Assessing Braking Technologies and Derailment Predication and Severity with General Train Movement Simulator (GTMS) Synopses

The Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC, intends to award a Sole Source, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Contract to DecisionTek, LLC for Assessing Braking Technologies and Derailment Predication and Severity with General Train Movement Simulator (GTMS) services. DescisionTek, LLC developed GTMS software. An alternative contractor other than Decisiontek, LLC, will result in additional time for the contractor to learn the GTMS system in order to make the required software changes and substantially more cost to the government. This contract expected period of performance is for a 16 month period. The value of the contract is expected to be $188,599.20.

The proposed contract action, for which the Government intends to solicit to only one source under authority of FAR 6.302, is for modification of GTMS to explicitly model Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) braking algorithms in Positive Train Control (PTC). The new module will allow FRA to quantify reduction in severity of crude oil train derailment compared to unequipped trains. Also, the following requirements are required:

•1.)    Modify GTMS, including its train movement algorithms, user interfaces and data backend to enable simulations with alternative braking regimes.

•2.)    Expand GTMS to include the modeling of derailment accidents and their severity, including the ability to conduct level-splitting risk assessments.

•3.)    Develop a set of results metrics that support policy decision, operational guidance and direction for further study.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals; however interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Respondents must provide a proposal for Assessing Braking Technologies and Derailment Predication and Severity with General Train Movement Simulator (GTMS). Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this synopsis. Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to provide an E-mail to the FRA point of contact, Ms. Devona Jackson, (devona.jackson@dot.gov) no later than 1:00 p.m. EST Friday, May 29, 2015. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.