Total Containment Fire Testing

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) plans to award a firm-fixed-price contract for engineering services focused on conducting tests on small-scale packages in pool fire conditions without pressure relief devices. This effort aims to achieve total containment of hazardous materials, specifically targeting tank cars carrying low-pressure substances like sodium hydroxide solution. By eliminating pressure relief devices, the FRA intends to reduce the risk of non-accident releases caused by rupture discs. The contract falls under NAICS code 541330 and is expected to span 24 months, comprising five primary tasks with potential additional tasks as directed by the FRA. Solicitations for this requirement are expected to be issued by July 2011 through a streamlined acquisition process compliant with FAR Part 12.6 and FAR Part 5.203 guidelines. The contract will be managed by the FRA’s office located in Washington, DC, and the solicitation will be accessible via FedBizOps. The designated contract specialist for this opportunity is Anthony Terrell, who can be contacted for further information. This initiative reflects the FRA’s commitment to enhancing safety in the transportation of hazardous materials by investigating innovative containment solutions.