Evaluation and Standardization of Retention Capacity of Rail Equipment Glazing Systems
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 6913G626Q300057
- Agency
-
Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Department of Transportation
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- 8(a) Sole Source
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541330 Engineering Services
- Place of performance
- Hinsdale, Illinois 60521, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Transportation's John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center is soliciting evaluation and standardization of retention capacity of rail equipment glazing systems on an 8(a) sole source basis to Sharma & Associates, Inc., with proposals due September 28, 2026. The procurement is issued as a Request for Quotation under FAR Part 12 for commercial services.
Place of performance is Hinsdale, Illinois. The work continues the Federal Railroad Administration's prior research on passenger rail glazing retention to support development of an APTA safety standard addressing fatalities caused by passenger ejection through rail car windows during train accidents. The contractor will perform over approximately 15 months: finalize and anonymize a research report within 2 months of award; develop a simplified finite element model to simulate ballast drag testing with results within 30% of previous test data by month 8; and engage industry stakeholders including APTA working groups, car builders, and transit agencies to refine performance requirements by month 12, delivering an interim report and presentation. Two unfunded options exist to provide comprehensive final documentation and to enhance the finite element model with increased fidelity and validation within 20% accuracy.
The sole source justification rests on technical continuity: Sharma possesses proprietary test fixtures, custom finite element models, and specialized knowledge developed over 11 years of glazing research that cannot be efficiently duplicated without significant non-recoverable costs and unacceptable delays. Market research conducted in August 2026 found no other source with the required combination of capabilities and intellectual property.
The NAICS code is 541330, Engineering Services. PSC code is H222, Equipment and Materials Testing–Railway Equipment. The procurement incorporates FAR 52.212-4 terms and conditions for commercial products and services. Payment is firm fixed price by contract line item, with contractor invoices submitted electronically through the Department of Transportation's DELPHI system via the iSupplier module.
Notice text
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (RFO) part 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.
Solicitation No. 6913G626Q300057 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This solicitation is being conducted under FAR RFO Part 12, Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This solicitation document and Incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01, effective 03/13/2026. The NAICS Code is 541690; the Small Business size standard is $19M.
This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses; full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at http://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul.
The U.S. Department of Transportation/John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) intends to solicit and award on a sole source basis to Sharma & Associates, Inc., in accordance with FAR 6.103 (a) and (b). The work described in the SOW will contine the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) effort and build on the prior reseach conducted on the retention capacity of rail equipment glazing systems by this contractor, in accordance with the attached Statement of Work and Terms and Conditions.
REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS
The Government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order for a base (CLINs 00100 to 00300) and two options (CLINs 00400 and 00500) as a result of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. The option CLINs may or may not be exercised.
Please provide a firm fixed price quotation in accordance with the attached list of contract line items (CLINs) below and the attached SOW, six (6) items in total. An amount must be entered for each CLIN and a total for all CLINs.
CLIN 00100 - Task 1: Finalize FRA report for publication, 1 EA $_______________, PSC: H222 (Base CLIN)
CLIN 00200 - Task 2: Development of Simplified Finite Element Model, 1 EA $________________ PSC: H222 (Base CLIN)
CLIN 00300 - Task 3: Industry Engagement and Updated Performance Requirements, 1 EA $______________, PSC: H222 (Base CLIN)
CLIN 00400 - Task 4: Documentation of Results, 1 EA $_______________, PSC: H222 (Option CLIN)
CLIN 00500 - Task 5: Documentation of Results including Development of Detailed Validated Finite Element Model, $________________, PSC: H222 (Option CLIN)
TOTAL for all CLINs: $_______________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS:
This combined synopsis/solicitation hereby incorporates all Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions and clauses contained herein and attached.
FAR 52.212-1 (SEP 2025), Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items apply to this acquisition and is incorporated by reference. Vendors are required to meet all solicitation requirements. Failure to meet a requirement may result in a vendor submission being ineligible for award. If the vendor finds it necessary to take exception to any of the requirements specified in the solicitation, the vendor shall clearly identify where it is addressed in its proposal. Each exception shall clearly identify the specific paragraph and/or part of the solicitation to which the exception is taken.
FAR 52.212-2 (DEVIATION SEP 2025), Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services is hereby incorporated by reference.
a) Evaluation of Offerors. The Government will make an award to the Offeror, whose offer is deemed the best value to the Government.
FAR Clause 52.212-4 (DEVIATION SEP 2025), Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services is hereby incorporated by reference. Additional clauses and provisions that apply to this acquisition are provided in the attached terms and conditions.
Contractors must maintain their SAM registration throughout the life of the contract through final payment. Contracting officers must validate the contractor has an active Federal Government contracts registration in SAM.
QUESTIONS
All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via email to the Contracting Officer in the RFQ no later than 09/24/2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
The offer should be addressed to the following: U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Attn: Karen Marino, V222, 220 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. The signed offer must be submitted via e-mail to the contracting officer Karen.Marino@dot.gov. The time for receipt of offers is 3:00 PM Eastern Time on 09/28/2026. No telephone requests will be honored. The Government will not pay for any information received.
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