A --TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VEHICLE CRASH TEST

NA The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center has a requirement for a task order contract to obtain and analyze light duty vehicle and dummy responses during vehicle tests of various crash modes and dummy responses during sled tests; and to obtain and analyze data from static crush tests for the characterization of vehicles structures. The Contractor shall (a) conduct dynamic crash tests, sled tests and static crush tests of late model production and/or modified vehicles, (b) reduce and evaluate for reasonableness the resulting data, (c) refurbish, repair and modify late model year production vehicles before and/or after tests, (d) analyze the data from the sensors and films and prepare tests reports, and (e) perform modeling and analysis as requested to supplement the test activity. An Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity type, Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) (completion), and Firm Fixed Price (FFP) task order type contract is anticipated for a four-year effort. Multiple awards for this procurement may be considered. The solicitation will be released using full and open competition. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 541380. The standard is $10 Million. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered. The estimated release date of the solicitation will be 05/07/2004. Proposals will be due approximately 30 days following the issuance of the solicitation. The Volpe Center uses electronic commerce to issue RFPs and amendments to RFPs. Paper copies of the RFP or amendments will not be issued. Telephone req uests will not be honored. The solicitation and any document related to this procurement will be available on the Internet; these documents will be available in text format and reside on a WWW server, which may be accessed using Web browsers. The WWW address, or URL, of the Volpe Center Acquisition Division home page is: http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/index.html. Offerors desiring to receive electronic notification of the solicitation's posting and availability for downloading may register at the Volpe Center site. Contractors are warned that when they register to receive solicitations, amendments, and other notices, the responsibility for providing the Government with an accurate and complete E-mail address lies with the contractor. The Government will make no additional efforts to deli ver information when the system indicates that transmissions cannot be delivered to the e-mail address provided. This Notice is for informational purposes for Minority, Women-Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), has programs to assist minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises to acquire short-term working capital and bonding assistance for transportation-related contracts. This is applicable to any eligible prime or subcontract at any tier. The DOT Bonding Assistance Program enables firms to apply for bid, performance, and payment bonds up to $1.0 million per contract. The DOT provides an 80% guaranty on the bond amount to a surety against losses. Loans are also available under the DOT Short Term Lending Program (STLP) at prime interest rates to provide accounts receivable financing. The maximum line of credit is $500,000. For further information and applicable forms concerning Bonding Assistance Program and/or the STLP, please call the OSDBU at (800) 532-1169. For information concerning the acquisition, contact the contracting official in writing by email at [email protected] TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.