R --Analysis of Residual Stresses in Railroad Rail and Wheels

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) plans to issue a sole source Simplified Acquisition to Cracow University of Technology, Cracow, Poland, to investigate the effects of residual stresses on the structural integrity of railroad wheels and rail. Studies have been conducted in support of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to better understand the relationships between residual stresses and fatigue performances. The University has been involved in this research for the last ten years and under this effort will provide two independently-developed tools necessary to make numerical estimates of the residual stress fields in wheels and rail with variable loading assumptions. This requirement will involve the extension and utilization of specialized software a nd numerical techniques under development by the University. This procurement will be conducted under Simplified Acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. The NAICS Code is 541990 and the small business Size Standard is $6M. Interested firms have 15 calendar days from the date of this synopsis publication to submit in writing to the above named point of contact, clear and convincing documentation of their company’s capability to provide required services. Such documentation will be utilized solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. This proposed action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority in FAR Part 6.302 as referenced above. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed purchase order based upon responses received to this notice would normally be considered, solely for the purpose of determining whether to reissue as a competitive procurement. The Request for Quote (RFQ) issuance will be on or about April 20, 2005. Small business firms will be required to submit a maximum of three (3) but not less than two (2) pages of documentation in support of the above for evaluation prior to receiving a solicitation. No telephone requests will be accepted – only written requests via email for this solicitation will be accepted. The URL address of the Volpe Center Acquisition Management Division home page is: http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/index.html. A TTENTION: Minority, Women-owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). The Department of Transportation (DOT), Short-Term Lending Program (STLP) offers working capital financing in the form of lines of credit to finance accounts receivable for transportation related contracts. Maximum line of credit is $750,000 with interest at the prime rate, as published daily in the Wall Street Journal, plus 1.75 percent. For further information, call (800) 532-1169. Internet address: http://osdbuweb.dot.gov/.