Older Drivers and Rearview Video Systems

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, implements, and supports effective educational, engineering and enforcement programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies and reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. In March of 2014, NHTSA issued a rule requiring rear visibility technology in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds by May 2018 in order to enhance safety by significantly reducing the risk of fatalities and serious injuries caused by back overs. Older adults are likely to be less comfortable with technology, and therefore have more difficulty learning to use these systems than their middle-aged counterparts; however, these drivers might gain an additional benefit if they learn to use the systems effectively. When an older driver, particularly one with age-related stiffness in the spine, turns to the right to check behind the vehicle before backing, he or she may move out of position and pivot to the right. This could result in their right foot being over the accelerator when they think it is over the brake, potentially triggering a pedal error. In such cases, using a rear view video systems (RVS) and mirror to check behind the vehicle could help the driver retain his or her position and thereby reduce the risk of pedal errors. The overall objectives of this contract are to: Performance - How does older drivers backing performance when using (standard equipment) inside and outside rearview mirrors compare to that using an RVS during different types of backing tasks in terms of their ability to detect and avoid obstacles? - Are the effects similar among drivers in their 60s and those 70 and older, or are they exaggerated among the oldest drivers? - Which elements of RVS use are particularly difficult for the participants? Training - Does RVS training based on the protocol developed for this project improve older drivers ability to use the system to detect and avoid obstacles? - Are the training effects similar across age groups? NHTSA seeks a Contractor to assess driving performance of older adults while they back up under two conditions: using standard equipment inside and outside rearview mirrors, and using an RVS and training protocol that addresses the most common errors participants make during data collection. This acquisition is being offered as set-aside for small business competition. The NAICS Code for the anticipated contract is 541720. Contractors must be registered in the Systems for Award Management Database located at http://www.sams.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 Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) 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 January 5, 2016. Period of Performance: Base period of thirty-seven months (37) months. Contract Award: The anticipated award date for the resultant contract is expected to be on or about June 2016.