DOT - Research, Development, Test and Evaluation - MRAS

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to support the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T). The primary goal of this initiative is to provide technical assistance in Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) across several critical areas. These include Rolling Stock, Track, Train Control and Communications, and Human Factors. The overarching aim is to advance FRA's strategic goals by establishing a sound basis for safety regulations and standards while promoting overall safety improvements within the rail industry.

The work being requested involves non-personal services that require contractors to deliver comprehensive support in RDT&E initiatives. Contractors will be responsible for supplying all necessary personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other essential items as outlined in the Work Statement. This effort excludes any government-furnished property or services specified separately. The research activities are designed to address specific topic areas aligned with FRA's program priorities such as enhancing the safety of rolling stock equipment including hazardous material transport; improving signaling systems and train control activities; optimizing human performance in railroad operations; and understanding human error factors like fatigue and distraction.

In detail, the Rolling Stock division focuses on improving railroad vehicle safety and maintenance practices along with non-electric motive power components. It also addresses hazardous materials transportation by railroads as well as overall operating practices within passenger and freight operations. Meanwhile, the Train Control & Communication division is tasked with advancing communication-based train control systems alongside signaling system design testing and deployment projects aimed at collision avoidance improvements both on tracks and at grade crossings.

The Human Factors division plays a crucial role by concentrating on optimizing human performance through research into causal factors such as fatigue or distraction that may lead to errors during railroad operations. This involves recruiting participants for testing environments like laboratories or simulators where human subject interactions can be thoroughly evaluated under controlled conditions.