Sources Sought Notice 693JJ3-26-SS-0018.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE # 693JJ3-26-SS-0018

Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program Engineering Services Contract (LPES)

SECTION 1. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION

Issue Date: July 22, 2026 Response Due Date: August 5, 2026, 2:00 PM ET Submit To: Tamiko.Aikens@dot.gov

See below Section 6 entitled “REQUESTED CONTENT IN RESPONSE TO THIS SSN” for submittal and content instructions. One (1) electronic copy should be submitted.

This is only a Market Survey for written information. This is neither a Request for Proposals nor an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of identifying potential interest and capability. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) seeks information from organizations with technical capability to support research activities of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean, Virginia. The LTPP program systematically collects, processes, validates, and analyzes performance data from in-service highways across the United States to understand how and why pavements perform as they do, and translate these insights into usable engineering products.

After reviewing the responses, the FHWA may:

• Contact businesses or organizations individually to ask for clarifications.

• Invite businesses or organizations to attend or present at a virtual or physical workshop to further define the requirements and capabilities of the program.

To protect the integrity of any future procurement that may arise from this Sources Sought Notice (SSN), information regarding the technical point of contact will not be provided, and no appointments for presentations will be accepted.

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

Started in 1987 as part of the Strategic Highway Research Program and managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) since 1992, the LTPP program studies the performance of in-service pavements. The primary goal of the LTPP program is to understand how and why pavements perform as they do and to leverage that knowledge to design and maintain better pavements. The mission of the LTPP Program is to promote increased pavement life through:

• Collecting and storing performance data from in-service highway pavement test sections over an extended period, to support analysis and product development.

mailto:Tamiko.Aikens@dot.gov

• Analyzing the data to describe how pavements perform and explain why they perform as they do.

• Translating these insights into knowledge and usable engineering products related to pavement design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, preservation, and management.

Since 1989, over 2,500 pavement test sections across North America have been monitored by the LTPP program. The resulting data have been used to establish a comprehensive national database, referred to as the LTPP program’s Information Management System (IMS), to facilitate pavement research and understand how and why pavements perform as they do.

The LTPP IMS consists of two primary components: the LTPP Pavement Performance Database (PPDB) and the Ancillary Information Management System (AIMS). Currently, the PPDB resides on a legacy relational database management system, while the AIMS consists of structured raw files.

LTPP data, tools, and program knowledge are publicly accessible through the LTPP InfoPave™ web portal (https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov). As the primary gateway to LTPP resources, InfoPave™ is widely utilized by transportation engineers and researchers worldwide to advance the science of pavement engineering. In addition to core LTPP data, the portal also hosts several relevant, non-LTPP datasets to support the State DOTs and broader research community.

SECTION 3. SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

FHWA intends to make a multi-award indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. The potential awardee(s) shall provide all necessary facilities, trained personnel, and subject matter experts to perform the tasks. The contractors shall execute LTPP data collection, storage, and presentation for both historical and newly acquired pavement performance datasets.

The scope also includes conducting comprehensive data analysis and translating research insights into usable engineering tools, guidelines, and program products.

The contractor is responsible for delivering the final services and data, whether using their own data collection vehicles and equipment or by procuring them through a third-party service provider. Task Orders will be awarded on a competitive basis and shall encompass, but are not limited to, the following key areas:

A. Pavement Performance Data Collection and Processing B. LTPP Dataset Development, Analysis, and Special Studies C. Overall Engineering Support and Program activities.

A. Pavement Performance Data Collection and Processing

The Contractors shall perform the following tasks in accordance with FHWA guidelines, USDOT/FHWA regulations, and the Data Quality Act:

• Data Collection Using Automated Pavement Condition Survey (APCS): Conduct full-service, automated surveys to collect pavement condition data for the remaining https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/ active LTPP test sections, or as directed by the FHWA Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Surveys must utilize state-of-the-art APCS 3D imaging vehicles traveling at or near the posted speed limit. The vehicle must be capable of simultaneously collecting longitudinal profile, transverse profile, faulting, and 3D distress images in a single pass. Distress interpretation shall utilize a semi-automated rating approach verified by manual quality checks. If a fully automated approach is proposed, the Contractors must explicitly demonstrate its accuracy and reliability, and it must still be verified by manual quality checks.

• Structural Deflection Testing (TSDD & FWD): Conduct continuous pavement deflection and structural data collection and processing using contractor-furnished, state-of-the-art technologies, such as TSDD. The Contractors must also maintain the capability to perform stationary Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing as directed by the FHWA COR. All structural deflection data processing shall be subject to rigorous quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) procedures to ensure the accurate calculation of relevant deflection parameters.

• Data Entry, Storage, validation and Management: Design, populate, and manage new database structures and tables optimized for high-resolution APCS, TSDD, and performance monitoring datasets, ensuring the accurate entry, upload, validation, and safe storage of all collected data. FHWA is transitioning away from its legacy database system. Consequently, these new tables must be developed on a modern, cost-effective database platform to minimize operational overhead, be able to integrate seamlessly into the LTPP IMS, and subsequently be incorporated into the LTPP InfoPave™ portal.

• Materials Sampling and Traffic Control: Conduct highway materials sampling and laboratory testing as directed by the FHWA COR. The Contractors shall provide all necessary traffic control for stationary data collection, materials sampling, and manual ground reference ratings used for Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA). The Contractors is responsible for coordinating and securing all necessary traffic control permits from the appropriate state and local jurisdictions.

• Traffic Loading and Engineering Support: Provide engineering support, validation, and processing for traffic loading characteristics (e.g., Weigh-in-Motion) and volume estimates sourced from State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), as directed by the

FHWA COR.

• Technical Assistance, Protocols, and Training: Develop, evaluate, and enhance LTPP data collection guidelines, protocols, and program directives. The Contractors is responsible for diagnosing equipment issues and training their own staff on all data collection and distress rating procedures.

• Data Quality Management Plan (DQMP): Develop, implement, and maintain a rigorous DQMP subject to review and approval by the FHWA COR. The Contractors shall support independent verification, certification, and validation to identify, resolve, and prevent systematic errors in automated data collection and rating. This includes establishing verification/control sites and performing ground-truth reference ratings to evaluate vendor consistency using statistical equivalence testing.

• Inquiry Resolution and Agency Coordination: Resolve all data quality inquiries and anomalies regarding LTPP test sections, providing written responses to FHWA.

Coordinate directly with state and local highway agencies to acquire missing critical data as required.

• Data QC/QA and Governance: Implement and maintain automated QC/QA procedures throughout the entire data lifecycle to ensure strict compliance with FHWA Data Governance policies, federal regulations, and the Data Quality Act.

• Public Data Release: Prepare, process, and deliver updates of LTPP data and program information for seamless integration into the LTPP InfoPave™ web portal, as directed by the FHWA COR.

B. LTPP Dataset Development, Analysis, and Special Studies

The Contractors shall develop specialized LTPP datasets, including AI-ready datasets, and perform targeted pavement performance analyses to advance pavement engineering practices.

• Analysis-Ready Datasets (ARDs): Develop, update, and maintain specialized ARDs to streamline and facilitate LTPP-based pavement research. This includes, as a core requirement, generating datasets engineered specifically for compatibility with AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software.

• Advanced Analytics Data Engineering: Design and implement a dynamic data engineering framework to generate structured datasets, including AI-ready datasets, from both the legacy and newly integrated data structures of the LTPP databases to support advanced analytics, predictive computational modeling, and next-generation research.

• Computed Parameters and Module Updates: Perform, validate, and document updates to specific pavement design parameters, including generating and updating computed parameters for traffic, environmental, and other factors critical to pavement analysis and design.

• LTPP Data Analysis Plan Execution: Update the LTPP Data Analysis Plan to meet current and future stakeholder needs, and conduct targeted, special, and ad-hoc pavement engineering studies guided by the plan to advance its five core objectives:

1. Characterizing traffic loading, environmental factors, and material impacts on pavement performance.

2. Determining the specific effects of design features on pavement performance.

3. Improving selection and design methodologies for new and rehabilitated pavements.

4. Improving strategies, timing, and effectiveness of maintenance and preservation treatments.

5. Improving systemic pavement asset management and life-cycle practices.

• Technology and Equipment Evaluations: Perform technical evaluations of emerging automated pavement data collection equipment, advanced sensors, and data processing techniques as directed by the FHWA COR.

• Pavement Performance Case Studies: Conduct targeted pavement performance case studies to demonstrate the practical application of LTPP data in solving real-world highway agency challenges as directed by the FHWA COR.

• Engineering Tools and Products Development: Translate research insights into practical, usable engineering tools and products. This includes developing updated guidelines, predictive models, and technical reports that directly support State DOTs and practitioners in the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, preservation, and management of highway pavements.

https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/Analysis/InteractiveDataAnalysis

C. Overall Engineering Support and Program Coordination

The Contractors shall provide comprehensive engineering support, program coordination, and technical assistance to facilitate LTPP activities.

• Programmatic Coordination: Coordinate LTPP program activities, including, but not limited to, project deliverables and operational schedules, with FHWA staff, other LTPP program contractors, and participating state highway agencies.

• Information Dissemination and Outreach: Prepare and deliver comprehensive technical reports, newsletters, articles, webinars, and professional presentation materials to communicate program findings and updates to the broader transportation community.

• Customer Support Services: Provide direct technical support to the LTPP Customer Support Services center, assisting researchers and data users with complex data assembly, querying, and database completeness assessments.

• Data Integration and Expansion: Evaluate, plan, assemble, and integrate new or external data sources and non-LTPP datasets into the LTPP InfoPave™ portal.

• Engineering Support and Technical Assistance: Provide targeted engineering and technical support for FHWA-sponsored research, Transportation Pooled-Fund Studies, State DOTs, and other related external research as directed by the FHWA COR.

• Accelerated Pavement Testing Support: Provide specialized engineering and technical support, as directed by the FHWA COR, to the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility (PTF).

SECTION 4. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

A successful proposal must demonstrate a highly qualified, cross-disciplinary team possessing deep expertise in pavement engineering, advanced pavement data analysis, and the management of modern pavement data collection. To be considered qualified, the offeror must demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Pavement Engineering: Broad and demonstrated expertise across all phases of pavement engineering, including design, construction, preservation, maintenance, and overall pavement management.

• LTPP Program Expertise: Extensive, proven experience with and knowledge of the LTPP program, including its historical context, experimental designs, distress identification protocols, and strategic operational goals.

• High-Speed 3D Pavement Profiling: Demonstrated expertise and hands-on experience in managing the collection and analysis of Automated Pavement Condition Survey (APCS) data, utilizing high-speed 3D imaging technology to simultaneously capture longitudinal/transverse profiles and distress data.

• Structural Deflection and Materials Testing: Specialized expertise in oversight, analysis, and interpretation state-of-the-art continuous deflection or structural data (e.g., TSDD), as well as conventional highway materials testing methodologies.

• Database and Cloud Engineering: Robust data and database management capabilities utilizing modern, cloud-based relational database systems to support LTPP dataset development, secure backups, and seamless integration into the LTPP InfoPave™ portal.

• Pavement Data Analysis and Engineering Insights: Advanced capabilities in LTPP data analysis, featuring a demonstrated ability to evaluate complex pavement performance datasets and translate analytical insights into practical engineering products, guidelines, and technical reports.

• Technical Writing, Support, and Statistical QC/QA: Proven experience authoring peer-reviewed research reports, providing technical customer support, and executing rigorous statistical verifications and validations of automated pavement data against historical manual ground reference ratings.

SECTION 5. ANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE

The FHWA tentatively anticipates this contract to be a full and open multi-award IDIQ with a period of performance of up to five years, and an estimated total value of $16 million.

SECTION 6. REQUESTED CONTENT IN RESPONSE TO THIS SSN

Interested firms responding to this SSN must provide a capability statement demonstrating their capability and capacity in supporting efforts that have similar magnitude of size, scope, and complexity. All firms interested in this opportunity are encouraged to submit a response to this SSN. However, FHWA will review capability statements from all business sizes.

Interested firms are requested to submit a capability statement that addresses their ability to deliver the services described in Section 3, above. Interested firms may at their own discretion submit comments on the various technical assistance requirements described in this SSN. In doing so, interested firms may identify any gaps or suggest innovative approaches to delivering technical assistance not covered in the requirements herein.

Instructions

Responses shall not exceed 10 pages in length double-spaced with font size twelve or larger.

Email attachment should be submitted in Adobe Acrobat (pdf). Do not submit marketing materials, slide presentations, or technical papers. Electronic files must be less than 5MB with a page size of 8.5x11”. The email subject line must include, “Sources Sought Notice: “LTPP Engineering Services”

Responses shall clearly identify:

1. Name, Address, Point of Contact.

2. Size Standard under NAICS code 541715.

3. Identify all applicable classifications for your organization, such as:

a. Small Business

b. Woman-owned business

c. 8(a) business

d. Large business

e. Small disadvantaged business

f. HUBZone business

g. SDVOB business

h. Non-profit.

4. Description of technical capabilities and relevant experience in performing the tasks and activities described above.

5. Demonstration of understanding, and/or provide examples of recent, prior experience with providing engineering and technical services necessary to support highway infrastructure research and development, preferably in the Federal sector. For Federal sector experience please provide contract numbers and contact information.

6. Company’s ability to begin performance immediately upon contract award to ensure there are no interruptions in keeping all the web portals operational.

7. A summary description of the organization’s motivation and why the business is best suited to provide the requested services and activities, as described in Section 3.

8. A summary description of relevant technical expertise, capabilities, and facilities the organization would be willing to share or provide with regard to non-personal technical support services to support task areas and activities as described in both Sections 2 and 3 of this request.

9. A summary of the organization’s planned teaming arrangements and management plan.

This effort requires several distinct sets of expertise:

FHWA anticipates that this work will require the efforts of a highly qualified and innovative cross-discipline team with in-depth knowledge and significant experience in all the tasks and activities identified in Section 3. Scope of Activities of this document.

Thank you for participating in US DOT’s market research.