U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants Services, Mail Stop 50, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590

D -- DEVELOPMENT OF BENEFIT-COST SOFTWARE FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL GRADE CROSSING INVESTMENTS SOL DTFR53-98-R-00010 DUE 070998 POC Contracting Officer, Robert L. Carpenter, 202/632-3236; FAX 202/632-3846 The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking a qualified contractor to develop a PC-based software model to assist metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in analyzing the full economic benefits and investment costs associated with high-speed rail grade crossing investments. The expected price range for this project is $100,000 to $125,000. Offerors MUST have certain qualifications necessary to conduct the required work, including high level (PhD) degrees in Operations Research togheher with specific prior working experience in projects dealing with Operations Research methodologies and network analysis techniques to evaluate railroad-related infrastructure. The software product will be designed to provide users with the following information: (1) A preliminary analysis of the public and private sector benefits of high-speed rail grade crossing investment. This information will be used to promote public/private sector partnerships required to make innovative financing work; (2) The safety benefits of high-speed rail grade crossing investments for both rail and highway vehicle occupants; (3) a complete analysis of existing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies to reduce accident risk and improve both highway and train traffic at high speed rail grade crossings; (4) the full range of environmental benefits resulting from highway traffic flow improvements at high-speed rail grade crossing improvements; (5) If high-speed rail projects that share track with other trains, the effects on other train movements will be determined. This information will allow high-speed rail operators to identify and eliminate train traffic congestion before it occurs; and (6) Other information provided will include the net financial rate of return for the private sector. The full range of benefits from high-speed rail grade crossing investments will include reduced noise, reduced vehicle operating costs, travel time savings, and improved highway traffic flows. (0118)

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