Introduction: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the United States Department of Transportation, is responsible for reducing the number of injuries and deaths on highways resulting from vehicle crashes.

Specific Requirements: NHTSA intends to procure Hydrogen Vehicle fuel System Safety Research of which the objective is to generate data to assess the safety performance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fuel systems under similar crash conditions to those prescribed in the existing FMVSS, and to identify and assess any additional life-cycle safety hazards imposed by utilization of these unique propulsion systems. The contractor shall: 1) provide the facilities, personnel, expertise, material, and equipment necessary to perform fuel system integrity testing and evaluation of hydrogen vehicle fuel systems and fuel system components; 2) prepare a work plan, subject to COTR approval, for conducting safety performance research testing on hydrogen fuel containers, container arrays, packaged fuel systems, purpose built fuel systems (e.g. sleds or modified production vehicles) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hydrogen vehicles; 3) have the capability to design and assemble purpose built test articles for evaluation. An example of such a test article would be the retrofit of a commercially available hybrid electric/gasoline fueled vehicle with a hydrogen fuel system and fuel cell stack for safety testing of the high pressure storage system and postcrash electrical isolation; and 4) propose a research test plan in general accordance with current or proposed hydrogen fuel component/system safety assessment testing. The test plan shall include a test matrix and schedule, based on availability of components, vehicles, and the time required to fabricate test articles when vehicles are not available. Testing is to include, but is not limited to: Pressure-cycling, Hydrostatic burst, Bonfire, Flame impingement, Drop/Impact, Impact/Crash/Sled Testing, Penetration, and Permeation Testing.
Contract Award: NHTSA intends to award an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Research and Development Contract on a Time and Materials basis.

The period of performance is for a three (3) year Base Period and, if exercised by the Government, a two (2) year option period. The period of performance will be a total 5 years. This solicitation is full and open competition to include international sources.

Solicitation: The solicitation will be available for downloading from on or about December 20, 2007. All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via e-mail to chelly.johnson-jones@nhtsa.dot.gov no later than January 7, 2007. The anticipated award date for this resultant contract is expected on or about June 30, 2007.