FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program Broad Agency Announcement 2016

Added: Aug 17, 2016 8:43 am Modified: Jul 11, 2017 1:47 amTrack Changes

FHWA 2016 EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT - JULY 11, 2017

This communication provides a status update on anticipated awards under the FHWA 2016 Exploratory Advanced Research Program Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).  As of July 11, 2017, FHWA continues to process awards under the BAA.  All anticipated awardees have been notified.  Unsuccessful offerors will be formally notified when all awards have been made.  It is anticipated that all awards will be made by September 30, 2017.

Added: Oct 11, 2016 5:12 pm

Amendment No. 2 provides the FHWA CFDA number.

Added: Sep 28, 2016 1:49 pm The attached Amendment No. 1 provides responses to questions received as of September 26, 2016 to the FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program Broad Agency Announcement.

Added: Aug 17, 2016 8:43 am  

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION 2016 EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT PRESOLICITATION

No. DTFH6116R00036

This synopsis is issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.201 in response to the mandatory requirement for a pre-solicitation notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Federal Highway Administration's intent to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Exploratory Advanced Research Program (EAR).

As a result of this BAA, the FHWA intends to award contracts and/or cooperative agreements. Offerors shall propose periods of performance based on individual proposed research efforts in accordance with the guidance in the BAA. The BAA is anticipated to be released on or about August 19, 2016 to close on October 14, 2016.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is soliciting for proposals under its EAR Program for research projects that could lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation in the United States. This program supports scientific investigations and studies that advance the current knowledge and state-of-the-art in the sciences and technologies employed in the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance and management of the nation's highways. Strategically, this research will enable and expedite the development of revolutionary approaches, methodologies, and breakthroughs required to drive innovation and greatly improve the efficiency of highway transportation.

The FHWA anticipates sponsoring research addressing the following three topics through the issuance of this BAA including the following:

Topic 1: Computation Methods for Analysis of Mobile Device Data

With increased focus on accurate measurement and projections of travel data across modes, there is a need for new methods for data uptake and integration.  FHWA identified potential new data analytic methods that could be applied to large data and integrated with and validated against known structured travel data.  Currently the EAR Program is supported related research for safety data and freight data.  This topic would apply new approaches and data to travel behavior.

Topic 2: Behavioral Science and Experimental Economics Approaches for Transportation

The tools of behavioral economics and cognitive psychology have recently evolved to answer paradoxes which were not being addressed by the economic model of 'rational' actors particularly with respect to understanding the human reaction to risk.  The EAR Program funded one project using this approach applied to pricing.  This new research effort would use a behavioral economic framework to discover, test, adapt and develop public policy 'nudges' to improve safe use of new technologies from mobile devices to connected and automated systems.

Topic 3: New Methods in Simulation

This topic includes methods to allow federated simulation and integration of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies.  Building on advances in online gaming military training, and aviation simulation, there are new technologies that could allow for distributed, cross-modal, and cross-platform simulation.  Connected simulation could provide new methods for studying interactions between vehicle drivers and between drivers and non-motorized travelers as well as methods for safely assessing the introduction of new connected and automated technologies. 

The BAA will be released electronically via this Government Point of Entry (GPE) otherwise known as Federal Business Opportunities or www.fbo.gov. As such, no written, telephonic or other type of request for an advance copy of the announcement will be entertained at this time.

Potential offerors/vendors are encouraged to register on www.fbo.gov to receive any further information in reference to the subject action inclusive of any announcements, and/or amendments to the solicitation after its release.

Any questions regarding this synopsis should be directed to the Contracting Officer, Robin Hobbs at Robin.Hobbs@dot.gov.