State of Practice on Oral Fluid Programs

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 is to identify active oral fluid programs across the United States to document program implementation, practices, protocols, benefits and challenges to assist other states with similar programs. 

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 based on 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 issue a Request for Proposals (RFP).  However, should such a requirement fail to materialize, no basis for claims against NHTSA shall arise because of a response to this notice.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for keeping people safe on America’s roadways. Through enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments, NHTSA reduces deaths, injuries and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes. The agency develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering and enforcement programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies and reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. The Impaired Driving Division supports and advances NHTSA’s mission by developing and sharing programs proven to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities from impaired driving.  The office supports the development of behavioral safety programs and tools increases awareness about the risks of impaired driving.

To assist the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in fulfilling its mission of saving lives and preventing injuries, the Contractor will work with NHTSA to identify at least three states with active oral fluid programs to document program implementation, practices, protocols, benefits, and challenges to assist other states with similar programs.

Background:

Driving impaired by any drug, including alcohol, is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. Territories. This includes impairment from prescription and over-the-counter medications, cannabis, and illegal drugs. However, no commercially breath-based, or other detection technology is currently available to measure impairment from drugs other than alcohol. With the legalization of cannabis in many states and the opioid epidemic, law enforcement seeks on-site screening tools to aid in the detection of drug-impaired drivers.

Oral fluid testing for drugs is increasingly used by law enforcement officers at the roadside to test for drug use and establish probable cause and potential reimbursement for use of these devices is supported in the current NHTSA authorization (23 USC (d)(4)(B)(xi)(I)). Law enforcement state oral fluid sample collection can be more easily collected than blood and can be quickly collected before drug metabolites dissipate. Potential shortcomings of oral fluid include its ability to detect some metabolites but not all and detection of drug presence only and not impairment.

Several manufacturers have been developing portable on-site oral fluid drug-testing (screening) devices designed for use in the field. NHTSA (2021) evaluated five different devices commonly marketed to and used by law enforcement. The laboratory study assessed the screening devices’ accuracy, reliability and performance compared to manufacturer specifications. It also examined their susceptibility to interference and resistance to extremes of temperature and humidity (Buzby et al, 2021).  The results indicated the five tested devices showed variability in performance across devices and across drugs on measures of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

Use of oral fluid by states varies based on lab capability, legal framework, training, and other factors [1]AAA and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) have developed tools for implementing these programs.
 

Objective(s):

To ensure technical accuracy, relevancy, and consistency the Contractor shall create a working group. The Contractor, with assistance from the working group, will conduct a landscape and policy scan and report results to include 1) data, research, and resources related to active oral fluid screening and confirmatory testing programs; 2) a research review of and information on oral fluid devices; 3)  a review of Federal, State, and local laws, protocols, regulations, trends, and information specific to oral fluids programs, and 4) a consolidation of stakeholder recommendations for oral fluid programs.

Additionally, the Contractor and the working group will create a lesson learned document to assist states developing an oral fluid program. This document will include promising practices as well as the benefits and challenges of oral fluid programs.

The Contractor shall provide the necessary qualified personnel, facilities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services as identified in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW).
 

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS

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 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 must be received no later than 10 calendar days from the date of publication or by the closing date of this notice.

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, firms should respond using the format requested in this Notice.

Please provide the following information for your firm and for any teaming or joint venture partners:
 

General Information

1. Company name, address, point of contact name, telephone, and email address.
2. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code.
3. Business size and classification (e.g., large, small, small-disadvantaged, SBA Certified 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, woman-owned) based on NAICS code: 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.
4. If applicable, potential proposed teaming arrangements to include business size and classification of prime and subcontractors.
5. GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Number (FSS must include NAICS code 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
6. Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS code: 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Technical Capability:

1. Provide a brief synopsis to support the firm’s ability to perform all potential areas of the objective/scope.  Identify each task element and provide information to support the firm’s experience, staffing and overall ability to perform the technical area.
2. Evidence of experience and past performance should include contracts/task orders from the past three (3) years similar in scope to this requirement.
3. Examples must include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, periods of performance, and Government points of contact (telephone numbers or email addresses).
4. Documented information to support the firm’s ability to provide the range of research skillsets capability to quickly plan, conduct, and document studies; AND personnel required for this effort in a timely fashion.
5. Any data on previous contracts/task orders on personnel retention and succession planning.

Additional Information:

1. Indicate if your firm will submit a proposal if a Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued, and if your firm’s interest is for Prime contracting, teaming agreement or Joint Venture.
2. Validation of, or recommended NAICS codes for this effort.
3. Validation of, or recommended contract type.
4. Validation of, or recommended GSA vehicle
5. In each potential areas of research, indicate any Small Business Subcontracting opportunities, as applicable.
6. Other Recommendations
   a) Any information missing from this requirement that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired.
   b) Please submit any other questions or comments along with your response.

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS

Department of Transportation (DOT) Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

[1] Gross, A, (2022). Use of Oral Fluid to Detect Drugged Drivers: A Toolkit for Lawmakers, Toxicologists & Criminal Justice Professionals. AAA.​