6913G626Q300057_Sole Source Just_Redacted.pdf

V220T.12 (01/19)

Procurement Request No. V3332135

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER (VOLPE CENTER)

CENTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING

STRUCTURES AND DYNAMICS DIVISION, V-333

SOLE SOURCE SAP JUSTIFICATION

A. Description of Supplies/Services.

Numerous fatalities have been attributed to passenger ejection through rail car window openings during passenger train accidents. Results of the FRA’s accident investigations indicate that the exterior rubber gaskets holding the windowpanes in place can be pulled out when the cars derail, roll over, and slide on their sides. The windows can then be pushed inside the cars, creating openings. Occupants can then be pulled out when they contact the ground through window openings, as the cars continue to slide. After its investigations, NTSB has issued and reiterated recommendations for a glazing retention standard to improve passenger containment during train rollover events.

Previously, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) contracted Sharma & Associates, Inc. (Sharma) to research and evaluate the retention performance of glazing systems commonly used in U.S. passenger rail equipment under derailment and rollover conditions and to assess the potential of alternative securement concepts. During Phase I of the research program, Sharma researchers reviewed global standards for glazing system design and performance and identified modes of retention failures under accident conditions. They proposed three test methods to evaluate and quantify glazing retention capabilities: push test, pry test, and ballast drag test. They also developed retrofit design concepts to improve retention performance. Two of the design concepts were prototyped and tested using the three test methods. These test results were compared to identical tests of an existing design, which served as a baseline.

During Phase II of the research program, Sharma researchers selected three common types of glazing, based on the survey results collected in Phase I and developed detailed finite element (FE) models of the push test for two of these glazing systems. All three glazing systems were subjected to the push, pry, and ballast drag tests developed in Phase I.

The test results were used to validate the FE models. Key failure modes were identified, and performance-based criteria were formulated to inform a future glazing retention standard. Sharma researchers also developed, fabricated, and tested a prototype concept to address identified vulnerabilities. The prototype design met or exceeded all recommended performance thresholds, without compromising emergency egress or first responder access.

The purpose of Procurement Request No. V3332135 is to continue the previous research performed by Sharma under the Phase I and II FRA contracts. Tasks in this PR (Phase III) include anonymizing the test article suppliers in Sharma’s Phase II draft report and finalizing the report for publication; developing a presentation of anonymized research results conducted under the FRA Phase II contract to present to FRA and industry stakeholders; finalizing the glazing performance requirements developed in Phase II and supporting the development of an APTA glazing retention safety standard based on input from industry stakeholders; and developing a simplified FE model of the ballast drag tests conducted in Phase II. There is also an unfunded option to develop a more detailed FE model of the ballast drag test and validate it against previous test data, as needed.

The sole source contractor is Sharma & Associates, Inc.

B. Market Research.

Market research was conducted in August 2026 by Kristine Severson, Technical Lead. Market research consisted of reviewing industry capabilities in FE modeling and testing of passenger rail glazing retention systems, searching SAM.gov and GSA eLibrary for contractors who specialize in structural analysis and FE modeling, and evaluating prior academic and industry publications on glazing retention.