Truck_Platooning_Q&A_Amended.pdf

Truck Platooning Q&A- 10/5/2018

1. If a proposing entity has platooning capable trucks but is not seeking to introduce a commercial product (such as a research institute or university), will the proposal be considered by FHWA?

a. Answer: The first paragraph in Section 1.4 contains the following sentence:

“It is the intent to partner with entities that have already completed the development of truck platooning systems and are ready to deploy in-service freight hauling.”

As a clarification to this sentence, it is not a requirement (i.e, evaluation factor) that respondents to the BAA must include entities “that have already completed the development of truck platooning systems and are ready to deploy in-service freight hauling.” However, these types of entities would be expected in the Partnership Plan developed under Phase 1 and would be expected in the Phase 2 activities. The Evaluation Factors for this requirement are listed in Section M.

2. Section 3.7 says that for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, FHWA will incorporate the appropriate FAR clauses (based on contract type). Since the contract type for Phase 1 has been identified as firm fixed price (FFP), we request that the government provide the appropriate FAR clauses immediately.

a. Answer: The clauses are not available. Contractors may seek further information in the FAR for required Clauses for a FFP BAA offering. These are proposals and as such the final contract will be negotiated, including the final clauses.

3. Phase 1 is advertised as being FFP. However, under Section 3.4 (Deliverables), FHWA states that the specific deliverables will be determined upon the scope and objectives of the negotiated award. Without a well-defined scope and associated deliverables, it will be difficult to prepare a fixed price proposal. Can the government please clarify the following:

Answer: The sentence referenced in Section 3.4, “The specific deliverables will depend upon the scope and objectives of the negotiated award.” is being be deleted and replaced in Amendment A0001. The sentence that follows will state:

“See individual tasks for description of deliverables.” The deliverables are identified in Section 2.2.

a. Will each of the 3 awardees be tasked to complete the entire scope of work independently from each other?

Answer: Yes.

b. Will the 3 awardees work as an integrated team and across the entire scope of work?

Answer: No.

c. Will each of the 3 awardees be tasked by the government to complete a subset of the deliverables identified in the scope of work? If so, then each contractor becomes dependent on the timely and accurate completion of work by the other awardees. In this case, we request that the government allow each awardee to renegotiate actual deliverable prices before beginning work that relies on the completion of prior tasks by one or more of the other awardees.

Answer: Each awardee will independently complete the full set of deliverables.

4. Has FHWA identified select or preferred corridors?

Answer: No.

5. Can consultants submit multiple proposals?

Answer: An organization submitting a proposal can only submit one proposal as prime contractor. However, an organization could be included on multiple proposals as a team member.

6. Can proposals and subsequent development plan include multiple trucking firms?

Answer: Yes.

a. If so, can each trucking firm utilize different technologies?

Answer: Yes.

7. Is there an anticipated budget for Phase 2?

8. Does FHWA expect to advance all (three) selected Phase 1 projects to Phase 2, assuming the Phase 1 portion is completed satisfactorily?

Answer: Selection for Phase 2 award will depend on the acceptability of the proposal submitted at the end of Phase 1 and on the amount of federal funds available. Submission of a satisfactory Phase 1 proposal does not guarantee a selection for Phase 2.

9. Will FHWA select more than one team for a particular corridor, or will FHWA limit only one project per corridor?

Answer: There is no selection criteria for Phase 1 that requires Phase 1 awardees to be on different corridors.

10. Will states be expected to provide any funding?

Answer: There is no cost share requirement for Phase 1 awards. It is expected that Phase 2 awards will require cost share.

11. Does FHWA intend to designate one state DOT as the lead state on a particular corridor?

12. Will FHWA expect states to sign an MOU?

Answer: Phase 1 award does not require states to sign MOUs. The final deliverable for Phase 1 will be a Phase 2 proposal. It is expected that the Phase 2 proposal will include documentation of commitments for state partners and other partners.

a. If so, would this apply to all state agencies to include state law enforcement?

Answer: See answer above. If a state law enforcement agency is included in the Phase 2 proposal, documentation of commitment would be provided.

b. If so, will this MOU prescribe continued cooperation in Phase 2?

Answer: See answer above.

13. Paragraph 1.5 PROGRAM SCOPE (page 5) describes plans for Phase 2. Does the Federal Highway Administration have a plan for the number of vehicles or fleets or geographic regions in the test for Phase 2?

14. Task 6 Phase 2 Proposal (page 12) calls for a proposal to be a deliverable of the Phase 1 contract. Please confirm that a proposal can be a deliverable.

Answer: The firms selected for Phase 1 will have a Task to create their proposal for Phase 2. This is confirmed.

15. Part III Team Experience (page 20) reads in part, “Reference to past relevant research at the national, state or regional level (up to two pages) describing capabilities, work, and significant accomplishments in areas associated with proposed research area or in closely related areas.” Is each of the three descriptions of recent research to be two pages, for a total of six pages?

Answer: Please limit each reference to 2 pages each. This would be up to six pages. Note: it is up to the proposer to decide exactly how to allocate their pages and prepare their proposal, this answer is issued to help in guidance. This was amended in Amendment A0001.

16. Attachments (page 27) lists three attachments. The grant forms under item (2) do not seem to apply to Phase 1. Please confirm.

Answer: Confirmed. This will be deleted in Amendment A0001.