Tire FMVSS Compliance Testing

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performs tire compliance testing programs each year to ensure tires sold in the US are compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and safe for use on public roadways.

The compliance testing is performed by testing laboratories according to the testing requirements outlined in the regulatory text as well as the provided test procedures published by NHTSA. The test laboratories then have their own in-house test procedures that are specific to their equipment and processes.

Each year the government provides the test lab with a list of tires to be tested. The laboratory then purchases the tires and performs testing to the applicable FMVSS and provides detailed test reports for each test performed.

Typically, the agency completes one testing program per fiscal year and the number of tests each year is subject to funds availability.

Background:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an operating administration of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic-related health care and other 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 identifying tires that may not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 139, FMVSS No. 119, and FMVSS No. 109.

The agency enforces federal requirements for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. To achieve this, the administration develops and conducts compliance programs to test motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment according to the federal standards. The purpose of the standard is to reduce traffic accidents, deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes and assuring that compliant tires are sold and used on US roads.

Objective:

To acquire services associated with the acquisition, inspection, compliance testing, and reporting of tires to assist the government in its enforcement efforts for FMVSS pertaining to tires.

The contractor shall provide additional information specific to the tests conducted for NHTSA, including, but not limited to: test data, photos, video, details about the test set-up, test observations, details about the test item configuration, etc.

When test failures are identified, the NHTSA Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will contact the Contractor and request information to support its investigation of the test results.

Capabilities:

The Contractor shall perform all applicable work in accordance with the testing requirements of the FMVSS and the applicable OVSC Test Procedure (TP) outlined as well as the additional tasks and characteristics given below:

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary qualified personnel, facilities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services to perform work associated with the acquisition, inspection, compliance testing, and test reporting of tires in accordance with the applicable requirements of FMVSS No. 109 New pneumatic and certain specialty tires, FMVSS No. 119 New pneumatic tires for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and motorcycles, and FMVSS No. 139 New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles.   

The Contractor shall provide additional information specific to the tests conducted for NHTSA, including, but not limited to: test data, photos, video, details about the test set-up, test observations, details about the test item configuration, etc.

The Contractor shall conduct the tests in accordance with the procedures specified in Section C.6.4 and the test schedule in Section C.6.4.1.  The Contractor shall prepare and submit Preliminary Documents, Monthly Status Reports, Notification of Test Failure and Interim Failure Reports, and Final Test Reports as specified in Section C.6, Specific Requirements and Section F, Deliveries or Performance.

When test failures are identified, the NHTSA Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will contact the Contractor and request information to support its investigation of the test results. 

Subcontracting is not permitted under this contract with the exception of calibration services as required under this contract.  Subcontracting of tests or any portion of a test is NOT permitted.

All testing shall be conducted and performed within the continental area of the United States of America.

(see attached Draft SOW for more information)