16a. Blocked_Crossing_SSJ_FAR_12.201-1_signed.pdf

Sole Source Justification (SSJ) Commercial Service Acquisition for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant to FAR 12.201‑1, Including Sole Source Requirements

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition

Threshold Pursuant to FAR 12.201‑1, Including Sole Source Requirements

Date: 5/27/2026 PR Number:

Pursuant to the requirements under the authority of the test program for commercial items at 41 U.S.C. 1901 or the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1903 Special emergency authority as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.201-101 and consistent with the content requirements of FAR 6.303-2.

1. Agency and Contracting Activity. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “sole source justification.”

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Acquisition Services, intends to award a sole source contract for the requirement described herein.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

FRA intends to award a sole‑source, Firm‑Fixed‑Price (FFP) contract to Railinc, Inc. Railroad safety research is called out under 49 USC § 20108 (a), 49 CFR § 1.88 (b), and 49 CFR § 1.89 (f). This project is to support technology transfer of the FRA-developed C-V2X Predicted Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) application. This will be accomplished through development and testing in a field operational environment with a US Class 1 railroad.

Railinc is the only entity equipped to receive and process business competition sensitive data from US freight railroads to perform software-as-service functions. Railinc has standing data handling agreements with railroads and that will be necessary to complete the project.

3. Description of Supplies/Services. Describe the supplies or services to be acquired.

Provide the estimated total value (including options, if any).

The requirement is to develop and test a system which utilizes railroad-provided train location information and an FRA-developed cloud application to estimate blocked crossing events.

Timing of these events will be communicated as predicted SPaT to select emergency communications centers as a routing aide for emergency response vehicles. The project will evaluate system feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability.

Estimated Total Value: $400,000.00

Commercial Service Acquisition for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition

4. Identification of the authority.

Railroad safety research is called out under 49 USC § 20108 (a), 49 CFR § 1.88 (b), and 49 CFR § 1.89 (f). If applicable, emergency authority under 41 U.S.C. 1903 may also apply.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

For many years, FRA R&D has worked in cooperation with the Association of American Railroads to develop, test, and deploy critical rail safety technologies such as PTC, Locomotive Interface Gateway, grade crossing safety systems, and wireless spectrum management programs.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of the AAR, Railinc is a trusted handler of sensitive railroad data and has standing agreements with railroads to receive, house and process those data. Railinc is best positioned transition this FRA R&D effort to a deployed system.

Key factors supporting sole source:

Previously Developed Technology: Railinc provides many established Software-as-Service applications which similarly require access to sensitive railroad data, such as:

• TransmetriQ Platform: A rail management platform that enables shippers, private car owners (PCOs), and railroads to streamline rail shipping and gain intelligent insights related to their shipments and railcar fleets.

• EHMS: Communicates the condition of railroad equipment and sends alerts to the responsible parties when repairs are needed.

• Car Hire: Facilitates the use of railroad equipment between railroads or other entities, including rate negotiations, analysis of usage and liability data, and data exchange between participants.

• Clear Path: Helps railroads plan, monitor, and execute the movement of trains through some of the busiest terminals in North America.

• PTC: Enables railroads to communicate key data, adopt new interoperable standards, and exchange train information in support of Positive Train Control.

• AskRail: A safety tool for first responders that provides immediate access to data about the type of hazardous materials a railcar is carrying so they can make an informed decision about how to respond to a rail emergency.

• Code Tables and IRFs: Railinc maintains the only industry-accepted version of the North American railroad industry's official code tables and Industry Reference Files.

Commercial Service Acquisition for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition

Required for Safety Research: Selecting any other vendor would jeopardize access to critical railroad data and hinder FRA’s ability to transfer the subject technology to the railroad industry, where it can be incorporated into business operations.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources

A notice of intent will be posted on SAM.gov in accordance with FAR 5.301 and 6.305(a), inviting any responsible sources to express interest.

7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated cost will be fair and reasonable based on market research, previous acquisition history on similar requirements at DOT, and a price analysis that the Contracting Officer will conduct on the Contractor’s quotation using a combination of the techniques provided under FAR Subpart 15.404-1. The recommended contract type is fixed price, thus controlling cost risk for FRA. No fee will be offered for this work.

8. Description of market research. (Market Research is required by FAR Part 10 and TAM Part 1210 – Market Research, Appendix A: Market Research Guide). Describe the results of your market research or provide a statement of the reason why market research was not conducted).

Findings include: After thorough analysis, FRA has determined that Railinc is an expert and most qualified vendor for FRA’s Predicted Signal Phase and Timing got Blocked Crossing Mitigation project.

9. Any other facts supporting the justification. (You must explain why technical data packages, specifications, statements of work, or purchase descriptions are not suitable for enhancing competition or not available. Discuss why your requirement cannot be modified to increase competition. If you are contending only one source can meet the Government’s minimum need, you must document the reason why and describe the extent to which the Government will be harmed if not acquired from that vendor. Address any potential duplication of cost, if applicable.)

Modifying the requirement to increase competition would result in significant mission delays due to the additional time, cost, and uncertainty of establishing a 3rd party rail industry service

Commercial Service Acquisition for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition provider.

10. A listing of the sources, if any that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No other sources have expressed an interest, in writing, in the proposed acquisition.

11. A statement of action, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition of supplies or services required. (Include a statement of action taken or will be taken to increase competition for future acquisitions of the same item/service).

No subsequent acquisition of supplies or services are expected.

Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification.

Commercial Service Acquisition for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant to FAR 12.201‑1, Including Sole Source Requirements

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions for Requirements Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Pursuant to FAR 12.201‑1, Including Sole Source Requirements

I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

Jared Withers Technical Representative/COR >$750,000 to >$75M Date:

Contracting Officer Certification and/or Approval*

Akwasi Kankam Contracting Officer >$250,000 to < $750,000 _________________

*Note: In accordance with FAR 12.201-101(a)(2)(i), for contracts exceeding $250,000 but not exceeding $750,000, the ordering activity contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the ordering activity contracting officer’s knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.