B -- LOW COST TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING SPEEDS THROUGH TURNOUTS

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), intends to award a sole source contract, cost plus fixed fee contract to Zeta-Tech Associates, Inc. of Cherry Hill, NJ pursuant to the requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.3 (48 CFR 6.3) NJ, to assist the FRA in monitoring the performance and assessing the benefits of two modified-alignment No. 20 rail turnouts which could allow a 10-mph speed increase through the diverging route. These turnouts are installed in one of New Jersey Transit's main tracks, and hundreds of trains operate over them each week. This is a follow-on effort to a previous FRA-funded project performed by Zeta-Tech Associates, Inc.. The work will require that in-service data on turnout wear and performance be collected and analyzed at regular intervals without time gaps. The Contractor will apply previously developed design and demonstrated methods to monitor turnout component wear, collect and assess ride quality data through a turnout, and assess the potential operating benefits of a 10 mph speed increase through a turnout diverging route. The period of performance shall be two years from the award date, with an optional third year of monitoring. The project requires measurements of the wear sustained by the subject turnouts at regular intervals. This is a non-competitive acquisition and no solicitation is available. Interested sources must submit a fully descriptive statement of qualifications by 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 19, 2006. Qualification statements and resumes may be sent to the above adress, or via fax to +1 (555) 000-0000, or via email to contact@example.gov.