Source Sought Notice_693JJ3-26-SS-0003.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE 693JJ3-26-SS-0003

For

“Quantum Computing for Highway Transportation”

1. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION

ISSUE DATE: December 23, 2025 DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES: January 16, 2026 SUBMIT RESPONSES TO: hcfa-31sri@dot.gov and jason.motala@dot.gov SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO: hcfa-31sri@dot.gov and jason.motala@dot.gov

See below Section 4 entitled “REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE” for submittal content instructions.

2. INTRODUCTION

This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information, for planning purposes, regarding: the availability and capability of qualified sources to perform the work, as well as the size and status of potential sources. The NAICS Code for this planned acquisition for “Quantum Computing for Highway Transportation” is 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) – with a Small Business Size Standard of up to 1,000 employees.

All potential sources, regardless of whether they are large or small in accordance with the NAICS size standard are encouraged to submit a capabilities statement in response to this Sources Sought notice.

It is anticipated that the potential resulting solicitation will result in a single award Firm-Fixed- Price (FFP) with cost-reimbursable travel research and development award.

3. BACKGROUND

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program focuses on longer-term and higher-risk breakthrough research with the potential for transformational improvements to plan, build, renew, and operate safe and congestion free, transportation systems.

Scanning emerging areas of science that could provide value in highway transportation research included work in quantum computing. For additional information about potential quantum computing uses in highway transportation, see the report Quantum Technologies in Transportation located at:

https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-12/Quantum%20Workshop_Report_121024.pdf mailto:hcfa-31sri@dot.gov mailto:amy.morrissette@dot.gov mailto:hcfa-31sri@dot.gov mailto:jason.motala@dot.gov

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The FHWA EAR program is seeking information about

1. Research questions of national importance to highway transportation that would be impractical or impossible to solve using classic computing that may be well suited for quantum computing.

2. Experience with decomposing complex models used in highway transportation or in analogous fields into elements suited for classic computing and elements that could benefit from quantum computing.

3. Experience with available and emerging approaches for testing quantum computing for problem solving including use of quantum simulators.

4. Experience with data and software preparations and workflows necessary for solving modeling problems through a combination of classic and quantum computing.

5. Ability to measure and explain benefits of quantum computing for solving complex modeling to domain experts in highway transportation or an analogous field.

4. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform or subcontract the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this sources sought notice as indicated in section 1 entitled

“SUBMITTAL INFORMATION”.

Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten (10) one-sided, 8.5x11inch pages in length with font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating the ability to perform the services listed in this notice.

No phone or email solicitations with regard to the status of this notice or future RFP will be accepted.

All data received in response to this sources sought notice, marked or designated as corporate or proprietary, will be fully protected from release outside the Government. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. Classified material MUST NOT be submitted as well as marketing materials, slide presentations, or technical papers.

Vendor responses must include the following administrative information:

1. Company name, Company address, Company Unique Entity ID, and point(s) of contact including name, telephone number(s), and email address(es).

2. Can this work be performed on the vendors General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contract, to include GSA OASIS+? Please provide GSA schedule number if yes.

3. Respondents to this notice also must indicate whether they are a large business or qualify as a Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) certified under the SBA 8 (a) Program, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone), or Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Concern.

Note: Under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14, the small business prime must perform at least 50% of the work themselves in terms of the cost performance.

4. Company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history (average over the last three completed fiscal years), office location(s), and a statement regarding current small/large business status under the NAICS code listed in section 2.

5. Prior/current corporate experience performing efforts of similar size and scope within the last three years, including contract number, federal customers, indication of whether as a prime or subcontractor, contract amount, Government point of contact with current telephone number, and a brief description of how the referenced requirement relates to the services herein.

6. Resources available such as corporate management and key personnel to be assigned to tasks under this effort to include professional qualifications, and specific experience of such personnel.

7. Statement regarding capability to obtain the Department of Transportation (DOT) security clearances for personnel.

8. Company’s ability to begin performance upon contract award.

Note: This sources sought notice is not construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract nor does the Government intend to pay for any information or responses as the result of this sources sought notice.