National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Cooperative Agreement for Odometer Fraud Investigations

Notice Date: 22 April 2013.
Solicitation Number: DTNH22-13-R-00701. Response Due: 10 May 2013.

BACKGROUND: Public Law 103-272, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 327, formerly the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, prohibits tampering with odometers to protect vehicle buyers from the practice of concealing a vehicle’s true mileage by turning back or disconnecting the odometer. The law also requires that a written disclosure of the vehicle mileage be provided each time transfer of ownership occurs. The law recognizes that mileage is an important indicator of a vehicle’s condition and value. Odometer tampering is a widespread nationwide deception. NHTSA estimates the annual cost of odometer fraud to consumers to be a billion dollars annually.
Enforcement officials share the belief that an effective odometer fraud enforcement program can have a significant impact on reducing the incidents of odometer fraud and its impact on consumers. This can be done through cooperation with various State, Local, and Federal Enforcement and Regulatory Agencies. Typical Governmental entities that work in cooperation with NHTSA are State and County Motor Vehicle Tilting Agencies, State Public Safety and Consumer Protection Agencies, State Tax and Revenue Agencies, as well as Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. The State Attorneys General and the U.S. Attorney General have responsibility for prosecuting cases based on the investigative efforts of these enforcement agencies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is for NHTSA to support state-agency odometer fraud enforcement efforts by providing technical investigative expertise and federal funds. Federal funds may be used for one or more of the following initiatives: equip enforcement personnel with tools necessary to conduct odometer fraud investigations, travel and/or material in support odometer fraud of training, research related odometer tampering fraud, odometer fraud compliance/investigative activities, odometer fraud consumer outreach, studies aimed at identifying the occurrence of odometer fraud and/or deterring odometer fraud.

Period of Performance: NHTSA anticipates awarding a Cooperative Agreement with a total period of performance of 60 months, inclusive of a twelve (12) month base period and four (4), twelve (12)-month option periods.

Award: NHTSA anticipates awarding up to five (5) projects (awards) for a period of up to five (5) years each, with a total potential value of $304,000 for all agreements awarded. The Government intends to make the awards with or without discussions, to the responsive Grantees whose applications, conforming to the solicitation, are most advantageous to the Government based on the evaluation factors contained in the Request for Application. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the www.grants.gov internet site for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential Applicants will be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Requests for paper copies of the RFA will not be accepted.
The anticipated Cooperative Agreement award date is expected on or before August 31, 2013.

Contracting Office Address: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SENPO-320 – W51-115 Washington, DC 20590, United States