Cost of Compliance for High Speed Rail Noise

Notice of Intent to Issue a Sole Source Contract to Ricardo, Inc. for "Cost of Compliance for High Speed Rail Noise."

The United States Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Acquisition Services, under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 6.302-1 - Only One Responsible Source, intends to issue a sole source contract to Ricardo, Inc., for follow-on research to the "High Speed Rail Noise Standards and Regulations" project completed under a recently completed FRA contract (# DTFR53-16-C-00006).  This contract assessed global regulations and standards for high speed rail. The study found that as well as the standards and regulations varying around the world, the reference basis also changed. This complicates the comparison of standards. However, noise theory could be applied to convert the various global standards to a common reference. This research effort to develop an analysis tool and a common reference comparison of the global standards and regulations would be a very beneficial addition to report for the Industry.  As well as identifying the respective standards and regulations, 50-60 noise mitigation options were identified. The rail industry has expressed an interest in knowing the comparative cost of the various mitigation options as might be encountered in the US market.  The period of performance will be 10 months.

The sole source justification is as follows.  Ricardo, Inc. had competitively bid to perform the Phase I via the Broad Agency Announcement procurement methodology in 2016, and has successfully completed the project.  Their follow-on proposal from the initial research outlines additional needed research that will further develop normalizing tools for accessing technology to address passenger train noise emission, improving passenger train service.  FRA has identified the need that will be filled by this research and realizes that an award to Ricardo, Inc. for the proposed follow-on task to the previous research will be more cost conservative in comparison to an open and competitive award.  Another contractor will need to expend resources to review and analyze the data needed for development of the cost compliance matrix.  Ricardo has already completed that effort under the previous contract. 

NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE IS AVAILABLE. 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 capability statement.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this synopsis. Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to identify their interest by email to the FRA point of contact, Angeline Behrend, Angeline.Behrend@dot.gov, no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, May 31, 2018.  Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely to determine whether 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.