Evaluation of Community-Oriented Enforcement Demonstrations

Solicitation DTNH2215R00008 is issued in the attachments.

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) (an operating administration of the United States Department of Transportation) is charged with the responsibility of reducing the personal and property losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes.  NHTSA's Office of Behavioral Safety Research (OBSR) conducts research and evaluation projects related to behaviors and attitudes in highway safety issues.   The OBSR is interested in conducting an evaluation of a seat belt/impaired driving demonstration project.

 Background:

 Restraint use and impaired driving contribute to preventable motor vehicle crash fatalities each year. Efforts to increase seat belt use and decrease alcohol-impaired driving over the past two decades have yielded considerable success. However, these behaviors continue to persist and require more innovative approaches to further make progress towards ceasing these risky practices.

 Specifically, we have seen an increase in restraint use over the past two decades. Results of the 2013 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) show the national seat belt use rate at 87 percent, statistically unchanged from 86 percent in 2012. While unchanged from the prior year, this is a significant increase from 79 percent in 2003 and 58 percent in 1994. 

The 2012 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows a total of 21,667 occupants of passenger vehicles (passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs) died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Among occupants whose restraint status was known, 52 percent were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash.  Using this data, NHTSA estimates that belts saved 12,174 lives. However, if belt use had been used 100 percent of the time, then an additional estimated 3,031 lives could have been saved.  This estimate as well as the documented effectiveness of belts, indicate a large, unnecessary, and costly loss of life.

 Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the past 10 years have declined by 23 percent from 13,472 in 2002 to 10,322 in 2012.  However, alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities increased by 4.6 percent in 2012, compared to 9,865 in 2011, accounting for 31 percent of overall fatalities (NHTSA, 2013).  The majority of those crashes involved drivers with a BAC of .15 or higher, nearly double the legal limit.  That works out to an average of one fatality every 51 minutes (NHTSA, 2013). 

 Furthermore, the data indicates a relationship between impaired driving and unrestrained fatalities.   For instance, in 2012 data showed that drivers killed in 5,163 passenger vehicles (including passenger cars and light trucks [vans, SUVs, pickups, and other light trucks]) had a BAC of .08 or higher. Out of those driver fatalities for which restraint use was known, 70 percent were unrestrained.

 A proven countermeasure for increasing seat belt use and reducing impaired driving is enforcement.  More specifically, high- visibility enforcement (HVE) has been shown to successfully change driver behaviors when coupled with a communications plan.  The success and effectiveness of this approach has contributed to the trends documented above (increased belt use and decreased alcohol-impaired driving). However, additional and alternate approaches need to be explored to continue these trends.

 One possible approach is to apply law enforcement models shown to impact crime-related behavior and community perception to traffic safety. Specifically, law enforcement models shown to be successful at reducing fear of crime, robberies, and violent crime have yet to be applied to a highway safety project.

 Purpose:

 NHTSA's objective is to receive professional services to evaluate the effectiveness of community-oriented seat belt and impaired driving enforcement projects modeled after proven law enforcement models (e.g., DDACTS & SARA) with respect to increasing community support for enforcement.

 Solicitation Information:

 The Government contemplates the award of a single Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract.  The period of performance of the IDIQ contracts will not to exceed forty (40) months.  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 (DTNH2215R00008).  The anticipated issuance date of the forthcoming solicitation is on or about February 14, 2015. 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.