REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: NEXT GENERATION OF TRAFFIC SIMULATION MODELS -- SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Request for Information The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is soliciting information from interested parties regarding the development of the next generation of traffic simulation models. The objective of this approach is to develop a new model that will meet FHWA Research Development & Technology's near and long term needs. FHWA is open to any and all ideas for a development strategy that will produce a robust product. A list of technical requirements that the software development must be able to address is provided below for use in preparing your response. Job capsules containing relevant company experience may be attached to your submission. Based on information received, a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be prepared for full and open competition. Responses, with the information requested are due thirty (30) days from publication of this letter. A negative response to this solicitation will not have any adverse effect in your future proposal submission. If there are any technical questions, please contact Mr. Raj Ghaman at (202) 493-3270 or Raj.Ghaman@FHWA.DOT.GOV or Mr. Ron Giguere at (202)366-2203 or Ron.Giguere@FHWA.DOT.GOV. Issues to be Addressed 1. How do you envision the system maintains an open-architecture configuration that allows for third-party software to interface with system seamlessly? 2. How would you design to handle communication between internal components and external communications? 3. What is your experience and familiarity with simulation modeling? 4. What is your experience and familiarity with the current state-of-the-art in traffic simulation? 5. What is your experience and familiarity with object-oriented programming? 6. What is the possibility of incorporating or reusing portions of the existing simulation package, TSIS, such as TRAFED and TRAFVU that are written in object-oriented languages such as C and C++? 7. What is your experience and familiarity with traffic flow theory? 8. What are your comments on the attached FHWA technical requirements for the new simulation package? 9. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions on ways to improve the product or the process? FHWA Technical Requirements for the New Simulation Package 10. Ability to model large arterial and freeway networks 11. Simulation fidelity of 1 second, 1/10 of a second, and 1/100 of second, user selectable 12. Operability on PC and/or LAN hardware platforms 13. Microscopic modeling 14. User friendly interface for data entry by practitioners 15. Postprocessor with graphic and animation capabilities 16. Object oriented modularity 17. Open architecture 18. Distributed processing capabilities 19. Driver and vehicle characteristics modeling behavior 20. Traffic assignment functionality 21. Pedestrian and bicycle modeling capability Other Considerations 22. Availability of the source code 23. Cost of unlimited / limited license 24. Functional capabilities of the model 25. Complexity of model input requirements 26. Complexity of software code 27. Estimated cost of re-engineering effort 28. Funding options (e.g., public/private cost sharing, federal/state pooled funds, etc.) 29. Estimated time to complete re-engineering effort 30. Legal aspects (including software ownership issues) 31. Implications with respect to ongoing software maintenance and technical support E-MAIL: e-mail, Raj.Ghaman@FHWA.DOT.GOV (202) 3493-3270 or Ron.Gigurere@FHWA.DOT.GOV (202) 366-2203. Posted 05/04/00 (W-SN451483).

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