Inactive

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Harsco Rail/Protran to implement the next generation Vertical Track Deflection Measurement System (VTDMS... The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Harsco Rail/Protran to implement the next generation Vertical Track Deflection Measurement System (VTDMS) on FRA’s DOTX218 inspection vehicle, an event-driven VTDMS data processing and reporting system on the FRA DOTX-218 inspection car to provide risk assessment, and to provide trackbed inspection data to complement gage restraint measurement system, ground penetrating radar, and track geometry exception data currently reported. This research and development effort is a continuation of work begun under DTFR5316C00016 “Categorizing Track Mud Spot Risk by Measurement of Vertical Track Deflection". The VTDMS service provider used for the past work effort is responsible the VTDMS system and associated software installed on the DOTX218, and as such, the government desires to continue the VTDMS system enhancements, data processing and analysis of the previous project for research, as well as for revenue service operations of the DOTX218. The existence of the VTDMS 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.