Solicitation
N0016426RGW20-Procurement of Design and Production of Flat Railcars-PSC 2220- Naics 336510
Department of Defense · Department of the Navy
AI summaryThe Navy (NSWC Crane) is buying the design, first-article testing and production of a Second-Generation D5 AIM Flatcar (a heavy railcar that carries missile test cargo) under solicitation N0016426RGW20, as a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Quantity is 1 to 6 railcars over a five-year ordering period. The response due date is November 25, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern. SAM.gov says no set-aside, but the solicitation text says 100% small business. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
This summary may miss requirements: 14 of 18 attachments weren't read (Exhibit A_CDRL A001 to A019.pdf, Attachment 06_WS20972A.pdf and 12 more). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Navy (NSWC Crane) is buying the design, first-article testing and production of a Second-Generation D5 AIM Flatcar (a heavy railcar that carries missile test cargo) under solicitation N0016426RGW20, as a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Quantity is 1 to 6 railcars over a five-year ordering period. The response due date is November 25, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern. SAM.gov says no set-aside, but the solicitation text says 100% small business.
Who can bid
- Small business size: Section L says the solicitation is 100% set aside for small business and the Government will check size status in SAM.gov after the closing date. SAM.gov instead says no set-aside is used (see red flags).
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 (Self) status in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) for each contractor system that handles federal contract information or controlled unclassified information, held before award
- Car builder certification: a builder that is not certified must submit a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) on its path to certification. The type of certification is in the statement of work, which was not read.
Things to watch (9)
From the version posted Oct 26, 2026.
- Serious: Set-aside conflict: SAM.gov says none, solicitation says small business. SAM.gov shows no set-aside, but the solicitation text says 100% small business and that non-small offerors will not be evaluated. Ask the contracting officer which governs before spending time on a proposal.
- Serious: Statement of work, drawings and requirements documents are controlled. The statement of work, system requirements document, drawings, CDRLs, government-furnished property list and past performance forms are attached but not read here; SAM.gov asks you to request access. You cannot price without them.
- Serious: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification required before award. A current CMMC Level 2 (Self) status and an affirmation of continuous compliance must be entered in SPRS for each system that handles federal contract information or controlled unclassified information. Offerors without them are not eligible for award.
Show all 9Show fewer
- Serious: Heavy engineering and testing risk. The builder must design a railcar to a 286,000 lb gross rail load and pass AAR tests. If wheels, axles or other parts miss the load criteria, the Navy says the system fails and a redesign is required.
- Worth checking: Production orders only after first article is accepted. A production order for CLIN 0003 can be issued only after CLIN 0002 is delivered and accepted, and CLIN 0002 only after CLIN 0001. The production quantity is notional and the guaranteed minimum is small.
- Worth checking: Shipping is priced two ways. Section L says offer prices must include all shipping, FOB Destination, while Section B makes shipping a separate cost-no-fee line (CLIN 0006). Ask the contracting officer how to price shipping.
- Worth checking: Builder certification or plan of action required. A car builder that is not certified must submit a plan of action and milestones to get certified. The certification type is in the unread statement of work.
- Minor: Proposal must stay valid 365 days. The cover letter must state that the proposal is valid for 365 calendar days from the date proposals are due, so prices must hold for a year.
- Minor: Weights in the Q&A are out of date. The Q&A on weights uses 216,800 lbs and 186,000 lbs for load configuration 4.4, but Attachment 09 changes it to 186,800 lbs. Use the amended value and check the amended requirements document.
Read from the notice and 4 attachments. 14 of 18 not read. Show which files.
- N0016426RGW20_conf thru_0007.pdf (read)
- N0016426RGW20_007 SF 30.pdf (read)
- N0016426RGW20_005_SF30.pdf (read)
- Attachment 09_Summary of Changes of Requirements for Flat Railcar.docx (read)
- Exhibit A_CDRL A001 to A019.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 06_WS20972A.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 08_GFP.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 07_NAVSEA 4340_2 GFI List (Aug 2021) AIM Flatcar R1.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 05_AIM Flatcar SOW_Amend 07.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 04_Drawings and SRD.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Solicitation Amendment N0016426RGW200006 SF 30.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 01_Past Performance Questionnaire.docx: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Attachment 02_Past Performance Matrix.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- N0016426RGW20_004.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- N0016426RGW20_003.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- N0016426RGW20_002.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Solicitation Amendment - N0016426RGW200001.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
- Solicitation - N0016426RGW20.pdf: not read (access is restricted): request it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- CLIN 0001 (contract line item number, one priced line of the order): design the flatcar and complete a Critical Design Review, 1 Each, firm-fixed-price
- CLIN 0002: build the First Article flatcar and test it, including Association of American Railroads (AAR) testing and facility checks, 1 Each
- CLIN 0003: build, accept-test and deliver production flatcars, QTY 4 Each (notional; the Government may order less or more)
- CLIN 0004: technical data under the data requirements list (CDRLs); Amendment 0007 cuts the list to A001 through A019, 1 Lot
- CLIN 0006: shipping to Kings Bay, GA; Bangor, WA; or Cape Canaveral, FL, QTY 5 Each, cost-no-fee (paid at cost with no profit added)
- Deliver cars fully commissioned and approved for rail use with AAR; item identification (DoD unique identification) applies to CLINs 0002 and 0003
- Deliver CLIN 0001 within 390 days after date of order, CLIN 0002 within 286 days and all CLIN 0003 units within 492 days
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (FFP: one set price, whatever the work ends up costing), indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, except shipping (CLIN 0006), which is cost-no-fee
- Period of performance
- Five-year ordering period (Year 1 through Year 5, each 12 months from award). The anticipated award date is no later than March 5, 2027. Delivery: CLIN 0001 390 days after date of order, CLIN 0002 286 days, CLIN 0003 492 days.
- Place of performance
- USA (as given in the SAM.gov fields). Cars are delivered to one of three sites: Kings Bay, GA; Bangor, WA; or Cape Canaveral, FL. The builder's plant location is not stated.
- Estimated value
- Minimum order amount $20,000 and minimum quantity 1; maximum quantity 6; maximum amount to be set at contract award
- Contract vehicle
- New IDIQ contract (this solicitation); no existing vehicle is required
- How they'll choose
- Best value tradeoff; the Government intends to award a single contract without discussions but may hold discussions if in its best interest
- Offers due
- November 25, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern
What they'll judge offers on
- Factor 1, Technical: (A) Technical Approach (inspection of incoming material, facility and test equipment, delivery reports, rail capability and damage control in transit, schedule tools), (B) Management Approach; A is more important than B
- Factor 2, Past Performance: recency (within five calendar years), relevance and quality of up to five references
- Factor 3, Total Evaluated Price (TEP): unit prices applied to estimated ordering quantities over five years, for CLINs 0001 to 0003 and 0006
- Factor 4, Contract Documentation: pass or fail
What to include when you submit
- Send four volumes: Volume I Technical, Volume II Past Performance, Volume III Total Evaluated Price, Volume IV Contract Documentation
- Volume I: a written narrative on five standards (incoming material inspection and certificates, facility and test process, delivery reports, rail capability and transit protection, schedule tracking) and a management approach
- Volume II: list no more than five past performance references in total, including those of subcontractors, team members and joint ventures; no classified past performance supplements. Non-federal rail car work counts per the Q&A. Recent means within five calendar years of solicitation release.
- Volume III: completed, signed solicitation package including amendments, with representations and certifications and prices in Section B; fill in the CLIN 0003 and CLIN 0006 pricing matrices; include a detailed priced bill of materials (BOM) for each solution
- Prices must include all shipping and shipping should be FOB Destination (the seller delivers to the Government's site)
- Volume IV: cover letter with solicitation number, company name, CAGE code, address and contacts, agreement with all terms, and a statement that the proposal is valid 365 calendar days from the date for receipt of proposals
- Cover letter also names negotiating contacts, the DCAA and DCMA office contacts, the signer (with proof of authority if an agent signs) and an affirmative statement that no organizational conflict of interest exists, if you believe none does
- Volume IV also includes a copy of any standard warranty proposed and the small business information
- Price each data item on the CDRL form (Block 17 price group and Block 18 estimated price)
- List any Government property you propose to use rent-free and describe your property management system
- Give the CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) unique identifier for each system that will handle federal contract information or controlled unclassified information
- Send questions by email to the contact listed for the solicitation, at least 15 days before the closing date; answers are posted on SAM.gov
- Acknowledge each amendment
After award, you must have
- Accept a Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) DX priority rating: any contract awarded is a rated order, which carries rated-order duties From N0016426RGW20_conf thru_0007.pdf:
Any contract awarded as a result of this solicitation will be DX rated order;
Current contractor
No incumbent. The Q&A says there is none, and no risk reduction contracts were awarded before this effort. The Government's estimate is not given; the contract minimum is $20,000.
Not in the notice text
- Text is incomplete: the statement of work (Amendment 0007 version), the system requirements document, drawings, CDRLs A001 to A019, the government-furnished property list and information list, past performance forms and the original solicitation are attached but not read (controlled; request access on SAM.gov). Part of the conformed solicitation text, including the start of the proposal instructions, was also left out.
- How to submit the proposal (email, portal or address) and any page limits are not in the text read.
- The date for questions is given only as 15 days before the closing date.
- The maximum contract amount is to be set at award.
- The type of car builder certification is in the statement of work, which was not read.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside: any business, large or small, can bid unless the notice says otherwise.
- How and where to submit is in the notice text and its attachments on SAM.gov.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 26, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- NSWC Crane, IN
- Product/service code
- 2220 · Rail Cars
- Business type
- Aircraft, ship & vehicle parts (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 336510)
- Versions
12 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 26, 2026 · Amendment 0007 (this version)Due Nov 25, 2026 (changed)
- Oct 26, 2026 · AmendmentDue May 18, 2026
- May 13, 2026 · AmendmentDue May 18, 2026
- May 1, 2026 · AmendmentDue May 18, 2026 (changed)
- May 1, 2026 · AmendmentDue May 15, 2026 (changed)
- Mar 13, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 27, 2026 (changed)
- Mar 11, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 13, 2026
- Mar 3, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 13, 2026
- Mar 3, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 13, 2026 (changed)
- Feb 13, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 6, 2026
- Feb 5, 2026 · AmendmentDue Mar 6, 2026 (changed)
- Jan 21, 2026 · SolicitationDue Feb 20, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
Terms on this notice: Solicitation
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Amendment 0001: The purpose of this amendment is to extend the closing date and time from 2:00 PM on 20 February 2026 to 2:00 PM on 6 March 2026. Amendment 0002: The purpose of this amendment is to 1. Extend the proposal due date until 13 March 2026 at 2pm (Eastern Standard Time). 2. Provide Answers to submitted questions in Section B. 3. Replace the original GFI Attachment with an updated attachment that now includes Drawing #WS20972A in Section J. 4. Add Drawing WS20972A to attacments in Section J. 5. Add Government Furnished Property list to Section J. Amendment 0003: The purpose of this amendment is to 1. Provide answers to questions #28 through #32. Amendment 0004: The purpose of this amendment is to 1. Extend the proposal due date until 27 March 2026 at 2pm (Eastern Standard Time). 2. Provide Answers to submitted questions #33 through #35. 3. Add FAR Clause 52.219-4 that was inadvertently omitted. In addition, access to Amendments 0002 and 0003 have been changed from "Public" to "Secure." Amendment 0005: The purpose of this amendment is to Revise requirement documents. Provide updated answers to previously posed questions. Extend the closing date for proposal receipt from 28 March 2026 to 18 May 2026. Add a Summary of Changes to Requirement. Amendment 0006: The purpose of this amendment is to Provide answers to questions #36 through #37. Amendment 0007: The purpose of this amendment is to This amendment is to change the scope of work by updating the Statement of Work and reducing the number of Contract Data Requirement Lists (CDRLs). Closing date extended to November 25, 2026, at 2:00pm (EST).
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