SAM #RFI-DOT-VOLPE-2026-001

DOT Volpe Center market research for refurbished and used 50-foot boxcars

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center is researching boxcars for ammunition and explosives transport. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). - Requested products: multiple refurbished and/or used 50-foot general-purpose railway boxcars; the exact quantity is not stated. No part numbers are provided. - Shared requirements: minimum 70-ton capacity; gross rail load of 263,000 pounds or less; AAR XM/B314 or equivalent; wood floors and wood-lined steel walls; AAR Plate-C dimensions; 56-inch wheel gauge; minimum interior dimensions of 50 feet long, 10 feet 4 inches high, and 9 feet 4 inches wide; 50,000-pound-strength wood floors; roller-bearing axles; and AAR interchange compatibility. Applicable AAR and FRA construction, safety, inspection, and testing requirements also apply. - Refurbished cars must have at least 30 years of remaining life. Used cars must have functional major systems, including doors, brakes, and couplers; doors must operate without mechanical assistance, and roofs must be weathertight. - Delivery is by rail to a CONUS U.S. Army rail base; the location is not yet specified. - No OEMs, manufacturers, or vendors are named in the notice or attachment. This is market research; it does not provide a specific purchase quantity or contract value.

Description

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Cambridge, MA, 02142, is conducting market research to determine the availability of refurbished and used boxcars. These boxcars are needed to safely transport ammunition and explosives in compliance with strict military safety regulations. This RFI notice does not constitute a solicitation and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government will not pay for any effort expended in responding to this notice. 

See attached Word document: "Refurbished and Used Boxcar RFI_10.7.26 (SAM)"

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