V3332106 - Sole Source Pre Solicitation.pdf
PDF 146 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Licenses to Operate NUCARS software
- Solicitation number
- 6913G625Q300016
About this file
This is a Sole Source Justification document from the Department of Transportation's Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, requesting renewal of two licenses to operate NUCARS software for the year 2025. The software, which is proprietary to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), is required for rail dynamics studies by the Structures and Dynamics Division.
The justification establishes that MxV Rail is the sole provider of NUCARS licenses, and market research conducted in December 2024 found no viable alternatives. While other software packages exist (SIMPACK, VAMPIRE, and VI-Rail), none are compatible with the government's existing vehicle models and decades of past results. Converting existing models to different software would require hundreds of labor hours, cost tens of thousands of dollars, and disrupt ongoing projects. NUCARS is specifically validated for predicting nonlinear dynamic response of North American railroad vehicles to track conditions, making it uniquely qualified for the agency's needs.
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Text version
V220T.12 (01/15)
Procurement Request No. V3332106
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)
INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY
STRUCTURES AND DYNAMICS DIVISION, V-333
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
A. Description of Supplies/Services.
The Structures and Dynamics Division seeks renewal of two licenses to operate NUCARS software for the year 2025. NUCARS is proprietary software of Association of American Railroads (AAR) that is required for rail dynamics studies. Ongoing project demands in the Division necessitate continued availability of this software.
Market Research.
Market research was conducted in December of 2024 by Jon LeBlanc, consisting of an internet and GSA vendor search, identified several other vehicle track interaction dynamics software packages such as SIMPACK, VAMPIRE, and VI-Rail.
None of these other packages are compatible with the Government’s existing catalogue of vehicle models and decades of past results. Of the available software packages, NUCARS is the only simulation package that has been sufficiently validated to predict the nonlinear dynamic response of North American railroad vehicles to specified track conditions and no other software package can meet or be modified to meet the Government needs.
B. Supporting Rationale.
(1) Sole Source: Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
Jon LeBlanc contacted MxV Rail and they confirmed that they are the sole provider license for NUCARS software. An enormous effort and project disruption would be required to convert and validate the existing library of vehicle models files created by Volpe Center engineers for use with another software. Also, NUCARS software is required to access the results from decades of past simulation work performed by Volpe Center engineers. The time and cost involved in modifying existing models and results using a different software package would require hundreds of labor hours, costing the Government tens of thousands of dollars, and would negatively impact the Government’s ability to meet the project sponsors need.
(2) Brand Name. N/A
(3) Unusual and Compelling Urgency. N/A
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