Qs As_-_DTFH6117R00005.pdf

DTFH6116R00004

Questions and Answers

Question

No.

RFP Section Question Answer

1 General Will FHWA please extend the response period by 60 days? The contents of the RFP require feedback on several key technical questions, along with additional testing given new information in this RFP.

The proposal due date is December 12, 2016.

2 Section C-

NPMRDS

Standard

"The NPMRDS must conflate to FHWA’s current NPMRDS and provide the same elements" - How are we expected to validate this if we don’t have access to the current NPMRDS?

In order to see if the new NPMRDS will conflate to the current NPMRDS, the merge tool between HPMS and current NPMRDS can be used. The key to this requirement is providing a means to conflate both NPMRDS (current and new) with HPMS. The awarded Contractor will be provided with the current NPMRDS shapefile if they need it to complete this requirement. The link to the tool is http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/performancenetw ork/ .

3 Section C- Transportation

Network GIS

"GIS files shall be usable with HPMS geographic network files." What does "usable" mean? Is there a technical spec for this that can be used for compliance testing?

This statement is referring to the following statement from Task 2: "On the network side, the same data items as listed above should be included for all links in both directions. The contractor shall use the data from the link:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hpms/shapefiles.cfm (HPMS 2014 data, file “PA_NHS.zip”) for testing."

4 Section C- Transportation Network GIS on

"The Contractor shall provide data via logical segments and segment lengths". What is meant by "logical"?

Why isn't this a firm spec?

Logical in this case would mean TMC codes for segments, if the provider uses that standard. Another logical option would be to tie segments to HPMS sections (in HPMS shapefile).

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/performancenetwork/ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/performancenetwork/ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hpms/shapefiles.cfm

5 Section C- Tracking Usage

Why does FHWA want to track logins and downloads from a site - as opposed to tracking how organizations use the data once they download it?

FHWA loves to know how agencies are using the NPMRDS. However, we would also like to track who is actively downloading the data.

6 Section C- Optional Data

"The Contractor shall also provide average travel times and average speeds from vehicle probe data for an optional third classification:

passenger only data." This was a requirement in the 2012 RFP. Why did FHWA reduce this from a requirement to an option?

The two required options are used in the proposed rule for NHPP System Performance, Freight, and CMAQ Program. The third, passenger data, is seen as an optional data element at this point in time.

7 Section L - Cost/Price

Information

There are two Data Options, but only one "Data Option" line in Attachment J.1. Do you want the Passenger Vehicle classification option priced separately from the second data option which includes "P" attribute for Path Processing and the volume of probe counts?

For the price proposal, the offeror shall propose the passenger data as outlined on page 66.

8 Section C, Task 2, Probe Data Collection

Frequency, Quality and

Accuracy

How many miles/segments/time does the current NPMRDS validate on a quarterly basis?

The Government relies on the contractor to determine the best approach to validating the data and reporting it. At minimum, should cover at least as much as the current NPMRDS validation reports -please see an example Validation report from the current NPMRDS in Section J.

9 Section C, Task 2, Probe Data Collection

Frequency, Quality and

Accuracy

What are the current NPMRDS thresholds with respect to AASE and

SEB?

The Government relies on the contractor to determine the best approach to validating the data and reporting it. At minimum, should cover at least as much as the current NPMRDS validation reports -please see an example Validation report from the current NPMRDS in Section J.

10 Section C, Task 2, Probe Data Collection

Frequency, Quality and

Accuracy

How is the current NPMRDS validation of accuracy sampled spatially?

The Government relies on the contractor to determine the best approach to validating the data and reporting it. At minimum, should cover at least as much as the current NPMRDS validation reports -please see an example Validation report from the current NPMRDS in Section J.

11 Section C, Task 2, Probe Data Collection

Frequency, Quality and

Accuracy

Are only freeway sampled, or are there samples on signal controlled arterials?

The Government relies on the contractor to determine the best approach to validating the data and reporting it. At minimum, should cover at least as much as the current NPMRDS validation reports -please see an example Validation report from the current NPMRDS in Section J.

12 Section C, Task 2, Probe Data Collection

Frequency, Quality and

Accuracy

What are the existing NPMRDS validation procedures?

Please see an example Validation report from the current NPMRDS in Section J.

13 Section C, Task 2, Path Processing

Method

Two reports are mentioned - one due in 5 days for Urban Congestion Reports and "full" reports due 15 days after end of month. Can you provide an example of each so we know how these two reports differ?

The monthly data set is due 5 business days into the following month for access by UCR contractors (they currently use all traffic data sets in 52 urban areas); the full monthly data set must be made available to all users via electronic dissemination 15 business days into the following month.

14 Section C, Task 2, Technical Support

Indicate contractors will be available for in-person meetings with users or prospective users. How do we budget for this? How many of these are expected and where?

The statement is "be available for two-hour quarterly presentations or in person to data users or potential users." This means that there are expected to be 4 2-hour presentations (at conferences, annual meetings, etc.) that the Contractor shall participate in and should be considered in person (although could be substituted as a webinar). So, plan for 4 trips for presentations on NPMRDS per year.

15 Section C.7 Diagnostic

Reports with Heat Map

Can FHWA provide an example of what they mean by a Heat Map?

See example of current NPMRDS Heat Map in attachment in Section J.

16 Section C.8 Annual Report

What is meant by “Business Relations” in the annual report?

The Government is required to provide a past performance assessment for this contract in accordance with FAR 42.15. The Annual Report submitted allows the Contractor to provide the Government their self-assessment regarding their performance in each area outline the Contractor Performance Assessment Report. Under Business Relation, the Contractor shall provide their self-assessment regarding their management responsiveness, subcontract management, and program and other management of the Government requirement.

17 Section L - Item #2 under NOTE

"The information about the coverage of the data set shall include diagnostic information and a forecast of this diagnostic evaluation for the previous full calendar year." Could FHWA provide more specifics about the expectations for diagnostics information?

The diagnostic information requested is for a full year (12 months) of data, either actual or forecast or a combination of both (which shall be detailed by proposer).

18 Section L - Sample Data on item #8

What is the geographic and temporal extent of the sample data? Is it the same, related to the diagnostics for the past 12 months noted on page 52?

The sample travel time data can be an urban area, various corridors, or an entire NHS data set. It should, however, show coverage (both temporal and classification) on the NHS, including urban/rural interstates and urban/rural non-Interstate roads, and have samples for all traffic, freight, and the optional "passenger" data.

19 Section A In the “Supplies/Services” column on Page 2 specifies period of performance as 1/1/17 to 12/31/22 (6 years), yet the specific contract line items on Pages 2-4 and in other places in the solicitation reference a maximum of 5 years. Please reconcile and clarify.

The RFP has been updated to clarify the period of performance is 60 months ( 01/01/2017 to 12/31/2021).

20 Section C On page 9, the RFP refers to ‘FHWA roadway ID’. Can FHWA clarify this ambiguous reference, since ‘roadway ID’ is not an attribute in HPMS Field Manual Table 2.1?

The FHWA roadway ID in this case refers to HPMS attributes 17-20.

21 Section C On page 10, Item #2 under GIS and data file parameters includes ‘road class; and unique identifier’. Can FHWA clarify this reference? Is the ‘unique identifier’ for the data providers’ functional road class? Or is the unique identifier a separate and distinct attribute from road class?

The "road class" refers to functional classification and the unique identifier is referencing a unique name for each segment (e.g., a TMC code or other unique name).

22 Section C On page 10, Item #3 under GIS and data file parameters indicates that ‘GIS files shall be usable with HPMS geographic network files.’ Can FHWA please clarify their definition of ‘usable’?

This statement is referring to the following statement from Task 2: "On the network side, the same data items as listed above should be included for all links in both directions. The contractor shall use the data from the link:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hpms/shapefiles.cfm (HPMS 2014 data, file “PA_NHS.zip”) for testing."

23 Section L. Section L3 – Proposal Format: 1. Can a USB stick be used instead of a CD?

2. With the size and complexity of the proscribed proposal response, addressing the required elements in a manner that properly and completely conveys pertinent information for evaluation, it is likely that the proposal file(s) will exceed the 5MB maximum size specified for electronic proposal delivery. Are there alternative delivery mechanisms available for delivery of the “Electronic Proposal,” such as Dropbox?

No, the FHWA cannot accept a USB stick. The offeror can send multiple emails by reducing email size by provide the proposal as Volume 1 and Volume II. FHWA recommends offerors to submit a reduced pdf attachment.

24 Section C Item 6 on Page 53 includes the statement: “The FHWA requires a record for every epoch whether it includes travel time/average speed data from an observed probe or not.”

Yet the “Probe Vehicle Requirements” section on Page 8 states: “The FHWA requires actual, observed vehicle travel times and average speeds from vehicle probe data to be delivered as

This statement refers to the data set deliverable - there should be a "0" or empty record for each 5 minute epoch that does not have a 5 minute average travel time.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hpms/shapefiles.cfm part of this contract.” These statements seem in conflict. Please clarify.

25 Section L.9 Award

Does the section on page 59 starting with “52.204-7 System for Award Management” belong in a different section, such as Section I, Contract Clauses?

No, the FAR clause 52.204-7 System for Award Management belongs in this section.