Valuation of Fuel Economy of Medium Duty/Heavy Duty Vehicles

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (USDOT) NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) Synopsis for Solicitation DTNH2215R00012 Valuation of Fuel Economy of Medium Duty/Heavy Duty Vehicles Introduction In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, Congress passed the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) in 1975 as a means of reducing the country's dependence on foreign oil. EPCA established the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, which required automobile manufacturers to increase the average fuel economy of passenger cars and light trucks (which now include minivans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the United States. In December 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) significantly amended EPCA's CAFE program requirements, granting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) additional rulemaking authority and assigning DOT new rulemaking responsibilities. One of the new rulemaking responsibilities required DOT to conduct a fuel efficiency improvement program for commercial medium- and heavy-duty (MD and HD) on-highway vehicles and work trucks, and to adopt and implement appropriate test methods, measuring metrics, fuel economy standards and compliance and enforcement protocols. On September 15, 2011, NHTSA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule that establishes fuel efficiency and GHG emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses beginning with model year 2014. These standards are expected to result in significant savings and benefits over the lifetime of vehicles built for model years 2014-2018, including, saving a projected 530 million barrels of oil and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 270 million metric tons, directly saving vehicle owners and operators an estimated $50 billion in fuel costs and yielding an estimated $49 billion in societal benefits. There is a lack of data regarding how Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) value fuel economy when designing their vehicles, how customers of MD/HD vehicles value fuel economy and how this valuation affects the design process and customer acceptance of fuel economy technologies. The results of this study will be used to model the response of manufacturers and customers to future MD/HD standards. This is a synopsis in accordance with FAR 5.203(a) to issue a 15 day public notification prior to the issuance of a solicitation DTNH2215R00012. NHTSA intends to issue a solicitation for a Full and Open Competition to study and document how MD/HD OEMs value fuel economy when designing their vehicles, how customers of MD/HD vehicles value fuel economy when purchasing new vehicles and how this valuation affects the design process and customer acceptance of fuel economy technologies NTHSA intends to award a single Contract. The applicable NAICS code and size standard for this application are as follows: 541990 and not greater than $15.0M The anticipated period of performance is a 4 month base period. The solicitation will be issued on or about April 15, 2015. Objective The primary objective of this study is to document how MD/HD OEMs value fuel economy when designing their vehicles, how customers of MD/HD vehicles value fuel economy when purchasing new vehicles and how this valuation affects the design process and customer acceptance of fuel economy technologies. The solicitation will be released electronically via this Government Point of Entry (GPE) otherwise known as Federal Business Opportunities or www.fbo.gov. As such, no written, telephonic or other type of request for an advance copy of the solicitation will be entertained at this time. Potential offerors/vendors are encouraged to register on www.fbo.gov to receive any further information in reference to the subject action inclusive of any announcements, and/or amendments to the solicitation after its release.