Enforcement Standards for FMVSS No. 223, "Rear Impact Guards"

Action Code:  Sources Sought

Classification Code:  H223, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS TESTING- GROUND EFFECT VEHICLES, MOTOR VEHICLES, TRAILERS, AND CYCLES

Solicitation:  693JJ921RQ001120

Agency/Office:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ

NAICS Code:  541380, Testing Laboratories, $16.5 M.

Point of Contract:  Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568

Title: Enforcement Standards for FMVSS No. 223, "Rear Impact Guards"

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 inspection and compliance testing services to determine conformance of motor vehicles to the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The data generated in these studies will provide the results of rear impact protection testing to FMVSS No. 223, “Rear Impact Guards,” which was created to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries that occur when light duty vehicles collide with the rear end of trailers and semitrailers.

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 Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance conducts extensive research, development, testing, crash investigation, and data collection and analysis activities to provide the scientific basis needed to support the Agency’s motor vehicle and traffic safety goals. In addition to supporting internal NHTSA efforts, NHTSA-sponsored research provides high-quality publicly-accessible data that serves as the basis for countless other research endeavors.

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 perform inspection and compliance testing services to determine conformance of the rear end of trailers and semitrailers to the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No.  223, “Rear Impact Guards.” The work described in this procurement will enable the agency to meet its mission by assuring that the rear end of trailers and semitrailers meet the requirements of the safety standards.

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:

            SUPPLIES/SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide the necessary qualified personnel, facilities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services as identified in the SOW, which are necessary to perform the Compliance Test Program for the following Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor Vehicle Regulations (FMVR):

FMVSS No. 223                     “Rear Impact Guards”

At the time of award the contractor must have all necessary personnel, facilities and equipment. Results of work conducted under this contract will facilitate the reduction of motor vehicle crash-related injuries and fatalities. (See attached SOW)

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 14 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice.