SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT - FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program
- Notice Date
- 1/19/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Acquisition Management, HAAM, Room 4410 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20590, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- DTFH61-07-R-00117
- Response Due
- 2/28/2007
- Archive Date
- 1/18/2008
- Description
- PROJECT TITLE: Broad Agency Announcement for FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program. SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS: All interested offerors must read this BAA in conjnction with the supplemental Proposer Information Packet (PIP) posted at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt/initiatives/pip.cfm . NEXT EVENT: Request for Pre-Proposals (DUE 2/28/07). The information on this page is non-binding and is presented in the interest of providing the vendor community in general, and potential offerors with a greater understanding of the intent of this procurement. Your inputs and comments are solicited and we welcome the opportunity to respond. All relevant information affecting this procurement will be posted to this web page and updated regularly. Interested parties are reminded that only the solicitation document is binding with respect to government requirements. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Dr. Steven B. Chase, (202)493-3038; steve.chase@dot.gov. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT DATES: This BAA is open for one year from the date of the FedBizOps announcement (through January 18, 2008). While pre-proposals may be submitted at any time during the open period of this BAA, those proposers who wish to be considered for FY2007 funding MUST submit proposals via email by not later than February 28, 2007. See further instructions below. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is soliciting for proposals under its Exploratory Advanced Research Program (EARP) for research and development projects that could lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation in the United States. The objective of this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is to stimulate research and development in high risk, high payoff projects that address technology and knowledge gaps. FHWA is especially interested in building upon, adapting or otherwise leveraging and utilizing the research and development investments made by other Federal exploratory advanced research programs such as those of the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. PROGRAM SCOPE: The program scope is intentionally ambitious and broad to address the wide spectrum of topics and objectives that the funded investigations will strategically support. Advanced research in a wide spectrum of science and technology areas is intended. All research is intended to have the common objective of addressing the technology and knowledge gaps described below. This program is intended to spur innovation and focus on high risk and high pay-off research and development projects. Incremental advances and demonstrations or evaluations of existing technologies are not within the scope of this program. The following focus areas are of particular strategic interest and relevance to the FHWA and proposals in all of these areas are highly encouraged. This guidance is offered to help Offerors in the development of proposals of particular interest to FHWA including: Highway Safety; Dramatic Breakthroughs in Planning and Environment; Innovative Solutions to Understanding and Applying Transportation Policy; Innovative Solutions to Reduce Traffic Congestion; Innovative Infrastructure Solutions; Cross-cutting Exploratory Advanced Research. The following sections provide amplification of each focus area (see also further detail in the PIP). These are not intended to be all inclusive, and all creative and innovative ideas and solutions will be considered. HIGHWAY SAFETY: Over 43,000 people die on America's roadway every year and almost 3 million are injured. The US DOT, States, localities and the private sector are all working to dramatically improve safety and reduce the numbers of fatalities and injuries by 20 percent by the end of 2008. The ability to reach this goal has been constrained by a number of factors. Current research and development programs at FWHA and other US Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies are directed at short-term safety improvement initiatives, as well as longer-term research, especially into Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solutions. Major research into the understanding of crashes, especially from the integrated perspective of the driver, vehicle, and infrastructure is underway as part of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) II at the National Academy of Sciences/Transportation Research Board. Exploratory advanced safety research proposals that would supplement and complement these existing research programs are sought. Proposals dealing with the following areas are highly encouraged. 1. Enhanced understanding of the importance of the visibility of the roadway. This could include improved understanding of various levels of roadway lighting, as well as minimum levels of sign and pavement markings visibility to the driver, both at night or daytime. 2. Innovative technologies to detect the presence of pedestrians or other vulnerable road users either at designated/typical crossing locations, or at mid-block/unexpected areas; determine the potential conflict of the user and a highway vehicle; and development of methods to warn the parties in time to avoid a crash. 3. In concert with the States, vehicle manufactures and other in the private sector, create the parameters for a long-term ground traffic control system that would individually monitor all drivers and vehicles, their roadways, and environmental conditions; assess the likelihood of a crash or vehicle conflict on a real-time basis; utilize a communications system to warn of potential conflicts; and eventually have the capacity to take control of vehicles in unsafe circumstances that could not be prevented, but for such assumption of vehicle control. 4. Enhanced understanding of the relationship between the vehicle (all types) and the roadway, especially with regards to maximizing the friction capacity between the vehicle and road surface to improve vehicle control. PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT: Future traffic, both passenger and freight, is predicted to increase and highways will need to accommodate this increase. More will have to be known about how to plan new highways to avoid, minimize and mitigate the environmental consequences of constructing these highways; and how to deal with the property acquisition and management issues associated with these highways. Good planning relies upon good data. This includes data on traffic volume, speed, time of day and time of year variations, spatial distribution of population, employment and commercial activities and similar items. These data items are used to calibrate traffic models and forecast future traffic. Many of metropolitan areas use traffic models as a basis for producing long-range, i.e., 20+ years, transportation plans. These traffic models require the data on current volumes, speed, etc. Obtaining this data is an expensive task, so much so that some areas use what is, in effect, simulated data. Other related data, e.g., accident data and pavement condition data are used, These data are used to develop medium range metropolitan programs for highway and transit projects expected to be implemented in, typically, 5 years. The pavement related data acquisition for this activity is sometimes a mixture of the reports of various agencies (e.g., states, cities, counties, villages, park districts) depending on which agency has maintenance responsibility for the road. Environmental analysis and assessment relies upon measurement and monitoring of levels of various species of chemical compounds (or in some cases elements) in the water, in the soil and in the air in the vicinity of current and planned highways. The monitoring is done both preceding environmental documentation of a highway action and as part of ongoing system analysis. One important use of such data is to calibrate existing predictive methodologies. As with traffic, each of the species would have a concentration that varied by time of day and time of year. Existing monitoring typically is done by state and federal resource agencies (e.g. US EPA, state air quality agencies). The quality of the data thus obtained may be suboptimum or for many species (e.g., complex toxins), entirely absent. The needs identified above are based upon the assumption that existing trends will continue. It can also be reasonably assumed that the trend of increasing traffic with time (passenger, freight or both) might be reversed. There have been several short-term reversals of this trend in the past (less travel during gas rationing during World War II and during the two gasoline shortages in the 1970s). Proposals addressing the following needs are highly encouraged. 1. Improve the data collected, systemize the data for easier use, and reduce the cost of the data collection for both the 20+ year planning activity and the 5 year programming. 2. Improve both the environmental data collected and reduce the cost of environmental data collection. 3. Develop an early prediction system that would indicate the potential for a reversal in the trend of increasing traffic based on technological change. TRANSPORTATION POLICY: This focus area is to understand the complex socio-economic interdependencies of surface transportation systems and the policies that create, maintain and operate these systems. This research is also intended to develop the ability to model, analyze and plan surface transportation solutions over different spatial and time scales. The innovations expected to result from this advanced research program, if successful, should provide policy makers with forecasting tools that can be used to predict possible transportation outcomes based on financial decisions, condition and performance of the existing transportation system and future transportation trends. Proposals are encouraged that explore the interdependent relationships between surface transportation systems, innovative financial mechanisms used to fund major infrastructure projects, advanced modeling systems and tools that could be used to analyze and predict future impacts of various transportation scenarios. Proposals addressing the following specific topics are also highly encouraged. 1. Analytical Approaches to Multimodal Investment Analysis 2. Emerging Issues in Innovative Finance 3. Alternative Futures to Freight Mobility 4. Integration of Transportation Data from Multiple Sources 5. Travel Demand Response to Travel Pricing 6. Geospatial Data Acquisition for Highway System Performance Monitoring 7. Advanced Approaches for Identifying Fuel Tax Evasion Practices TRAFFIC CONGESTION: The Texas Transportation Institute has estimated that in 2003, traffic congestion nationwide cost the economy over $65 billion per year, a figure that has more than doubled since 1993. This figure would be even higher if it accounted for the significant cost of unreliability to drivers and businesses, the environmental impacts of idle-related auto emissions, or increased gasoline prices. Major sources of congestion on the highway network include bottlenecks, incidents, adverse weather, poor signal timing and work zones. Congestion caused by these sources is difficult to mitigate due to the lack of mechanisms to control traffic demands and prevent gridlock where capacity limitations exist. This inability to control demand is exacerbated by the fundamental economic fact that individual motorists' price for transportation service does not reflect the full cost of congestion from their use of the highway facilities. The focus of this research area is to identify, develop and assess innovations that have the potential to dramatically reduce traffic congestion through significant operational and technological improvements. These innovations, if successful, should provide considerable relief to drivers and significantly reduce the costs of congestion. Proposals that focus on congestion mitigation exploring longer-term, higher risk ideas with the potential for dramatic breakthroughs addressing the causes and consequences of traffic congestion are specifically encouraged. Proposals addressing the following specific topics are also highly encouraged. 1. Research that addresses the gaps in understanding and knowledge of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) and that develop new mobility concepts, validate driver behavior and acceptance, and assess the feasibility and mobility benefits through simulation studies based upon VII. 2. Research to investigate the adaptation of state-of-the-practice of heuristic methods used to solve complex optimization problems in other domains, such as such as military science, computer science, and enterprise integration with the objective of applying these heuristic methods to the domain of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). 3. Innovative approaches to generate origin-destination (O-D) tables. Of particular interest is the possible identification and adaptation of algorithms and computational methods used in other domains in order to identify an estimation model that can provide highly accurate O-D table data in real-time. 4. Research to investigate if advanced materials can be developed and incorporated into pavements to support network radio communication services. This communication innovation could reduce the costs of communication for traffic management and other public purposes. This technology could also enable new applications such as automated and pervasive system condition and performance monitoring that would not be possible otherwise. 5. Research in effective data fusion, data mining, and non-parametric approaches for assessing highway conditions and performance that will overcome the existing gaps in data quality. HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS AREA: Much of the FHWA's R&D in the infrastructure arena is currently focused on delivering short-term products as identified by the Agency's partners and stakeholders. There is also a need for research that supports the development of the next generation of highway infrastructure, addressing such issues as quality performance data, improved materials and systems, improved fabrication and construction practices, and new decision-making tools and models. Proposals addressing the following needs are highly encouraged. 1. FHWA is interested in innovative or alternative materials that have the potential to reduce or eliminate shortcomings of existing materials; may enable broader use of innovative pavement and structural elements which have not found wide use for economic reasons, despite superior technical performance, and which may encourage the development of entirely new types of structures and pavements. 2. Improved performance of pavements and structures can occur in part through improved quality control of materials and construction. Several breakthrough technology innovations in real-time quality control have been incorporated over the years into automated concrete and hot mix asphalt plants. There is both a need and the potential for more such real-time quality control innovations throughout all elements (mix transport, placement, lay down, consolidation, curing, etc.) of the construction process. Developing and implementing the innovations should result in savings gained from a better performing, more cost-effective constructed product and the use of fewer quality control and quality assurance personnel to measure and monitor quality. 3. The design and analysis of pavements and structures needs to be based on fundamental engineering to enable the optimized use of resources and contracting methods. Innovative technologies and advanced computing power should be applied to enhance the understanding of the relationships between materials and construction to performance and provide the ability to predict the expected performance of structures and pavements. 4. Develop innovative ideas, techniques and tools for the collection, integration, analysis and interpretation of infrastructure management system data for efficient management of infrastructure assets and effective communication with owners and stakeholders. CROSS-CUTTING EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH: It is recognized that there might be research topics and ideas that while not specifically addressing the topics listed above, should be considered. There are also research topics that are more fundamental or enabling in character and as such cut across the focus areas identified above. In fact, although presented within a specific focus area, several of the ideas presented above do cut across focus areas. In keeping with the Congressional intent of the Exploratory Advanced Research Program, the Federal Highway Administration is interested in any proposals for longer-term, high risk research that could bring about dramatic breakthroughs for improving the durability, efficiency, environmental impact, productivity and safety (including bicycle and pedestrian safety) aspects of highways and intermodal transportation systems. In submitting proposal, the Offerors are reminded that the intent of this program is to fund applied research that, while high risk and perhaps long term, is undertaken with a specific problem or need in mind. Basic research is not within the scope of this program. GENERAL PROPOSAL INFORMATION: Offerors are required to obtain the Proposer Information Package (PIP) for this EARP BAA, available at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt/initiatives/pip.cfm The PIP provides a more reader-friendly version of the information contained in this BAA, and provides additional information and detail on the pre-proposal and full-proposal format requirements, the submission process, evaluation and funding processes, and other general information. Proposals not meeting the format described in this BAA and in the supplemental PIP may not be reviewed. All administrative correspondence or questions on this BAA should be directed to the following email address: benjamin.zaslow@dot.gov The FHWA has budgeted approximately $20.0 million over the next 3 years to fund this research program. Proposals will be evaluated using a two-part process consisting of pre-proposals and full-proposals. Offerors whose pre-proposals are of interest to FHWA will be invited to submit full proposals. Offerors who have been notified by FHWA that their proposals are not of interest may also submit full proposals if they wish. Multiple awards, typically of 12 to 36 month duration, are anticipated. The size of individual awards is anticipated to vary from $100K for short term efforts to as high as $3M for longer term projects. The FHWA may select for award all, none, or a subset of the acceptable proposals to construct a balanced program meeting its needs. The number of awards, and their dollar value, will vary depending on the merit of proposals received and their potential to lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation. The Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out under this program is limited by Section 5101(b) of SAFETEA-LU to 50 percent, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary of Transportation. Offerors should prepare proposals with a baseline period of performance of 12 months and, if needed, with one or two options each with a 12-month period of performance. The FHWA anticipates that proposals funded in FY2007 would have an approximate award date beginning in May 2007. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PRE-PROPOSALS: While pre-proposals may be submitted at any time during the one-year open period of this BAA, pre-proposals seeking FY2007 funding must be submitted via electronic mail by an authorized organizational representative, and must be received by the FHWA on or before 4:00 PM (EST), February 28, 2007, in order to be considered for FY07 funding. Facsimile transmissions or hard copy transmissions of the pre-proposal will not be accepted; any so sent will be disregarded. Pre-proposals shall be submitted via email to: Steve.Chase@dot.gov AND to Benjamin.Zaslow@dot.gov. All pre-proposals should be submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe portable document format. The pre-proposals shall be no longer than 5 pages in length, to include a brief statement of objectives and rough order of magnitude (ROM) budget for a 12 month effort and for any anticipated option periods, technical rationale, major intended tasks, proposed deliverables, general qualifications of key personnel and other resources to accomplish the proposed effort, and the partnership structure between the entity proposing the work and public and private sector entities funding or otherwise substantially participating in the work. Offerors should refer to the Evaluation Criteria below to ensure that their pre-proposals address the FHWA's requirements. Pre-proposals must describe a research and development program that includes: technology description and its state of development, innovative ideas, anticipated impact of the proposed research on relevant highway programs, specific deliverables, evaluation metrics, a matrix or Gantt chart depicting the milestone success criteria for each planned major milestone, including any planned demonstrations, a plan for transition of the particular technology to the FHWA applied research program, personnel, facilities, schedule, cost and cost sharing. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluations will be performed using the following criteria listed in descending order of relative importance: 1) Quality and Technical Merit, 2) Partnership (see matching requirements), 3) Relevance to the FHWA and DOT, 4) Capabilities and Experience and 5) Total Cost and Cost Realism. All awards made in response to this BAA will be subject to availability of government funds. Evaluations and selection or non-selection of proposals for funding will be made on the basis of the evaluation criteria listed and the overall balance considered most advantageous to the FHWA. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF FULL PROPOSALS: See PIP. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION: It is the policy of the FHWA to treat all proposals as competitive information and to disclose the contents only for the purposes of evaluation. Only Government evaluators will make selections under this BAA. This announcement, in conjunction with the PIP, constitutes the Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). A formal Request for Proposals or other solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. In addition, the Government reserves the right to award either contracts, grants, or other instruments determined to be of benefit to the government in achieving the goals of this program. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay any pre-proposal or proposal preparation costs. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals, which will be evaluated. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the desire to solicit ideas as broadly as possible
- Place of Performance
- Address: [TO BE DETERMINED]
- Record
- SN01215351-W 20070121/070119220555 (fbodaily.com)
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