Enforcement Standards for FMVSS No. 116, “Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids”

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 compliance testing to FMVSS No. 116, “Motor vehicle brake fluids” which sets forth the minimum performance requirements for motor vehicle brake fluid designed for use in hydraulic motor vehicle brake systems.

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 (NHTSA) is an operating administration of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), and its mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic costs associated with motor vehicle crashes.  As part of its mission to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes, NHTSA promulgates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).  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.  NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) is charged with determining whether manufacturers meet the applicable safety standards.  This contract effort will enable the agency to meet its mission by assuring that motor vehicles meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 116, Motor vehicle brake fluids.

FMVSS No. 116 establishes minimum performance requirements for motor vehicle brake fluid designed for use in hydraulic motor vehicle brake systems.  The purpose of FMVSS No. 116 is to reduce failures in the hydraulic braking systems of motor vehicles which may occur because of the manufacture or use of improper or contaminated fluid. The requirements for compliance testing of motor vehicle brake fluid include testing such components to the test requirements of FMVSS No. 116 as specified in TP-116-04. 

Objective

The objective is to issue delivery orders to procure testing services, inspection services, and reports so that the Government can determine whether brake fluids comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 116 following the requirements in the standard and the compliance test procedure specified in TP-116-04 as applicable to inform NHTSA of products that may not comply with the minimum safety standards.

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide the necessary technical personnel, facilities, materials, equipment, and services to perform the procurement, receipt, inventory, inspection, testing, reporting, storage, and disposal of the Government Furnished Test Items (GFTI) or items purchased by the Contractor as Contractor Purchased Test items (CPTI)  as identified in the attached Draft Statement of Work (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. 116, Motor vehicle brake fluids. 

At the time of award the contractor must have all necessary personnel, facilities and equipment to perform the all the testing activities in the attached Draft 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 and the attached Draft SOW 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 responses must be received no later than 10 calendar days from the date of publication of this notice.