Rail Research and Development

Sole Source Intent Notice

Airborne "Sonar" for High-Speed Tie Vertical Deflection Measurement: Feasibility Study

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Washington, DC, intends to award a sole-source firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract to the University of California San Diego for "Airborne Sonar for High-Speed Tie Vertical Deflection Measurement: Feasibility Study".

This proposed contract action, for which the Government intends to solicit to only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1, is for the proof-of-concept research to determine the feasibility of using low-cost sonar sensors, coupled with advance signal processing techniques to measure the deformed shape of railroad crossties under load, at speed. The project will be built on preliminary results from a laboratory exercise conducted by UCSD in 2018 that demonstrated the basic functionality of the technique under controlled conditions. The next objectives are to complete laboratory development of the measurement device and software, test the system on UCSD's test track, and demonstrate the system on a moving platform with support from a commercial railroad.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals; however, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Respondents must provide a capability statement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this synopsis. Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to provide an e-mail to the FRA point of contact, Isaac Rosier, Jr., (isaac.rosier@dot.gov) no later than 3:00 p.m. EST Friday, 08/09/2019. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

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