Angeline P. Behrend

PROBABILISTIC APPROACH BALLAST CONDITIONS

Department Of TransportationDC,

PSC

Research and Development

693JJ619R000005

Awarded Sep 24, 2019

Federal

Transportation Research Board (TRB) Technical Assistance and Information Dissemination to the Public

Department Of TransportationDC,

PSC

Research and Development

Posted Aug 9, 2019

693JJ619R000006

Closed

Awarded5

The Federal Railroad Administration, under the Department of Transportation, awarded a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Railinc Corporation for Railroad Waybill Sampling services. This contract, identified by solicitation number 693JJ619R000001 and NAICS code 518210, consists of a base period and three option periods. The primary objective is the creation of a Confidential Waybill Sample and a Public Use File to support the Federal Railroad Administration and the Surface Transportation Board. The scope of work is divided into two distinct phases, beginning with data collection and processing to build a Master Waybill File, followed by mileage computation and file modification for final delivery. Due to the highly confidential nature of the railroad traffic data involved, the contract mandates specific personnel qualifications in program management and data collection. The award was based on a best-value evaluation of technical approach, key personnel, past performance, and price, with the requirements mirroring a previous contract held by Railinc Corporation.

Department Of TransportationDC, USA

NAICS

518210

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

PSC

Information Technology and Telecommunications

693JJ619R000001

Awarded May 14, 2019

Awarded

2018 Biennial Peer Review and Evaluation

Awarded on September 27, 2018, this sole source contract tasks the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board with conducting the 2018 Biennial Peer Review and Evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration's R&D Program. The scope of the review was expanded per the Senate Appropriations Committee to specifically include research supporting safety regulations. The contract was issued under FAR 6.302-1, recognizing the Transportation Research Board as the only responsible source capable of providing the necessary independent and objective analysis. The selection of the Transportation Research Board is based on its unique status as a non-profit entity with no affiliations to railroad providers, manufacturers, or suppliers, ensuring a bias-free evaluation. Leveraging its congressional charter and long-standing relationship with the government, the organization utilizes a committee of eminent volunteer scholars to provide high-caliber scientific expertise. This award, managed by the Department of Transportation, ensures the government receives unparalleled objectivity and expert guidance to address high-priority national railroad research problems.

Department Of TransportationDC, USA

PSC

Research and Development

693JJ618R000010

Awarded Sep 27, 2018

Awarded

Extended Field Trialing of LRAIL for Automated Track Change Detection

Awarded on September 13, 2018, to Pavemetrics Systems, Inc., this fixed-price contract focuses on the extended field trialing of LRAIL for automated track change detection. As a continuation of previous research and development, the project aims to advance software development and expand field testing to revenue track segments. The primary goal is to demonstrate the system's ability to automatically detect safety-related changes in track structures and surrounding right-of-way areas without human intervention, directly supporting the Federal Railroad Administration's mission to enhance railroad safety and efficiency. The project will be conducted in partnership with Amtrak engineering to provide a realistic assessment of the technology under typical field inspection conditions and to refine existing change detection algorithms. Pavemetrics was selected as a sole source provider due to its unique 3D laser triangulation hardware, which offers resolution unavailable in traditional machine vision technologies. The government determined that modifying existing commercial systems would be cost-prohibitive and inefficient, making this specific partnership the best value for achieving automated, non-quantifiable change detection.

Department Of TransportationDC, CAN

PSC

Research and Development

693JJ618R000009

Awarded Sep 13, 2018

Awarded

Cost of Compliance for HS Rail Noise

Awarded on September 11, 2018, this sole source contract was granted to Ricardo, Inc. by the Federal Railroad Administration under the Department of Transportation. The project, titled Cost of Compliance for HS Rail Noise, serves as follow-on research to a previous study regarding high speed rail noise standards and regulations. The primary objective is to develop an analysis tool and a common reference comparison for global noise standards, while also determining the comparative costs of 50 to 60 identified noise mitigation options within the United States market. The contract was issued as a sole source award because Ricardo, Inc. had successfully completed the initial phase of the research through a competitive bid in 2016. The agency determined that awarding the follow-on work to the same contractor would be more cost-effective, as Ricardo, Inc. already possesses the necessary data and analysis from the previous phase. The period of performance for this research effort is ten months.

Department Of TransportationDC, USA

PSC

Research and Development

693JJ618R000006

Awarded Sep 11, 2018

Awarded

Fire Safety Phase II Research

Awarded on September 18, 2018, by the Federal Railroad Administration under solicitation 693JJ618R000008, this contract designates Jensen Hughes as the sole source provider for Fire Safety Phase II Research. The agency justified this selection based on the contractor's unique expertise and previous progress under a Volpe research contract, which involved developing fire dynamics simulation models and evaluating heat release rate criteria for material fire performance. The primary objective of this research is to finalize modeling and conduct tests to provide technical justification for heat release rate performance test criteria as an alternative to existing flammability and smoke emission standards. The final results are intended for presentation to the National Fire Protection Association 130 Committee on Fire Protection for Guided Railway to support the updating of passenger rail industry fire safety standards.

Department Of TransportationDC, USA

PSC

Research and Development

693JJ618R000008

Awarded Sep 18, 2018

Federal