SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Sources Sought for Market Research to Support the Volpe Center in Surveying a Panel of Study Participants with Visual, Cognitive, or Learning Disabilities
- Notice Date
- 3/27/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- 55 Broadway; Cambridge, MA 02142
- ZIP Code
- 02142
- Solicitation Number
- DTRT57-08-SS-0466
- Response Due
- 4/14/2008
- Archive Date
- 7/8/2008
- Point of Contact
- Point of Contact -Karen Marino, Purchasing Agent, 617-494-2437
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Purchasing Agent
(marinok@volpe.dot.gov)
- Description
- As part of its effort to improve public transit service for persons with disabilities, The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a grant to Sound Transit, in Seattle, Washington to install a regional, multimodal infrared way-finding system to aid sight-impaired customers. The grant is authorized by a provision in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users SAFETEA-LU) that calls for a Remote Infrared Audible Signage (RIAS) Model Accessibility Project (MAP). RIAS technology consists of transmitters sending audio signals by directional infrared light beams to handheld receivers that decode the signals and play the message through speakers or headsets. RIAS will be installed at approximately seven transit stations, as well as the crosswalks surrounding those transit stations, in the Puget Sound region (Seattle area). Using the handheld receivers, persons with visual or cognitive disabilities will be able to navigate their way through the transit stations, identify approaching and departing transit vehicles, and hear walk and wait announcements at crosswalks. In support of the FTA, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is conducting the evaluation of RIAS MAP. The evaluation will address the following effects of the RIAS deployment: (1) Effect on multimodal accessibility in public transportation with regard to persons with visual, cognitive, or learning disabilities; (2) Effect on public transportation operators and their customers; (3) Effect on making public transportation accessible to persons with visual, cognitive, or learning disabilities, who use public transit and paratransit; and (4) Effect on education, community integration, work life and general quality of life of the targeted populations. To address the evaluation questions, the Volpe Center will conduct a panel study. Pre and post surveys will be administered to a panel of study participants who use the technology during the course of their usual travels for a period of 6 to 8 weeks. The surveys will be designed to assess the participants? experience with the technology and to determine the effects on multimodal accessibility. The Volpe Center seeks sources that would be able to provide support in surveying a panel of study participants with visual, cognitive, or learning disabilities. The survey firm will administer a pre-survey (by telephone) to the panel prior to their use of the technology. Following a 6-8 week period where study participants use the technology, the survey firm will administer a post- telephone survey. Among study participants with cognitive disabilities, qualitative in-person interviews may need to be conducted in place of the typical survey format, as this population may have difficulty completing a survey. Support efforts will include, but are not necessarily limited to, the administration of the pre and post surveys and the maintenance of the panel over the course of the study. Additional required support will include the administration of the pre- and post qualitative interviews, as well as the cleaning of the data and the delivery of a final dataset. The Volpe Center will design the pre and post surveys and will conduct the data analysis. The Volpe Center may also seek assistance in recruiting participants for the panel study. This would involve working with Seattle area advocacy groups (such as Washington State Department of Services for the Blind and Lighthouse for the Blind) to obtain volunteers. The sample should be balanced with respect to key demographic variables, such as gender, age, and education, and should include participants who vary in their frequency of using public transportation. The Volpe Center is seeking sources with expertise (i.e., history of research experience) in conducting surveys, focus groups or qualitative interviews among those who are blind or cognitively disabled. In particular, sources with a presence in the Seattle area are of particular interest. Sources that have not worked with blind or cognitively impaired populations, but who have expertise in performing transportation research and have a presence in the Seattle area should also respond. All capability information shall include: Customer (Government agency, private industry); contract value and type of contract; period of performance; and description of product/services. Information provided should be detailed in the area(s) above (i.e. history of research experience with visually or cognitively impaired populations) so the Government can assess the ability of the company to provide the described services. All of the information sought should be conveyed in no more than eight pages. Page size is set at 8 X 11 and text should be doubled spaced. Each response must reference the Sources Sought title. Interested parties must respond to this announcement in writing within 15 days of publication. Telephonic requests will not be honored. All responses must be sent to Karen Marino, Contracting Officer, RTV-6D2, United States Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142. Email responses are also acceptable (email: marinok@volpe.dot.gov). THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only, and is a market research tool to determine the availability and adequacy of potential business sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and possible issuance of a Request for Proposal including the use of any non-profit organization or small business programs. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of response to this Special Notice. This notice does not constitute a solicitation for bids and proposals, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a competitive contract. Unless otherwise stated herein, no solicitation regarding this announcement is available. Requests for the same will be disregarded. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the FedBizOpps. Please be aware that all information submitted in response to this request, whether written, oral, electronic, graphic, or any other medium, is considered public information under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. The Government will not pay for any materials provided in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender. For information about the Volpe Center refer to the Volpe Center website at http://www.volpe.dot.gov.
- Web Link
-
Volpe Center Acquisition Division home page
(http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/index.html)
- Record
- SN01543160-W 20080329/080327223908 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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