DOT/RSPA/Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142

22 -- 53FT TO 61FT 70 TON MINIMUM RAILWAY FLAT CARS SOL DTRS57-97-B-00016 DUE 040497 POC Guy H. Hillman, Contract Specialist (617) 494-3024 (FAX NUMBER). Volpe National Transportation Systems Center intends to purchase used reconditioned 53ft 70 ton to 61ft 70 ton flat railroad cars up to a maximum of 179 total. Detailed Specifications will be set forth in the solicitation. Requests for copies of the solicitation shall be received no later than fifteen (15) days after publication. Telephone requests will not be honored. For Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises: The Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization has programs to assist minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises to acquire short-term working capital and bonding assistance for transportation-related contracts. Loans are available under the DOT Short Term Lending Program (STLP) at prime interest rates up to $500,000 per contract to provide accounts receivable financing. The DOT Bonding Assistance Program enables firms to apply for bid, performance payment bonds up to $500,000 per contract. DOT provides an 80percent guaranty on the bond amount to a surety against losses. For further information and applicable forms concerning the STLP and Bonding Assistance Program, please call (800) 532-1169. The solicitation and any document related to this procurement will be available on the Internet, these documents will be available in text format and reside on a WWW server which may be accessed using Web browsers. The WWW address, or URL, of the Volpe Center Acquisition Division home page is: "http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure.htm". Offerors desiring to receive electronic notification of the solicitation's posting and availability for downloading may register at the Volpe Center site. Contractors are warned that when they register to receive solicitations, amendments abd other notices, the responsibility for providing the Government with an accurate and complete e-mail address lies with the contractor. The Government will make no additional efforts to deliver information when the system indicates that transmissions cannot be delivered to the e-mail address provided. Requests for a hardcopy of the solicitation may be mailed or sent via E-Mail to [Hillman@Volpe1.dot.gov]. Telephone requests will not be honored. competitivtext (0044)

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