[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 147 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46764-46767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19239]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Discretionary Cooperative Agreement To Advance Occupant 
Protection Technology in Passenger Vehicles

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of Discretionary Cooperative Agreement to Advance 
Occupant Protection Technology in Passenger Vehicles.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement to advance occupant 
protection technology in passenger vehicles. NHTSA solicits 
applications from for-profit organizations (small or large), non-profit 
organizations and educational institutions. NHTSA's objective is to 
develop and evaluate new technologies and methodologies which have the 
potential for improving the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles and 
protecting their occupants. NHTSA seeks to establish a collaborative 
research effort between NHTSA and a qualified research organization to 
meet the above objective.

[[Page 46765]]


DATES: Applications must be received at the office designated below on 
or before September 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
(NAD-30), ATTN. : Joseph Comella, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room 5301, 
Washington DC 20590. All applications submitted must include a 
reference to NHTSA Program Number NRD-01-0-07301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may 
be directed to Joseph Comella, Office of Contracts and Procurement, at 
202-366-9568 (E-mail [email protected]). Programmatic questions 
should be directed to Ms. Lori Summers, Crashworthiness Research, 
NHTSA, Room 6226 (NRD-11), 400 Seventh Street S.W. Washington, DC 
20590, (202) 366-6734 (E-mail: [email protected]). Interested 
applicants are advised that no separate application package exists 
beyond the contents of this announcement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Each year in the United States, more than 40,000 deaths and 
millions of injuries occur as the direct result of motor vehicle 
traffic crashes. As part of its mission to alleviate this toll, the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vigorously conducts an 
extensive research program to develop and evaluate new technologies and 
methodologies which have the potential for improving the 
crashworthiness of passenger vehicles and protecting their occupants. 
NHTSA is conducting crashworthiness research in the area of developing 
new or enhanced injury countermeasures.

Objective and Purpose

    The proposed cooperative research agreement program seeks to 
establish collaborative research efforts between NHTSA and a qualified 
research organization to study advanced methodologies for occupant 
protection in passenger vehicle crashes. The collaboration will include 
problem definition, sharing of scientific and technical data, joint 
research and the development of new methodologies and technologies for 
occupant crash protection. Research areas could include, but are not 
limited to, the following:

--Advanced frontal occupant restraints.
--Advanced air bag inflator and/or air bag inflation methodologies.
--Adaptive air bag systems to tailor bag deployment over the expected 
range of crash severities, occupant sizes, occupant ages, occupant 
positioning, etc.
--Advanced occupant seating systems.
--Ejection mitigation technologies.
--Intrusion resistance countermeasures.
--Coupling of air bag inflation with anticipatory crash sensing 
technologies.
--Improved vehicle crash sensing methodologies.

    The above list of potential programs constitutes only a sampling of 
the potential research areas. Applicants are encouraged to select from 
these research areas and other areas which are believed to provide the 
potential for practical improvement over current occupant crash 
protection and are most amenable to their special skills and 
experience.
    The program shall include a maximum of three phases including the 
following: (1) Preliminary studies identifying the system performance 
improvement desired, an estimate of additional production costs related 
to the improvement, the benefits to be appreciated from such 
improvement, and the approximate magnitude of national injuries and 
fatalities now occurring due to the absence of the improvement. (2) 
Prototype development and establishment of reliable production costs. 
(3) Prototype demonstration. The duration of each phase will vary 
according to current state-of-the-art, and in some instances, phases 
may overlap.

NHTSA Involvement

    NHTSA will be involved in all activities undertaken as part of the 
cooperative agreement program and will:
    1. Provide one professional staff person to be designated as the 
Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR), to participate 
in the planning and management of the cooperative agreement and 
coordinate activities between the cooperative agreement participant 
organization and NHTSA.
    2. Make available information and technical assistance from 
government sources, within available resources and as determined 
appropriate by the COTR.
    3. Provide liaison with other government agencies and 
organizations, as appropriate.
    4. Stimulate the exchange of ideas, problems, and solutions among 
cooperative agreement recipients who agree to such sharing, and if 
appropriate, NHTSA contractors and other interested parties; and
    5. Share nonproprietary information developed at Government expense 
with the scientific and industrial community.

Availability of Funds and Period of Support

    The Cooperative Agreements may be awarded for a total period of 
support of up to four years. It is currently intended that no single 
award as a result of this notice shall exceed $150,000 per year.
    The agency anticipates awarding multiple cooperative agreements for 
a base period of 12 months. NHTSA may choose to extend the period of 
performance under this agreement for three additional 12 month periods 
subject to availability of funds. If NHTSA elects to extend the period 
of performance, it will notify the recipient within 50 days prior to 
the expiration of this agreement. Funds allocated for these cooperative 
agreements are not intended to cover all of the costs that will be 
incurred in the process of completing the project. Applicants should 
demonstrate a commitment of financial or in-kind resources to support 
the proposed project.

Eligibility Requirements

    In order to be eligible to participate in this cooperative 
agreement program, an applicant must be a for-profit organization 
(small or large), a non-profit organization, or an educational 
institution. Consortiums of organizations from any of the above 
categories may apply. Regardless of the type of organization applying 
for Federal assistance, no fee or profit will be allowed.

Application Procedure

    Each applicant must submit one original and two copies of its 
application package to: Office of Contracts and Procurement (NAD-30), 
NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5301, Washington, D.C. 20590. An 
additional three copies will facilitate the review process, but are not 
required. Applications are due no later than 45 days after the 
appearance of the announcement in the Federal Register. Only complete 
application packages received by the due date will be considered. The 
applicant shall specifically identify any information in the 
application which is to be treated as proprietary, in accordance with 
the procedures of 49 CFR 512 Confidential Business Information. 
Applications must include a reference to NHTSA program number NRD-01-0-
07301. The proposal shall not exceed 35 pages, not including budget 
proposal, letters of endorsement or support, and resumes.

Application Contents

    The application package must be submitted with a Standard Form 424, 
Application for Federal Assistance,

[[Page 46766]]

including 424A, Budget Information--Nonconstruction Program, and 424B 
Assurances--Nonconstruction Programs, with the required information 
filled in and the certified assurances included. The OMB Standard Forms 
SF-424, SF-424A, and SF424B may be downloaded directly from the OMB 
Internet web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html. 
While the Form 424-A deals with budget information, and Section B 
identifies Budget Categories, the available space does not permit a 
level of detail which is sufficient to provide for a meaningful 
evaluation of the proposed costs. A supplemental sheet should be 
provided which presents a detailed breakdown of the proposed costs 
(direct labor, including labor categories, level of effort and rate; 
direct material, including itemized equipment; travel and 
transportation, including projected trips and number of people 
traveling; subcontracts with similar cost detail, if known; and 
overhead costs) as well as any costs which the applicant proposes to 
contribute in support of this effort. The budget should detail cost for 
each year of the proposed project. Also, the application shall include 
a program narrative statement which contains the following:
    1. A description of the research to be pursued which addresses:
    a. The objectives, goals, and anticipated outcomes of the proposed 
research effort;
    b. The method or methods that will be used;
    c. The source of crash and injury statistics to be used;
    d. The vehicle occupant protection population and crash modes to be 
addressed;
    e. The project's estimated benefits, e.g., amount of lives saved or 
injuries reduced, potential for timely development, reduction in 
vehicle crashes, etc.
    2. An organizational plan detailing a plan of action for 
accomplishing the proposed work. The plan should include a time line of 
projected activities and milestones. The proposed program director and 
other key personnel should be identified for participation in the 
proposed research effort, including a description of their 
qualifications and their organizational responsibilities.
    3. A description of the test facilities and equipment currently 
available or to be obtained for use in the conduct of the proposed 
research and development effort. Also, where human subjects are 
proposed, a description of the policy and plan for protection of the 
rights and welfare of human subjects to meet the requirements of NHTSA 
Order 700 series.
    4. A description of the applicant's previous experience or on-going 
research program that is related to this proposed research effort.
    5. A detailed schedule and budget for the proposed research effort, 
including any cost-sharing contribution proposed by the applicant as 
well as any additional financial commitments made by other sources.
    6. A statement of any technical assistance which the applicant may 
require of NHTSA in order to successfully complete the proposed 
program.

Application Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    Initially, all applications will be screened to ensure that they 
meet the eligibility requirements and to ensure that applications 
contain all information required by the Application Contents of this 
Notice. Each complete application from an eligible recipient will then 
be evaluated by an Evaluation Committee. Factors one and two are most 
important, then the factors are listed in descending order. The 
applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
    1. The applicant's understanding of the purpose and unique problems 
represented by the research objectives of this cooperative agreement 
program as evidenced in the description of its proposed research and 
development effort. Specific attention will be placed upon the 
applicant's stated proposed development and demonstration effort.
    2. The potential of the proposed research effort accomplishments to 
make a timely and an innovative and/or significant contribution to 
occupant protection technology knowledge as it may be applied to saving 
lives and reducing injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. The 
potential of the project to save lives, reduce injuries, and result in 
timely development and implementation by vehicle manufacturers will be 
evaluated.
    3. The technical and financial merit of the proposed research 
effort, including the feasibility of the approach, practicability, 
planned methodology, and anticipated results. Financial merit will be 
estimated by the cost of the cooperative agreement to be borne by NHTSA 
and the in-kind contribution provided by the applicant as compared to 
the anticipated benefits to vehicle crash occupants.
    4. The adequacy of test facilities and equipment identified to 
accomplish the proposed research.
    5. The adequacy of the organizational plan for accomplishing the 
proposed research effort, including the qualifications and experience 
of the research team, the various disciplines represented, and the 
relative level of effort proposed for professional, technical, and 
support staff.

Terms and Conditions of the Award

    1. The protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in 
NHTSA-sponsored experiments is established in NHTSA Orders 700-1 and 
700-3. Any recipient must satisfy the requirements and guidelines of 
these NHTSA Orders 700 series prior to any actual testing or research 
involving human subjects.
    2. Prior to award, the recipient must comply with the certification 
requirements of 49 CFR Part 29--Department of Transportation 
Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and 
Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants).
    3. During the effective period of the cooperative agreement, the 
agreement shall be subject to NHTSA's General Provisions for Assistance 
Agreements; the cost principles of OMB Circular A-21, A-122, or FAR 
31.2, as applicable to the recipient, and the requirements of 49 CFR 
Part 29 and Certificate Regarding Lobbying 49 CFR 20. Each agreement 
with a non-profit organization or an educational institution shall also 
be subject to the general administrative requirements of 49 CFR Part 
19.
    4. The cooperative agreement will include the provisions of Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 52 contract clause 52.227-11 Patent 
Rights Retention by the Contractor (short form).

5. Reporting Requirements

a. Written Research Reports

    The recipient shall submit bimonthly research reports suitable for 
public dissemination which shall be due 15 days after the reporting 
period, and a final research report within 45 days after completion of 
the research effort. An original and three copies of each of these 
research reports shall be submitted to the COTR.

b. Oral Briefings

    The recipient shall conduct semiannual oral presentations of 
research results for the COTR and other interested NHTSA personnel. 
These presentations will be conducted at the NHTSA Office of Vehicle 
Safety Research, Washington D.C. An original and three copies shall be 
submitted to the COTR.

[[Page 46767]]

c. Data Reports

    Dynamic and other data measured in research, development, and 
prototype evaluation and demonstration tests will be provided by the 
recipient within 3 weeks after the data is obtained, in the format of a 
data package as described below. The recipient may be relieved of the 
data package report requirement for certain activities by agreement 
from the COTR.
    A data package consists of high speed film, paper test report, and 
magnetic tape complying with the NHTSA Data Tape Reference Guide. The 
NHTSA's Crashworthiness Division maintains a Vehicle Crash Test and a 
Component Data Base which it provides upon request to the public.
    To facilitate the input of data as well as the exchange of 
information, the recipient must provide the magnetic tape in the format 
specified in the ``NHTSA Data Tape Reference Guide''. A copy of this 
document may be obtained from the programmatic information contact or 
on the NHTSA website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

    Issued on: July 25, 2000.
Raymond P. Owings,
Associate Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-19239 Filed 7-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P