DOT awards $8.87M task order for occupant protection surveys to Westat, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $8,867,359 ($8.9M)
Contractor: Westat, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2023-12-14
End Date: 2027-01-14
Contract Duration: 1,127 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER FOR THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SURVEYS. THIS REPLACES PR 693JJ923RQ000025
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $8.9 million to WESTAT, INC. for work described as: ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER FOR THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SURVEYS. THIS REPLACES PR 693JJ923RQ000025 Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the multi-year duration and scope of national surveys. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 3. The contract duration of over three years indicates a need for sustained data collection. 4. Performance context involves critical safety research for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5. Sector positioning is within professional services, specifically accounting and business services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $8.87 million over approximately three years for national occupant protection surveys suggests a fair price for comprehensive data collection and analysis. Benchmarking against similar large-scale survey contracts is difficult without more specific details on survey methodology and sample size, but the cost per year is approximately $2.96 million, which is within a reasonable range for such extensive research.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the use of full and open competition generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential contractors, driving down costs through competitive bidding and ensuring the government receives the best value.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), who will receive crucial data for policy development. Services delivered include the collection and analysis of data related to occupant protection, likely encompassing seat belt usage, child restraint systems, and other safety measures. The geographic impact is national, as occupant protection surveys typically cover all states and diverse populations within the United States. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for survey researchers, data collectors, analysts, and project managers at Westat, Inc.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if survey methodologies are not strictly defined.
- Reliance on accurate self-reported data from survey participants can introduce bias.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
- Long-term contract duration allows for consistent data collection and trend analysis.
- Focus on occupant protection aligns with critical public safety goals.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically under accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services (NAICS 541219), though its application is in social science research. The market for large-scale survey and research services is competitive, with several established firms capable of undertaking such projects. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific scope and methodology of the surveys, but significant government contracts for social science research often range in the millions of dollars.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless Westat, Inc. engages small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed survey methodologies and raw data may be proprietary or subject to privacy regulations.
Related Government Programs
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Research and Development Programs
- Department of Transportation (DOT) Safety Initiatives
- Behavioral Research and Data Collection Contracts
Risk Flags
- Data Accuracy Risk
- Sampling Bias Risk
- Timeliness of Delivery Risk
Tags
transportation, department-of-transportation, nhtsa, professional-services, survey-research, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, maryland, large-contract, safety-research, data-collection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $8.9 million to WESTAT, INC.. ISSUE A NEW TASK ORDER FOR THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SURVEYS. THIS REPLACES PR 693JJ923RQ000025
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WESTAT, INC..
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 $8.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-12-14. End: 2027-01-14.
What is Westat, Inc.'s track record with the Department of Transportation and NHTSA on similar survey contracts?
Westat, Inc. has a significant history of performing research and survey work for federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and NHTSA. They have been involved in numerous projects related to transportation safety, public health, and social science research. For instance, they have conducted large-scale surveys on topics such as distracted driving, seat belt use, and public attitudes towards traffic safety regulations. Their experience typically involves complex sampling designs, data collection across diverse populations, and rigorous statistical analysis. While specific contract values and performance details for past DOT/NHTSA projects are not detailed here, their consistent engagement in this domain suggests a satisfactory performance history and established expertise in meeting government research requirements.
How does the $8.87 million cost compare to similar national occupant protection survey contracts?
Benchmarking the $8.87 million cost for this three-year task order against similar national occupant protection survey contracts is challenging without precise details on the scope, methodology, sample size, and specific data points collected. However, large-scale national surveys for federal agencies, especially those involving complex data collection and analysis over multiple years, frequently cost in the millions of dollars. For context, other federal agencies have awarded contracts in the range of $1 million to $10 million annually for comprehensive research and survey initiatives. The cost per year for this contract is approximately $2.96 million. This figure appears reasonable for a national study requiring significant logistical coordination, participant recruitment, and sophisticated analytical capabilities, assuming it covers a broad spectrum of occupant protection behaviors and attitudes.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?
Key risks for this contract include potential inaccuracies in self-reported survey data, challenges in achieving representative sampling across diverse populations, and the possibility of delays in data collection or analysis. Self-reported data can be subject to social desirability bias, where respondents may not accurately reflect their true behaviors. Achieving a truly representative sample across the entire U.S. is logistically complex and costly. Delays could impact the timeliness of critical safety data for NHTSA's policy decisions. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust survey design, interviewer training, quality control measures for data collection, advanced statistical techniques to adjust for non-response bias, and clear performance metrics and reporting schedules outlined in the contract. Westat's experience in large-scale surveys suggests they have established protocols to address these risks.
How effective is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in leveraging data from such surveys to improve occupant protection?
NHTSA has historically been effective in leveraging data from occupant protection surveys to inform and shape its safety initiatives, regulations, and public awareness campaigns. Surveys provide critical insights into public behavior, attitudes, and barriers related to seat belt use, child restraint systems, and impaired driving. This data helps NHTSA identify trends, target interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs. For example, data on seat belt usage rates informs the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, while information on child passenger safety helps tailor educational materials. The consistent funding and execution of such surveys are vital for NHTSA's evidence-based approach to reducing traffic fatalities and injuries.
What are the historical spending patterns for occupant protection surveys by NHTSA over the last five years?
Historical spending patterns for occupant protection surveys by NHTSA over the last five years show a consistent commitment to data collection in this area, though specific annual figures can fluctuate based on research priorities and the lifecycle of major survey initiatives. NHTSA typically allocates significant portions of its research budget to understanding and improving occupant protection. While exact figures for "occupant protection surveys" as a distinct category are not readily available without deep dives into specific contract awards, the agency consistently awards multi-million dollar contracts for behavioral research, data collection, and program evaluation related to safety belts, child restraints, and impaired driving. The $8.87 million awarded here for a three-year period is indicative of the scale of investment NHTSA makes in obtaining comprehensive, up-to-date data on these critical safety issues.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services › Other Accounting Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 693JJ923Q000040
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1600 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $11,446,120
Exercised Options: $8,867,359
Current Obligation: $8,867,359
Actual Outlays: $6,302,362
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADU223
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-12-14
Current End Date: 2027-01-14
Potential End Date: 2029-07-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-15
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