The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is accepting proposals from qualified vendors through July 16 for the Autonomous Vehicle Observation (AVO) Zone Challenge.
The challenge will allow DDOT and its academic partners to observe autonomous vehicle behavior and compare it with baseline data collected from human-driven vehicles. Findings will be used to help establish a data-driven framework for evaluating AV operations while supporting transparency, informed policymaking, and public accountability.
“The observation and analysis of autonomous vehicle behavior is an important part of understanding how these technologies fit into the District’s transportation system,” DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum said. “This initiative will help us better understand real-world autonomous vehicle operations while supporting thoughtful planning, public transparency, and informed decision-making.”
The district seeks a sensing solution capable of detecting and identifying autonomous vehicles and providing data that supports the observation and analysis of AV fleet operations.
The winner will be announced in August. The selected vendor will receive $50,000 and the opportunity to run a pilot program with its technology for three to six months at two intersections along the M Street SE/SW corridor beginning in early 2027.
DDOT will hold a virtual information session on June 11 for interested applicants at 4 p.m.