VT-Sole_Source-2019.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

Virginia Tech University (VT) for “Experimental Evaluation of Wheel/rail Contact, Third Body

Layer and Surface Finish on Risk of Derailment”.

3. Description of Services:

FRA desires to continue the studies that have been on-going at VT on the unique roller rig that has been built and commissioned by Virginia Tech for the specific purpose of accurately studying wheel-rail interface (WRI) mechanics and dynamics under contract

DTFR53-17-C-00021. The roller rig at VT is estimated to be far more accurate than any other rig available worldwide and as such is uniquely qualified to carry out the experiments that will meet the objectives of the subject study. In prior research activities under other agreements with FRA, VT performed feasibility studies, designed the rig, selected the components for the test rig, completed rolling rig design, conducted detailed design and fabrication studies, built and installed the rig in the lab, and completed the acceptance testing of the rig. More recently, VT has additionally conducted a series of tests that has resulted in new findings in the manner the running surface on the wheel and rail change their form as a result of wheel load and traction. The VT study has also resulted in a scientific analysis of how a natural third-body layer forms at the running surfaces, and more importantly how such a layer affects the wheel-rail adhesion, which is a fundamental tenant of safety and efficiency in railroad operation.

FRA desires to continue the scientific studies that Virginia Tech has undertaken in the past, through carrying out studies that will enable a better understanding of the effect of various elements that rise in practice on wheel and rail wear, rolling traction/resistance, and potentially derailment. Such studies are of high interest to FRA because of their impact on U.S. railroads’ safety and operational efficiency. It is expected that Virginia

Tech will collaborate with researchers at other universities and institutions in these activities.

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: Virginia Tech’s Railway Technology

Laboratory (RTL) has been performing this research for FRA since 2010 and is uniquely qualified to continue the activities with its roller rig, performing additional tests and modifications to the system. RTL is recognized as one of the leading university laboratories in the world for rail dynamics research because of the expertise, equipment, relationships, and knowledge it has gathered or developed over many years of working with FRA, the

Association of American Railroads (AAR), railroads, and other research organizations.

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

Sources as Practicable: A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on FBO on July 22, 2019 with a closing date of August 29, 2019. No responses were received.

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 VT Roller Rig research program and development. There are no other known contractors at this time deemed capable of meeting

FRA’s requirement for advancing research in Wheel/Rail contact and wheel/rail surface conditions using the newly developed rig.

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 VT personnel in regard to the services being requested.

10. A List of Sources, If Any that Expressed, in Writing, An Interest in the Acquisition: A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was posted on FBO on July 22, 2019 with a closing date of August 29, 2019. No responses were received.

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 contract 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, and provided that the services herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.

Date

Contracting Officer, RAD-30