Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Office of Acquisition and Grants Services, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW, Mail Stop 50, Washington, DC, 20590

A -- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -- RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION SOL DTFR53-00-R-00017 DUE 052900 POC Robert Spratling, Contracting Officer, Phone (202)493-6152, Fax (202)493-6171, Email robert.spratling@fra.dot.gov -- Illona Williams, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 493-6130, Fax (202) 493-6171, Email WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=P&ProjID=DTFR53-00-R-0 0017&LocID=1042. E-MAIL: Robert Spratling, robert.spratling@fra.dot.gov. The Federal Railroad Administration_s Office of Research and Development conducts a variety of research programs for improving rail transportation efficiency and safety. Frequently, these programs are derived from short term reactive conditions requiring the research to be performed as expeditiously as possible. This proposed aquisition is intended as a mechanism for providing timely responses in such instances, as well as to provide a mechanism for the support of programed research. As discrete research requirements are defined, individual task orders will be established under this contract to address specific research needs. General topic areas which may be included in a task order are: Railroad Vehicles; Non-electric Motive Power and Components;Hazardous Materials Transportation by Railroad;Railroad Operating Practices; Human Factors; Railroad Track, Structures and Components;Track-Train Interaction;Passenger and Freight Operations;Advanced Rail Systems Technology, including Positive Train Control; Railroad Signal, Communication, Control; and Electric Traction Power. Individual task orders may involve one or more of the above areas. In the past, Human Factors Engineering has represented at least 20% of the overall effort of the contract. It is estimated that roughly 36,000 labor hours will be required over the 3 year period of the contract term. The RFP will also contain 2 optional years, requiring roughly 12,000 labor hours per year. The solicitation will be issued electronically using the EPS system. No written copies will be available. Posted 03/22/00 (D-SN437019). (0082)

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