Intent to Sole Source - Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group for Ground Penetrating Radar

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) intends to award a sole source contract to Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group to refine the event-driven Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data processing and reporting system on the FRA DOTX-220 inspection car. The refinement of this process is intended to provide trackbed inspection data to complement the track geometry exception data currently reported, and to provide an automated layer picking algorithm and web portal for viewing data to be modified to allow improved access from mobile devices. The value of this contract is anticipated to be $1,550,000.00 with a projected period of performance of one twelve-month base period and two twelve-month option periods.

The NAICS code for this procurement is 541720 – Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. This sole source requirement meets the conditions of FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This research and development effort is a continuation of work begun under the GPR Technology Evaluation and Implementation GPR Analysis.  The government will continue the data processing and analysis of the previous project for research efforts, as well as for revenue service operations of the DOTX220. The existence of the GPR equipment, and the existing data from previous testing, support the continuation of data collection, processing, and analysis of the previous project by the incumbent vendor due to the proprietary nature of the remote access portals, DOTX220 software, and data interfacing web portal. To enter a competitive requirement would directly prolong the project by duplicating services when the current Contractor has all proprietary data to complete the research project.

The proposed new project will implement an event-driven GPR data processing and reporting system on the FRA DOTX-220 inspection car to provide trackbed inspection data to complement the track geometry exception data currently reported. This additional data will provide an automated layer picking algorithm and web portal for viewing data which will be modified to allow improved access from mobile devices.

This notice is NOT a request for proposals or quotations. No contract award will be made based on proposals or quotations received in response to this notice, nor will the Government pay for any proposal costs accrued by vendors. Information received from this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

If any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government. If parties choose to respond, any cost associated with preparation and submission of data or any other cost incurred in response to this announcement are the sole responsibility of the respondent and will not be reimbursed by the Government.

Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to provide supporting evidence in sufficient detail that demonstrates the ability to comply with the requirement listed must be furnished to the point of contact listed below no later than 1:00 p.m. ET, Monday, September 8, 2025. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for determining whether to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Questions should be directed to KeriAnne Gallagher, kerianne.gallagher@dot.gov via e-mail only.