NIGP 55850: Passenger Cars, Heavy (Self-Propelled)

NIGP 55850 Passenger Cars, Heavy (Self-Propelled), an Item code, encompasses heavy rail rolling stock procurement by state and regional transit authorities — specifically, commuter rail coaches, cab cars, and related multilevel passenger equipment used to replace aging fleets or support service expansion. State and local governments buying under this code seek vehicles that meet Federal Railroad Administration compliance standards (49 CFR Part 238 Tier I), ADA accessibility requirements, and interoperability constraints with existing locomotive fleets and regional freight services. Issuing bodies are primarily regional transit authorities and state transportation departments responsible for commuter rail operations rather than municipal or county general-fund agencies.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) posted a Request for Information on February 23, 2026, seeking bi-level commuter rail coach and cab cars to replace 1987 UTDC/Bombardier rolling stock, with responses due March 16, 2026. SFRTA's procurement targets a base quantity of six cab cars and twelve coach cars, with an option for nine additional cab cars and twenty-four coach cars totaling fifty-one vehicles, with deliveries to span forty-eight to sixty months from Notice to Proceed. Prospective manufacturers must demonstrate North American commuter rail revenue service history, compatibility with SFRTA's existing EMD F40, EMD GP49, and Brookville locomotives, and interoperability with Amtrak and CSX freight operations. The procurement will utilize Federal funds and requires Buy America compliance; no set-asides or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are specified. Recent activity under this code remains limited to specialized transit authority procurement; geographic focus is currently concentrated in Florida, though the code's application spans any state or region operating federally funded commuter rail systems.