RFQ#693JJ626Q000005

February 9, 2026

Subject: Request for Quotation (RFQ) 693JJ626Q000005 to Develop a New Parametric Model for Railroad Capacity Analysis, to Support the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA), Office of Railroad Development (RRD-21), Office of Railroad Planning & Engineering.

FRA will conduct this acquisition using the procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 and the instructions outlined in this RFQ. FRA anticipates awarding a single contract after receipt and evaluation of Quotations.

It is the Government’s intent to award a single contract to the responsible quoter whose quotation, in conforming to the RFQ, provides the overall best value to the Government, considering price and non-price factors.

The Government reserves the right to cancel this RFQ without award if the needs of the requirement are not met. This RFQ does not commit the Government to pay for the preparation and submission of a quotation.

The quotations will be evaluated by Government Officials to determine whether the quoter has a complete understanding of the scope of this effort and has the capability to provide a complete solution as described in its Quoter-Developed Performance Work Statement (PWS). Any quotation that is incomplete or non-compliant with any requested submission requirement of this RFQ may immediately be removed from further consideration.

If you are interested in this procurement, you may participate by submitting your response in accordance with this RFQ.

Solicitation Instructions:

1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

This RFQ will result in a firm fixed price contract with reimbursable travel costs. Offers shall be submitted via electronic mail (e-mail) to:

Contracting Officer: Matthew M. Carr

(202) 738-8619 Matthew.Carr@dot.gov

Hard copies will not be accepted.

The quotation shall include a price quotation in an unlocked MS Excel spreadsheet that contains a summary sheet with the total firm-fixed-price (FFP) price for each Contract Line Item (CLIN) and accompanying spreadsheets that provides a detailed breakdown by CLIN of the price elements for each CLIN. These price elements include: direct labor categories and hours per labor category. The suggested deliverables/CLINs are discussed in the Statement of Objectives (SOO) in Attachment J.1.

Proposed travel CLINs shall be cost reimbursable in accordance with section G.2 of this solicitation.

mailto:Matthew.Carr@dot.gov

The quoter’s quotation should contain the quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

The Government may determine that a quotation is unacceptable if the prices proposed are materially unbalanced between line items or subline items. Unbalanced pricing exists when, despite an acceptable total evaluated price, the price of one or more line items is significantly overstated or understated as indicated by the application of cost or price analysis techniques.

Solicitation Instructions:

Prior Corporate Experience must be submitted no later than by March 10, 2026 at 12:30pm EST via email to the contracting officer Matthew Carr at Matthew.Carr@dot.gov.

2. PHASED PROCUREMENT:

Event Date Submission of Questions from Industry: February 23, 2026 Phase I Prior Corporate Experience and Past Performance March 10, 2026 Notification of Provisional Down Select, and Schedule for Oral Presentations. March 16, 2026

Phase II: Technical volume and Oral Presentations March 20 (Oral presentation TBD) Award TBD

The RFQ will be conducted utilizing both written responses and oral presentation.

3. QUOTATION VOLUMES:

3.1 Volume I: Cover Letter (Phase I)

3.1.1 Cover Letter

The vendor shall include the following information in Volume I: Prior Experience and Past Performance:

• The Quoter’s entity name, CAGE Code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI from SAM.gov), physical address, and mailing address;

• Names, titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of persons authorized to negotiate on the Quoter’s behalf with the FRA;

• The name, title, and signature of the person authorized to sign the quotation and shall be accompanied by evidence of that agent’s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished;

• The extent of the Quoter’s agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation;

• A quotation validity of 120 days or longer from the date of the PWS submittal; and

• Acknowledgement of receipt of any amendment to this solicitation by the date and time specified in the amendment(s). This acknowledgement does not count against the page limit for the cover page.

3.1.2 Volume II Prior Corporate Experience and Past Performance (Factor 1) mailto:Matthew.Carr@dot.gov

(Note: No cost/pricing information shall appear in this volume)

3.1.2.1 Prior Corporate Experience

This volume shall consist of a narrative of the Quoter’s prior corporate experience that details the Quoters capability to meet the objectives detailed in the SOO. The Quoter shall provide no more than three examples. The prior corporate experience will be evaluated in accord with criteria with the evaluation factors below.

The Quoter shall submit one (1) electronic copy of no more than five (5) pages.

The submitted Corporate Experience shall demonstrate the Quoter’s experience performing the full breadth services necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in the SOO to include:

• Experience with railroad operations fundamentals, experience in the use of microsimulation methods and their application for operational analysis

• Experience with parametric modeling principles

• Experience developing a data management plan

• Experience with model validation and calibration approaches

A table of contents shall be included at the beginning of the Volume to identify awards within similar size scope and complexity. The table of contents is not included in the page count. Prior Experience may include a Stand-Alone Contract/Task Order/Purchase Order (PO), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), or a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). Awards must be at least 50% complete. Awards must have been within five (5) years of the date of this RFQ.

3.1.2.2 Past Performance

The Quoter shall include documentation regarding their relevant past performance, as maintained in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) database, that relates to the work being procured under this solicitation.

The Quoter shall submit one (1) electronic copy of no more than five (5) pages.

Specifically, the Quoter shall:

1. Provide

a. Contract Number, Award Date and Contract type,

b. Cost/Price – original awarded AND final (or projected final, if contract is current),

c. Name, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address for the following:

i. Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), or

ii. Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), and

iii. Government or commercial technical representative or COR

d. Identify in specific detail for each contract listed, why or how that effort is considered relevant or similar to the effort required by this solicitation. In determining relevancy, consideration should be given but not limited to such things as product/service similarity, product/service, size and complexity, contract type, contract environment, division of company proposing, and subcontractor interaction.

2. Include those CPARS reports from the prior corporate experience.

3. May include up to two additional CPARS reports that reflect a similar size and complexity to the effort required by this solicitation.

Quoters are reminded that both independent data and data provided by quoters in their quotations may be used by the Government to evaluate quoter past performance. However, the burden of providing thorough, complete, and current past performance information as requested in this paragraph remains with the quoters. Quotations that do not contain the information requested by this section are at risk for rejection or a less than acceptable performance rating by the Government. In the case of a quoter without any relevant past performance history, past performance will be evaluated as “neutral.” A neutral rating is neither an advantage nor disadvantage to the Quoter. If the past performance information is negative, the contractor will be given an opportunity to provide rebuttal.

Advisory Down-Select:

After the Government completes evaluation of Phase I submissions (Factor 1), Offerors will receive an advisory-down select notification via email from the Contracting Officer. Offerors who rate most highly for Factor 1 will be requested to proceed to Phase II. Offerors who were not among the most highly rated will be advised that they are unlikely to be viable competitors, along with the general basis for the Government’s advisory recommendation. The intent of this advisory notice is to minimize development and other costs for those Offerors with little to no chance of receiving an award. Offerors should note that factors evaluated in Phase I are more important than factors evaluated in Phases II

Offerors that are rated most highly and invited to proceed to Phase II of the proposal process will receive the Phase II due date in the firm down selection notification, as well as the date and time for the Offeror’s oral presentation. After receiving the invitation to Phase II, offerors that intend to proceed must provide written confirmation of their intent to participate in Phase II within two (2) business days.

3.2 Volume III: Oral Presentation (Factor 2)

Quoters shall provide an oral presentation based on a standard set of technical questions based on the SOO and to be provided by the Contracting Officer the day of the scheduled oral presentation. Quoters shall adhere to the format for oral presentation guidance in addition to the rules of engagement for oral presentations. Quoters will receive the based questions at the time of their oral presentation, after introductions.

Location: Oral presentations will be held virtually via MS Teams. The order in which Quoters are scheduled for oral presentations will be randomly selected by the Government and an invitation will be sent.

Quoter Participants: The Quoter’s participants in the oral presentations shall members of the proposed team provided in the quote submission, as well as the responsible corporate official. No more than five (5) total Quoter Participants shall attend the oral presentation.

Quoters shall provide the Contracting Officer with the name, employer/company, and e-mails of the Quoter Participants for the oral presentation as part of its Phase II submission via email.

A. Format for Oral Presentation:

The Government intends for the oral presentation to proceed as follows:

Oral Presentation Portion

Virtual Oral Presentation Component Total Time Allotment (up to 1 hour and 35 minutes)

1 Introductions and Rules of Engagement 5 minutes

2 The Quoter will present its answers/responses to the Government’s standard question set. 30 minutes

The Government will provide two (2) on-the-spot questions or scenarios to the Quoter at the conclusion of Portion #2. The Quoter will have 30 minutes to prepare its response to the Government’s on-the-spot question. While the Quoter is preparing its response, the Government will caucus and may formulate follow-up questions to the Quoter’s presentation.

30 minutes

4 The Quoter will present its response to the on-the-spot question. 15 minutes

Interactive Dialogue: The Government may ask follow-up questions. The Quoter will respond to the Government’s follow-up questions.

15 minutes

6 The Quoter departs. Not specified

B. Rules of Engagement for Virtual Oral Presentations:

• The Government will not provide the Quoter a copy of its quote during oral presentation.

• The Government does not intend to ask questions about information contained in an Quoter’s submission for Phase I or the Quoter’s written submission for Phase II. The Government questions will be presented by the Contracting Officer after the Government caucuses; any other Government attendees are not expected to engage with Quoters directly.

• The Quoter may not generally ask questions during the oral presentation. Any questions asked must be directed to the Contracting Officer and should only deal with logistics and conduct of the oral presentation.

• Oral presentations do not constitute discussions. The Government will not ask questions that will invite or allow the Quoter to change its offer. The Quoter shall not volunteer any information that might be construed as changing its offer. Oral presentations are distinct from the Government’s reserved right to conduct exchanges.

• The Quoter will have been provided a standard question set with the down select notification. The Quoter must respond to each of the Government’s questions.

• The Quoter participants shall not reach back, by telephone, e-mail or any other means, to any other personnel or persons for assistance during the oral presentation.

• Quoters can expect the presentation will be conducted in a conference room with a table of sufficient size to accommodate the participants, including the Government attendees.

The oral presentation will serve to demonstrate the quoter’s capability to meet the technical and personnel requirements of the PWS.

3.2.1 The PWS

(Note: No cost/pricing information shall appear in this volume)

The Quoter shall submit one (1) electronic copy of no more than twenty (20) pages.

The PWS shall:

1. Address each SOO objective. The PWS shall also include a project schedule, which includes major milestones, from contract award through submission of the final report.

2. Demonstrate innovative strategies to engage stakeholders that can provide both efficient and meaningful input into the development of a model specification that addresses analytical needs and desired functionality, development of capacity and level of service measures, and a comprehensive approach to model validation.

3. Employ knowledge of parametric capacity models, operational analysis and simulation, project management, research applications, development of methodologies and evaluations of rail networks, data collection and analysis, software development, validation and calibration, , and any potential risk areas in performance of the PWS tasks.

4. Employ a robust understanding of railroad operations fundamentals, strong experience in the use of microsimulation methods and their application for operational analysis, a sound understanding of parametric modeling principles, and both empirical and statistical approaches for estimating predictive models.

5. Provide a data management plan that outlines a strategic approach for the collection, assembly, engagement with stakeholders to acquire and manage data resources. The data management plan should also a data inventory of existing tools as well a understanding relevant codes and documents for FRA’s Git Hub policies and procedures.

6. The contractor shall demonstrate a sound a comprehensive model validation and calibration approaches.

3.2.2 Performance Requirements Statement (PRS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

1. PRS

a. The contractor shall provide measurable table within a contract that defines required performance standards, acceptable quality levels (AQLs), and the method of surveillance for specific tasks.

2. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

a. The contractor will provide a narrative defining how the government will monitor, evaluate, and document a contractor's performance to ensure required standards are met.

These documents are not included in the overall page count.

Volume IV: Price Quotation (Factor 3)

This is a firm fixed priced contract with, anticipated, cost reimbursable travel. Accordingly, in its price quotation it shall provide a discussion of the:

Firm Fixed Prices:

The quoter shall provide adequate detail in supporting documentation of how total firm fixed prices price were reached (i.e., proposed labor category: proposed hourly price x proposed # hours = subtotal price.

Total price = sum of subtotals).

NOTE: Quoters shall utilize Attachment J.2 to provide their firm fixed prices and total price per year.

Attachment J-2 - Pricing Schedule Template

The Government will establish a “total evaluated price” based on a completed Attachment 1 – Pricing Schedule. Price volumes failing to meet or comply with price quotation instructions may be deemed noncompliant.

The Option to Extend Services (FAR 52.217-8), allows the Contract to be extended up to six months. Quoters shall include six month pricing in their price quotations as follows: the 6-month pricing will the same as option period 3 pricing. The quoter shall not propose new 6-month pricing. This 6-month option pricing will be part of the total evaluated price.

The total evaluated price is the total price (base and option periods, inclusive of the six month option to Extend). The total evaluated price will be based on the base period and option periods, as well as the 6-month option period after the last period of performance allowed under FAR 52.217-8.

4. Assumptions, Exceptions or Dependencies

The Government does not encourage Quoters to make assumptions or take exceptions from the requirements of the RFQ. Quoters are encouraged to submit questions, in accordance with the RFQ instructions, in order to obtain any necessary clarifications regarding RFQ prior to quote submission. In the event that a Quoter does make assumptions or take exception to any RFQ requirement, the Quoter’s business quotation must clearly and unambiguously identify all such assumptions, exceptions, or dependencies on which the Quoter’s quotation is based.

Each assumption, exception or dependency shall be specifically related to a paragraph and/or specific section of the RFQ. The Quoter shall provide a rationale in support of any noted assumption, exception or dependency, explaining its effect in comparison to the RFQ. This information shall be provided in the format with content as outlined in the table below.

RFQ Document Paragraph/Page Requirement/Portion Rationale

RFQ or RFQ

Attachment, Applicable paragraph and page number(s)

Identify the requirement or portion to which an assumption, exception or dependency is being taken

Justify why the requirement will not be met or discuss reasons why not meeting the Government’s terms and conditions might be advantageous to the

Government.

Any assumption, exception or dependency for the Quoter’s entire quotation submission shall be contained in the business quotation.

Assumptions, exceptions or dependencies do not make a quotation automatically unacceptable. However, a large number of assumptions, exceptions or dependencies, or a significant assumption, exception or dependency, which provide(s) little or no benefit to the Government or which do(es) not support the Government’s requirement as documented in the RFQ may receive unfavorable evaluation in accordance with the RFQ Evaluation Factors for Award.

5. BASIS FOR AWARD

The Government intends to award a single contract to the responsible Quoter whose quotation represents the best value to the Government. The basis for award will seek the best value for the government after a consideration of non-price and price factors. Quoters are cautioned that the award may not necessarily be made to the lowest priced quotation.

The Government will assign “confidence ratings” and may perform comparative analysis (i.e., comparing contract quotations to each other) in evaluating individual quotations to select the contractor that is best suited and provides the best value, considering the evaluation factors in this solicitation.

The Government will evaluate Quoter’s quotation submissions based on the following evaluation factors:

1) Phase I:

Factor 1 – Demonstrated Prior Corporate Experience and Past Performance

2) Phase II:

Factor 2 – Oral Presentation

Factor 3 – Price

Evaluations will be based solely on the information included in the quotation. Therefore, the Quoters initial Quotation should contain the Quoters best terms. After receipt of quotations, the Government will conduct an evaluation. However, during the evaluation process, the Government may, solely at its discretion, communicate with Quoters regarding quotation elements. At any time prior to selection, including upon receipt of quotations, the

Government may exclude a quotation from further consideration for any material failure to follow instructions, including the omission of required information. FRA may negotiate and request revised quotes from only the apparent successful vendor or those that are determined to be only the highest rated. This does not constitute a competitive range in accordance with FAR 15.306(c) as this procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR 12.203(c)(2).

Quotations will be evaluated to determine the best value to the Government.

The evaluation of each Factor (Factors 1& 2) will be done holistically with a rating scale of "high confidence," "some confidence," and "low confidence," representing the Government’s confidence that the Quoter understands the requirement and will be successful in performing the work.

Confidence Ratings

High Confidence

The Government has high confidence that the Quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract.

Some Confidence

The Government has some confidence that the Quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in

Low Confidence

The Government has low confidence that the Quoter understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, or will be successful in

NOTE: Once the government determines the contractor that is the best‐suited (i.e., the apparent successful contractor), the government reserves the right to communicate with only that contractor to address any remaining issues, if necessary, and finalize a contract with that contractor. These issues may include technical and price. If the parties cannot successfully address any remaining issues, as determined pertinent at the sole discretion of the government, the government reserves the right to communicate with the next best‐suited contractor based on the original analysis and address any remaining issues.

Factor 1: Prior Corporate Experience and Past Performance:

The Government will assess its confidence that the Quoter can successfully perform the work, by evaluating the Quoter’s demonstrated experience from no more than three (3) contracts/orders performed within the past five (5) years (from the date of this RFQ release). Prior experience will be evaluated to assess the expectation of successful outcomes based on the extent to which the Quoter has successfully performed services of similar size and complexity to the services described in the SOO.

The government will review the provided CPARS for the provided prior corporate performance references from Volume 1 Prior Corporate Experience. Any additional CPARS reports submitted by the Quoter will also be utilized in the Government’s assessment of the Quoter’s past performance.

The Government will additionally use its discretion to determine the sources of past performance information used in the evaluation, and the information may also be derived from the agency’s knowledge of contractor performance, other government agencies or commercial entities, or past performance databases.

If a quoter does not have a history of relevant contract experience, or if past performance information is not available, the quoter will receive a neutral past performance rating.

Factor 2: Oral Presentation

Virtual oral presentations will be evaluated based on the Quoter’s responses to the standard set of technical and management questions, the on-the-spot question, and any clarifying follow-up questions).

These questions will require the quoter to demonstrate:

• Demonstrate innovative strategies to engage stakeholders that can provide both efficient and meaningful input into the development of a model specification that addresses analytical needs and desired functionality, development of capacity and level of service measures, and a comprehensive approach to model validation.

• Employ knowledge of parametric capacity models, operational analysis and simulation, project management, research applications, development of methodologies and evaluations of rail networks, data collection and analysis, software development, validation and calibration, , and any potential risk areas in performance of the PWS tasks.

• Employ a robust understanding of railroad operations fundamentals, strong experience in the use of microsimulation methods and their application for operational analysis, a sound understanding of parametric modeling principles, and both empirical and statistical approaches for estimating predictive models.

• Provide a data management plan that outlines a strategic approach for the collection, assembly, engagement with stakeholders to acquire and manage data resources. The data management plan should also a data inventory of existing tools as well a understanding relevant codes and documents for FRA’s Git Hub policies and procedures.

• The contractor shall demonstrate a sound a comprehensive model validation and calibration approaches.

The PRS and QASP will be evaluated to determine whether or not they provide effective metrics and methods to support the effectiveness of the quoter’s solution to the SOO.

Factor 3: Price

The Government will establish a “total evaluated price” based on a completed J.3 – Pricing Schedule. It is anticipated that pricing and award of this acquisition will be based on adequate price competition. Completion of the price template is necessary for a full evaluation of an Quoter’s quotation. The “total evaluated price” will be evaluated for price reasonableness through comparison with other proposed prices and may include other price analysis techniques. The price quotation will not be given a rating.

The Government will evaluate price quotes for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the price for the base year Evaluation of options does not obligate the Government to exercise the options.

The Option to Extend Services (FAR 52.217-8), is designated to evaluate the 6-month option. For evaluation purposes, the 6-month pricing will be the same as option period 4 pricing. The Quoter shall not propose the 6-month pricing. This 6-month option pricing will be part of the total evaluated.

Each Quoter should recognize that its initial price and technical quotation may be used as the sole and final basis for award and should quote accordingly. Please provide pricing discounts as requested within this RFQ.

PROVISIONS

FAR 52.203-11 CERTIFICATION AND DISCLOSURE REGARDING PAYMENTS TO

INFLUENCE CERTAIN FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS (SEPT 2024)

FAR 52.203-18 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE

CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR

STATEMENTS-REPRESENTATION (JAN 2017)

FAR 52.204-6 UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (OCT 2016)

FAR 52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (NOV 2024)

FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND

COMMERCIAL SERVICES (TAILORED)1

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021)

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

• Prior Corporate Experience – Past Performance

• Oral Presentation,

• and Price.

Prior Corporate Experience and Past Performance, Oral Presentation, and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price.

(b) Options. No Options are anticipated for this procurement.

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful quoter within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

1 See Addendum 1 Section J.

FAR 52.240-90 SECURITY PROHIBITIONS AND EXCLUSIONS REPRESENTATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS (NOVEMBER 2025)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision-—

Backhaul, covered article, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology, FASCSA order, Intelligence community, interconnection arrangements, national security system, roaming, sensitive compartmented information, sensitive compartmented information system, source, and substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.240-91, Security Prohibitions and Exclusions.

Business operations means engaging in commerce in any form, including by acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, selling, possessing, leasing, or operating equipment, facilities, personnel, products, services, personal property, real property, or any other apparatus of business or commerce.

Marginalized populations of Sudan means—

(1) Adversely affected groups in regions authorized to receive assistance under section 8(c) of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (Pub. L. 109-344) (50 U.S.C. 1701 note); and

(2) Marginalized areas in Northern Sudan described in section 4(9) of such Act.

Restricted business operations means business operations in Sudan that include power production activities, mineral extraction activities, oil-related activities, or the production of military equipment, as those terms are defined in the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-174).

Restricted business operations do not include business operations that the person (as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007) conducting the business can demonstrate—

(1) Are conducted under contract directly and exclusively with the regional government of southern Sudan;

(2) Are conducted under specific authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Department of the Treasury, or are expressly exempted under Federal law from the requirement to be conducted under such authorization;

(3) Consist of providing goods or services to marginalized populations of Sudan;

(4) Consist of providing goods or services to an internationally recognized peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization;

(5) Consist of providing goods or services that are used only to promote health or education; or

(6) Have been voluntarily suspended.

Sensitive technology—

(1) Means hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other technology that is to be used specifically—

(i) To restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Iran; or

(ii) To disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran; and

(2) Does not include information or informational materials the export of which the President does not have the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to section 203(b)(3) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)).

(b) Procedures.

(1) Covered telecommunications and video surveillance. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for “covered telecommunications equipment or services.”

(2) FASCSA Orders.

(i) The Offeror shall search in SAM for the phrase “FASCSA order” for any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if there is an applicable FASCSA order described in paragraph (e) of FAR 52.240-91, Security Prohibitions and Exclusions.

(ii) The Offeror shall review the solicitation for any FASCSA orders that are not in SAM but are effective and apply to the solicitation and resultant contract (see FAR 40.204-1(c)(2)).

(iii) FASCSA orders issued after the date of solicitation do not apply unless added by an amendment to the solicitation.

(c) Covered telecommunications equipment or services representations. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that, after conducting a reasonable inquiry (that looks at any information in the Offeror’s possession but does not need to include an internal or third-party audit)—

(1) It will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation, except as waived by the solicitation, or as disclosed in paragraph (g); and

(2) It does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services, except as waived by the solicitation, or as disclosed in paragraph (g).

(d) FASCSA Representation. By submission of this offer, the offeror represents that it has conducted a reasonable inquiry, and that the offeror does not propose to provide or use in response to this solicitation any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if the covered article or the source is prohibited by an applicable FASCSA order in effect on the date the solicitation was issued, except as waived by the solicitation, or as disclosed in paragraph (g). A reasonable inquiry will look at any information in the offeror’s possession but does not need to include an internal or third-party audit.

(e) Sudan certification. By submission of its offer, the offeror certifies, after conducting a reasonable inquiry (that looks at any information in the offeror’s possession but does not need to include an internal or third-party audit), that the offeror does not conduct any restricted business operations in Sudan.

(f) Iran Representation and Certifications.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this provision or if a waiver has been granted in accordance with FAR 40.203-3, the offeror, after conducting a reasonable inquiry (that looks at any information in the offeror’s possession but does not need to include an internal or third-party audit), by submission of its offer— https://www.sam.gov/

(i) Represents, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that the offeror does not export any sensitive technology to the government of Iran or any entities or individuals owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf or at the direction of, the government of Iran;

(ii) Certifies that the offeror, or any person (as defined at section 15 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-172, 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) owned or controlled by the offeror, does not engage in any activities for which sanctions may be imposed under section 5 of the Act. These sanctioned activities are in the areas of development of the petroleum resources of Iran, production of refined petroleum products in Iran, sale and provision of refined petroleum products to Iran, and contributing to Iran’s ability to acquire or develop certain weapons or technologies; and

(iii) Certifies that the offeror, and any person owned or controlled by the offeror, does not knowingly engage in any transaction that exceeds $15,000 with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or any of its officials, agents, or affiliates, the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (see OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List at https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx)

(2) Exception for trade agreements. The representation and certification requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this provision do not apply if—

(i) This solicitation includes a trade agreements notice or certification (e.g., 52.225-6, Trade Agreements Certificate); and

(ii) The offeror has certified that all the offered products to be supplied are designated country end products or designated country construction material.

(iii) The offeror shall email questions concerning sensitive technology to the Department of State at CISADA106@state.gov.

(g) Disclosure.

(1) If the Offeror is not able to represent compliance with the prohibitions in paragraphs (c) or (d), then the Offeror shall disclose within 72 hours to the contracting office identified in paragraph (g)(2) the following information for each product or service not compliant:

(i) Contract number and order number, if applicable;

(ii) Identification of whether this disclosure relates to paragraph (c) on covered telecommunication equipment or services, or to paragraph (d) on FASCSA orders;

(iii) A description of the products or services that the Contractor identifies or has reason to suspect is prohibited (include brand; model number, such as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable);

(iv) The entity that produced the product or service (include entity name, unique entity identifier, Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code, facilities responsible for design, fabrication, assembly, packaging, and test of the product, and whether the entity was the OEM or a distributor (provide manufacturer codes and distributor codes used for the product));

(v) Description of the functionality of the product or service and how that functionality impacts the risk to the product or service;

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx mailto:CISADA106@state.gov

(vi) An explanation of any factors relevant to determining if the product or service should be permitted by an applicable exception, exemption, or waiver (if the offeror would like the Government to consider a waiver);

(vii) Whether alternative products or services are available that would be compliant with the prohibition;

(viii) If the product or service is related to item maintenance, include the following information on the item being maintained:

(A) Brand;

(B) Model number, OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and

(C) Item description, as applicable.

(ix) Any readily available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended.

(2) If a disclosure is required to be submitted to a contracting office, the offeror shall submit the disclosure as follows:

(i) If a Department of Defense contracting office, the offeror shall submit the disclosure to the website at https://dibnet.dod.mil.

(ii) For all other contracting offices, the Offeror shall submit the disclosure to the Contracting Officer.

(3) If the disclosure provided does not contain any of the information required by paragraph (1), and the Offeror later discovers new information that is required by paragraph (1), then the Offeror shall submit a subsequent disclosure within 72 hours of discovering the new information.

(h) Executive agency review of disclosures. The Contracting Officer will review disclosures provided in paragraph (g) to determine if any applicable waiver may be sought. The Contracting Officer may choose not to pursue a waiver and may instead make an award to an Offeror that does not require a waiver.

TAR 1252.237-71 CERTIFICATION OF DATA (NOV 2022)

(a) The offeror represents and certifies that to the best of its knowledge and belief, the information and/or data (e.g., company profile; qualifications; background statements; brochures) submitted with its offer is current, accurate, and complete as of the date of its offer.

(b) The offeror understands that any inaccurate data provided to the Department of Transportation may subject the offeror, its subcontractors, its employees, or its representatives to:

(1) prosecution for false statements pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001 and/or; (2) enforcement action for false claims or statements pursuant to the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986, 31 U.S.C. 3801–3812 and 49 CFR part 31 and/or; (3) termination for default or for cause under any contract resulting from its offer and/or; (4) debarment or suspension.

(c) The offeror agrees to obtain a similar certification from its subcontractors and submit such certification(s) with its offer.

https://dibnet.dod.mil/

Signature:

Date:

Typed Name and Title:

Company Name:

This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

TAR 1252.239-71 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PLAN AND

ACCREDITATION (NOV 2022)

All offers submitted in response to this solicitation shall address the approach for completing the security plan and accreditation requirements in clause 1252.239–70, Security Requirements for Unclassified and Sensitive Information Technology Resources.

(End of provision)

TAR 1252.239–92 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY NOTICE

(NOV 2022)

(a) Any Quoter responding to this solicitation must comply with established DOT Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (formerly known as Electronic and Information (EIT)) accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at https://www.section508.gov/.

(b) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this solicitation are stated in the clause at 1252.239–93, Information and Communication Technology Accessibility. In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed ICT supplies and services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, Quoters must submit appropriate Section 508 Checklists, in accordance with the checklist completion instructions. The purpose of the checklists is to assist DOT acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed ICT supplies or information, documentation and services support conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. The checklists allow Quoters or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and document—in detail—whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

(c) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any exception to Section 508 requirements. If an Quoter claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by theGovernment, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(End of Provision) https://www.section508.gov/

SECTION B - PRICES

B.1 RESERVED.

SECTION C - Description/Specifications

C.1 Performance Work Statement (Attachment 1)

SECTION D - Packaging and Marking

D.1 PACKAGING, MARKING AND POSTAGE

(a) All information submitted to the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall be clearly marked with the name of the contractor, as well as the contract, task order and/or modification number as appropriate.

(b) All contract-related postage and fees shall be paid by the contractor.

SECTION E - Inspection and Acceptance

Satisfactory completion of work under this contract shall be indicated by written receipt of such work by the Contracting Officer or their designated COR. Taking physical delivery of deliverable items shall not constitute acceptance. Inspection and acceptance will be conducted utilizing the standards set forth in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

SECTION F - Deliveries or Performance

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

All work and services required hereunder shall be performed within the 18 months from the effective date of the contract. The Contractor is required to abide by the terms and conditions of the contract until the conclusion of the performance period. The contractor shall not perform work and incur price or costs outside of the period of performance, unless authorized by the Contracting Office

F.2 DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

RESERVED.

F.3 PLACE OF PEFORMANCE/DELIVERY

Unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer (CO), the work to be performed under this contract will be provided at the contractor’s or subcontractor’s facility

The Contractor shall submit all required deliverables, progress reports and documents in electronic format by email, referencing the contract number, to the following email addresses.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Technical Point of Contact (POC) Eric Pihl, Transportation Industry Analyst US DOT / Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Railroad Development 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590

Office: (303) 594-3559; eric.pihl@dot.gov

Contracting Officer (CO):

Matthew Carr US DOT / Federal Railroad Administration / Office of Acquisition, RAD 30 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, West Building, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20590 matthew.carr@dot.gov, (202) 738-8619

SECTION G - Contract Administration Data

G.1 INVOICE INSTRUCTIONS

FRA REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

(1) Contract financing payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001.

(2) Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment or invoice payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), “Content of Invoices”; Transportation Acquisition Regulations (TAR) 1252.232-70 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests as supplemented by this clause “FRA Requirements for Electronic Submission of Payment Requests”; and the applicable Payment clause(s) included in this contract.

(3) Electronic form means an automated system transmitting information electronically according to the accepted electronic data transmission methods and formats identified in paragraph (c) of this clause.

Facsimile, email, and scanned documents are not acceptable electronic forms for submission of payment requests.

(4) Invoice payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001.

(b) Electronic payment requests. Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this clause, the contractor shall submit payment requests in electronic form. Purchases paid with a Governmentwide commercial purchase card are considered an electronic transaction for purposes of this rule, and therefore no additional electronic invoice submission is required.

(c) As required in Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR) 1232.905-70, for other than fixed price contracts, the contractor shall also submit the SF 1034, Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal, and the SF 1035, Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal (Continuation Sheet), to request payments.

(d) The Department of Transportation utilizes the Delphi eInvoicing web-portal for processing invoices.

For vendors submitting invoices, and grantees submitting payment requests, they will be required to mailto:matthew.carr@dot.gov https://www.acquisition.gov/tar/part-1252%E2%80%94solicitation-provisions-and-c-ontract-clauses#Section_1252_232_70_T48_50542362135 submit invoices to the Operating Agency (OA) electronically via the Delphi eInvoicing web-portal which is accessed via https://einvoice.esc.gov, and is authenticated via www.login.gov. All persons accessing the Delphi eInvoicing web-portal will be required to have their own unique user Delphi eInvoicing ID and be credentialed through login.gov. See www.login.gov for instructions.

(e) The Contractor certifies that, by submitting this invoice to the Government, the supplies and/or services billed have been shipped, rendered, or delivered in accordance with instructions issued by the ordering officer; that they are reflected in the quantities and/or period of performance stated on the invoice; and that such supplies and/or services conform to the quantity and quality requirements specified in the applicable contract, order, or blanket purchase agreement.

Furthermore, pursuant to Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit- Based Opportunity, the Contractor certifies that it is in compliance with the Equal Protection principles of the Constitution and all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, and acknowledges that such compliance is material to the Government’s payment decision under the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(4)). The Contractor also affirms that it does not operate any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that are inconsistent with the Equal Protection principles of the Constitution and the non-discrimination requirements of Federal law, as interpreted by the Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023).

(f) To receive payment and in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, all invoices submitted as attachments in the Delphi eInvoicing web-portal shall contain the following:

For a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract/order,

• Name and Address of the Contractor/Payee

• Invoice/Voucher Number.

• Invoice/Voucher Date.

• Contract Number.

• Task/Delivery Order Number (if applicable).

• Amount billed by CLIN, showing current and cumulative totals by CLIN.

• Start and end dates for the period covered in the invoice. Note: Ensure that the period covered in the invoice is within the period of performance for the CLIN per the contract/order.

• Name, title, phone number, and email address of person to be contacted in the event of a defective invoice.

• All supporting documentation must be provided by CLIN, if multiple CLINs are being billed.

• If the FFP contract/order contained Milestone payments tied to completion of specific Milestones in a CLIN, the invoice must state the Milestone completed and the amount billed in accordance with the contract/order, and the invoice must include documentation showing Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) written acceptance of…