UMass_sole_soource_2019.pdf_CO_Behrend.pdf

U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.

of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 Federal Railroad Administration

JUSTIFICATION FOR

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. Contracting Agency: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA), Office of Acquisition and Grants Services, 1200 New Jersey, Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590.

2. Action to be Approved: The FRA intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) for “PROBABILISTIC APPROACH FOR

THE EVALUATION OF BALLAST CONDITIONS USING BIG DATA TECHNIQUES”.

3. Description of Services: This research and development effort is a continuation of work begun under DTFR53-15-P-00028 (Phase I) and DTFR53-16-C-00020 (Phase II). Both awards were made using a sole source solicitation. The objective of Phase I was to identify the influence of fouling and moisture content on the performance of ballast subjected to repeated train axle loads. The testing associated with DTFR53-15-P-00028 was initially part of a BAA, DTFR53-13-C-00061 that ended in 2014. Although the larger project ended, a smaller effort to test the strength and deformation limits of fouled ballast was continued in DTFR53-15-P-00028 using available sample material from the previous BAA. While much of the test equipment and materials are still available, the government desires to continue the project to extend the testing of the strength and deformation limits of fouled ballast to a wider range of materials that more closely resemble fouled ballast conditions in the field. The existence of sample material, test equipment, and the existing data from previous testing all support continuation of the project in this new sole source solicitation, since no other provider has access to all the elements needed for success of the project. The objective of Phase II was to conduct similar tests on samples of revenue track fouled ballast from the New England region.

The purpose for this was that the ballast and the fouling material was more representative of the particle roundness, grain size distribution and mineralogy that would be expected under actual track conditions. In addition, 10 in diameter tri-axial compression tests were conducted on the ballast to determine the strength and deformation properties of the ballast under the different fouling and moisture contents tested in the box test. The testing provided a better understanding of the influence of moisture and fouling on track ballast performance.

The objective of this sole source solicitation is to develop a methodology to evaluate railroad track ballast condition based upon measured observations and a probabilistic analysis of the projected life of the track/ballast system. To reach this goal, the framework of the numerical approach will be constructed based upon regularly measured data associated with track geometry, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and other types of regularly measured data, inclusive of the accumulated data and results derived from the previous sole source awards. As the model relies upon properly assessing the correlations in probabilistic terms, it is important that a means for properly assessing uncertainties in the data and relationships be implemented efficiently including the development of automated tools to update the model dataset with the most recent track inspection and condition data. As more data are acquired, probabilistic relationships can be updated to improve the method.

4. Authority Cited: The statutory authority for this non-competitive action is derived from 41 U.S.C.

§ 253(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements”.

5. A Demonstration that the Proposed Contractor’s Unique Qualifications or the Nature of the

Acquisition Requires Use of the Authority Cited: This research and associated lab testing equipment was developed as part of DTFR53-15-P-00028 and DTFR53-16-C-00020, and, based on our analysis, is unique to the rail industry. No other techniques, or source for these techniques, are available to the FRA. To re-develop past efforts through a new research project with a different supplier would be extremely cost prohibitive.

6. Description of the Effort Made to Ensure that Offers are Solicited from as many Potential

Sources as Practicable:

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be fair and Reasonable: The contracting officer will perform a price analysis of the contractor’s quotation using a combination of the techniques provided under FAR Subpart 15.404-1 to determine that all proposed costs are fair and reasonable.

8. Market Research: FRA has invested considerable resources in research and analysis of UMass

Amherst’s processes and test results. There are no other known vendors at this time deemed capable of meeting FRA’s requirement for investigations into the PROBABILISTIC APPROACH FOR

THE EVALUATION OF BALLAST CONDITIONS USING BIG DATA TECHNIQUES.

However, the FRA will continue in its efforts to identify alternative or additional sources through peer discussions and other types of research.

9. Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other Than Full and Open Competition: FRA is unable to use full and open competition for this purchase order due to specialized knowledge and experienced possessed by UMass Amherst personnel in regard to the services being requested.

10. A List of Sources, If Any that Expressed, in Writing, An Interest in the Acquisition:

11. A Statement of Actions, If Any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Competition Before Any Subsequent Acquisition for the Supplies or Services Required:

The agency will continue to conduct market research and/or advertise subsequent acquisition for evaluation related supplies or services to remove or overcome barriers to competition.

12. Certifications

Technical Requirements Certification:

I certify that the technical requirements and technical justifications are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

APPROVAL

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve awarding a purchase order to IBR on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. § 253(c)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, " Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements,” subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Angeline Behrend Date Contracting Officer, RAD-30

Federal Railroad