DOT awards $5.98M contract for crash injury coding system to American Automotive Safety Research LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,979,135 ($6.0M)
Contractor: American Automotive Safety Research LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2020-12-17
End Date: 2026-06-20
Contract Duration: 2,011 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: 5-YEAR CONTRACT FOR CRASH INVESTIGATION SAMPLING SYSTEM (CISS) INJURY CODING
Place of Performance
Location: NOVI, OAKLAND County, MICHIGAN, 48375
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $6.0 million to AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH LLC for work described as: 5-YEAR CONTRACT FOR CRASH INVESTIGATION SAMPLING SYSTEM (CISS) INJURY CODING Key points: 1. Contract awarded to American Automotive Safety Research LLC for a crash investigation sampling system. 2. The contract has a 5-year duration, ending in June 2026. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the procuring agency. 5. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure allows for cost reimbursement plus a fixed fee, which can incentivize contractors to increase costs to increase their fee. Without detailed cost breakdowns, it's difficult to assess if the $5.98M is competitive.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: While competition is positive, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure warrants careful monitoring to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently.
Public Impact
Enhances NHTSA's ability to collect and analyze data on crash-related injuries. Supports efforts to improve vehicle safety standards and reduce fatalities. Potential for improved public safety through data-driven policy recommendations. The system's effectiveness will depend on the quality of data collected and analyzed.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize cost escalation.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to gauge effectiveness.
- Potential for scope creep given the nature of research and development.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Supports a critical government function for public safety.
- Long-term contract allows for sustained data collection and analysis.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category. Benchmarking costs for similar data collection and analysis systems can be challenging due to the specialized nature of crash injury coding.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires robust oversight from NHTSA to ensure costs are reasonable and the fixed fee is justified. Regular performance reviews and audits are crucial for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Transportation Contracting
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
- Potential for cost overruns.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
- No indication of small business participation.
- Broad service category makes direct cost comparison difficult.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-transportation, mi, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $6.0 million to AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH LLC. 5-YEAR CONTRACT FOR CRASH INVESTIGATION SAMPLING SYSTEM (CISS) INJURY CODING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $6.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-12-17. End: 2026-06-20.
What is the estimated cost per injury coded under this contract, and how does it compare to industry benchmarks?
The total contract value is $5.98 million over approximately 5.75 years. This equates to roughly $1.04 million per year. Without specific details on the volume of injuries to be coded, a precise per-unit cost is difficult to establish. However, if the system aims to code thousands of injuries annually, the per-unit cost could be relatively low. Benchmarking requires access to similar contracts or industry data on injury coding costs.
What are the primary risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type in this context?
The main risk with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract is that the contractor may have less incentive to control costs, as their fee is fixed regardless of the actual expenses incurred. This can lead to cost overruns if the government's oversight is insufficient. Additionally, defining the 'fixed fee' accurately upfront can be challenging for complex research and development projects like this.
How will the effectiveness of the CISS injury coding system be measured to ensure it meets NHTSA's objectives?
The effectiveness of the CISS injury coding system will likely be measured by its ability to accurately and consistently code injury data from crash investigations. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should include data accuracy rates, completeness of coding, timeliness of data submission, and the system's utility in identifying trends and informing safety recommendations. Regular performance reviews by NHTSA will be critical.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 693JJ920R000001
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 24548 OLDE ORCHARD ST, NOVI, MI, 48375
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,979,135
Exercised Options: $5,979,135
Current Obligation: $5,979,135
Actual Outlays: $5,148,678
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-12-17
Current End Date: 2026-06-20
Potential End Date: 2026-06-20 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-03
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