National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADs) Use and Support Services IDIQ

In an effort to improve NHTSA’s ability to evaluate driver behavior and performance, the agency built a high fidelity driving simulator at the University of Iowa (Iowa) that is committed to the performance of research on wheeled highway vehicles such as automobiles and heavy vehicles. This simulator became known as the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS). Accordingly, on March 19, 1993, a Cooperative Agreement was entered into between NHTSA and the University of Iowa (Iowa) to build and later govern NHTSA’s shared use of said device. While working under subsequent Cooperative Agreements, the NADS device, henceforth became known as NADS-1, and fully operational in January 2002. The NADS is physically located at the University of Iowa’s Research Park in Iowa City, Iowa. Subsequently, the University developed a fixed-based simulator for software development and testing that does not require the full range of motion provided by the original simulator. This fixed-based simulator is referred to as NADS-2. Additionally, the University of Iowa developed a third computer-based simulator, the MiniSim; which is a desktop simulator that can be used to review test scenarios or perform low-fidelity data collection. Presently, all 3 pieces of equipment are made available to NHTSA through sole source Contracts since a determination was made that these services should be procured via Contract instead of Cooperative Agreement. NHTSA continues to negotiate terms and conditions with University of Iowa for their use and the building where these simulators are housed being owned by the University. The continued use of these unique simulators is vital to National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) NHTSA’s research and development for testing purposes. Collectively, NADS-1, NADS-2, and MiniSim are referred to as “NADS” and is needed to support the agency. The objective of this contract is to provide NHTSA continued use of the NADS hardware platform, software routines and simulations, and data analysis for a broad range of research and data collection.

Estimated value

$20M - $49M

Contract type

To Be Determined

• NAICS541715
• PSC541715