Manufacture and Delivery of Quantity of 25 Railway Boxcars: U. S. Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ

The U.S. Department of Transportation's John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center is seeking a contractor to manufacture and deliver 25 railway boxcars along with one automated railcar air brake test machine and calibration kit to the U.S. Naval Weapons Station in Earle, New Jersey. The procurement specifically requires 25 50-foot damage-free (DF-Type) railway boxcars with wood floors, belt rails, and a minimum load capacity of 80 tons, designed for a 50-year service life according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) standards. The government will evaluate proposals based on best value considerations including price, technical factors, and past performance, with the intent to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order to the responsible quoter. Questions and clarification requests must be submitted by 12:00 PM EDT on June 24, 2025, while quotations are due by 3:00 PM EDT on July 2, 2025. All communications must be directed via email to the contracting officer at melissa.reams@dot.gov.

This procurement is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 336510 for Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees or fewer. The solicitation does not identify any current contractors or incumbents providing similar services. While no specific contract value is disclosed in the opportunity notice, the substantial nature of manufacturing 25 custom railway boxcars and specialized testing equipment suggests a significant procurement value. The delivery timeline spans over a year, with the automated railcar air brake test machine due by August 31, 2025, and all 25 boxcars required for delivery by August 31, 2026. Performance will occur at the contractor's manufacturing facilities with final delivery to the U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey.