Potential Sources Sought. This is not a RFP. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources for an anticipated contract to advance the knowledge of sustainable aspects of asphalt and concrete pavements and the use of life cycle assessment as a tool in the design, construction, repair and rehabilitation of highway pavements. A strategic outcome of this effort will be to increase the body of knowledge regarding sustainability aspects of asphalt and concrete materials in pavement design and construction and to increase the use of sustainable technologies and practices. The effort will consist of four distinct yet related parts: Part A: Evaluate available tools that utilize the life cycle assessment framework, which could be used for assessing the "carbon footprint" of highway pavements. Such tools should demonstrate the effect of various pavement design parameters on the environmental performance of a given pavement throughout its service life. Following pavement type selection, for asphalt and concrete pavements, a desirable assessment tool would provide feedback concerning the incorporation of design features that would affect not only the load-carrying ability, durability characteristics, and service life of the pavement; but also, its carbon footprint. The product of this effort would be a report describing and evaluating available tools which could be used, or adapted for use, to assess the carbon footprint of pavements. Part B: Establish a technical working group (TWG), which will provide technical input to FHWA on sustainability and environmental issues pertaining to the design, construction, repair and rehabilitation of highway pavements. The TWG will include stakeholders from FHWA, other Federal agencies (EPA, etc.), academia, industry, and state departments of transportation. Part C: Develop guidance documents discussing sustainable practices for the design, construction, repair and rehabilitation of highway pavements. Documents may include reports, manuals, and/or handbooks for the implementation of such practices. Part D: Evaluate existing tools that may be used for assessing the sustainability of highway pavements. Factors included in the assessment should include, but not be limited to, construction materials as well as design and construction practices. The FHWA Office of Pavement Technology has ongoing programs to develop and transfer new technologies related to improved pavement performance. The products resulting from this effort will be incorporated into those programs for demonstration and implementation. Offerors will be expected to have capabilities in: - Technical and engineering - pavements - Capabilities to fully understand the technical aspects of highway pavement systems and to convey that knowledge to other parties including but not limited to engineers, contractors and agency/owners of roadways. - Technical and engineering - life cycle assessment - Capabilities to fully understand the technical aspects of life cycle assessment and to convey that knowledge to other parties including but not limited to engineers, contractors and agency/owners of roadways. - Communications and marketing - Capabilities to develop, maintain and utilize a variety of contact lists to facilitate the timely transfer of information, including feedback from other parties including but not limited to engineers, contractors and agency/owners of roadways. Other capabilities that would be considered useful include editorial and document production services. - Project management and reporting - Capabilities to perform and/or direct the efforts of technical, engineering, communications, and marketing staff. Timely and cost-effective performance in each of the 4 areas above is required. The estimated period of performance for the project is five years. The level of activity and staffing requirements for this project will depend on the funding provided under current and future transportation legislation. Potential staffing may include the following: project manager, principal investigator, senior engineer, technology deployment specialist, economist, technical assistant, meeting facilitator, and administrative assistant. RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE: Any interested organizations are invited to submit a Capability Statement by e-mail to
contact@example.gov no later than 3:00pm local time on March 18, 2010. Capability Statements shall clearly identify the following items regarding the interested organization(s): (1) name and address of prospective organization(s); (2) size and socio-economic status; (3) technical capabilities to perform the work; (4) relevant experience and credentials; (5) synopsis of experience and expertise of potential staff; (6) relevant projects completed related to the anticipated objectives of the project with information on the client, scope, and products; and (7) a description of available facilities to perform the work outlined above. The Capability Statement shall be no more than 10 pages in length single-spaced with font size twelve or larger. For questions concerning this announcement contact Daniel Confer at
contact@example.gov. This Sources Sought Notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract nor does the Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this Sources Sought Notice.
