Collision Risk & Treatment Effectiv

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures: Attachment: None Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLO University of Waterloo Office of Research 200 University Avenue West Waterloo Ontario Canada N2L3G1 Nature of Requirements:

ADVANCED CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

DEFINITION OF THE REQUIREMENT

The Department of Transportation, Transportation Development Centre has a requirement to conduct a research and development study entitled "Improvement and Development of Collision Risk and Treatment Effectiveness Models for GradeX." GradeX is a one-of-a-kind, customized decision-support tool for railway safety inspectors to evaluate risks at grade crossings and identify cost-effective safety improvement strategies. This study will attempt to to revise and/ or assess new models that can be integrated into GradeX for improved risk assessment and safety treatment analysis. In order for risk calculations to continue to be reliable and relevant; it is necessary to implement changes as the level of knowledge on the topic of rail safety increases. The end goal is to reduce the injury and fatality rates at railway grade crossings.

The proposed research has the following specific objectives

1. Investigate safety trend of Canadian crossings based on historical collision data and upgrading projects by incorporating trend terms and major external variables pertaining to changes in policy, safety improvement programs and other factors. Recalibrate the risk models implemented in the current version of GradeX using latest inventory and collision data as well as the state-of-the-art modeling techniques and hotspot identification methods;

2. Investigate and document various risk mitigation countermeasures currently available, or likely to become available in the foreseeable future, in terms of their implementation costs and expected effects;

3. Develop estimates on collision modification factors (CMFs) using a before-after observational analysis within the Bayesian framework for the typical crossing treatment methods used in Canada;

4. Develop a mechanism for continuous updating of model structure and parameter estimates as new data on collisions, closing characteristics, and countermeasures become available;

5. Develop a resource allocation model for the evaluation and optimization of crossing safety improvement programs in Canada;

6. Incorporate all changes into Grade X.

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES (Minimum Essential Requirements)

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

Experience : At least ten years of experience on transport safety analysis, in particular, grade-crossing safety analysis and railway safety engineering; at least two projects similar in size, scope and complexity.

Knowledge and understanding : Must have in-depth knowledge on Transport Canada's safety analysis software system - GradeX for software upgrading based on knowledge gained from this project;

Academic qualifications : Team leader responsible for this project must have a PhD in transportation engineering.

APPLICABLE TRADE AGREEMENTS

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement

- Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

This procurement is excluded from the following trade agreement(s):

- World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP): This procurement is under the applicable value for services requirements.

- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): This procurement is excluded as per Chapter 10 Government Procurement, Annex 1001.1b-2-Services, Section B- Excluded Coverage, A.Research and Development

PERIOD OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

The proposed contract is for a period of 2 years.

COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

The estimated value of the contract is $120,000.00 (Applicables taxes extra)

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

The University of Waterloo team is the only known firm in North America that has the knowledge and expertise in this very specialized area of study that blends the fields of Statistical Analysis and Railway Safety Engineering. The research team consists of both established and new researchers with extensive expertise in the fields of road and railway safety. They have been working on the issues related to highway-railway crossings over a decade and have already established reputation both in Canada and internationally. They are considered to be in the best position to perform any further development and maintenance in the most cost effective fashion.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER

The University of Waterloo Office of Research 200 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1

SUPPLIERS' RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

CLOSING DATE FOR A SUBMISSION OF A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is : October 9th 2013 at 2pm

INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS OF CAPABILITIES

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to

Martine Mathurin Supply Agent Public Works and Government Services Canada Quebec Region Place Bonaventure, South-East Portal 800 de La Gauchetière Street West 7th Floor, Suite 7300 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H5A 1L6 Telephone: 514-496-3859 Facsimile: 514-496-3822 E-mail address: martine.mathurin@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.