Opportunity Information: Apply for DTNH22 08 R 00135
Apply for DTNH22 08 R 00135
- The DOT/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies Program 2nd series (ACAT)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.614 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Discretionary Safety Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 26, 2008 and posted on Jul 28, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 4, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- The objective of these projects is to understand the safety impact of the technologies on different types of crashes. NHTSA is planning to award one or more new ACAT projects that will focus on vehicle safety technologies not addressed in the original set of projects.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies Program, 2nd series (ACAT), is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discretionary research opportunity that funds cooperative agreements to evaluate newer vehicle safety technologies that are beyond the concept stage but not yet widely deployed in full production. The program is positioned specifically in that middle ground where technologies are realistic and foreseeable, but still need rigorous testing and evidence to support estimates of real-world safety benefits. In practical terms, the goal is not simply to build or demonstrate a device, but to generate credible, test-based findings that connect how the technology performs in objective conditions with how drivers actually respond to it.
A key requirement of this second ACAT series is that proposed projects must focus on advanced safety technologies that were not covered in the original ACAT awards. The earlier ACAT projects concentrated on collision mitigation, lane departure warning and lane keeping, and back-over collision avoidance. This solicitation is intended to broaden the research portfolio beyond those topics, so applicants need to clearly show that their technology and research questions are distinct from those earlier focus areas.
The emphasis of the work is on evaluation rather than basic invention. NHTSA is looking for projects that can meaningfully estimate safety impacts across different crash types by combining objective performance testing with an assessment of driver interaction and behavior, including human factors considerations. That means the work should examine not only whether the technology can detect or respond to hazards under defined test conditions, but also whether it influences driver decisions, attention, understanding, reliance, misuse, or adaptation in ways that could increase or decrease safety. The deliverable NHTSA is essentially buying is evidence: structured, defensible findings that tie measurable system performance and human behavior to expected crash reduction benefits.
The anticipated period of performance is roughly eighteen months to two years, suggesting a project sized for substantial testing and analysis but still targeted and time-bounded. NHTSA expected to make about two awards under this opportunity. The total estimated funding listed is $800,000, and the award ceiling and floor are also shown as $800,000, which signals that the agency likely intended an award size around that figure for the selected project(s), though the notice also states one or more awards could be made. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning NHTSA expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than operating purely as a hands-off grantmaker.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply as long as it meets any additional conditions stated in the full announcement. While the summary indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement in the standard field, the program text itself includes an important financial commitment: the grantee must agree to fund at least 50 percent of the total amount of the cooperative agreement. Applicants would therefore need to plan for significant cost participation and demonstrate that they can cover that share through allowable sources and a credible budget plan.
From an applicant strategy standpoint, the strongest proposals under this opportunity would likely be those that (1) identify an advanced crash avoidance technology clearly outside the earlier ACAT focus areas, (2) propose a well-structured objective test plan that produces measurable performance data, (3) incorporate a serious human factors and driver-behavior component rather than treating it as an afterthought, and (4) translate test outcomes into reasoned estimates of safety benefits for relevant crash scenarios. The opportunity is administered by DOT/NHTSA under CFDA 20.614 (NHTSA Discretionary Safety Grants), with the original posting dated July 28, 2008 and a closing date shown as September 4, 2008 in the archived record. The listed point of contact for access issues was Wendell Crowder, Contract Specialist, at 202-366-5456.
Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies Program (ACAT), 2nd Series - FAQs
What is the Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies Program (ACAT), 2nd series?
ACAT (2nd series) is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discretionary research opportunity that funds cooperative agreements to evaluate newer vehicle safety technologies that are beyond the concept stage but not yet widely deployed in full production. The focus is on producing credible, test-based evidence of real-world safety benefits rather than simply building or demonstrating a device.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to generate structured, defensible findings that connect (1) objective technology performance under defined test conditions with (2) how drivers actually respond to and use the technology, so that NHTSA can estimate expected crash reduction and safety benefits across relevant crash types.
Is this program for inventing new technology or evaluating existing technology?
The emphasis is on evaluation, not basic invention. NHTSA is looking for projects that can rigorously test and assess advanced safety technologies that are realistic and foreseeable but still need evidence to support estimates of safety impacts.
What kinds of technologies are eligible to be studied?
Proposed projects must focus on advanced crash avoidance or vehicle safety technologies that are beyond the concept stage but not yet widely deployed in full production, and that were not covered in the original ACAT awards.
What topics or technologies are specifically excluded based on prior ACAT awards?
This second ACAT series requires that proposed projects cover technologies not included in the original ACAT awards. The earlier ACAT projects concentrated on collision mitigation, lane departure warning and lane keeping, and back-over collision avoidance. Applicants must show their technology and research questions are distinct from those areas.
How should an applicant demonstrate their project is distinct from the original ACAT focus areas?
Applicants should clearly show that both the technology being evaluated and the research questions differ from collision mitigation, lane departure warning/lane keeping, and back-over collision avoidance, since the solicitation aims to broaden the research portfolio beyond those earlier topics.
What does NHTSA mean by combining objective testing with driver interaction and behavior?
NHTSA is looking for projects that assess both measurable system performance (for example, detection or response to hazards under defined test conditions) and driver interaction/human factors (for example, how the system affects driver decisions, attention, understanding, reliance, misuse, or adaptation). The intent is to understand whether the technology changes safety outcomes positively or negatively in realistic use.
What human factors considerations are expected in proposed projects?
Projects are expected to include an assessment of driver interaction and behavior, including human factors considerations such as driver attention, understanding of the system, reliance, misuse, and behavioral adaptation, and how those factors may increase or decrease safety.
What is the key deliverable NHTSA is seeking from awardees?
The central deliverable is evidence: credible, structured, test-based findings that tie together system performance and human behavior to support reasoned estimates of expected crash reduction and real-world safety benefits.
How long is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance is roughly eighteen months to two years.
How many awards does NHTSA expect to make?
NHTSA expected to make about two awards, and the notice indicates one or more awards could be made.
What is the estimated total funding for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding listed is $800,000.
What are the award floor and award ceiling?
The archived record shows both the award ceiling and the award floor as $800,000, which suggests the agency likely intended an award size around that figure for the selected project(s), while also noting that one or more awards could be made.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates that NHTSA expects to have substantial involvement during the project, rather than acting as a purely hands-off grantmaker.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, as long as it meets any additional conditions stated in the full announcement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
While the standard field summary indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, the program text includes an important financial commitment: the grantee must agree to fund at least 50 percent of the total amount of the cooperative agreement. Applicants should plan for significant cost participation and show a credible budget plan to cover that share through allowable sources.
What is the minimum financial commitment expected from the grantee?
The grantee must agree to fund at least 50 percent of the total amount of the cooperative agreement.
What qualities are likely to make a proposal more competitive under this opportunity?
Based on the opportunity description, strong proposals would likely: (1) identify an advanced crash avoidance technology clearly outside the earlier ACAT focus areas, (2) propose a well-structured objective test plan that produces measurable performance data, (3) incorporate a serious human factors and driver-behavior component rather than treating it as an afterthought, and (4) translate test outcomes into reasoned estimates of safety benefits for relevant crash scenarios.
Which agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 20.614 (NHTSA Discretionary Safety Grants).
What were the posting and closing dates shown in the archived record?
The archived record lists an original posting date of July 28, 2008 and a closing date of September 4, 2008.
Who is the point of contact listed for access issues?
The listed point of contact for access issues was Wendell Crowder, Contract Specialist, reachable at 202-366-5456.
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