rates changed from one year to the next). The Contractor shall conduct all survey preparation, data collection, data analysis activities, and will prepare a final written report subject to revision according to the Government's comments and will make a final presentation to the Government, if so requested by the government. As part of this contract's Base Period 1, the contractor shall conduct the 2018 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), if so directed by the Government. The sample of observation sites used shall be the same as that used for the 2017 survey, except as modified to replace sites with low traffic volume. The Contractor shall: prepare data collection instruments and materials used to train data collectors and field supervisors; hire and train data collectors and field supervisors; collect the survey data; quality check and edit the survey data; produce tables of estimates; and create files of the survey microdata. The Contractor shall provide the COR (TO) with diagram of tablet data collection screenshots, table shells of estimates, training materials, tables of estimates, microdata files, and the final report and presentation, in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables below. Milestones and Deliverables for the 2018 NOPUS Kick-Off Meeting Within two weeks from Contract award, key members of the contractor's staff who will be assigned major responsibilities for carrying out the tasks of the contract shall meet with the NHTSA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COR) and other NHTSA staff. The purposes of the initial "Kick-Off" meeting shall be to: Review any contractual matters, including terms and conditions of the Contract. Review and discuss the specific requirements to ensure understanding of the contract requirements. Respond to any questions the parties may have. Provide draft work plan for COR (TO) approval that describes the contractor's survey methods for meeting the survey requirements of this contract. At the discretion of the agency, the kick-off meeting may take place in person or over the phone. After the meeting, the COR (TO) will review the plan and provide comments if necessary. The Contractor is required to provide a final work plan within one (1) week of receiving comments from the COR (TO). Work Plan Based on the initial task order meeting the contractor will finalize its task order work plan and submit it to the COR (TO) in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. The plan will contain a complete list of project milestones and deliverables. Other than planning, the contractor will not perform any work on subsequent specific requirements prior to approval of the work plan by the COR (TO). Within one week of receiving the contractor's finalized work plan, the COR (TO) will either approve the plan or return it to the contractor for further revision. Tablet Data Collection Screen Shots The contractor will furnish the COR (TO) with screen shots of the proposed data collection software for approval in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. Table Shells of Estimates The contractor will furnish the COR (TO) with the table shells of estimates in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. This table shell will describe what estimates the contractor will compute based on collected data. Hiring and Training The contractor shall hire the qualified personnel to perform the activities under NOPUS. The contractor will furnish the COR (TO) with electronic copies of the training materials for the 2017 NOPUS in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. These materials will reflect the course of instruction given to all data collection personnel working on the 2017 NOPUS. It will include the quality control efforts during the data collection, data monitoring, and data production. The contractor shall provide training to data collectors and data collection monitors to enable them to properly identify vehicles and people in the target population at the specified data collection sites. The training will enable data collectors with techniques and understandings to maximize the response rate of the survey and high quality field data. Tables of Estimates The contractor shall compute estimates based on the table shells supplied earlier. The contractor shall also deliver the Microdata Files that contain the observation level data in SAS file format. These microdata files will be of sufficient quality for the government to reproduce any and all estimates published in the tables of estimates; these files will be in the similar and/or same format as in previous years of NOPUS, to be determined by the Government. These estimates and files will be delivered by the contractor according to the schedule established in the Milestones and Deliverables section. Presentation The contractor shall prepare a presentation that describes the process of data collection, estimation, and any related issues for the 2017 NOPUS. At the agency's option, this presentation may be given in person by the contractor at the government's offices or may be delivered directly in electronic form to the COR (TO). This presentation will be due in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. Final Report The contractor shall prepare a draft final report in consultation with the COR (TO). This report shall be delivered in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule and will contain a complete description of the process of data collection, estimation, quality control, and any issues the COR (TO) and/or contractor wish to document. The COR (TO) will provide feedback on this report which shall then be used to generate the final report. Based on the feedback from the COR (TO), the contractor shall prepare a Final Report. This report shall be delivered in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables schedule. Milestones and Deliverables Schedule for the 2018 NOPUS NOPUS 2018 Tasks Due Date Kick-off Meeting (M) 1/26/2018 Draft Work Plan (D) 2/09/2018 Work Plan Comments from COR (TO) (M) 2/16/2018 Final Work Plan (D) 2/23/2018 Diagram of Tablet Data Collection Screenshots (D) 4/06/2018 Table Shells of Estimates (D) 2/16/2018 Training Materials (D) 5/18/2018 Hiring Data Collectors and Data Collection Monitors (M) 5/19/2018 Training Data Collectors and Data Collection Monitors (M) 6/01/2018 Data Collection Begins (M) 6/04/2018 Data Collection Ends (M) 7/02/2018 Tables of Estimates (D) MT Study: One-way tables MT Study: Two-way tables CI Survey: One-way tables CI Survey: Two-way tables 8/17/2018 8/17/2018 10/19/2018 10/19/2018 Microdata Files (D) 12/07/2018 Draft Final Report (D) 12/07/2018 Presentation at DOT (M) 12/14/2018 Agency Comment on Final Report (M) 1/18/2019 Revised Final Report (D) 2/8/2019 References: Seat Belt Use in 2015-Overall Results, NHTSA, February 2016; available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811148 Occupant Restraint Use in 2015: Results from the NOPUS Controlled Intersection Study, NHTSA, October 2016, available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811148 Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2015-Overall Results, NHTSA, April 2016, available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811148 Specific Requirement 2: THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF THE USE OF BOOSTER SEATS (NSUBS) The Contractor shall conduct the National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS), in July, if so directed by the Government. The sample of observation sites used shall be the same as that used for the previous' survey. The Contractor shall: prepare data collection instruments and materials used to train data collectors and field supervisors; hire and train data collectors and field supervisors; collect the survey data; quality check and edit the survey data; produce tables of estimates; and create files of the survey microdata. The Contractor shall provide the COR (TO) with data collection forms, table shells of estimates, training materials, tables of estimates, microdata files, and the final report and presentation, in accordance with the Milestones and Deliverables. To perform the task, the contractor shall consider the detail described in the following. Major estimates: national estimate of booster seat use, and estimates of the extent to which children are restrained in safety seats proper for their size Number of estimates produced: about 200 estimates and 200 variance estimates Years conducted: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Data collection sites: 627 fast food restaurants, gas stations, day care centers, and recreation centers across the U.S. Means of data collection: observation of stopped vehicles and interviews with adult occupants recorded on paper forms Number of observations: approximately 4,800 vehicles The National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS) is the only probability-based nationwide child restraint use survey in the United States that observes restraint use and interviews an adult occupant to collect data such as the race and ethnicity of all occupants in the vehicle. In 2000, Congress passed the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act that directed the Department of Transportation to reduce by 25 percent the deaths and injuries among 4- to 7-year-olds caused by the failure to use booster seats. In response, NHTSA began the NSUBS survey in 2006 to provide a national estimate of booster seat use in order to target its outreach programs. Since 2009, the NSUBS survey is conducted every other year. The 2015 NSUBS is the seventh time that NCSA conducted the NSUBS. The primary purpose of NSUBS is to estimate booster seat use among 4- to 7-year-old children. In addition, the survey provides restraint use estimates for all children under 13, race and ethnicity breakouts of restraint use among all occupants in a vehicle, and estimates of the extent to which children are "prematurely graduated" to restraint types that are inappropriate for their age as well as height and weight. The survey data is obtained by sending annually trained data collectors to a probability sample of fast food restaurants, gas stations, and recreation centers, with parking lots sufficiently small that data collectors can approach vehicles while the child occupants are still restrained. Data collectors observe use of restraints and restraint type, and obtain information on children's ages, weights, and heights by interviewing a knowledgeable adult in the vehicle. To date, data has been collected on paper forms, but the Agency may wish to change at some point to collecting data in a manner that uses technologies, such as Personal Data Assistants. Collected data is then entered to a central computer, where statistical editing, estimation, and variance estimation procedures are applied to produce estimates and margins of error, and to perform elementary data analysis (such as calculating category significance and confidence levels that use rates changed from one year to the next). The Contractor shall conduct all survey preparation, data collection, and data analysis activities, and the Government prepares the survey's publications. Milestones and Deliverables Schedule for the NSUBS: Deliverables/Milestone Schedule: Deliverables (D) / Milestones (M) Due Date Data Collection Forms (D) Within 7 months ATOA COR (TO) approval of Forms (M) Within one week after receipt Table Shells of Estimates (D) Within 10 months ATOA COR (TO) approval of Table Shells (M) Within one week after receipt Training materials for COR (TO) review (D) Within 11 months ATOA Hiring Data Collectors and Data Collection Monitors (M) Within 11 months ATOA Training Data Collectors and Data Collection Monitors (M) Within 11 months ATOA Data Collection Begins (M) Within 12 months ATOA Data Collection Ends (M) Within 13 months ATOA Table of Estimates (D) Within 13.5 months ATOA Microdata Files (D) Within 16 months ATOA Presentation (at DOT if requested or in electronic form) (D) Within 17 months ATOA Draft Final report (D) Within 17 months ATOA COR (TO) reviews draft final report (M) Within two weeks after receipt Final Report (D) Within 18 months ATOA Monthly Project report 15th calendar day of each month Lessons Learned Within 18 months ATOA References: The 2015 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats, NHTSA, September 2016, available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812309 Booster Seat Use in 2008, NHTSA, May 2009, available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811121 Child Restraint Use in 2008-Demographic Results, NHTSA, June 2009, available at: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811148 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.