Rail Maintenance and Sustainment (RMS) Multiple-Award IDIQ

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks offers for a multi-award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle for Rail Rolling Stock Modernization & Sustainment (RMS). The U.S. Department of Transportation (Volpe Center) is procuring commercial rail products and services to support the Department of Defense (DoD) modernization and sustainment initiatives for their domestic railroad fleet. The contract aims to acquire an estimated 4-8 road-switcher locomotives, 20-80 freight cars, and other rolling stock annually, along with federally mandated safety inspections and sustainment support for an estimated 102 locomotives and 642 freight cars over the contract's five-year ordering period.

• Manufacturing or refurbishment of locomotives (80-140 ton road-switcher), freight cars (boxcar, flat car), and railcar movers.

• Federally mandated safety inspections (annual, 184-day, 92-day) for locomotives and railcars.

• Preventive maintenance, corrective repair, overhaul, engineering diagnostics, and technical support.

• Emergency repair services.

• Adherence to AAR and FRA safety requirements, EPA emissions compliance (40 CFR Part 1033), and other relevant industry and federal standards.

• Project management, including cost analysis, scheduling, risk analysis, and configuration management.

• Contract Type: Multiple-Award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Contract Type for Orders: Primarily Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP); Time-and-Materials (T&M) may be used if determined appropriate.

• Ordering Period: Five (5) years from date of award.

• Maximum Ceiling: $268,000,000 over the five-year ordering period.

• Minimum Guarantee: $2,500 per awardee.

• Two-phase evaluation approach:

  • Phase I: Advisory down-select based on corporate experience, capability statement, and certifications. This phase is advisory only and does not factor into the final award.
  • Phase II: Full proposals evaluated using adjectival ratings (Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Unacceptable) for Technical Approach, Key Personnel, Management Approach, Past Performance, and Price.

• Evaluation Factors (Phase II): Technical Approach (most important), Key Personnel, Management Approach, Past Performance, and Price. A best-value tradeoff approach will be used.

• Submission Method: Electronic submission via email.

• Key Deadlines:

  • Phase I Questions Due: June 24, 2026
  • Phase I Proposal Due: July 1, 2026
  • Phase II Questions Due: July 22, 2026
  • Phase II Proposal Due: July 31, 2026

• Competition Type: Full and Open Competition (Set-Aside: None).

• Small Business Participation: A Small Business Right of First Refusal process will be applied at the Order level to maximize small business utilization.

• The RFP utilizes innovative procurement techniques such as Advisory Down-Select, Confidence Ratings, and On-The-Spot Consensus.

• Awards may be made on a CLIN-by-CLIN basis.

• Offerors must comply with numerous FAR and TAR clauses related to security, data handling, representations and certifications, and subcontracting limitations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment A - Locomotives and Locations," provides a detailed list of existing GenSet Locomotive IDs, their quantities, and associated conventional/other locomotive IDs and models at various Army locations. This information is crucial for understanding the current state of locomotive assets that may be relevant to the "FY26 Army Rail Modernization SOW" opportunity.

• Locations: Lists 28 distinct Army installations across the United States.
• Quantity of Locomotives: Specifies the number of GenSet locomotives at each location.
• GenSet Locomotive IDs: Provides unique identification numbers for each GenSet locomotive.
• Conventional/Other ID & Model: Lists the identification and model of other locomotives present at each location, including details like horsepower and type (e.g., EMD GP-9, EMD GP-40-2).
• Summary Totals: Indicates a total of 102 locations with 29 GenSet locomotives and 73 Conventional/other locomotives.

This attachment serves as a critical inventory of existing rail assets. Bidders responding to the FY26 Army Rail Modernization SOW should use this information to understand the scope of current equipment, potential upgrade or replacement needs, and the geographical distribution of these assets. The document also notes that the total quantity and locations of locomotives may change, indicating a dynamic environment for this opportunity.