The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) intends to award a sole source contract to

 Balfour Beatty/Zetica Rail for   “Improvements to and Support of  GPR System Deployed on DOTX 220”.

 This research and development effort is a continuation of work begun under DTFR53-11-D-00008L-TO-357-Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Technology Evaluation and Implementation and 693JJ618C000014 GPR Analysis. Objectives of Task Order 357 included assessment of GPR performance criteria, development of GPR performance guidelines, GPR system procurement, and GPR data processing and analysis, and for 693JJ618C000014 GPR Analysis, those objectives include testing, analysis, licensing, and support of the GPR system for the DOTX22O. The GPR service provider used for TO 357 and 693JJ618C000014 is responsible the GPR system and associated software installed on the DOTX220, and as such, the government desires to continue the data processing and analysis of the previous project for research efforts as well as for revenue service operations of the DOTX220. The existence of the GPR equipment, and the existing data from previous testing, all support continuation of the data collection, processing, and analysis of the previous project as a sole source solicitation, since no other provider has access to all the elements needed for success of the project.

The proposed new project will conduct similar testing, data collection, data processing, and analysis on revenue service track, while focusing specifically on fouled ballast zones nationwide. The purpose for this is to understand the nature and extent of a detectable trackbed defect associated with the track geometry exceptions, and to measure the thickness of clean ballast. To re-develop past efforts through a new research project with a different supplier would be cost prohibitive.

The proposed contract action, for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, is under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).   

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Interested parties with the capability of meeting the proposed requirements are requested to provide an email to the FRA point of contact, Devona Jackson at [email protected] no later than 1:00 p.m. ET, Friday, August 13, 2020, expressing interest and outlining their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort.  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.