V3331050_Sole_Source_SAP_Justification_v8_Redacted_Redacted.pdf

V220T.12 (01/15)

Procurement Request No. V3331050

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)

STRUCTURES & DYNAMICS DIVISION

GSA SCHEDULE LIMITED SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

A. Description of Supplies/Services.

The Volpe Center is supporting the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the development of an innovative crash energy management (CEM) system for locomotives. As part of its support to the FRA, the Volpe Center has developed several technical concepts for more crashworthy locomotives that include two key design features: a push-back coupler (PBC) and deformable anti-climber (DAC). Through a series of competitive task orders (DTRT57-09-F-50053 and DTRT57-15-F-50013) issued under the GSA schedule, Volpe secured the engineering firm, TIAX, LLC (TIAX) GS-23F-0064L to design, build and successfully test the crashworthy components.

TIAX originally designed these components for retrofit onto a Motive Power MP40 locomotive (DTRT57-09-F- 50053). TIAX then modified these designs for retrofit onto a General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) F40 locomotive (DTRT57-15-F-50013). To fulfill the research needs of the FRA, Volpe has also fabricated, retrofit onto a conventional locomotive, and successfully conducted CEM coupling impact tests to demonstrate the robustness of the PBC.

The next step in the process is to conduct multiple full-scale dynamic vehicle-to-vehicle impact tests between a CEM locomotive (retrofit with a PBC and DAC) and conventional vehicles. These vehicle-to-vehicle tests will demonstrate the performance of the CEM system (PBC and DAC). In this program, the engineering services of the component designers at TIAX is instrumental in successfully modeling the impact tests, which will includemaking necessary model changes and conducting numerous finite element analyses to aid in determining the test parameters as well as providing test predictions. These engineering services to be performed by TIAX under GSA Schedule GS-23F-0064L shall include quality control and troubleshooting of the CEM components’ retrofit and performance in the impact tests, including finite element modeling and analyses. These engineering services also include post-test repair recommendations for the equipment, if necessary. The total estimated value of these services are .

B. Market Research.

Market research was conducted on GSA Federal Supply Schedule and the internet in June 2018 by .

GSA Schedule research identified Schedule firms Sharma & Associates, Inc., Simulation Technologies Inc and TIAX, LLC. Sharma & Associates, Inc. and Simulation Technologies Inc have finite element analysis experience.

However, TIAX having been competitively awarded task order DTRT57-15-F-50013 is the only schedule contractor that has first-hand knowledge and experience of the design, quality control, and troubleshooting of the CEM components and their retrofit, their performance in the impact tests, including finite element modeling and analyses to perform the work required. Beginning in 2009, TIAX, under competively awarded DTRT57-09-F- 50053 designed, evaluated, fabricated and successfully tested a push-back coupler (PBC) and a deformable anti-climber (DAC) for retrofit onto a Motive Power MP40 locomotive. TIAX subsequently modified these designs for retrofit onto a General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) F40 locomotive. Not only does TIAX have unrivaled knowledge of the designs, the design development, and the design requirements, TIAX also has extensive experience with the finite element models of the components and vehicles they built to evaluate the crashworthy component designs. Because of the years of experience working on these designs and tests, no other company has the extensive knowledge of the existing component designs, intricate understanding of the associated finite element models (some of which are proprietary), and success with fabricating and testing the individual crashworthy components will be invaluable for the modeling and analysis required for the successful completion of vehicle-to-vehicle impact tests.

Similarly, an internet search for American companies with engineering expertise in the design, simiulation, and testing of crashworthy components and vehicles provided companies that were conducting engineering work for

V220T.12 (01/15) automobile crashworthiness, such as ARCCA, Inc. and not rail crashworthiness. The companies found with some rail crashworthiness engineering experience, such as Crash Engineering Solutions Limited, do not have the expertise necessary to make design modifications, alter the finite element models, and evaluate the modifications.

C. Supporting Rationale.

(1) Sole Source: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Based on the results of the maket reseach performed TIAX is uniquely qualified to provide these engineering services, including quality control and troubleshooting, of the modeling and analysis of the components because they designed and evaluated the existing components. If this work were to be undertaken by another company, it is likely that the cost and duration of the project would increase significantly as the new company would not have knowledge and the same level of expertise of the existing components and the associated computer simulations

TIAX is the only engineering firm that possesses the experience, expertise, and intimate knowledge of their designs and models required by Volpe to complete the required work. No other company on the internet or on the GSA Federal Supply Schedule, such as Sharma & Associates, Inc. and Simulation Technologies Inc, has designed, built multiple vehicle finite element models, and successfully tested a complete crash energy management system for locomotives. TIAX, as the designer and tester, has unrivaled knowledge of these unique, innovative, state-of-the-art designs of the locomotive crashworthy components, as well as extensive experience with the finite element models of the components and vehicles, including material failure modeling, involved in the collision scenarios used to evaluate the crashworthy component designs.

Not only does TIAX have unrivaled knowledge of the designs, the design development, and the design requirements, TIAX also has extensive experience with the finite element models and testing of the components and vehicles they built to evaluate the crashworthy component designs. Their extensive knowledge of the existing component designs will be invaluable for the modeling and analysis required for the successful completion of the work for this contract, the vehicle-to-vehicle impact tests. If this work were to be undertaken by another company, it is likely that the cost and duration of the project would increase significantly. TIAX is the engineering firm that can meet the Government need and complete this work.

(2) Brand Name: A specific brand that is available from multiple vendors.

N/A

(3) Unusual and Compelling Urgency.

N/A

D. Required Signatures. The following signatures represent concurrence/approval of this justification:

PR Technical Initiator Date PR Technical Initiator’s Supervisor Date

Contracting Officer Date Chief, Contracts Branch (or designee) Date (Signature required for procurements over $25,000)