South Dakota Posting Board #26RFP-SD2025-04

Research to improve flagger safety, training, and work-zone operations

The South Dakota Department of Transportation is seeking research to improve flagger safety and work-zone operations statewide. - Government buyer: South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), Office of Research. - Opportunity: An 18-month research project to improve flagger safety, operations, effectiveness, and training. The research services are identified as SD2025-04. - Research scope: Analyze flagger injuries and near misses; review SDDOT training, manuals, traffic-control guidance, and field practices; investigate driver behavior, compliance, enforcement, and communication; and gather input from other state DOTs, SDDOT staff, contractors, and flaggers. - Field work: Observe at least two active flagger-controlled work zones, including one urban and one rural location. - Technologies to assess: Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFADs), wearable visibility devices, intrusion alerts, rumble strips, and work-zone cameras. Assess their feasibility, safety benefits, limitations, implementation needs, and cost-effectiveness; no technology purchases or quantities are specified. - Deliverables: Technical memoranda, actionable recommendations identifying SDDOT materials for updates, a Driver Behavior Compliance Framework, consolidated guidance, a final report and executive summary, and an executive presentation. - Funding: $130,000 available for the research project. - Notable requirements: Research and deliverables must meet applicable accessibility requirements, including Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA. - OEMs and vendors: No commercial OEMs, product vendors, or resellers are named. No products are being purchased.

Description

The South Dakota Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for an 18-month research project to improve flagger safety, operations, effectiveness, and training in South Dakota. The research will examine flagger injuries and near misses, evaluate current training and work-zone practices, investigate driver behavior and compliance, and assess emerging safety technologies such as automated flagger assistance devices and wearable visibility equipment. Deliverables include recommendations and guidance for SDDOT materials, technical memoranda, a final report, and an executive presentation. Available funding is $130,000, and proposals are due December 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

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