How to bid on Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA) Prototype for DOT

What the agency is buying

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking industry-led prototypes for Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA). These prototypes will enable vehicles and roadside systems to share information, aiming for safer and more efficient travel. The work may focus on specific areas such as work zone management, traffic incident management, cooperative perception, or improving awareness of emergency and transit vehicles.

Vendors should care because this effort aims to bridge the gap between CDA research concepts and commercial viability. The DOT wants to develop and test pre-production prototypes to validate that shared data is accurate, secure, and reliable enough for functional safety. This initiative will generate data to support a national strategy for deploying CDA.

Key dates and deadlines

This opportunity was published on July 30, 2026. The deadline for submissions is September 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. All proposals must be submitted by this deadline.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for firms with expertise in professional services related to advanced transportation technologies, vehicle automation, and intelligent transportation systems. It targets companies capable of developing and testing industry-led prototypes at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6-7. The ideal vendor will have experience in validating interoperability, functional safety, and cybersecurity in controlled environments, followed by small-scale real-world demonstrations on public roads with mixed traffic.

How to respond

To access the solicitation, click the “View original source” button. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click the button again to go directly to the bid. You may need to create a free account on the portal to view all documents, though this is not always required for every bid.

Tips for a competitive response

Clearly articulate your firm's experience with developing and testing advanced prototypes, especially those involving vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication or cooperative systems. Highlight your capabilities in ensuring interoperability, functional safety, and cybersecurity, as these are critical aspects of this solicitation. Provide specific examples of how your proposed prototype addresses one or more of the prioritized use cases: work zone management, traffic incident management, cooperative perception, or emergency/transit vehicle awareness.

Detail your approach to both controlled testbed validation and small-scale real-world demonstrations. Emphasize how your methodology will generate data-driven insights to support the DOT's goal of developing a national CDA deployment strategy. Ensure your proposal clearly outlines the technical readiness level of your proposed solution and how it bridges the gap between research concepts and commercial viability.