Ruggedness and Interlaboratory Studies for Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) Cyclic Fatigue Test

Federal Highway Administration

Synopsis DTFH6117R00048

Title: Ruggedness and Interlaboratory Studies for Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) Cyclic Fatigue Test

This synopsis is issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day pre-solicitation notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Federal Highway Administration's intent to issue a solicitation for a Full and Open Competition to procure the services of an Offeror for the Ruggedness and Interlaboratory Studies for Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) Cyclic Fatigue Test requirement pursuant to FAR Part 19.2.

As a result of this solicitation, the FHWA intends to award one Time-and-Materials/Labor Hour Contract. The anticipated period of performance shall not exceed 30 months.  The solicitation will be issued on or about July 21, 2017.

BACKGROUND

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has an ongoing Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AIDPT) Program, which includes the deployment of innovative technologies to improve pavement performance and reduce agency risk.  A constant challenge in the transportation community is timely and efficient deployment of these new and innovative technologies.  This is particularly true in the area of asphalt pavements.  It often takes years, and sometimes decades, to change business practices, revise specifications, or refine production and construction practices.

A primary goal of the FHWA AIDPT Program is the advancement of new and innovative technologies to design, specify, construct, and preserve pavements, which are supported by the advancement of superior practices for testing and evaluating materials.   As such, the FHWA supports deployment of advanced research findings in pavements and materials through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Strategic Highway Research Programs (SHRP and SHRP2).  The Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) is an example of a research development from NCHRP which has been identified by FHWA as a critical subject of deployment efforts in the field of asphalt pavements.

As part of this procurement, FHWA seeks to engage subject matter experts to design, conduct, and provide recommendations relating to a two-phase ruggedness and interlaboratory study on a particular test method that has been identified as an innovative asphalt concrete testing and design practice.  AASHTO TP 107 has been developed and refined over the past 25 years and a statistically sound refinement procedure is needed to facilitate widespread implementation.  The test procedure is being used in ongoing FHWA efforts as part of a performance-related specification framework which seeks to increase pavement life through fundamental testing and predictive relationships.  AASHTO TP 107 is of particular interest to FHWA because of its fundamental nature, its reliance on the AMPT, and its ability to model and predict material performance over a wide range of loading and climate conditions a pavement may experience.  Recently, a draft procedure for small-size specimens has been developed using a modified version of AASHTO TP 107.  This draft procedure is also of interest to the asphalt materials community due to anticipated materials, time, and cost savings associated with the smaller specimens.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this contract are to promote the deployment and innovative materials evaluation practice to improve pavement performance and extend pavement life.  The objective will be achieved by conducting ruggedness and interlaboratory studies to improve the test procedure prescribed in AASHTO TP 107 using both full- and small-size specimens.  The FHWA has identified this test procedure as part of an important innovation to asphalt concrete characterization and pavement design. 

DETAILS

The solicitation 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 solicitation will be entertained at this time. Potential Offerors 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.

This requirement is full and open competition pursuant to NAICS code 541330. Any questions regarding this synopsis should be directed to Tamiko Aikens, Contracting Officer, via email at tamiko.aikens@dot.gov.