Sources Sought Notice Waybill

Sources Sought Notice
Notice Type: Sources Sought Notice (Market Research)
Agency: Department of Transportation (DOT)
Office: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
NAICS Code: 518210, Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services Small Business Size Standard: $40 Million

1. Introduction / Purpose

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking information from industry regarding potential sources capable of providing the FRA and the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and independent bipartisan adjudicatory body, collectively function as the "Government" in overseeing the nation's rail infrastructure. Under federal regulations (49 CFR Part 1244), qualifying railroads must submit standardized waybill sample data based on specific volume and traffic thresholds.
This data is processed into a comprehensive 913-byte record format known as the Confidential Waybill Sample. Because this file tracks sensitive logistics metrics nationally—such as specific railroads, geographic stations, interchanges, commodities, and freight revenues, the raw data is strictly confidential. To balance public utility with corporate privacy, a modified, aggregated "Public Use File" is also generated annually to shield individual shipper and railroad identities.
The primary purpose of collecting and processing the Waybill Sample dataset is to monitor, analyze, and regulate the economic and operational health of the U.S. surface transportation network. Specifically, the data serves the following critical functions in monthly, quarterly and annual reports including regulatory oversight, industry monitoring; strategic planning and evidentiary support.
This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) only. This is not a Request for Quotation (RFQ). Currently, no solicitation exists.
The FRA will use this information to:
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Identify qualified firms capable of meeting this requirement under NAICS code 518210, Data Processing, Hosting and Related Services.

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Determine the appropriate procurement strategy (set-aside vs. full and open).

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Refine the draft Statement of Work (SOW)

2. Background / Requirement Description

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) (collectively referred to as the Government) require expert contractor support to manage, validate, and process the Railroad Carload Waybill Sample. Under federal regulations outlined in 49 CFR Part 1244, subject railroads meeting specific traffic thresholds (terminating at least 4,500 revenue carloads or 5% of a state’s total carloads in any of the