Advancement of Bridge Information Modeling Standards

This synopsis is issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day pre-solicitation notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) intent to issue a sole source solicitation to the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to procure the services to develop, validate, ballot, gain adoption, and steward software standards for Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) for highway infrastructure engineering to support the Advancement of Bridge Information Modeling Standards pursuant to FAR Part 19.2. As a result of this solicitation, the FHWA intends to award a sole source Time and Materials/ Labor Hours type contract. The anticipated period of performance is 48 months. The solicitation will be issued on or about June 27, 2014. The FHWA Office of Bridge Technology (HIBT-10) oversee the support of the Advancement of Bridge Information Modeling Standards. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE Advances in engineering practices of the past few decades, in automation and information technologies, have brought computerization of previous manual workflows primarily as "stove piped" (non-integrated) applications. These stovepipe type applications, using software developer companies' proprietary formats, until perhaps very recently, have been driven by their business models intended to foster their clients' dependence on them and their products. In many areas of the bridge engineering industry, there is increasing recognition of inherent inefficiencies imposed by traditional stovepiped applications. It is also being recognized that better utilization of the galloping advances in information and communication technologies will lead to increased efficiencies even when targeted only to portions of the overall enterprise. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) in other sectors of the transportation and construction industry, manufacturing integration, ISO15926 (ISO 2013) for capital facilities industry, shipbuilding, aerospace and automotive industries (etc.) have advanced. Thus, although the bridge industry may not have sufficient critical mass (in the overall engine of economic growth), it can leverage its interests via the forging of appropriate strategic partnerships with companion efforts that are concurrently developing or enhancing standards for digital information exchange throughout the supply chain of constructing and operating/maintaining the built environment. These strategic partnerships exploit mutual interests in the construction and operation of civil infrastructure and the (increasingly digital and increasingly sophisticated) data underpinning it all. Examples of such a strategic partnership are the ones currently operating between AISC and FIATECH on digital exchange standards for fabrication of steel building components and systems, and between the buildingSMART Alliance and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGS) on digital exchange standards for terrain and associated information (e.g., alignments). In the bridge arena, other partnerships one can envision include emerging technology laws, progressive owners, innovative contractors, and current MAP-21 subsidies for the learning-curve involved in initial deployment of advanced technology and software. As such partnerships demonstrate progress, one can envision related partnerships influencing future MAP-21 extensions to continue and adapt and refocus such subsidies as appropriate. Without industry consensus standards for BrIM (Bridge Information Modeling) and related data exchange protocols, there is no common tool to coordinate the various phases of a bridge design and construction project and on into the ongoing maintenance and operation associated with its asset management. What is needed is cradle-to-grave data sharing via common standards, schemas, and digital definitions. The beginnings of "open" (non-proprietary) BrIM standards for electronic exchange of steel and concrete bridge engineering information have been developed in a project called "Bridge Data File Protocols for Interoperability and Life Cycle Management" initiated under the Federal Highway Administration's Cooperative Agreement No. DTFH61-11-RA-00010 "Advancing Steel and Concrete Bridge Technology to Improve Infrastructure Performance." The work described herein is considered as the next phase to build upon, and implement, previous work. OBJECTIVE The objective of this work is to develop, validate, formalize, ballot, gain adoption, and implement software standards for Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) for highway infrastructure engineering. This work involves documentation of the functional requirements for an international, industry consensus set of standards for bridge engineering information for digital modeling, and conducting the necessary actions to achieve adoption in the National BIM Standard - United States and the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) Model (ISO 16739). Any questions regarding this synopsis should be directed to Carolyn Wilson, Contract Specialist via email at contact@example.gov.