SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Expert Consulting Services – Air Bag Propellants and Inflators - Sources Sought Notice DTNH2216RQ-01487)
- Notice Date
- 8/17/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- 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
- DTNH2216RQ-01487
- Point of Contact
- Vincent Lynch, Phone: 202-366-9568
- E-Mail Address
-
vincent.lynch@dot.gov
(vincent.lynch@dot.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Sources Sought Notice DTNH2216RQ-01487) Action Code: Sources Sought Classification Code: R Solicitation: DTNH2216RQ-01487 Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, $15.0 M. Point of Contract: Vincent Lynch, Contracting Officer, ph(202) 366-9568 Title: Expert Consulting Services - Air Bag Propellants and Inflators Background & Contract Objectives: The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis an award to Dr. Harold Blomquist under the authority of FAR 6.302-3 (expert services for litigation) for a base period of 6 months plus four option years to support ongoing litigation and enforcement efforts related to the ongoing Takata air bag recall. Dr. Blomquist is a preeminent expert on air bag propellants and inflators with extensive experience and knowledge of automotive air bag inflator technology. Dr. Blomquist's expertise will allow NHTSA to receive insight and advice in resolving air bag recall issues. These actions involve assisting the agency with ensuring that Takata will meet the requirements of the 5-year consent order currently in place and resolving any additional actions that may be needed that involve Takata or any of the affected automobile manufacturers. Specifically, under the award, the technical expert will provide detailed knowledge on air bag and inflator design, chemistry, manufacture traceability, production quality monitoring, testing, inspection, life-cycle expectations, long-term durability, and the failure mechanisms and modes that can lead to inflator rupture during commanded deployment, including failure mechanisms driven by the presence and effects of water/moisture. The technical expert also will be asked to handle / protect confidential and proprietary information, agreeing to meet the agency's non-disclosure requirements mandated in law. The technical expert also will review the current testing being conducted by Takata, the Independent Testing Consortium through Orbital ATK, and other parties. The technical expert shall recommend test methods, plans, and processes for validating the theories presented as root cause for inflator ruptures. The technical expert shall offer expert opinions which shall be used in determining and justifying current and future agency actions for all Takata PSAN based inflator products in the US market. Requirements: 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, 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. Pursuant to its mission, NHTSA has been investigating the manufacture and use of air bags and air bag inflators as part of the recent recall efforts involving Takata air bags. NHTSA requires on-going technical expertise in the area of automotive air bag propellant systems design, including the ability to assist the agency in investigating automotive air bag inflator technology of the age/vintage of vehicles that are within the scope of the various air bag recalls and field actions. Specifically, in support of ongoing litigation and enforcement efforts, NHTSA's requirements are to: •· Attend and participate in various meetings between NHTSA and Takata, as well as vehicle OEMs, outside testing organizations, and meetings involving various industry and governmental participants including high-level departmental and Congressional representatives; •· Present recommendations for improved testing methodologies or practices; •· Assist the agency with analysis of the test results; •· Provide expert opinions which shall be used in support of current and future agency actions; •· Assist NHTSA with the assessment of scientific data which indicates the root cause for specific inflator rupture mechanisms; •· Recommend test methods, plans, and processes for validating the theories presented as root cause for inflator ruptures; and •· Review field incidents and related data for any failures of Takata and non-Takata produced air bag inflators. The technical expert also will draw on over 30 years of experience working with tier one suppliers and automotive manufacturers in the chemistry and design of air bags and air bag inflators. This notice of intent is NOT a request for proposals (RFP) for competitive quotes/proposals and the agency intends to enter into a sole source award under the authority of FAR 6.302-3. However, the agency will review responsive capability statements from parties indicating the ability to meet these requirements. Responsive statements must indicate an experience base of at least 30 years with the chemistry, science and design of air bags and air bag inflators and provide experiences working with manufacturers and suppliers on air bag issues. Additionally, responsive statements must show an immersion in issues surrounding the Takata recall including an understanding of the agency's published findings and statements in support of the actions taken to date to resolve air bag issues. Capability statements also must explain how a party intends to meet the NHTSA requirements listed in the notice. Information received will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to make additional awards for expert services. However, the determination of whether to make additional awards is solely within the discretion of the Government.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOT/NHTSA/NHTSAHQ/DTNH2216RQ-01487/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Washington, District of Columbia, 20590, United States
- Zip Code: 20590
- Zip Code: 20590
- Record
- SN04228467-W 20160819/160817235333-7f791805d9cbaa1b7863d2a423a32e75 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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