The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Washington, DC, intends to award a Sole Source, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Contract to University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) to conduct laboratory study of the failure characteristics of fouled ballast phase II of the project. UMass Amherst research and associated lab testing equipment as developed under Phase I of this project. Based on FRA's analysis, research and associated lab testing equipment developed under Phase I is unique to the rail industry. To re-develop past effort through a new research project with a different supplier would be cost prohibitive.

The proposed contract action, for which the Government intends to solicit to only one source under authority of FAR 6.302, is to conduct laboratory study of the failure characteristics of fouled ballast for Phase II of the project.

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 for "Laboratory Study of the Failure Characteristics of Fouled Ballast: Phase II". 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, Ms. Devona Jackson, ([email protected]) no later than 1:00 p.m. EST Friday, July 22, 2016. 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.