DTFH6114R00019_BAA_FINAL.pdf

US Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Office of Planning, Environment and Realty

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

DTFH6114R00019

“ADVANCING TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

THROUGH INNOVATION AND RESEARCH”

BAA Solicitation No.

DTFH6114R000019

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

NO. DTFH6114R00019

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Section Title Page

1 BAA Process Overview 3

2 Focus Areas 7

3 General Proposal Information 13

4 Instructions for Submission of Pre-Proposals 17

5 Pre-Proposal Content 17

6 Pre-Proposal Evaluation 17

7 Instructions for Full Proposals 19

8 Full Proposal Format 19

9 Full Proposal Evaluation Criteria 23

Technical Discussions and Cost/Price Negotiations 25

11 Attachments 27

SECTION 1 – BAA PROCESS OVERVIEW

1.1 General Information

CONTRACTING POINTS OF CONTACT:

Primary: Jennifer Johnson

Contracting Officer jennifer.johnson@dot.gov

Secondary: Brittany Alvarenga Contract Specialist brittany.alvarenga@dot.gov

1.2 Summary of Important Dates

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) describes a two-phase process for proposal submission and evaluation. In the first phase, short pre-proposals will be submitted for review.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will then ask for full proposals of those pre-proposals that are of interest to FHWA. Further detail on proposal dates are as follows:

The FHWA anticipates that the proposal, evaluation, and award process for this BAA will proceed generally in accordance with the following schedule:

BAA opens (FBO publication) February 24, 2014 Questions Due 5:00PM EST March 24, 2014 Pre-Proposals Due 12:00PM EST April 23, 2014 Invitation for Full Proposal May 22, 2014 Full Proposals Due 12:00PM EST June 13, 2014 Anticipated Contracts Award Date September 20, 2014

Proposals shall be sent by electronic transmission to jennifer.johnson@dot.gov. Any questions relating to this announcement must be emailed to the contracting point of contact by 5:00 PM EST on March 24, 2013. No telephone requests will be taken.

Each prospective offeror e-mailing questions to the Ms. Johnson should attempt to state each question in such a way that the offeror would have no objection to the FHWA’s publishing that precise question (and its answer) in a formal Amendment to the BAA, on the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE), FedBizOpps. As such, each prospective offeror should attempt to word each question in such a way that the publication of that question (and its answer) on the GPE would not divulge any information that the prospective offeror considers to be proprietary or confidential.

mailto:jennifer.johnson@dot.gov mailto:brittany.alvarenga@dot.gov

1.3 Definitions and Supplemental Information

• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) - For additional information visit

(http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm).

• Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century - On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law P.L. 112-141, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21). IT funds surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2013 and 2014. The MAP-21 is the most significant highway authorization enacted since 2005 and represents a milestone for the U.S. economy – it provides needed funds and, more importantly, it transforms the policy and programmatic framework for investments to guide the growth and development of the country’s vital transportation infrastructure.

• Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) - MPO, means a forum for cooperative transportation decision-making; required for urbanized areas with populations over 50,000.

• FHWA, Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty (HEP) - For additional information visit (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/index.htm)

• Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) - A multipurpose organization composed of representatives of local governments and appointed representatives from the geographic area covered by a council and designated as the primary organization to address problems and plan solutions that are of greater than local concern or scope.

• HEP Research Programs - For additional information visit (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/research.htm)

• State Department of Transportation (state DOT) - Each of the U.S. States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have an agency or department with official transportation planning, programming, and project implementation responsibility for that State or Territory, referred to as the State Department of Transportation (State DOT). In addition to transportation planning responsibilities, these agencies may have responsibility for the design, construction, operation, or maintenance of state facilities for multiple modes of transportation (including air, water and surface transportation). State DOTs also work cooperatively with tolling authorities, ports, local agencies and special districts that own, operate or maintain different portions of the transportation network, or individual facilities.

• Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) – The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) was authorized by Congress to address some of the most pressing needs related to the nation’s highway system: the high toll taken by highway deaths and injuries, aging infrastructure that must be rehabilitated with minimum disruption to users, and congestion stemming both from inadequate physical capacity and from events that reduce the effective capacity of a highway facility. These needs define the four research focus areas in SHRP 2:

o The Safety area is conducting the largest ever naturalistic driving study to better understand the interaction among various factors involved in highway crashes— driver, vehicle, and infrastructure—so that better safety countermeasures can be developed and applied to save lives.

o The Renewal area is developing technologies and institutional solutions to support systematic rehabilitation of highway infrastructure in a way that is rapid, presents minimal disruption to users, and results in long-lasting facilities.

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/index.htm http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/research.htm o The Reliability area is developing basic analytical techniques, design procedures, and institutional approaches to address the events—such as crashes, work zones, special events, and inclement weather—that result in the unpredictable congestion that makes travel times unreliable.

o The Capacity area is developing a web-based tool to provide more accurate data and collaborative decision-making in the development of new highway capacity in order to expedite the provision of that capacity while simultaneously addressing economic, community, and environmental objectives associated with new construction.

1.4 Background

The FHWA’s Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty's research activities support program and policy objectives that help the FHWA address topics associated with comprehensive intermodal and multi-modal transportation planning, enhancement of community and social benefits of highway transportation, and improvements to the quality of the natural environment by reducing highway-related pollution and by protecting and enhancing ecosystems. In addition, research on the fair and prudent acquisition and management of real property is undertaken.

MAP-21 established policy, principles, and planning practices for a flexible national research and technology program. A key research program area is strengthening transportation planning and environmental decision-making. The Office of Planning, Environment and Realty is responsible for developing and implementing research projects focused on the following objectives:

• Promote more informed transportation decision-making to improve transportation planning, programming, operations, and coordination.

• Promote integrated planning that improves transportation safety and addresses environmental, social, and economic needs.

• Streamline the project delivery process.

• Minimize environmental impacts of transportation investments.

• Improve the way transportation contributes to economic development and communities' quality of life.

• Enhance availability and use of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including flexibility in design considerations.

1.5 Objective and Description

The FHWA, through the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty is soliciting proposals for research and development projects that could lead to innovative changes and revolutionary advances for transportation planning in the United States. The objective of this BAA is to advance the practice and application of transportation planning among State, metropolitan, regional, local, and Tribal transportation planning governments in response to significant changes in the planning process and to identify new tools, techniques, and approaches that respond to national transportation planning priorities.

1.6 Program Scope

The program scope is designed to address a wide spectrum of topics and objectives that FHWA supports. It is intended to spur innovation and focus on high level initiatives with a high pay-off in research and developmental projects.

The goal of this announcement is to meet the requirements of MAP-21 Section 52003 - Research and Technology Development and Deployment (b)(4) Strengthening Transportation Planning and Environmental Decision-Making.--

“(A) In general.--The Secretary may carry out research--

(i) to minimize the cost of transportation planning and environmental decision-making processes;(ii) to improve transportation planning and environmental decision-making processes;

and (iii) to minimize the potential impact of surface transportation on the environment.

(B) Objectives.--In carrying out this paragraph the Secretary may carry out research and development activities-- (i) to minimize the cost of highway infrastructure and operations; (ii) to reduce the potential impact of highway infrastructure and operations on the environment;(iii) to advance improvements in environmental analyses and processes and context sensitive solutions for transportation decision-making; (iv) to improve construction techniques; to accelerate construction to reduce congestion and related emissions; (vi) to reduce the impact of highway runoff on the environment;(vii) to improve understanding and modeling of the factors that contribute to the demand for transportation; and (viii) to improve transportation planning decision-making and coordination.

(C) Contents.--Research and technology activities carried out under this paragraph may include--

(i) creation of models and tools for evaluating transportation measures and transportation system designs, including the costs and benefits; (ii) congestion reduction efforts;(iii) transportation and economic development planning in rural areas and small communities; (iv) improvement of State, local, and tribal government capabilities relating to surface transportation planning and the environment; and (v) streamlining of project delivery processes.”

SECTION 2 – FOCUS AREAS

2.1 Focus Areas

The FHWA is looking for research within several focus areas that are of particular strategic interest and relevance. Proposals in these areas are highly encouraged. These areas are consistent with the emphasis areas identified for Surface Transportation Research, Development, and Technology identified under 23 U.S.C. Sections 502 and 503. The focus areas include:

(2.1.1) State, MPO and Local Planning Capacity Building

The FHWA seeks to expand the knowledge, understanding, and implementation of efforts that will advance State, MPO, regional and local transportation planning capacity building to include the consideration of audience needs, agency practices, and process requirements in statewide and metropolitan transportation planning. Topic areas to consider include Performance-based planning, Livability, Advanced travel modeling, Economic development, Scenario/integrated planning, Bicycle/pedestrian planning, Sustainability, Health, and Border planning. Key emerging planning research issues are:

• The benefits of performance-based planning which creates a transparent transportation planning process that can demonstrate through data and analysis how the transportation system is performing as a result of the investments made.

• The benefits of livability and supporting healthy communities through developing new innovations that enhance communities social and economic benefits of highway transportation, and result in improvements to the quality of the natural and human environment.

• New and innovative transportation modeling and forecasting techniques that support more informed decision making for planning of both motorized and non-motorized travel.

• New innovative tools and techniques in all aspects of economic development to help understand the links between the benefits of transportation on economic stability including innovations in program finances, revenue forecasts, and transportation asset management.

• Improved approach, methods and tools for conducting multimodal comprehensive planning that better reflects the implications and tradeoffs among transportation modes, livability, land use, environment, economic development, public health, equity, etc.

Visioning, sketch planning and scenario planning approaches and associated tools to better inform the planning process and decision makers on the real consequences, implications and tradeoffs among issues. Leverage and connect to existing SHRP efforts to advance more robust planning methods.

• Identify how regional and local impacts of transportation investments on various sustainability indicators (economy, environment, health, etc.) are considered in the planning process and project selection process.

• Identify how regional and local areas are addressing health in transportation including children and low income.

• Identify scenarios and/or case examples where States or local areas have right-sized highways to accommodate livability or economic development needs (e.g., converting fully access controlled highways to urban boulevards).

• Develop improved methods for understanding the implications of cross border movement of people and goods and how the impact of transportation across borders can be better addressed in State, regional and local transportation planning process.

• Develop case studies and best practices for all the topics under this BAA.

(2.1.2) Tribal Planning Capacity Building

The FHWA seeks to expand the knowledge, understanding, and implementation of efforts that will advance the development of innovative tools or approaches that promote the integration of Tribal issues into the transportation planning and programming processes at the State and metropolitan levels. While tribes are not required by law to develop or maintain transportation planning programs, this can limit their ability to interface at the same level with States and metropolitan transportation planning and programming efforts by minimizing their ability to effectively engage in consultation efforts when competing for State and metropolitan funding opportunities. Key emerging planning research issues are:

• Develop "information tools" that Tribal Departments of Transportation to use to improve consultation practices in the statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes, and

• Identification of innovative planning techniques that can assist Tribes in developing their own transportation planning program. This research should address developing processes, tools, techniques, and technology that is specifically designed for Tribal transportation planning programs to meet their needs of limited staff and resources.

(2.1.3) Congestion Management

Developing congestion management processes reflects a substantive shift in perspective and practice to address congestion through a process that provides for effective management and operations of transportation facilities and enhances the linkage to the planning process, and to the environmental review process. In support of the reduction of congestion on America's transportation network as well as support other initiatives to link operations and transportation planning, key emerging research issues to consider includes:

• Identifying new innovations in congestion pricing and public - private partnerships for reducing congestion.

• Develop advanced analysis tools for use in the measurement and evaluation of operational improvements.

• Develop new methodologies and strategies in transportation planning to advance the Congestion Management Process, and

• Develop new planning tools and programs for understanding, analyzing and responding to congestion.

• Identify new innovations in visualization for the Congestion Management Process.

• Develop new planning tools and programs for understanding and analyzing Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategies, including dynamic ridesharing, car- and bike-sharing, and land use development and design approaches, that distribute demand efficiently across all available modes, times, and routes throughout the regional transportation system.

(2.1.4) Safety Planning

Transportation safety planning should include the development and improvement of data collection and analysis methods it should also consider collaborative efforts with safety community, safety goals, objectives, performance measures, and setting safety targets Research should also consider how safety as decision are made during plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) updates and, how to address safety as part of planning efforts in Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), bicycle/pedestrian and, corridor plans. In addition researchers should highlight innovative ways planning agencies (State DOTs, MPOs, and Tribal Governments) can build their institutional capacity to integrate safety into their transportation planning and decision-making process, research issues to consider includes:

• The need for good motorized and non-motorized safety data, consider how safety data is presently being used by planners and how it can be improved to help safety planning functions at both DOTs and MPOs.

• New approaches to standardize safety data and analysis methods for use in the transportation planning process.

• New and improved methodologies for increasing the awareness of data requirements to fit the needs of transportation planning functions.

• Report on MPO best practices in safety planning, for both motorized and non-motorized transportation.

(2.1.5) Public Involvement, Environmental Justice, Visualization in Planning

There is a continued need to create new methods in public involvement and community impact assessment practices. Furthermore, environmental justice and visualization techniques are emerging areas of research and practice for transportation planning practitioners that can be utilized to help convey and obtain technical information with communities that traditionally were not involved in the planning process. Research issues to consider include:

• Increasing the awareness among State DOTs, MPOs, and other government agencies about the importance of ensuring civil rights and environmental justice in the transportation planning process.

• Developing new Visualization techniques to apply to transportation planning in which stakeholders from State DOTs, MPOs, and other interested parties would benefit from knowing how to effectively apply visualization tools.

• Developing new Public Involvement techniques and communication strategies among transportation practitioners, decision-makers, and the general public.

• Advance creative opportunities to build collaborations with other agencies which directly impact environmental justice communities.

• Ensure that strategies which strengthen documentation of environmental justice data collection, issues and concerns which can successfully get integrated into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

• Develop recommendations or observational analysis on how to deter transportation impacts on environmental justice communities.

• Document the effects of social media participation in the public involvement process.

• Develop environmental case studies which demonstrate successful environmental justice communities, participation, strategies, challenges, barriers and outcomes.

• Develop opportunities for innovative mitigation and avoidance strategies on

Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities.

• Develop strategies which strengthen documentation of environmental justice data collection issues and concerns which can successfully be integrated into the NEPA process.

• Recommendations or analysis on how to deter transportation impacts on environmental justice communities.

• Documentation of the effects of social media in the public involvement process.

• Development of environmental case studies which demonstrated successful environmental justice communities, participation strategies, challenges, barriers and outcomes.

(2.1.6) Freight Planning

The volume of freight being shipped on America’s highways is growing at an exponential rate.

One result of this increase in traffic is huge increase in truck traffic which is putting tremendous stresses on our nation’s highways and local roads. Research is needed to find solutions to this heavy increase in truck traffic. Key emerging research issues to consider includes:

• Demonstrate how State DOTs and MPOs can best integrate both domestic and international freight into the transportation planning and programming processes.

• Develop new innovative ideas such as Mega-region planning for improving freight movements across the country.

• Produce innovative methods for effectively engaging the private sector freight community for including them in the State and metropolitan planning processes.

• Evaluate how parameters such as freight cost, travel time, permitting, and user fees are used by shippers in evaluating their transportation alternatives. Researchers should also consider the elasticity of these parameters; and how new approaches for applying these parameters could improve system performance.

• Develop new and innovative freight analytical techniques such as freight modeling improvements, methods of innovative freight data collection and ideas for data sharing, including those associated with Demand Modeling and Data Improvement Strategic Plan.

(see: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/1676.aspx)

• Demonstrate how States and MPO can best address the impact of shifting North American and International trade patterns into the transportation planning and programming processes.

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/1676.aspx

(2.1.7) Planning and Environmental Linkages

State and local agencies can achieve significant benefits by incorporating environmental and community values into transportation decisions early in planning and carrying these considerations through project development and delivery. Research is needed to identify innovative ideas that incorporate the techniques for implementing planning and environmental linkages, for example techniques for avoidance and minimization of impacts; utilizing planning data in NEPA, including employment, growth, population, travel demand; land use and land cover mapping; and methods for documentation of planning for NEPA and early resource agency coordination in planning. Research could include PEL approaches for the natural and human environment, including activities relating to health or environmental justice.

• Identify successful practices using Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) in a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making that considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process, and uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process.

• Identify techniques that identify analyze and prioritize potential natural and human environmental mitigation activities including activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the community and environmental functions affected by transportation plan implementation

• Identify methodologies for the development of programmatic mitigation plans as part of the statewide or local planning process, in order to address the potential community and environmental impacts of future transportation projects to be beneficial to integrating efficient, strategic conservation into the transportation planning process

(2.1.8) Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning and Design

The FHWA seeks to expand the knowledge, understanding, and implementation of pedestrian and bicycle transportation planning and design efforts in order to support the 2010 U.S. DOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations and U.S. DOT Strategic Plan, while also following-up on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Design Flexibility Memorandum released on August 20, 2013. Key emerging research issues to consider include:

• Identify strategies and best practices at the local, regional, and state level to support pedestrian and bicycle networks.

• Evaluate ways to project and account for the demand of pedestrian and bicycle facilitates such as sidewalks and bike lanes into the transportation decision-making processes.

• Identify scenarios and/or project-based examples on flexibility in pedestrian, bicycle, and highway facility design to support context sensitive solutions.

• Demonstrate how urban street design principles could be adapted to a suburban context.

• Evaluate and synthesize how pedestrian and bicycle design guidance can apply to a rural context.

• Identify best practices, approaches, and applications to evaluate the regulatory framework on the use of green colored pavement as part of on-road bicycle networks

• Examine the connections between planning; non-motorized transportation projects and systems (i.e., “active transportation”); and public health issues, policies, and goals.

SECTION 3 – GENERAL PROPOSAL INFORMATION

3.1 General Information

All business and administrative correspondence or questions on this BAA should be directed to the primary contracting point of contact identified in Section 1.

The FHWA has budgeted approximately $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2014 to fund this research announcement. Proposals will be evaluated using a two-part process consisting of pre-proposals and full-proposals. Offerors whose pre-proposals are of interest to the FHWA will be invited to submit full proposals. The FHWA may select to award all, none, or a subset of the acceptable proposals meeting its needs. The FHWA anticipates making multiple awards, typically of 12-24 months duration with the size of individual awards varying based on the type of research area and study requirements.

The FHWA strongly encourages proposals that offer a significant portion of non-federal matching funds or in-kind resources.

Cost reasonableness and realism will also be considered in the overall selection process.

Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or non-acceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under the announcement. Selection will be based primarily on scientific or technical merit, partnership, relevance and importance to agency, and the availability of funds.

The number of awards and their dollar value will vary depending on the merit of proposals received as well as their potential to lead to transformational changes and advances in transportation planning practice. Offerors should prepare proposals with a baseline period of performance of 12-24 months and, if needed, with one or more options up to an additional 24-month period of performance.

NOTE: Awards with a total value (including full period of performance and any option periods) of $150,000 and below will be issued as purchase orders.

NOTE: Awards over $150,000 will be issued as contracts or cooperative agreements. The FHWA strongly encourages cost sharing under any contract that may result, and can offer cooperative agreements if the proposer can offer a cost share of 20 percent or greater from non-federal sources of funding. For cooperative agreements, the Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out under this program is limited to 80 percent, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary of Transportation.

3.2 Pre-Proposal and Full Proposal Process

Approximately 30 days after the pre-proposal submission deadline, offerors submitting pre-proposals will be contacted informing them that the FHWA is interested in the proposed work (potentially with suggestions or feedback for inclusion in the full proposal) and requesting that the offeror to submit a formal cost and technical proposal in accordance with the full-proposal requirements found in Section 7 – “Instructions for Full Proposals” or that the effort proposed is not of interest to FHWA at this time.

3.3 Other Administrative Information

Proposals that plan to collect information from more than nine non-Federal entities may require the FHWA to obtain clearance prior to the commencement of any information collection (approximate time for clearance is six months). Awards involving any Privacy Act-covered data will require special clearances and protections.

It is the policy of the FHWA to treat all proposals as competitive information and to disclose the contents only for the purposes of evaluation. Only Government evaluators will make selections under this BAA.

This BAA constitutes the public announcement as contemplated by FAR 5.203(e) and is in accordance with the competitive procedures outlined in FAR 6.102(d)(2)(i); no formal Request for Proposals or other solicitation regarding this announcement will be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded.

3.4 Deliverables

The specific deliverables will depend upon the scope and objectives of the negotiated award. At a minimum, the contractor shall present results for at least a peer exchange, webinar, or workshop and submit a final report with a technical summary that documents the research conducted in each task identified in the proposal. Additional deliverables such as interim reports, documentation, and instrumentation may be required and the specific deliverables will be identified in the negotiated resultant contract.

3.5 Period of Performance

The base contract period of performance is negotiable, but shall be no more than 24 months from date of award.

3.6 Optional Future Phase or Phases

Proposals may include a discussion of work products for an optional, future phase or phases of work for up to an additional 24 months (up to three additional pages in the full proposal). Such discussion shall be clearly labeled as “optional future phase or phases of work.” The original phase or work shall in no way depend on work described under future phases in order to meet the program criteria. If a future phase or phases are included, a separate budget shall be included for the phase or phases and be labeled clearly as “separate budget for optional future phase or phases.”

3.7 Pre-Proposal and Full Proposal Information

The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this BAA. In addition, the Government reserves the right to award either contracts, grants, or other instruments determined to be of benefit to the government in achieving the goals of this program. This BAA is an expression of interest only and the Government will not pay any direct pre-proposal or full-proposal preparation costs. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals, which will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria outlined in Sections 6 and 9 below.

The number of awards, and their dollar value, will vary depending on the technical merit of proposals received and their potential to lead to transformational changes and advances in transportation planning practice. Offerors should prepare proposals with a baseline period of performance of 12 months and, if needed, with one or more options up to an additional 24-month period of performance.

The scope of this BAA is intentionally broad to invite innovation and to provide the FHWA the flexibility to sponsor research that best addresses its objectives. In keeping with FHWA’s desire for innovation and flexibility, the specific approach in the selected full proposals will vary and will be negotiated. Any resulting contracts will contain appropriate Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agency clauses for the type of procurement vehicle awarded.

Proposals may respond to one or more of the subject areas but must indicate which area is primary and which area or areas are subordinate. Organizations also may submit more than one proposal when the proposed effort includes multiple disparate objectives and tasks, covers multiple or disparate technologies areas, or would have a more supportable budget if provided in parts; however, each proposal will be considered independently. Proposals will be evaluated using a two-part process: pre-proposals and full-proposals.

FHWA will evaluate pre-proposals against the evaluation criteria outlined in Section 6 below.

Those offerors whose pre-proposals are of interest to FHWA will be invited to submit a formal full-proposal, as described below. Approximately 30 days after the pre-proposal submission deadline, offerors submitting pre-proposals will be contacted by the Contracting Officer with a letter informing them either that the FHWA is requesting a formal cost and technical proposal or that the effort proposed is not of interest to the Government.

3.8 Section 508 Compliance Requirements

Awards under this program may be subject to the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, depending on the type of final products or reports to be delivered under each award. The Act requires that all electronic products prepared for the Federal Government be accessible to persons with disabilities, including those with vision, hearing, cognitive, and mobility impairments.

Proposers can view Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm) and the Federal IT Accessibility Initiative (Home Page) (http://section508.gov/) for detailed information.

3.9 Minimum Requirements for Materials to be Posted on FHWA Websites

All web-based deliverables shall conform to the Minimum Requirements for FHWA Web Pages and be compatible with the current FHWA web platform of Adobe ColdFusion (version 8 compatible) and Microsoft SQL (server 2008 compatible). Deliverables will be evaluated for Section 508 compliance, including graceful degradation when JavaScript is disabled and color contrast tests. Deliverables shall meet W3C coding standards (http://www.w3.org/), FHWA coding standards, and conform to DOT Secure Web Application standards to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection.

3.10 FAR 52.227-14 – Rights in Data -- General (Dec 2007)

FAR 52.227-14 – Rights in Data (and the appropriate Alternate Clause, as applicable) will be incorporated into resultant contracts issued under this BAA.

http://www.w3.org/

SECTION 4 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PRE-PROPSALS

4.1 Pre-Proposal Instructions

Pre-proposals shall be submitted via electronic mail and must be received on or before 12:00 PM (EST), April 23, 2014. Facsimile transmissions or hard copy transmissions of the pre-proposal will not be accepted; any sent will be disregarded.

Pre-proposals shall be submitted via email to: jennifer.johnson@dot.gov.

SECTION 5 – CONTENT OF PRE-PROPOSALS

5.1 Content of Pre-Proposals

The Pre-Proposals shall be submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF).

The pre-proposals shall be no longer than 10 pages in length (excluding the cover page and table of contents) and include the following sections:

• Discuss the opportunity for improving one or more planning practice areas addressed by the proposed research effort

• Discuss the products envisioned from this immediate effort and how they will advance planning practice

• Discuss your firm’s team and research approach for this proposed effort

• Briefly describe the expected high-level tasks, total time and total anticipated cost/price.

The following questions will be considered in the evaluation of the pre-proposals:

• How will this effort make a difference for one or more practice areas?

• How likely is this team going to deliver on time & budget?

• What's new about this approach or product?

• How much effort will be needed to translate the proposed products into practical outcomes?

• How does this effort leverage existing research and related products?

SECTION 6 – EVALUATION CRITERIA OF PRE-PROPOSALS

6.1 Evaluation Criteria

The primary basis for selecting offerors’ pre-proposals for full-proposal submission will be the importance of the proposed project to the FHWA programs, that research ideas presented are of interest to FHWA, and the availability of funds for the project.

Pre-proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria and placed into one of the following categories:

Category I: Category I proposals will be recommended for full proposal submission based on the importance of the proposed project to the FHWA programs, that research ideas presented are of interest to FHWA, and the availability of funds for the project. Category I proposals are recommended for full proposal (subject to availability of funds) and normally will be displaced only by other Category I proposals.

Some proposals may require further development and feedback, which will be outlined by the Government in the invitation to submit a full proposal.

Category II: Category II proposals are not of interest to FHWA at this time and/or cannot be pursued further due to budgetary constraints to fund the proposed project. Proposals in this category are not recommended for full proposals.

SECTION 7 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF FULL PROPOSALS

7.1 Full Proposal Instructions

After the pre-proposals evaluation stage is complete, offerors who are invited to submit full proposals will be notified of the actual dates for submission and will be provided with specific instructions for submission of full proposals. FHWA cannot guarantee that all pre-proposals selected for full-proposal submission will be selected for an award; award selections will be based on the full-proposal evaluation criteria detailed in Section 9.1 and in accordance with fAR 35.016(b)(4)(e).

Offerors submitting full proposals will be asked to submit technical proposals that provide a refined research problem statement and work scope, a management plan, technology transition plan, staffing qualifications, and information regarding other ongoing research and work. In addition to the technical proposal, offerors will be requested to submit a detailed cost/price proposal that provides complete and detailed budget information (no page limit), information on proposed cost sharing, and other general business information. If necessary, the FHWA will request additional cost back-up information, resumes or supplemental information as appropriate.

Offerors submitting full proposals in excess of $150,000 are required to fill in and submit Representations and Certifications (see Attachment No. 1).

Recipients of cooperative agreements will be asked to complete the applicable SF-424 series of forms. Each offeror shall submit their proposal electronically in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

Any failure to conform to the instructions and rules in this section or in the instructions accompanying the invitation to submit a full proposal may result in the proposal being deemed unresponsive and eliminated from further consideration.

If an offeror does not understand the instructions as described herein, then they must submit their questions(s) to the Contracting Officer (Jennifer Johnson) for clarification; the deadline for all questions will be specified in the invitations to submit full proposals.

SECTION 8 – FULL PROPOSAL FORMAT

8.1 Proposal Format

Full proposals shall be submitted by an authorized representative and include a technical volume of 15 pages or less in length and a separate, detailed cost/price proposal.

The technical volume shall include the following three sections (Technical Approach, Staffing, Past Performance/Team Experience) and subsections:

NOTE: the cover page, table of contents and resumes are not included in the 15-page limit for the technical volume.

Part I – Technical Approach

(1) Cover Page with (A) the BAA number, (B) proposal title, (C) type of business (large business, small disadvantaged business, other small business, HBCU or MI, other educational, or other nonprofit), (D) complete list of subcontractors, (E) technical and administrative/contractual points of contact including addresses, telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses, and facsimile machine numbers.

(2) Refined research problem statement with a description of the proposed visionary technology or system and how the proposed effort will meet the objectives of the BAA, a comparison of these innovative ideas with current approaches and the current state of the art and the expected impact of the research if successful.

(3) Complete work scope describing research methods, steps, schedule (for a period of performance up to two years) with milestones, expected deliverables and associated evaluation metrics for the proposed effort.

(4) A management plan describing the overall approach to management of this effort, including a brief discussion of the proposed organization and the use of personnel and other resources. This section should also describe the partnership structure between the entity proposing work and other public and private sector entities funding or otherwise substantially participating in the work, including State Departments of Transportation, State Air Quality Agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Universities, Foundations, etc.

(5) A Technology Transition Plan describing the how the research could be transferred into local or national practice.

(6) A description of the facilities that would be used for the proposed effort.

(7) Any other pertinent information to enhance the Government’s understanding, including (but not limited to: draft work plans must include preparation of read-ahead documents, presentation materials, information on meeting facilities, etc.

(8) The work plan shall clearly indicate how the proposed effort will lead to transformational changes and revolutionary advances for transportation planning. The work plan shall clearly indicate if and how the proposed effort will leverage existing research and related products such as those associated with the second Strategic Highway Research Program and other FHWA efforts. The work plan shall describe the necessary tasks required to support the proposed work.

The work plan shall describe a timeline for completion of each task and the interrelationships of all tasks.

NOTE: Proposals may include a discussion of work products for an optional, future phase or phases of work for up to an additional 24 months (up to three additional pages in the full proposal). Such discussion shall be clearly labeled as “optional future phase or phases of work.”

The original phase or work shall in no way depend on work described under future phases in order to meet the program criteria. If a future phase or phases are included, a separate cost/price proposal shall be included for the phase or phases and be labeled clearly as “separate budget for optional future phase or phases.”

Part II – Staffing Proposal:

(1) Research team qualifications with title and identification of association to a specific project or functional group within the proposing organization or to a specific proposed subcontractor.

Indicate the proposed amount of effort (person-hours) to be expended by each person during the proposed program.

(2) As part of its proposal, the offeror shall designate a Project Manager and other personnel deemed by the offeror to be essential to the successful completion of the contract. These individuals will be listed in the contract as Key Personnel in accordance with TAR 1252.237-73

– Key Personnel.

(3) Resumes that demonstrate the proposed key personnel’s knowledge, skills and abilities related to the proposed project shall be provided. Resumes should be no longer than three pages in length and do not count towards the 15-page limit for the technical volume.

Part III – Past Performance/Team Experience

(1) The offeror shall provide a matrix of recent (within the past three years ) relevant past contracts/agreements (Government or Private), which should include the following: a short description of the work, the dates of work performance, the name of the client and a contact phone number and email address, so a reference check can be conducted. Proposals shall include a minimum of three recent and relevant references.

(2) List any Federal contract, agreement or order that was terminated for convenience of the Government within the past 3 years, and any contract, agreement or order that was terminated for default within the past 5 years. Briefly explain the circumstances in each instance. This requirement does not count towards the page limit for the technical volume as noted above.

Part IV – Cost/Price Proposal (No page limit)

In addition to the above 15-page maximum technical volume, offerors shall submit a detailed cost/price proposal that provides complete budget information. A separate summary budget shall be provided for the base period and for each proposed option period. Each summary budget shall include costs by each major cost category such as direct labor, fringe benefits, subcontracts, travel and other direct costs, overhead/indirect costs, and fee (if applicable). Direct labor information shall provide detail regarding each proposed individual and/or labor category, the number of hours or percent of time proposed for each period, and the unburdened hourly rate or salary for each person or category. For other direct costs (travel, materials and supplies, etc), provide detail and explanation for how each element of cost was derived and estimated. For any subcontracts, provide a separate detailed budget for the subcontract work, and provide a price analysis of the work. Please note that the FHWA can pay per diem for travelers, but cannot pay for meals or receptions under contracts. Only small printing/duplicating costs should be proposed, if needed; any large printing jobs must be carried out by the FHWA in accordance with Government Printing Office regulations.

A separate detailed cost breakdown shall also be provided by task and subtask, using the same task or subtask numbers as described in the scope of work in the technical proposal. If necessary, the Government will request additional cost back-up information, resumes or supplemental information as appropriate. Details of any cost sharing to be undertaken by the offeror shall also be included in the cost section. Describe the type of funds (cash, in-kind, etc.), and its contribution and relationship in enhancing the proposed effort.

If proposing a cost reimbursable contract, an FHWA Form 1593 – FHWA Contract Pricing Summary (see Attachment No. 2) – shall be completed and submitted for each contract year anticipated in the offeror’s proposal. In addition, a summary (roll up) FHWA Form 1593 shall be completed for all years of the anticipated contract.

The cost/price proposal should also include the following mandatory business information regarding your firm: Business Size; Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN); Dun & Bradstreet Number; Name and contact information (mail address, telephone, and email address) of your authorized business representative/point of contact.

8.2 Subcontractors

All subcontracted work must be properly identified as such. The offeror must ensure that the subcontractor adheres to the guidance set forth herein. FAR 15.404-3 requires that the offeror provide an analysis of subcontractors’ cost proposals.

To that end, each offeror’s proposal must:

(1) Identify principal items/services to be subcontracted;

(2) Identify prospective subcontractors and the basis on which they were selected. If non-competitive, provide the sole source justification;

(3) Identify the type of contractual arrangement contemplated for the subcontract and provide a rationale for selecting the contractual arrangement;

(4) Identify the basis for the subcontract costs;

(5) Provide an analysis of the proposed subcontract cost/price in accordance with FAR 15.404- 3(b). Provide an analysis concerning the reasonableness, realism and completeness of each subcontractor’s proposal. If the analysis is based on comparison with prior prices, identify the basis on which the prior prices were determined to be reasonable. The analysis should include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: materials, labor, travel, other direct costs and proposed profit or fee rates.

SECTION 9 – EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR FULL PROPOSALS

9.1 Evaluation Criteria

The primary basis for full-proposal submissions for award will be the importance of the proposed project to the FHWA programs, that research ideas presented are of interest to FHWA, and the availability of funds for the project. Proposals will also be evaluated to determine whether the cost/price proposed is fair and reasonable. A review of each offeror’s past performance on prior Government contracts will also be conducted during the responsibility determination phase of the Government review process and prior to any contract award.

Technical Merit

Technical merit will be evaluated based on the following elements, which are all of equal important:

• Ability to clearly describe objectives, needs, and the manner in which they will be addressed;

• Demonstrated sound, feasible, and achievable technical approach;

• Demonstrated solid grasp/understanding of the subject area, and familiarity with regulatory or programmatic issues;

• Demonstrated acceptable and relevant academic credentials, professional experience, subject matter expertise;

• Demonstrated…