693JJ3-23-BAA-0002-3_Questions_Responses_07.23.2026.pdf

693JJ3-23-BAA-0002_Call 3_Questions & Responses_Updated_07.23.2026

Question

Reference Vendors’ Questions Government’s Responses

1 General

Is it possible to be part of multiple bids

a. If we go in as main in one bid, can we also be the sub-supplier in another bid?

i. We are one of the few that provides connected vehicle friction and have gotten multiple inquiries… We want to be in the project, not just sell data; it is a lot of research to be made and I believe we should be one party together with an academic or state institute.

Yes, it is possible.

2 General

DoT participation,

a. Is it okay to include a state DoT like Texas

DoT in the bid?

b. Is it normal for state DoT’s to participate in these bids?

Yes, it is possible. Need to meet all requirements of the solicitation and clearly identify if they are participating in a paid or unpaid capacity. Recommend letters of commitment from all entities involved in the proposed solution.

3 General If only a part (majority) of the challenges is being addressed, is it still worthwhile to submit a bid?

You can submit proposals with partial solutions proposed but should recognize you may be competing with other proposals that provide a comprehensive solution in their proposal(s).

4 General

Can the proposed team be expanded by adding other entities in the proposal phase if the team is selected for submission?

Yes, the proposed team can be modified when developing the full proposal if invited to participate. Invitation to participate is based on concept paper submission.

Topic HRDI-

TRS-08

Pavement Preservation Treatments to Provide Higher

Level Friction, is it expected to have a lab evaluation component or does FHWA envision a field study from states?

It is suggested the effort includes lab evaluation as well as some limited field validation.

6 General Can we get support letters from states giving us access to field data and sites for data collection?

You are responsible for obtaining commitments and letters of support for any entity or person involved in your proposal. The government is not responsible for obtaining letters of support, identifying sites, or providing data.

Topic HRDI-

TRS-10

Evaluation of Non-contact Friction and Microtexture

Systems, the statement is written as an assessment of emerging technologies. Do envision this study to evaluate what is available or developing new procedures? Given the project budget, it seems to be more of the first.

This study is primarily focused on evaluating the current state of practice and technology. However, if the research team has innovative ideas that could be initially started within the project budget, it is encouraged to include them in addition to the current state of practice.

Reference Vendors’ Questions Government’s Responses

Topic HRDI-

TRS-09

Highway Resilience Measure Selection Tool, we have a question similar to the previous question, do you envision an effort to use available metrics and a framework capable of using new metrics.

It is suggested the effort review both available metrics as well as developing new metrics if needed.

Appendix C, Page 4, Topic HRDI-

ADC-12;

Appendix C, Page 14, Topic HRDI-

EPM-04

HRDI-ADC-12 (Bid Items Standard Assessment) and

HRDI-EPM-04 (Update and Implement the Next-

Generation Asset Management Methodologies) are identified as "[Reissued]." Could FHWA clarify why these topics were reissued and whether there are any substantive changes in scope, objectives, anticipated outcomes, evaluation considerations, or expectations compared with the prior solicitation?

Topics labeled as reissued were not funded or awarded previously. Reissued topics are provided and as described in the Call #3 Appendix C summary of topics.

Evaluation criteria are provided in the BAA information.

BAA

Amendment

0002, Sections 2.2 and 2.8.1

The BAA states that communication between offerors and FHWA is encouraged during the concept paper phase and that discussions may occur to develop or refine project concepts. Could FHWA identify the technical point(s) of contact for each Call 3 research topic and clarify whether offerors may communicate with those individuals prior to concept paper submission?

Communications between the offeror and FHWA on specific topics are initiated through the official communication channels and point of contact identified in the

BAA announcement. Ensure your requests are made well in advance of submission deadlines.

Topic HRDI-

BPM-05

Will FHWA provide representative digital as-built bridge datasets or coordination with State DOTs, or should proposers assume responsibility for identifying and obtaining all datasets needed for the research?

The research team is responsible for identifying and obtaining all datasets needed for the research, as well as securing commitments and letters of support for any involved entity or person; FHWA can facilitate data access, help identify sites, and coordinate with State DOTs.

Topic HRDI-

BPM-05

Should the data architecture focus on historical and periodic asset data, or explicitly accommodate high-frequency, real-time SHM data streams?

The data architecture should focus on historical, periodic, and lifecycle asset data to establish the digital as-built foundation, while providing a standards-compliant, phased roadmap to conceptually accommodate high-frequency SHM streams.

Topic HRDI-

BPM-05

Does FHWA expect the framework to be validated using bridge case studies or State DOT datasets, or is the emphasis on developing a nationally applicable methodology without full implementation?

The framework should focus on developing a nationally applicable methodology and a strategic work plan for full implementation, using stakeholder input and existing data (e.g., available State DOTs data).

Topic HRDI-

BPM-05

Should the predictive capability rely on traditional deterioration models, or outline integration pathways for advanced AI/ML and physics-based approaches?

The emphasis of the strategic work plan should be placed on delineating standardized integration pathways and architectural workflows that conceptually synthesize both conventional deterioration methodologies and advanced AI/ML or physics-based predictive capabilities conforming digital twin structure.

Reference Vendors’ Questions Government’s Responses

Topic HRDI-

BPM-05

Are there existing IFC 4.3-aligned IDS, schema templates, or baseline bridge models from TPF-5(523)

Phase II that the research team is expected to adopt?

The research team is responsible for identifying and obtaining all datasets needed for the research, as well as securing commitments and letters of support for any involved entity or person; FHWA can facilitate data access, help identify sites, and coordinate with State DOTs.

Topic HRDI-

EPM-06

Does the government limit NDE evaluations used for condition assessment. Can NDE data from quality assurance and construction be considered as well.

The intent is not to limit the study to NDE data collected solely for condition assessment. NDE data collected during quality assurance, construction, acceptance, and other phases of the pavement life cycle is preferred to be considered. The study should clearly demonstrate how those data can support pavement asset management and improve decision-making.

Topic HRDI-

EPM-06

In evaluating the ROI associated with NDE technologies in the context of pavement management, does the government expect a generic framework for

ROI calculations? The specific benefits (or ROI) will vary by agency depending on the condition of pavements and the extent of NDE data available.

The expectation is to develop a framework or methodology that agencies can use to evaluate the ROI of incorporating NDE into their pavement asset management processes, with one or more illustrative case studies or examples.

Topic HRDI-

EPM-06

In developing a working model to demonstrate how

NDE can be effectively integrated into a pavement asset management system, is the idea to develop a framework or is it to demonstrate a single example of how NDE can be integrated into pavement asset management system?

The intent is to develop and demonstrate a framework for integrating NDE data into pavement asset management, rather than creating a solution applicable to only a single agency or pavement management system. A case study or prototype implementation may be used to demonstrate the framework's feasibility and value, but the end product should be broadly transferable so that other transportation agencies can adapt it to their own pavement asset management systems.

19 General Should we submit the concept paper directly to you via email, as described in the BAA instructions?

Please submit concept paper to Vivian Riboli at Vivian.riboli@dot.gov and make sure to copy Rochelle Infante (Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov) on the message.

20 General

Should the concept paper and Quad Chart be combined into a single PDF, or submitted as two separate attachments—the concept paper as a PDF and the Quad Chart as a PowerPoint file?

For the attachments, you may submit them as two separate files (PDF for the concept paper and PowerPoint for the Quad Chart).

693JJ3-23-

BAA-0002,

Section 2.3, pages 11–12

The original 2023 BAA identifies Matthew Corrigan as the BAA Contracting Officer’s Representative and directs Offerors to copy Raven Merchant and Bob

Brown on submissions. The current Call 3 notice identifies Vivian Riboli and Rochelle Infante as the points of contact. Would you please confirm whether

Project Concept Papers for Call 3 should be submitted to the contacts listed in the original 2023 BAA or

Please submit concept paper to Vivian Riboli at Vivian.riboli@dot.gov and make sure to copy Rochelle Infante (Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov) on the message.

mailto:Vivian.riboli@dot.gov mailto:Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov mailto:Vivian.riboli@dot.gov mailto:Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov

Reference Vendors’ Questions Government’s Responses directly to Vivian Riboli and Rochelle Infante?

22 General

Could you please clarify whether the two universities may participate as joint performing institutions with shared responsibility for the project, or whether one university must serve as the lead or prime institution and issue a subaward to the other? Could you also advise how the institutional roles should be identified in the concept paper and subsequent submission documents?

One institution must be identified as the lead (prime) institution, as this entity will be the one to enter into the award agreement with the Government. The other institution may participate as a subrecipient (subcontractor, as applicable).

In your concept paper, please clearly identify the lead institution and describe the specific roles and responsibilities of each participating organization.

23 General

We could not find proposal submittal instructions on

SAM.gov for the referenced solicitation.

Can you please let us know where to look for them??

Please submit concept paper to Vivian Riboli at Vivian.riboli@dot.gov and make sure to copy Rochelle Infante (Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov) on the message.

For all other submission instructions, please refer to the parent BAA available here:

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/14c60ccf93514e9281ecf61526d4bb8b/view

24 General

We are preparing our white papers for BAA 693JJ3-

23-BAA-0002-3 and have one general question regarding submission, namely, to which e-mail address / e-mail addresses should we be submitting white papers for HDRI-TRS-07, HDRI-TRS-11, and

HRDI-EPM-06.

Please submit concept paper to Vivian Riboli at Vivian.riboli@dot.gov and make sure to copy Rochelle Infante (Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov) on the message.

25 General The quad chart requires the FHWA Task Monitor.

Could you guide me as to what exactly this means?

Each topic will have a separate task monitor/COR, but for submission purposes, insert: Mr. Matthew Corrigan.

26 General

The quad chart requires the name of the project partner. My team is comprised of two academic institutions. Would the quad chart need both organizations to appear?

Yes, indicate the project partner organizations/companies.

27 General

The cover page requires the information of the principal points of contact. As mentioned earlier, our team is of two organizations. Do you need only one of the organizations to be the principal organization and written on the cover page? Or, both organizations should appear there?

Per the Broad Agency Announcement, as specified in 693JJ3-23-BAA-

0002_Amendment 2.pdf, for principal points of contact:

"Names, phone numbers, mailing and e-mail addresses for the principal technical and contractual points of contact (person or persons authorized to negotiate on behalf of the Offeror and who can contractually obligate the Offeror organization)

Secondary Offeror organization addresses (project partners), if any"

28 General We are currently preparing concept papers in response to the FHWA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The Government will not be able to hold a meeting to discuss the research topics at this time.

mailto:Vivian.riboli@dot.gov mailto:Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov

Reference Vendors’ Questions Government’s Responses

Call 3 (693JJ3-23-BAA-0002-3) and would like to request a meeting to discuss the following research topics with the respective FHWA Contracting Officer

Representatives (CORs):

29 General

I’m preparing a concept paper in response to Research

Topic HRDI-BPM-05 (Digital As-Built Data for

Improved Bridge Management) under BAA 693JJ3-

23-BAA-0002, Call 3.0.

I note that Amendment 0002 removed the submission email addresses from Section 2.3 and directs offerors to the individual BAA Call for current contact information. Could you please confirm the correct email address(es) to which we should submit our concept paper, and whether any specific subject line format is required beyond the solicitation number?

Please submit concept paper to Vivian Riboli at Vivian.riboli@dot.gov and make sure to copy Rochelle Infante (Rochelle.Infante@dot.gov) on the message.

Please reference the Topic area in the body of your email.