Occupant Protection Surveys

The Kansas Department of Transportation is requesting proposals for occupant protection surveys to be conducted statewide, with proposals due September 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST. Bidders claiming Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Certified Business, or State Use Purchases eligibility may assert preference if supporting documentation is submitted.

The scope includes organizing and administering multiple surveys across 16 designated Kansas counties in collaboration with KDOT's Behavioral Safety Section, law enforcement liaisons, Kansas Turnpike Authority, and state safety advocates. In FFY 2027, the contractor will conduct one summer seat belt survey at 222 sites and one corridor-specific survey at a minimum of 32 high-risk road segments, stratified by road type. In FFY 2028, one summer seat belt survey will be conducted. Observers must record seat belt use for drivers and front outboard passengers, vehicle type, driver gender, distractions, driver age, and law enforcement vehicle status. Summer surveys begin in June following the May Click-it-or-Ticket mobilization and occur during daylight hours. Data collection must meet NHTSA Uniform Criteria with a standard error not exceeding 2.5 percentage points and non-response rate not exceeding 10 percent. The contractor must provide electronic data collection devices, database design, safety equipment (warning signs, caution lights, safety vests, hats), and manual backup solutions for technology failures. All data entry, assembly, cleaning, analysis, verification, and validation are contractor responsibilities. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years of continuous active participation in comparable survey work and provide three references from clients served within the past five years.

The contract period runs from the date of award through September 30, 2027, with an option to renew for one additional twelve-month period contingent upon available federal funding. Funding derives from federal highway safety grants administered through KDOT. The contractor is reimbursed for verified invoices for eligible actual costs under federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), with travel expenses subject to GSA rates and requiring KDOT pre-approval at least six weeks in advance for out-of-state travel. Monthly reimbursement requests are due within thirty days of month-end, and a final annual report is due by November 1. Written questions are due by September 3, 2026 to Procurement Officer Nicki Mears. A Procurement Negotiation Committee will evaluate proposals and may require bidders to appear before the committee. Bidders must obtain a current Tax Clearance Certificate from the Kansas Department of Revenue and register with the State SMART Strategic Sourcing System before bid closing.