This federal contract award, with ID DTFR5316C00009, was issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), a civilian agency, to Kansas State University (KSU) to conduct research on concrete railroad ties. The $149,991 definitive contract is for a "Field Investigation of Concrete Tie Abrasion Wear Prevalence and Contributing Environmental Factors" under the FRA's research program.
The contract, which does not have a set-aside designation, aims to study the durability and lifespan of concrete railroad ties used in heavy-haul and high-speed rail lines. KSU, a public land-grant university, will leverage its expertise in areas such as engineering and transportation to investigate factors that can contribute to the premature failure of concrete ties, such as fouled ballast, large curves, poor drainage, or subgrade conditions. This research will help inform practices to extend the service life of concrete railroad infrastructure.