MASH Testing for Safety Hardware Devices Used on Off-NHS Roadways

This is a solicitation notice for a full and open competitive procurement. See attached for the Request for Proposal (RFP). 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) plans to issue a contract entitled, ““AASHTO MASH Testing for Safety Hardware Devices Used on Off-NHS Roadways.”  This project proposes to follow AASHTO 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) to crash test and document a Steel-Backed Timber roadway barrier, transition, and terminal common to the off-NHS system. This MASH testing will provide additional crashworthy alternative systems for local, federal, and tribal agencies and decrease occupant risk if they impact a device that meets current crash test standards. Under the planned contract, the contractor will be responsible for coordinating with an approved testing facility to at least fabricate the test safety hardware devices, procure test vehicle(s), conduct physical crash testing, and return the crash site to an acceptable condition to the testing facility. The crash testing will be conducted following criteria from the AASHTO 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Upon completion of successful crash testing of the safety hardware device, the contractor will analyze results, and submit the findings to FHWA. 

The scope of work envisions one (1) test plan for each device, utilizing a critical crash test matrix outlining, testing, and analysis methodology that will be pre-approved by FHWA in advance of any testing. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to propose the number of tests deemed necessary and technically acceptable (using a critical matrix) to meet the requirements and objectives of this Contract. Any additional tests (not included in the base tasks) will be considered under Options to include any additional required MASH testing for each respective device not conducted under the base tasks/schedule. 

NOTE: Due to the nature of this study, the contractor must have access to a laboratory that performs crash testing for acceptance of roadside safety hardware. The laboratory must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

This is a pre-solicitation notice (synopsis) for a full and open competitive procurement. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) intends to issue a solicitation for a planned single-award contract.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) plans to issue a solicitation for a planned contract entitled, ““AASHTO MASH Testing for Safety Hardware Devices Used on Off-NHS Roadways.”  This project proposes to follow AASHTO 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) to crash test and document a Steel-Backed Timber roadway barrier, transition, and terminal common to the off-NHS system. This MASH testing will provide additional crashworthy alternative systems for local, federal, and tribal agencies and decrease occupant risk if they impact a device that meets current crash test standards. Under the planned contract, the contractor will be responsible for coordinating with an approved testing facility to at least fabricate the test safety hardware devices, procure test vehicle(s), conduct physical crash testing, and return the crash site to an acceptable condition to the testing facility. The crash testing will be conducted following criteria from the AASHTO 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Upon completion of successful crash testing of the safety hardware device, the contractor will analyze results, and submit the findings to FHWA. 

The scope of work envisions one (1) test plan for each device, utilizing a critical crash test matrix outlining, testing, and analysis methodology that will be pre-approved by FHWA in advance of any testing. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to propose the number of tests deemed necessary and technically acceptable (using a critical matrix) to meet the requirements and objectives of this Contract. Any additional tests (not included in the base tasks) will be considered under Options to include any additional required MASH testing for each respective device not conducted under the base tasks/schedule. 

NOTE: Due to the nature of this study, the contractor must have access to a laboratory that performs crash testing for acceptance of roadside safety hardware. The laboratory must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.