SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA FOR TRACTOR CAB DESIGN APPLICATIONS
- Notice Date
- 7/2/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Morgantown), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505
- ZIP Code
- 26505
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-DSR-04-05
- Response Due
- 8/2/2004
- Archive Date
- 8/17/2004
- Point of Contact
- Brenda Goodwin, Contract Specialist, Phone (304)285-5882, Fax (304)285-6083, - Brenda Goodwin, Contract Specialist, Phone (304)285-5882, Fax (304)285-6083,
- E-Mail Address
-
bcg1@cdc.gov, bcg1@cdc.gov
- Description
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking to sign a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to work with a tractor manufacturer to test a seated 3-dimensional anthropometric database that NIOSH has previously established, for evaluating existing cab designs and for new tractor-cab design. The goal of this project is to advance the safety of operators of tractors by bringing the most updated anthropometric information into tractor design and into the marketplace. This announcement is a business opportunity in that the partner selected will share expertise with NIOSH researchers toward transferring the NIOSH anthropometric data and tractor research results into an improved and marketable product. Tractors are workspaces for many agriculture workers. Well-designed human-tractor interfaces, such as well-accommodated tractor operator enclosures (i.e., cabs, hand-and-foot controls, and protection frames) can enhance worker productivity, comfort, and safety. Good human-tractor-interface design ensures that a tractor cab and roll-over protective structure (ROPS) will accommodate the body size of agricultural workers. In the design process for operator cabs, adjustments for brake reach and linkages, seat position, and seat height must be designed to position all potential operators so that they can adequately reach the brake controls and see over the tractor and beyond the protection frames. In addition, the cab space must to be arranged in such a way that the steering wheel, hand controls, and seat do not hinder the driver?s operation. Moreover, the dimensions of the ROPS should adequately accommodate tractor drivers during normal operation and protect them from injury during a rollover. A review of the historical anthropometric sources for the agriculture tractor design standards (ISO-3411-1982, SAE J833-1989, SAE J898-1994) reveals that they are based on dimensions which were derived from U.S. Army population databases collected in the 1960's and 1970's. An updated anthropometric data set of the nation?s agricultural workers and an adequate anthropometric procedure are needed for establishing validated anthropometric criteria for tractor design. NIOSH has completed a pilot laboratory study that identified the critical anthropometric measurements related to tractor cab accommodation, and developed representative anthropometric tractor-operator models and the 3-dimensional feature envelopes of their body landmarks for tractor-cab-space design and protection-frame-dimension determination consideration. The 3-dimensional seated scans of 100 participants are available. NIOSH wishes to work with a tractor manufacturer to test the seated 3D anthropometric database for evaluating existing cab designs and for a new tractor-cab design process. The partner manufacturer will complete the following tasks within 1 year after the LOA is signed: (1) select a tractor model to be evaluated and provide the dimensions that the manufacturer used, (2) develop a study protocol for evaluating the selected model, (3) complete the evaluation of the selected model based on the NIOSH 3D scan data, (4) complete new design of an improved cab system based on the NIOSH data, and (5) provide a study report to NIOSH. Candidate companies are requested to submit Collaborative Capabilities information (in literature, electronic presentation, or video) at this point to demonstrate their capability to successfully perform the above mentioned tasks. The Collaborative Capabilities parameters include (A) technical expertise in designing and manufacturing tractors (Required), (B) expertise in utilizing 3D anthropometric information for product evaluation or design process (Required), (C) expertise in preparing and conducting laboratory evaluations of human-product interface (Required), (D) expertise in reviewing test results and recommending design modifications (Required), (E) experience in writing both technical and lay-language reports (Required), and (F) working with standards organizations to provide NIOSH input so that the new anthropometric information can be fully utilized to benefit our workforce (Optional). Candidate companies which appear to possess the greatest capacity to meet the requirements listed in the Collaborative Capabilities parameters will be evaluated for their capabilities to complete the tasks outlined in the announcement. This announcement does not obligate NIOSH to sign an LOA with any presented company. NIOSH reserves the right to establish a partnership based on engineering and design capabilities and business commitment found under this announcement or other searches, if determined to be the best interest of the Government. NIOSH is seeking an innovative partner to test the NIOSH seated 3D anthropometric database for evaluating existing cab designs and for new tractor-cab design process. A company that is qualified and currently manufacturing, designing, or fabricating tractors is highly desired. However, past testing and design of tractor is not required. Interested parties responding to this request should provide detailed information regarding capabilities. If prior testing or design has been performed and has involved the use of anthropometric data in the process, the test information and results should be provided. Presentation material may consist of literature, electronic presentation, or video. Samples and data provided to the government as part of this solicitation will not be returned following the completion of this project. Companies may be offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of the project team following a review of all submitted data. Data and/or product samples must be delivered to NIOSH within four weeks (20 business days) of the closing of this announcement. Although every effort will be made to consider all information received, the government will not be obligated to evaluate information received after the four-week period. Companies should note any proprietary data as such. If any data is to be excluded from exchange with any of the project participants, a statement of that fact shall be included with the statement of propriety. Personal presentations from interested companies at the NIOSH facility are optional but encouraged. The government has identified September 27th and 28th, 2004 for these presentations to be conducted. The Government reserves the right to identify an alternate meeting date if those identified are not viable for one or more interested vendors. Please send literature (3 copies) to and coordinate with: Hongwei Hsiao, Ph.D., Project Officer and Chief of the Protective Technology Branch, CDC/NIOSH, MS/G800, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, Phone : 304-285-5910, Fax : 304-285-6047, hxh4@cdc.gov.
- Record
- SN00614609-W 20040704/040702211709 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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