Synopsis-Pavement Assessment Broad Agency Announcement 7-20-12.doc

This synopsis is issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day pre-solicitation notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Federal Highway Administration’s intent to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to conduct Pavement Assessment research.

As a result of this BAA, the FHWA intends to award contracts and/or cooperative agreements. Offerors shall propose periods of performance based on individual proposed research efforts. The BAA is anticipated to be released on or about August 6, 2012.

The overall objective of this acquisition is to conduct research in the area of Pavement Assessment. The FHWA anticipates sponsoring research addressing the following three topics through the issuance of this BAA including the following:

Topic 1. Smart Pavement Monitoring System: Further advancing the current technologies for health monitoring of pavement structures in the long-term, creating a smarter system that can readily be placed or tossed into the paving materials onsite during construction or at the materials plant with minimal interruption to the pavement operation and periodically upload the data wirelessly and using it to enhance pavement management systems..

Topic 2. Analysis procedures for evaluating superheavy load movement on flexible pavements: Development of a comprehensive analysis process for evaluating super-heavy load movement on flexible pavements focused on the evaluation of pavement structural adequacy against likelihood of instantaneous or rapid load-induced shear failure and after structural adequacy is established, methods to determine the amount of damage caused by the movement of superheavy load and the resultant loss of economic value of the pavement for cost allocation estimation.

Topic 3. Flooded Pavement Assessment: Develop analytical procedures and guidance on the optimum time to reopen flooded pavements to vehicles with various weights and axle loads. Develop assessment procedures for the long term effects of flooding on pavement performance.

Note for Topic 3: Offerors will be encouraged to collaborate with the European Commission (EC) on similar projects. One of the proposal evaluation criteria for this topic area will include the contractor’s plans to collaborate with the EC. More information on this collaboration will be provided in the BAA.

The BAA will be released electronically via this Government Point of Entry (GPE) otherwise known as Federal Business Opportunities or www.fbo.gov. As such, no written, telephonic or other type of request for an advance copy of the solicitation will be entertained at this time. Potential offerors/vendors are encouraged to register on www.fbo.gov to receive any further information in reference to the subject action inclusive of any announcements, and/or amendments to the solicitation after its release.

Any questions regarding this synopsis should be directed to the Contracting Officer, Robin Hobbs email at Robin.Hobbs@dot.gov.