Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Contract to University of Massachusetts Amherst The United States Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Acquisition Management, under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 6.302-1 - Only One Responsible Source, intends to issue a sole source contract to the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) for a research project titled "PROBABILISTIC APPROACH FOR THE EVALUATION OF BALLAST CONDITIONS USING BIG DATA TECHNIQUES." This research and development effort is a continuation of work begun under FRA purchase order # DTFR53-15-P-00028 (Phase I) and FRA contract # DTFR53-16-C-00020 (Phase II). Both awards were made using a sole source solicitation. The objective of Phase I was to identify the influence of fouling and moisture content on the performance of ballast subjected to repeated train axle loads. The testing associated with DTFR53-15-P-00028 was initially part of a BAA, DTFR53-13-C-00061 that ended in 2014. Although the larger project ended, a smaller effort to test the strength and deformation limits of fouled ballast was continued in DTFR53-15-P-00028 using available sample material from the previous BAA. While much of the test equipment and materials are still available, the government desires to continue the project to extend the testing of the strength and deformation limits of fouled ballast to a wider range of materials that more closely resemble fouled ballast conditions in the field. The existence of sample material, test equipment, and the existing data from previous testing all support continuation of the project in this new sole source solicitation, since no other provider has access to all the elements needed for success of the project. The objective of Phase II was to conduct similar tests on samples of revenue track fouled ballast from the New England region. The purpose for this was that the ballast and the fouling material was more representative of the particle roundness, grain size distribution and mineralogy that would be expected under actual track conditions. In addition, 10 in diameter tri-axial compression tests were conducted on the ballast to determine the strength and deformation properties of the ballast under the different fouling and moisture contents tested in the box test. The testing provided a better understanding of the influence of moisture and fouling on track ballast performance. The objective of this sole source solicitation is to develop a methodology to evaluate railroad track ballast condition based upon measured observations and a probabilistic analysis of the projected life of the track/ballast system. To reach this goal, the framework of the numerical approach will be constructed based upon regularly measured data associated with track geometry, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and other types of regularly measured data, inclusive of the accumulated data and results derived from the previous sole source awards. As the model relies upon properly assessing the correlations in probabilistic terms, it is important that a means for properly assessing uncertainties in the data and relationships be implemented efficiently including the development of automated tools to update the model dataset with the most recent track inspection and condition data. As more data are acquired, probabilistic relationships can be updated to improve the method. This research and associated lab testing equipment was developed as part of DTFR53-15-P-00028 and DTFR53-16-C-00020, and, based on our analysis, is unique to the rail industry. No other techniques, or source for these techniques, are available to the FRA. To re-develop past efforts through a new research project with a different supplier would be extremely cost prohibitive. 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, Angeline Behrend,
[email protected] , no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, August 26, 2019. 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.