Request for Information – Railcar Tracking Project
ID: 12-3J14-Notice-24-0044Type: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICEUSDA AMS 3J14WASHINGTON, DC, 20250, USA
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    Description

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information regarding its Railcar Tracking Project, aimed at enhancing the tracking capabilities of rail shipments through the Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. The initiative focuses on gathering additional data points to improve visibility and coordination among stakeholders, including freight forwarders and USAID, ultimately optimizing logistics operations and enabling better decision-making in response to potential delays or disruptions. Key areas of inquiry include shipper and consignee details, commodity identification, railcar numbers, and variations in usage between short rail and Class 1 carriers. Interested parties are invited to submit their responses to the Request for Information (RFI) by September 16, 2024, to David Cottrell at david.cottrell@usda.gov, with the subject line “Railcar Tracking Project.” This RFI serves a planning purpose and does not indicate an intention to award a contract at this stage.

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    Posted
    The USDA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding its Railcar Tracking Project aimed at enhancing tracking capabilities for rail shipments through the Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. The initiative seeks to gather additional data points to improve visibility and coordination among stakeholders, including freight forwarders and USAID, thereby optimizing logistics operations and enabling better decision-making in response to delays or disruptions. Key areas of inquiry include shipper and consignee details, commodity identification, railcar numbers, usage variation between short rail and Class 1 carriers, and potential notify parties in rail booking. Responses are requested by September 16, 2024, with a designated point of contact provided for further communication. This RFI serves a planning purpose and does not indicate an intention to award a contract at this stage.
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