Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) Operations Center

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 to collect and analyze information, identify information gaps; develop and test content, have a network of transportation safety professionals, implement demonstration projects, as well has the capacity to develop training, materials and resources on pedestrian safety.

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

Background:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for reducing the personal injury and property losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA relies on many sources of internal information to adequately measure the characteristics and needs of the highway safety environment. Data derived NHTSA’s data collection systems are essential to reducing the human and economic cost of motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA’s various data systems are the only source of real-world crash data for conducting basic research, identifying problem areas, developing effective countermeasures, identifying program and rulemaking needs, developing, and evaluating programs, creating rules and standards, evaluating new technologies and providing information to accurately assess and allocate grants for reducing crashes.  

In the late 1970s, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) devised a multidisciplinary approach to meet the data needs of its end users that utilized an efficient combination of census, sample-based and state-data files to provide nationally representative traffic crash data on a timely basis. NCSA operated data programs consisting of records-based systems (crash records recoded for uniformity) which included the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (NASS-GES), and detailed crash investigation-based systems which included the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) and the Special Crash Investigations (SCI) program.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was established in 1975 and is a data collection system that provides a census of all fatal traffic crashes in the United States. FARS data provides support for most of the traffic and highway safety programs aimed at reducing the number of fatalities on the nation’s highways and are extensively cited in legislative, enforcement and educational programs. These data are collected on a purely voluntary basis through cooperative agreements between NHTSA and each of the fifty (50) States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) commenced in 1977 with ten (10) initial contract awards to Primary Sampling Units (PSU) research teams and two (2) quality control Zone Centers. The system grew to fifty (50) PSUs and four (4) Zone Centers in 1981. The program underwent a review by NHTSA and other organizations in 1986 to assess its usefulness, efficiency, and statistical precision. NHTSA determined from that review that modifications were needed in case selection, data set definition and PSU strata distribution. As a result, NASS was divided into two (2) systems in 1988: Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) and General Estimates System (NASS-GES). NASS-CDS focused on the crashworthiness of passenger cars, light trucks and vans involved in crashes and damaged enough to be towed. NASS-GES collected limited data on other highway crashes to produce general estimates.

NASS-CDS was originally conceived to operate seventy-five (75) data collection sites; however, it was never fully funded to collect data from the originally planned seventy-five (75) sites, capping out at twenty-four (24) sites beginning in 1991. These twenty-four (24) data collection sites, known as PSUs, resided in seventeen (17) states, and were supported by two (2) quality control Zone Centers. 

The NASS-CDS obtained PCRs that included passenger vehicles that were towed due to the severity of the damage and had a high potential for major injury. These crashes were systematically selected for a full investigation if certain conditions were met. Once selected for further investigation, the process included interviewing drivers and occupants, inspecting scenes and vehicles, reviewing official medical reports, and reconstructing crash dynamics. 

NASS-GES consisted of thirty-six (36) PSUs located in nine (9) states. Each GES PSU collected certain information from PCRs, which were used to generate estimates of the nation's highway crash experience. The PCRs were the only source of information and certain variables were completed using data obtained from the PCR. The NASS-GES became the sole source of national estimates statistics on police-reported injuries other than fatalities. 

To combine the strengths of the NASS system while addressing its limitations and the desires of the transportation community, NHTSA undertook a modernization effort to upgrade its data systems by improving the information technology infrastructure, updating the data collected and reexamining the geographical sampling sites (PSUs). The goal of this overall modernization effort was to develop a new crash data system that met the current and future data needs of all parties, while being flexible enough to adapt to the changing priorities of the agency and its partners going forward. NASS-CDS and GES were therefore phased out in 2015 and replaced by the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) and Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), respectively. The data collection sites (PSUs) for both were selected independently, meaning that the CISS PSU sites were not a subsample of the CRSS PSU sites or vice versa. By chance, it was possible that some of the new CISS sites and new CRSS sites were located at or near the same location. CISS and CRSS are collectively referred to as the Crash Data Acquisition Network (CDAN).

CISS is comprised of up to seventy-three (73) CISS PSUs that are directly managed by a PSU Operations Center. Cases produced by the PSUs need a thorough quality control data review and this work is completed by a Quality Control Center (QCC). The injury data produced by PSUs receives specialized quality control reviews that is completed by an Injury Coding Center (ICC).

Objective:

The objective of this contract is to provide timely, efficient, and effective support for the PSU Operations Center (PSUOC) for NHTSA’s Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS). The activities include the establishment and operational guidance of personnel at the seventy-three (73) CISS PSUs, the administrative oversight, staffing, and management of work locations, and the standard data collection activities using CISS Data Systems. The seventy-three (73) CISS PSUs consist of sixty-five (65) that are already operational and eight (8) to be added in 2027.

Capabilities:

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide the necessary qualified personnel, facilities, materials, supplies, equipment, and services as identified in the attached Draft Statement of Work (SOW). There are thirteen (13) performance areas that are discussed in further detail, see the Draft SOW:

1.         PSU Operations Center and PSUs;

2.         Establish PSU Staff;

3.         Data Collection Coding Activities;

4.         PSU Personnel Management and Replacement;

5.         PSU Area Documentation;

6.         PSU Local Cooperation;

7.         In-House Quality Control;

8.         Non-Sample Jurisdiction Counts;

9.         Meeting and Workshops;

10.       Reporting Requirements;

11.       Training Requirements;

12        Special Studies; and

13.       Transition

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: 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical 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 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
6. Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS code: 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

Technical Capability:

1. Provide a brief synopsis to support the firm’s ability to perform all of 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 firms 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
   1. Any information missing from this requirement that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired.
   2. 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.