SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- LOW COST ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE TO RETROFIT FARM TRACTORS
- Notice Date
- 2/17/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 333111
— Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
- 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-RFI-2006-MGW-0005
- Response Due
- 3/6/2006
- Archive Date
- 3/21/2006
- Description
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking collaborative partners to commercially produce cost-effective rollover protective structures (CROPS). In previous NIOSH work, CROPS designs have been developed, tested per ROPS consensus standard SAE J2194, and are available for commercialization by private industry. The goal of this project is to improve the safety of farmers and other tractor operators by introducing lower cost retrofit ROPS options into the marketplace. Approximately half of the tractors in the United States have ROPS installed. This means that about 2.3 million tractors need ROPS installed. Previous NIOSH research has produced designs for the following five tractor models: Farmall-M, Farmall-H, Ford-8N, Ford-3000, and Ford-4000. These five tractor models represent more than 290,000 of all tractors operating in the U.S. without ROPS in 1993 (year of most complete survey data). This announcement is a business opportunity in that the partner selected will share expertise with NIOSH researchers toward making CROPS designs for various tractor models affordable and attractive to a potentially large market. Retrofit ROPS do exist for many tractor models. However, when installation costs are included, these ROPS can be cost prohibitive to tractor owners. NIOSH has developed CROPS designs with cost in mind and has targeted popular models which either have no retrofit ROPS currently available, or, if a retrofit ROPS does exist, it costs more than average (compared to other ROPS retrofit kits). The NIOSH designs assemble as components and can typically be installed by one person without the need for special lifting equipment. Candidate companies, which appear to provide the most promise of meeting the requirements listed below, will be evaluated by their capability to complete the research and development needed to bring CROPS designs into commercial production. NIOSH does not guarantee to enter into collaboration with any presented company. NIOSH reserves the right to establish a partnership based on engineering analysis/evaluation capabilities described in this announcement or other searches, if determined to be in the best interest of the government. CROPS Commercialization Capabilities Parameters: (Companies should meet all of these requirements, but highly innovative solutions are not discouraged from presentation or response.) (A) Providing significant intellectual, engineering, and technical expertise in manufacturing CROPS designs. Provide assistance in setting realistic product cost objectives and provide suggestions on how CROPS designs can achieve product cost goals - Required; (B) Fabricating prototypes for test and evaluation. Prototype designs require the ability to cut and bend 3/8? steel plate and to cut tubing Painting or equivalent weather proofing - Required; (C) Producing commercial CROPS for purchase. Any partnering company assumes any/all liability for ensuring that commercial CROPS meet applicable federal and/or state regulations - Required; (D) Reviewing test results and recommending design modifications - Required; (F) Identifying sources of tractor frames needed to structurally test CROPS ? Not required but desired. NIOSH is seeking an innovative partner to address these major areas. A company that is qualified and currently is producing ROPS or similar devices is highly desired. However, past testing and design of devices exactly like CROPS is not required. If prior testing has been performed, sample test information and results should be provided. Interested parties responding to this request should provide detailed information regarding capabilities, test results, and cost data. 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 to vendors following the completion of this project.) Data and/or product samples must be delivered to NIOSH within two weeks (10 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 two week period. Vendors 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. Please direct technical questions and correspondence to: Al Amendola, CROPS Technical Representative CDC/NIOSH, MS/G800 1095 Willowdale Road Morgantown, WV 26505 Phone : 304-285-6386 Fax : 304-285-6047 aamendola@cdc.gov (Please include 3 copies). Please include the reference number RFI-2006-MGW-0005.
- Record
- SN00990449-W 20060219/060217211913 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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