Increased Life Status of Army Heavy Duty Flatcars

Request for Information (RFI) Increased Life Status of Army Heavy Duty Flatcars RFI No: 6913G6-19-SN-1002 Response Date: February 28, 2019 Introduction This is a request for information (RFI) only. There is no solicitation available. The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is requesting information as part of its market research regarding the increased life status (ILS) or overhaul of existing heavy duty flatcars. Background The Volpe Center is an innovative, federal, fee-for-service organization within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Its work focuses on the application of advanced technology to the improvement of transportation safety, security, and logistics, and is performed primarily within DOT, but also supports other federal agencies and state, local, and international entities. All of the Volpe Center's DOT work supports the goals of the DOT's Strategic Plan: Safety, Mobility, Global Connectivity, Environmental Stewardship, Security, and Organizational Excellence. Non-DOT work focuses on the specific goals of the particular agency in the general areas of transportation and/or logistics. Typically, this work also aligns with DOT's strategic plan and/or provides with future benefits to the DOT. The Volpe Center is providing overall program management support including: engineering, testing, quality assurance, risk management, acquisition support, manufacturing oversight and assisting with the training, shipping and documentation requirements, engineering and rail equipment acquisition support to address critical transportation issues in the U.S. Army's Rail Modernization Program. The U.S. Army's rail fleet is in critical need of new and / or ILS equipment to increase the efficiency and safety of operators and cargo transported by railroad between U.S. Army installations. Scope The Volpe Center has provided railroad related technical support to the Department of Defense (DOD) starting in 1989. Currently the Army has a requirement to upgrade and/or ILS its heavy duty flatcar fleet which consists of 563 railcars (DODX 40000 series). The Volpe Center is releasing this RFI to identify interested parties, and request information on the following railway rolling stock to include but not limited to; a. Estimated timeframe and pricing to prepare all documentation and meet all requirements outlined by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to commence ILS testing. Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) Compliance certification, and ILS approval per AAR Office Manual Rule 88. b. Estimated timeframe and pricing to obtain Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Approval for safety requirements to exceed 50 year service life. c. Outline of exactly what equipment categories (pieces and parts) will be required to be new, reconditioned, secondhand, rebuilt, new, and/or modified and the availability of these parts or acceptable and compatible equivalent parts currently in the market. Include a markup of the attached Buckeye six-axle truck diagram and list of materials to more efficiently identify the ILS requirements. d. Pricing information for the railcar equipment that requires replacement, reconditioning, new parts, or modification, etc. Utilize attached railcar diagram and markup to more efficiently identify ILS requirements. e. Total price for a fully acceptable, overhauled, freely-interchangeable ILS railcar that would increase the service life of the existing railcars up to 15 years. f. Availability and delivery schedules if applicable (i.e., how many can be made available each month). g. Estimated timeframe from contract award to initial delivery. h. Pricing information including economies of scale (unit cost per rate of production), etc. i. Pricing information for a full set of production ready AAR certified engineered drawings of the ILS railcar. j. General information supporting the characteristics and specifications listed below: The Army is exploring the feasibility of an emerging requirement to ILS heavy duty flatcars. The Government is seeking information to address emerging near term requirements for an ILS program: 6-Axle Flatcar: ILS 6-Axle Steel Deck Flatcars - the fleet currently set to retire beginning 2031-2035 - using 3-Axle Trucks with a deck length of 68-ft. SEE ATTACHED DRAWING. The goal of the ILS is to retain the current capabilities of the DODX 40000 series railcars: - Wheel gauge, standard 56 - inch - 150-ton capacity - Entire structure and any deck and truck connections must support dynamic and static weight of two 72-ton tracked vehicle loaded through circus loading - Carry payload on 286K rail lines - Steel deck with ISO container pockets - AAR interchange compatible - Deck width determined by AAR Plate-C Clearance Dimensions - The Government shall be supplied with final stress analysis calculations, a full set of as-built construction drawings, and a bill of materials keyed to the drawing or drawings showing them. The Government shall also be supplied with any documentation from fatigue test programs and / or inspection programs as required, AAR EEC Compliance notification, and ILS approval from both the AAR and the FRA. These drawings and associated materials shall become government property. RFI Response Instructions: Provide details of products and their capabilities in writing by email to Linda.byrne@dot.gov by the response date. Any questions and responses to the RFI should be submitted electronically to Linda Byrne, Contract Specialist. No phone calls will be accepted. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Respondents to this RFI will supply all cost, schedule and applicable regulatory information, methodology, assumptions and constraints. Equipment delivery and final acceptance dates will require manufacturer's schedules. Responses will not be returned. NO FORMAL SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR RESPONSES.