SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Real-Time Smoothness Measurements on Portland Cement Concrete Pavements During Construction
- Notice Date
- 7/29/2008
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- The National Academies, Transportation Research Board, Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2), 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
- ZIP Code
- 20001
- Solicitation Number
- SHRP2R06E
- Archive Date
- 9/24/2008
- Point of Contact
- James Bryant,, Phone: 202-334-2087, Linda Mason,, Phone: 202-334-3241
- E-Mail Address
-
jbryant@nas.edu, lmason@nas.edu
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SHRP 2 Request for Proposals Focus Area: Renewal Project Number: R06-E Project Title: Real-Time Smoothness Measurements on Portland Cement Concrete Pavements During Construction Date Posted: July 29, 2008 SHRP 2 Background To address the challenges of moving people and goods efficiently and safely on the nation's highways, Congress has created the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2). SHRP 2 is a targeted, short-term research program carried out through competitively awarded contracts to qualified researchers in the academic, private, and public sectors. SHRP 2 addresses four strategic focus areas: the role of human behavior in highway safety (Safety); rapid highway renewal (Renewal); congestion reduction through improved travel time reliability (Reliability); and transportation planning that better integrates community, economic, and environmental considerations into new highway capacity (Capacity). Under current legislative provisions, SHRP 2 will receive approximately $150 million with total program duration of 7 years. Renewal Focus Area The U.S. highway system is aging and must be rebuilt while we are driving on it and living next to it. Research in the SHRP 2 Renewal focus area therefore addresses the need to develop a consistent, systematic approach to completing highway projects quickly, with minimal disruption to the community, and producing facilities that are long-lasting. Identifying new technologies for locating underground utilities; developing procedures to speed the evaluation of designs and the inspection of construction; and applying new methods and materials for preserving, rehabilitating, and reconstructing roadways and bridges are among the goals for this focus area. Alternative strategies for contracting, financing and managing projects, and mitigating institutional barriers also are part of the emphasis on rapid renewal. The renewal scope applies to all classes of roads. Project Background Smooth concrete pavements have been shown to be more durable, have lower vehicle operating costs, and lower maintenance and rehabilitation costs. In addition, transportation agencies recognize the importance of smooth-riding pavements to the traveling public. Most states have implemented smoothness specifications for concrete pavements. These specifications require measurements of surface profile on the finished pavement for acceptance testing. Currently smoothness measurements are not made until after the concrete has hardened and problems are not corrected in real time, resulting in significant expenditures to correct surface irregularities. Diamond grinding is typically done to improve ride quality, but this method of correction is costly and may create other problems (e.g. noise, appearance, texture, etc.). Efforts to develop real-time smoothness measurements have already been made but there is a need for further development of a construction quality control tool for detecting surface irregularities during concrete paving operations. This technology has the potential to improve process control and allow for equipment and operations adjustments to correct surface irregularities while the concrete is still plastic, resulting in higher quality, lower cost, and faster construction that will minimize the impact on the traveling public. Project Objectives The purpose of this project is to enable real-time control of concrete pavement smoothness during construction by providing: (1) proven technologies for measuring smoothness in real time; and (2) model specifications and guidelines for use by transportation agencies. Tasks Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. SHRP 2 is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meet the research objective(s): Phase I Task 1: Conduct a review of technologies for measuring real-time smoothness of concrete pavement during construction. In addition to reviewing the literature, assess existing and promising technologies, consult with leading transportation agencies (including airports), paving contractors, paving equipment manufacturers, and concrete pavement industry associations. Task 2: Recommend technologies for evaluation and prepare a plan to determine their suitability and readiness for real-time smoothness measurement of concrete pavements during construction. Task 3: Develop and submit a Phase I Interim report detailing all of the work conducted in the preceding tasks and provide a draft work plan for Phase II. The draft work plan should identify all elements needed to achieve the project objectives and describe how all of the tasks in Phase II will be accomplished. The Phase I report for this project will be reviewed by the SHRP 2 Technical Coordinating Committee for Highway Renewal to consider the proposed work plan for Phase II, and to determine whether this contract should continue into Phase II. Phase II After approval of the work plan developed in Phase I and on receipt of notice to proceed to Phase II, conduct the following tasks: Task 4: Evaluate smoothness technologies approved in Phase I and assess their suitability and readiness for real-time smoothness measurement of concrete pavements during construction. The evaluation and assessment shall at a minimum address the following: 1. Accuracy and repeatability of the data relative to a standard profile-based reference 2. Sensitivity of the technologies to vibrations incident to paving operations 3. Availability and adequacy of data processing software 4. Timeliness and delivery method of reporting. Task 5: Based of the evaluation and assessment of the smoothness technologies in the previous task, recommend any further development and/or refinement needed in order to measure real-time smoothness of concrete pavements during construction. The recommendation should consider proprietary technology constraints and other factors that may limit implementation. Task 6: Recommend technologies for use in demonstration projects in Phase III. Identify candidate transportation agencies and paving contractors willing to participate in field demonstration projects that will occur as part of Phase III. It is expected that the recommended technologies would be applied on no fewer than 5 paving projects each with a different contractor, in geographically dispersed states. At least 3 of the projects shall be jointed concrete pavements. Task 7: Develop and submit a Phase II Interim report detailing all of the work conducted in the preceding tasks and provide a draft work plan for Phase III. The draft work plan should identify all elements needed to achieve the project objectives and describe how all of the tasks in Phase III will be accomplished. The Phase III report for this project will be reviewed by the SHRP 2 Technical Coordinating Committee for Highway Renewal to consider the proposed work plan for Phase III, and to determine whether this contract should continue into Phase III. Phase III After approval of the work plan developed in Phase II and on receipt of notice to proceed to Phase III, conduct the following tasks: Task 8: Refine technologies and conduct field demonstration and evaluation per the approved Phase III Work Plan. Task 9: Document the field data and performance of the technologies, as well as the data collected by the state for quality assurance purposes. Task 10: Evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies in achieving the project objectives, including a comparison of the real-time data with the quality assurance data. Task 11: Draft model smoothness specifications and guidelines to support implementation of these technologies by transportation agencies and contractors. The guidelines should consider the use of incentives and disincentives. Task 12: Submit for review a draft final report documenting all previous tasks including recommendations for any necessary follow-on work to achieve widespread deployment of successful technologies. Task 13: Submit Final Report that responds to review comments. Deliverables 1. Phase Reports: Phases I and II 2. Work Plans: Phases II and III 3. Draft model smoothness specifications and guidelines 4. Draft Final and Final Report 5. Monthly and Quarterly progress reports 6. Two (2) interim meetings with SHRP 2 staff, one (1) in Washington, DC, and one (1) at the contractor's facility 7. One (1) interim meetings with the TCC in Washington, DC; Irvine, CA; or Woods Hole, MA 8. Telephone conference calls and web meetings as needed. Special Notes Note 1: The 30-month time period allotted for this project includes the following times needed for SHRP 2 review and approval, and contractor revision of deliverables: (a) 2 months each for Phase I and Phase II reports; (b) 3 months for final report. Funds Available: $550,000 - Phase I ($75,000); Phase II ($125,000); Phase III ($350,000) Contract Period: 30 Months Responsible Staff: James Bryant, jbryant@nas.edu, 202-334-2087 Authorization to Begin Work: February 2009, estimated Proposals (20 single-bound copies) are due not later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 9, 2008 This is a firm deadline, and extensions simply are not granted. In order to be considered, all 20 copies of the agency's proposal accompanied by the executed, unmodified Liability Statement must be in our offices not later than the deadline shown, or they will be rejected. Liability Statement The signature of an authorized representative of the proposing agency is required on the unaltered statement in order for SHRP 2 to accept the agency's proposal for consideration. Proposals submitted without this executed and unaltered statement by the proposal deadline will be summarily rejected. An executed, unaltered statement indicates the agency's intent and ability to execute a contract that includes the provisions in the statement. The Liability Statement is Figure 1 in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 ( http://trb.org/shrp2/SHRPII_Instructions.asp ) (see General Note 4). Here is a printable version of the SHRP 2 Liability Statement ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/LiabilityStatement.pdf ). A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is available at http://www.adobe.com. Delivery Address PROPOSAL-SHRP 2 ATTN: Neil F. Hawks Director, Strategic Highway Research Program 2 Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-334-1430 General Notes 1. Proposals will be evaluated by SHRP 2 staff and Expert Task Groups (ETGs) consisting of individuals collectively very knowledgeable in the problem area. Selection of an agency is made by the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee, based on the recommendation from SHRP 2 staff and the ETG. The following factors are considered: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experimental design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the proposer's plan for participation by disadvantaged business enterprises-small firms owned and controlled by minorities or women; and (5) the adequacy of facilities. 2. Any clarifications regarding this RFP will be posted on the SHRP 2 Web site ( www.TBR.org/SHRP2 ). Announcements of such clarifications will be posted on the front page and, when possible, will be noted in the TRB e-newsletter. Proposers are advised to check the Web site frequently until August 26, 2008, when no further comments will be posted. 3. According to the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, which relates to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, all parties are hereby notified that the contract entered into pursuant to this announcement will be awarded without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. 4. The essential features required in a proposal for research are detailed in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/PreparingSHRP2Reports.pdf ). Proposals must be prepared according to this document, and attention is directed specifically to Section IV for mandatory requirements. Proposals that do not conform to these requirements will be rejected. 5. The total funds available are made known in the project statement and line items of the budget are examined to determine the reasonableness of the allocation of funds to the various tasks. If the proposed total cost exceeds the funds available, the proposal is rejected. 6. All proposals become the property of the Transportation Research Board. Final disposition will be made according to the policies thereof, including the right to reject all proposals. IMPORTANT NOTICE Potential proposers should understand that the research project described herein is tentative. The final content of the program depends on the level of funding made available. Nevertheless, to be prepared to execute research contracts as soon as possible after sponsors' approvals, the Strategic Highway Research Program is assuming that the tentative program will become official in its entirety and is proceeding with requests for proposals and selections of research agencies.
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