Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Contract to Sharma & Associates, Inc., to conduct follow-on research for Very Long Train (VLT) Collaboration Study.

Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Contract to Sharma & Associates, Inc., to conduct follow-on research for Very Long Train (VLT) Collaboration Study. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Washington, DC, intends to award a Sole Source, Contract to Sharma & Associates, Inc., to conduct follow-on research for Very Long Train (VLT) Collaboration Study to evaluate safety and performance of VLT under an extended set of operating conditions. The FRA wishes to conduct a follow-on to the initial VLT work, and the incumbent contractor has the unique position as the only source that has the experience with previous railroad collaboration and research (Under 693JJ620F000106) and additionally the experience with Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator (TEDS), the simulation software used previously and going forward in this effort. The contractor developed the design of test including specialized instrumentation and designed the loading, for appropriate gross rail load, of the eight boxcars used in the previous testing, for the FRA. Based on the above, Sharma & Associates, Inc., is the only one source, that can quickly, cost effectively and at the level of quality required and capable to continue this critical railroad safety test and simulation effort. The proposed contract action, for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, is under the authority of 8.405-6 (a)(1)(B) and 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE IS AVAILABLE. This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals; however interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Respondents must provide a capability statement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this synopsis. Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to identify their interest by email to the FRA point of contact, Akwasi Kankam, [email protected] no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday July 12, 2024. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely to determine whether to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.