Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement (NAD-30), 400 Seventh St., S.W., Room 5301, Washington, D.C. 20590

B -- FLORIDA HIGHWAY CRASH DATA COLLECTION TO SUPPORT NHTSA'S EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEAVY TRUCK CONSPICUITY SYSTEMS SAFETY STANDARD SOL DTNH22-97-Q-06002 POC Contact Amy Poling, Contract Specialist, (202) 366-9552, or Mark Kromer, Contracting Officer, (202) 366-9571 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to negotiate with the Florida Highway Patrol to provide for the collection of data on highway crashes involving large tractor trailer trucks. A portion of the data required are contained in typical state motor vehicle crash reports. The remainder of the data will be obtained through a brief supplemental report which will be adapted to the existing system employed by the Florida Highway Patrol and completed by law enforcement personnel at the crash scene. Located in a southern climate exposure, the Florida Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency with an existing organization empowered to provide accident investigation and reporting coverage over a large geographical area with a sufficient number of heavy truck crashes to support a definitive study within the designated two-year study period when combined with similar data from a northern state. The work requirements involve efforts for which an ''organizational conflict of interest,'' as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5, is of concern in terms of contractor objectivity. Interested firms may identify their capability to respond to the work requirements. The written response must include detailed information as to professional qualifications and relevant expertise, specifically addressing organizational/personnel experience in crash data collection involving heavy trucks over a broad geographical area (state-wide). In addition, interested firms must demonstrate that their objectivity has not been impaired as a result of previous experience, or because of any related past, present, or planned interest, financial or otherwise, in organizations regulated by DOT, or in organizations whose interests may be substantially affected by the results of this study. Finally, interested firms must provide an hourly rate or range of rates, which includes indirect burdens for the professional services described. Expressions of interest without sufficient detail to permit evaluation of capability or organizational conflict of interest will not be considered. Oral expressions of interest will not be considered. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations nor is a Request-for-Quotations solicitation document currently available. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed study effort based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive simplified acquisition. In the absence of responses from interested firms demonstrating their capability and lack of conflict of interest, NHTSA intends to request a quotation from the Florida Highway Patrol on a noncompetitive basis for the work described. Responses must be received by the listed procuring office within 15 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice. This requirement is subject to the availability of appropriations in Fiscal Year 1997. (0268)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0014 19960925\B-0005.SOL)