Justification and approval to use other than full and open competition to award a contract to The University of Sheffield

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC) For Requirements > $10,000
1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity Federal Railroad Administration Headquarters, Office of Acquisition Management, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved Justification and approval to use other than full and open competition to award a contract to The University of Sheffield to continue the research efforts on modelling the effects of friction modifiers on wheel-rail creep forces, as well as the model enhancement and implementation.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs(including the estimated value) Research services required that meet agency needs include: Computer model that sufficiently accounts for the traction-creepage characteristic of the wheel-rail interface and correctly calculates the contact forces, so that vehicle dynamics, wear and RCF predictions are accurate to a satisfactory extent. Additionally, the computer model will be capable to predict friction based on vehicle load, speed, and load cycles while taking intoaccount the contact patch heat effect at high creep levels. The model will be deployable for end users to investigate complex scenarios pertaining to the interaction between friction modifier properties/amounts and vehicle dynamics in a vehicle-track interaction (VTI) simulation environment. The FRA Office Research, Data, and Innovation wishes to build upon the previous research efforts conducted by the University of Sheffield aimed at improving the safety and effectiveness of the railroad operarions in North America by enhancing the vehicle-track interaction modeling techniques, and modeling prediction accuracy.

4. Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition The statutory authority for this non-competitive action is derived from 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements”.

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique capabilities or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited
In the previous phase of the project, and under FRA funding, the University of Sheffield research team developed a wheel-rail creep force model that accounts for the effects of third-body layers resulting from the application of a range of top-of-rail (TOR) materials
(such as TOR friction modifiers, TOR lubricants, etc.) over a range of creepages. Testing efforts using a twin-disc simulation of the wheel/rail interface (a scaled wheel rig and a full-scale rig) concluded that:
􀁸 Water-based, drying, TOR FMs gave intermediate levels of friction; whereas
TOR lubricants (Oils and greases) gave much lower friction levels.
􀁸 TOR lubricants had a lower consumption rate than TOR FMs, but had a
prolonged period of low friction.
􀁸 The TOR Hybrid (mix of water and oil based product) gave mixed behavior
􀁸 Pick-up and carry-on was only investigated for two TOR FMs. The behavior was largely dictated by the viscosity/tackiness of the product. Through the assessment tests, the collected data and the model development, the research
team of the University of Sheffield had considerably gained knowledge and understanding pertaining to the following:
􀁸 Conducted TOR tests can be used in the future to assess new product performance
and benchmark them against the products trialed in this project.
􀁸 The data from the tests was used to inform the development of models for TOR
product pick-up and consumption.
􀁸 Model User Inetrface (UI) allows intuitive use of the TOR product model and
provides access to the main model variables.
􀁸 The model code could be integrated into other models such as multi-body
dynamics simulations to facilitate and improve assessment of TOR products on
vehicle dynamic performance.

Based on the experience acquired during the previous phase of the project, the research team
of the University of Sheffield possess the necessary unique qualifications and specialized
equipmentto continue the research efforts proposed in Phase 2 that aim to improve and
implement the previously developed model.The testing facilities used during the tests, the
scaled wheel rig (SWR), the full-scale rig (FSR) and the SUROS twin-disc rig are unique to
the University of Sheffield and are the only source to perform the required tests and conduct
the model validation effort. Although selecting another research institution to build similar
testing facilities and continue the work in Phase 2 could be feasible, it would require an substantial investment of additional time and duplication of previous funding to bring the
new research team up to speed in order to satisfactorily complete the Phase 2 tasks of the
project. Additionally, testing of such a model would have to be accomplished at the
University of Sheffield. Based on the above, there is only one responsible source capable of
providing the required services.

6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many
potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be
publicized as required by subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202
applies.
The Contracting Specialist posted a Sources Sought notice on SAM.gov 21 February
2024 and 6 March 2024 to identify potential sources interested in performing the
requirement. Only one response was received from the University of Sheffield.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.The FRA will ensure that all costs associated with the proposed contract are fair and reasonable. Cost and pricing data for similar research services are available and will support the FRA’s analysis of the Offeror’s price proposal and substantiate the
determination.

8. Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the
reason market research was not conducted FRA Subject Matter Experts reviewed internal and external databases to identify vendors with comparable expertise and equipment to the University of Sheffield research team. A Sources Sought notice was posted on SAM.gov 21 February 2024 and 6 March 2024 to identify potential interested vendors. After posting of the Sources Sought only one interested vendor was identified, the incumbent contractor at the University of Sheffield. At this time it does not appear there is another entity with the unique capabilities held by the Universityof Sheffield.

9. Other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition Based on both the results of the Sources Sought posted on SAM.gov and the specialized testing facilities, knowledge and experience that the University of Sheffield personnel acquired during the previous phase of the project, full and open competition is not appropriate for this requirement..
10. Listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the
acquisition.
One response was received to the Sources Sought Notice posted on SAM.gov from the
Universityof Sheffield. No other vendors responded to the notice.
11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any
barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or
services required.
In the event future research efforts are required, the agency will continue to conduct
market research and explore vendor capabilities to promote competition whenever
possible.
12. Certification/Approval Signatures
I certify that the information provided in this justification is accurate and complete to the
best of my knowledge and belief.
________________________________________________ _________________
Abe Meddah, General Engineer/COR Date
Based upon the preceding information, I hereby recommend approval of this Justification
for Other than Full and Open Competition to award a contract to the University of Sheffield
aimed at improving the safety and effectiveness of the railroad operarions in North America
by enhancing the vehicle-track interaction modeling techniques, and modeling prediction
accuracy.
I certify that the information provided in this justification is accurate and complete to the
best of my knowledge and belief.

Awarded contract 693JJ624C000008 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2024-09-16.