Rail Cab Warning System R&D

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
U.S. Department of Transportation
55 Broadway
Cambridge Massachusetts
United States
02142-1093
Nature of Requirements: 

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) 

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 

2. Definition of the requirement 

Transport Canada has a requirement to conduct a study of locomotive operating practices, existing in-cab warning system design guidelines and standards, and in-cab warning system best practices. The work will involve the following: Reviewing existing guidelines, standards, in-cab warning system best practices, modes and warning systems in other sectors, consulting with experts and stakeholders, and presenting findings in a report.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements) 

3.1 Interested suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the requirements outlined below by submitting a portfolio of a minimum of five (5) research publications or publicly published corporate documentation. Through the research publications or publicly published corporate documents, interested suppliers must demonstrate experience and expertise undertaking the following tasks:

3.1.1 Accessing a full sized locomotive simulator which must:

3.1.1.1 Be a laboratory designed for research purposes equipped with integrated research tools that measure human performance;

3.1.1.2 Accurately records crew behaviour through the use of video, audio, and eye-tracking capabilities; and

3.1.1.3 Includes features such as anthropometric modeling and visualization software that allows researchers to work with locomotive designers to assess how new technologies and control configurations affect operator performance.

3.1.2 Having a locomotive simulator that is housed and operated by one organization that must be able to configure the simulator for research purposes to:

3.1.2.1 design program scenarios;

3.1.2.2 design experiments; and

3.1.2.3 analyze data.

3.1.3 Conducting research in the following topics:

3.1.3.1 Human Reliability Analysis in Support of Risk Assessment for Positive Train Control;

3.1.3.2 Human Factors Considerations in the Evaluation of PTC Systems;

3.1.3.3 Using Cognitive Task Analysis to Inform Issues in Human Systems Integration in Railroad Operations;

3.1.3.4 Cognitive and Collaborative Demands of Freight Conductor Activities;

3.1.3.5 Technology Implications of Cognitive Task Analysis for Locomotive Engineers; and 

3.1.3.6 Human Factors Guidelines for Locomotive Cabs.

3.1.4 Publishing railway technical material and presented work at International railway seminars and conferences.

3.1.5 Collaborating with the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration on human factors research related to positive train control. 

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement:
 
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

The U.S Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation System Centre (Volpe) is uniquely qualified to complete to conduct the required research, due to their research laboratory and expertise of the staff. Volpe is the only facility that has the following three essential elements for this work:

a. Locomotive Simulator Laboratory

Volpe has a Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL) which is unique because it was specifically designed for research purposes. CTIL has integrated research tools that help to measure human performance, it can accurately record crew behaviour through the use of video, audio, and eye tracking technology. This allows researchers to carefully observe the actions of train crews, and monitor the corresponding effect of their actions on the simulated locomotive they are operating.

b. In House Expertise

Volpe has technical experts that can configure and program the simulator equipment and can undertake human factor analysis.

c. Strong collaboration and coordination of research with FRA

Volpe is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation and can carry out independent research that supports public good objectives. Volpe’s strong collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration ensures that research carried out under this agreement will leverage knowledge previously gained through study of the US railway industry. 

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) 

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work."
 
7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons 

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the: 

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513 2.iii. "Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons."

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property 

Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

9. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The proposed contract is for approximately a one-year period, from July 14, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

10. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including options, is $ 506,454.84 (GST/HST extra). 

11. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
U.S. Department of Transportation
55 Broadway
Cambridge, MA.  02142-1093

12. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities 

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

13. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities 

14. The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is June 13, 2019 at 2:00 PM EDT. 

15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Name: Julie Adler Brooks
Title: Supply Specialist
Address: 10th Floor - 4900 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M2N 6A6
Telephone: 647-267-0313
E-mail: julie.adlerbrooks@pwgsc.gc.ca 

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award.  However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.