SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Explore the Predictive Validity of Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program Tests
- Notice Date
- 4/22/2010
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541720
— Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20590
- ZIP Code
- 20590
- Solicitation Number
- DTNH22-10-R-00376
- Archive Date
- 5/6/2010
- Point of Contact
- Vincent Lynch, Phone: 202-366-3339
- E-Mail Address
-
vincent.lynch@dot.gov
(vincent.lynch@dot.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis: This is a Pre-Solicitation notice (synopsis) for a full and open competitive procurement in accordance with FAR Part 5.203; to provide notice of the Government's proposed contract action listed herein. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a requirement to explore the predictive validity of Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program tests. NHTSA's Office of Behavioral Safety Research (OBSR) directs a national behavioral research, test, demonstration, and technology development program to build a scientific information base supporting the development and implementation of programs to prevent or reduce unsafe behaviors of road users and to promote safe driving behaviors. Research areas include: alcohol-impaired driving, drug-impaired driving, non-use of occupant protection restraints, speeding and unsafe driving behaviors, pedestrian safety, motorcyclist safety, novice drivers, older drivers, driver education and training, enforcement, prosecution and judicial services, and emergency medical services. The Office of Behavioral Safety Research conducts research in the development of promising countermeasure programs to determine effectiveness and evaluates selected State and local countermeasure programs and NHTSA demonstration programs aimed at reducing or eliminating unsafe actions and crash-generating situations. Examples of these studies can be found at: http://ntlsearch.bts.gov/tris/ntlc/nhtsa/index.shtm. Background: Research investigating the impairing effects of various drugs on a driver's ability to safely operate his/her car has not been definitive. Tests used to assess impairment from drug use are usually developed for the specific study in which they are used, and are, in many cases, unstandardized. Those tests used more widely, especially by law enforcement officers, have not been specifically validated to determine impairment based on drug use (other than those that have been thusfar standardized for determining recent alcohol use). Law enforcement officers who are certified as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) are trained to utilize a variety of readily observable signs and symptoms that are accepted in the medical community as reliable indicators of drug influence. The program enables officers to determine whether a suspect is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; and if so, the DRE combines basic medical knowledge about drug pharmacodynamics with the administration of psychomotor tests to determine the category of drugs. This form of training is costly in time (it is a 9-day course) and resources. During an evaluation, the DRE collects information on the suspects's current condition, a brief medical history, and also assesses the suspect's pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, pupil size and reaction to light, and psychomotor function. The DRE also examines the suspect's visual tracking, visual convergence, smooth pursuit and Horizontal and Vertical Gaze Nystagmus (HGN and VGN, respectively). This information is documented consistently on a form, the Drug Influence Evaluation (DIE) "Face Sheet", by all DREs. Using the DIE, the DRE captures about 60 different elements, in numerical, pictorial and narrative form. The DRE also summarizes his or her observations in a narrative statement. Based on the information gathered, the DRE determines whether the subject is under the influence of drugs, the specific category of drugs, and requests that the suspect provide a biological specimen for confirmation. Purpose: There has been no systematic investigation of whether it is necessary for the DREs to collect all of the information or whether a core set of the measures are more directly relevant. Therefore, the OBSR is interested in conducting a study to collect and code all the information found on a large sample of DIE data sheets to determine which combination(s) elements coalesce to predict the toxicology-confirmed results of the evaluation. The objectives of this study are to: (a) gather a sample of DIE Face Sheets from several Law Enforcement Agencies that participate in the DEC Program along with the corresponding toxicological test results based on blood samples; (b) code the numerical, pictorial, and narrative information found on the data sheets and the confirmation results, and create a database of measures from the sample; (c) determine accuracy of the DRE opinions using the corresponding toxicological confirmation results; and (d) analyze the data to identify of groups of interrelated variables to see how they are correlated to each other and the drug class confirmed by blood samples. Solicitation Information: The Government contemplates that a Time and Material type Contract with a period of performance not to exceed eighteen (18) months will be awarded. The forthcoming solicitation and any related documents to this procurement will only be available electronically for download at https://www.fedbizopps.gov referenced by the solicitation number (DTNH22-10-R-00376). The anticipated issuance date of the forthcoming solicitation is on or about May 7, 2010. However, it is the Offeror's sole responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential Offerors will also be solely responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any), as well as other related documents. NO FURTHER PROCUREMENT INFORMATION IS AVALABLE AT THIS TIME.
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN02130424-W 20100424/100422235744-3bd57a0887aeb03f803ad6e2c7f77722 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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