Inactive

Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) 693JJ623RFI0003-Amendment 1 is to obtain information for market research, which may inform future requirements and contract efforts for the d... Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) 693JJ623RFI0003-Amendment 1 is to obtain information for market research, which may inform future requirements and contract efforts for the development of a parametric railway line capacity model. Amendment 1 changes the website link in para. 2 and the RFI content requested under Item 2 of the section titled “RFI Response Content.” Summary: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Railroad Development (RRD) is requesting white papers providing possible technical solutions for all or part of the challenges discussed below. Since the 1975 publication of FRA’s Parametric Analysis of Railway Line Capacity Final Report (available at https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/fra_net/15031/FRA-OPPD-75-1%20Parametric%20Analysis%20of%20Railway%20Line%20Capacity.pdf), parametric railroad capacity models have seen sporadic use throughout the North American railroad industry as a tool to support both short- and long-term network, traffic, and capital planning. While some individual railroads have developed and maintained propriety parametric models for their own internal use, the publicly available 1975 FRA model, which provided the initial conceptual framework for this approach to capacity analysis, has become largely obsolete due to major changes in railroad operating practices, traffic types, physical plant characteristics, and capacity utilization that have occurred over the past 44 years. During that same period, detailed railroad operations simulation has emerged as the dominant tool for railroad capacity analysis, and FRA has been a major proponent of the use of operations simulation as an essential means of assessing the efficacy of proposed changes to railroad operations and infrastructure. However, constraints on railway capacity is becoming ever more evident with increased interest in potential improvements, and in some cases, the introduction of new passenger rail services. Since most railway improvements require careful consideration of railway line capacity and operating performance, the need for an expanded set of tools for railroad capacity analysis has grown more important. In response to this need, FRA is considering developing a new parametric railway line capacity model which, like the 1975 model, would be made publicly available for use by both the railroad industry and by others with an interest in railroad capacity analysis (such as sponsors of potential railroad improvement projects). FRA believes that a new parametric capacity model would have the potential to serve as an important adjunct to existing operations simulation tools and could find application in high-level operations analysis performed as part of early project feasibility studies, in regional intercity passenger rail planning, and as an aid in developing hypotheses for operating and infrastructure changes for subsequent evaluation using operations simulation. FRA does not, however, see a parametric capacity model supplanting the use of detailed operations simulation, and remains committed to operations simulation as being the appropriate means for evaluating railroad operating performance in advance of making most decisions concerning potential changes in railroad operations and infrastructure (particularly those which would affect more than one operator). Like the 1975 model, FRA believes development of a new parametric capacity model would focus on an analytical examination of key factors affecting railway line capacity in order to: Determine the relative magnitude of the impact of varying key parameters such as track and signal system configuration and train operating policy in terms of their effect on capacity; and Develop a parametric model for general application to line capacity analysis. As with the development of the 1975 model, a key element of a new parametric model may be the use of a railroad operations simulation model to examine different combinations of track, signal, and train configurations and operating practices, with the resulting estimates of operating performance being used as the basis for a regression-based approach to establishing the mathematical relationships between various parameters and line capacity. However, in addition to reflecting the contemporary characteristics of North American railroad operating practices, infrastructure, and traffic, the development of a new parametric capacity model would present the opportunity to 1) incorporate advances in analytical techniques, 2) address areas of future research identified during the development of the 1975 model, and 3) address topics that were unable to be addressed (or perhaps even contemplated) as part of the 1975 model due to the limitations of the analytical tools available at the time. In 2019, FRA released an RFI on requirements for an updated parametric railway line capacity model. Feedback received indicated that defining capacity and updating coefficients may face challenges when seeking agreement across the industry. Among other challenges, parametric capacity models are used intermittently throughout the industry, and applicability outside of North America is limited. Also, it was discussed that parametric modeling works at the strategic level because of the broad variance it assesses, but more focused analysis is needed at the investment level. Improvements suggested included the use of historical data to create regression models, the use of optimization models/technologies focused on conflict free train paths to minimize delays,and incorporating the effects of terminal switching on mainline operations. In terms of advances in analytical techniques, development of a new parametric model could incorporate (at a minimum): Use of contemporary railroad operations simulation software (micro-sim, path-based, etc.) that allows for the more precise control of variables affecting capacity, and the ability to more efficiently process the large number of simulation runs necessary to support the development of a parametric model; Statistical methodologies that have advanced and are more robust than previous methods, including those beyond traditional regression techniques (e.g., Artificial Intelligence); and The ability to use standardized railroad data formats (both propriety formats, and open standards such as RailML) for both the initial estimation of the parametric model and its subsequent application. Among the areas of future research identified during the development of the 1975 model, the development of the new parametric model could address: Extending the analysis to three or more main tracks; Establishing continuous relationships between capacity and parameters previously addressed solely as discrete variables; Procedures for analyzing multiple modifications to the parameters; The effect of increased on-track maintenance time requirements as a function of higher traffic volumes; and The nature of the recovery from major disruption as a function of the percentage utilization of capacity. New topics that the development of the new parametric model could address include: The ability to accurately estimate capacity under scenarios with heterogeneous traffic mixture, such as those with different relative volumes of freight and passenger traffic; The use of empirical data to supplement (or replace) the use of simulation-derived synthetic data in the regression analysis that establishes the relationship between certain parameters and capacity; Software implementation of the mathematical equations that comprise the parametric model, to allow for its user-friendly application by practitioners; Flexibility of input data requirements for the model’s application, to allow for its use where detailed infrastructure and traffic data may not be available; The ability to vary the target level of operating performance (i.e. that which underlies the definition of “capacity”) to allow for application to settings that may vary in their need of high-reliability operation (or where different traffic types may have differing requirements for operational reliability); The addition of unit cost data associated with changes to various parameters to allow for the estimation and evaluation of different approaches to capacity improvement on a cost basis (i.e. Cost-Benefit analysis). Incorporating the effects of terminal switching on mainline operations; The use/incorporation of optimization models/technologies to aid in the development of conflict free train paths to minimize delays/emissions/fuel burn; Engaging with railroads, project sponsors, stakeholders, consultants, and others involved in railroad infrastructure planning to encourage support for and use of an updated parametric railway line capacity model; and Real world case studies showing the applicability and appropriate use of a parametric railway line capacity model. Along with topics described above, FRA would be interested in other improvements and suggestions by interested parties on an updated parametric model related to methodology, analytics, and/or implementation which FRA may consider in any future model developments. Interested parties are welcome to address all three categories, namely Theoretical Understanding, Data Collection, and Analytical Processing in their RFI response and to provide input on each subcategory in the form of a white paper submission that is limited to a maximum of 30 pages (or a maximum of approx.10 pages per major category). The white paper submission must be in Microsoft Word or PDF. There is no specified format for the white paper, Category 1: Theoretical Understanding. Provide robust knowledge of the statistical methods and theory behind parametric modeling for railway line capacity. Sub-Category A: Applicable Research. Note any applicable research conducted by the interested parties on the subject matter. Sub-Category B: Research Bibliography & Summary. Acknowledge related research and publications and summarize the state of the industry (See Appendix A for an existing bibliography) See Appendix A for an existing bibliography compiled by FRA. Sub-Category C: Theoretical Advancements. Theoretical advancements or updates that should be considered in a new parametric model. Category 2: Data Collection. Identify an appropriate data collection approach and effort to support a model update. Sub-Category A: Data Sources. Identify appropriate data sources and/or resource collaborations that may provide sufficient updated railroad data to account for either existing or new data points. Sub-Category B: Data Types. Identify applicable data types that would be beneficial for an update and how accessible is the availability of the data. Category 3: Analytical Processing. Note the tools and capabilities to refine the parametric model using current computer processing. Identify current processing methods and user-friendly interfaces that may enhance the general applicability and utilization of the tool. RFI Response Content: Interested parties are requested to provide: any questions on the work outlined above; any critical cost/schedule drivers related to the above-mentioned categories/sub-categories of work; suggested improvements on an updated parametric model related to methodology, analytics, and/or implementation, which FRA might consider in any future model developments; and a description of the Respondent’s organizational capabilities. As stated above, white paper responses are also welcome. The cover page of the response must include: (1) The RFI number from the posting in www.SAM.gov; (2) the legal name of the company/organization and its CAGE code and/or Unique Entity Identification (UID) from its www.SAM.gov registration; (3) Company Address; (4) contact information of the authorized company representative including Title, Phone Number, and E-mail Address;); (5) relevant North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code(s) and company size and socio-economic status stated in the company’s SAM registration. (NOTE: The Government anticipates the primary NAICS code for this requirement is 541330 Engineering Services. Respondents may provide feedback on the most appropriate NAICS code, and size status based on other NAICS codes); (6) List of any GSA Schedule Contracts, other DOT contracts, or government-wide Federal contracts appropriate to support this requirement (i.e., STARS III, Alliant 2, GSA MAS). The statement of organizational capabilities submission is limited to six (6) pages and should be relevant to performance of the work described herein, with descriptions of any relevant contracts and project experience. FRA expects and encourages responses that include interdisciplinary approaches combining both theoretical and analytical expertise, which may include a mix of academia and industry. Disciplines that would be relevant to the development of a new parametric capacity model include railroad operations analysis and practice, railroad operations simulation, user-friendly model software development, advanced statistical analysis, and the theoretical bases for railroad capacity analysis. To demonstrate their abilities across these disciplines, respondents may provide team resumes which, in total, should be limited to five (5) pages (not included as part of the 30-page white paper maximum or the 6-page the statement of organizational capabilities). RFI Response Submission Instructions: Responses are due by 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on August 21, 2023, and should be e-mailed to the contracting office, lisa.bucci@dot.gov, with the email subject line reading: “RFI 693JJ623RFI0003, YOUR COMPANY NAME, Parametric Railway Line Capacity Model.” Submit any questions regarding the RFI submission via e-mail to lisa.bucci@dot.gov on or before 4:00 P.M. EST on July 21, 2023 using the email subject line “RFI 693JJ623RFI0003 YOUR COMPANY NAME, Parametric Railway Line Capacity Model.” Early submissions are encouraged. FRA reserves the right to review late submissions but makes no guarantee to the order of, or possibility of, review of late submissions. NOTE 1: The Government may or may not choose to meet with RFI respondents. Such meetings and discussions would be intended to get further clarification of potential technical solutions/methods, especially any development and/or certification risks. NOTE 2: Respondents to any future solicitation that may be issued are required to be registered in www.SAM.gov at the time an offer or quotation is submitted per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 4.1102(a). If your organization is not already registered, please follow the registration instructions at www.SAM.gov to begin the registration process. Disclaimer: This notice does not constitute an invitation for bids or a request for proposal and is not a commitment by the U.S. Government to procure subject products or services nor will the Government reimburse any parties for costs associated with this request. The Government may use the information received to inform its acquisition strategy. Additionally, all submissions become government property and will not be returned. Please do not include any company proprietary information. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this RFI.