MODIFICATION
99 -- Postage Due Automation (PDA)
- Notice Date
- 3/23/2007
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 491110
— Postal Service
- Contracting Office
- United States Postal Service, Supplies and Services Purchasing, Automation CMC, 8403 Lee Highway Dewey Bldg, Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-PDA03012007
- Response Due
- 3/30/2007
- Archive Date
- 4/14/2007
- Description
- DESCRIPTION : The US POSTAL SERVICE is currently seeking information on available technology and supply sources in the area of mail processing equipment that can provide products that function to the general specifications described in this notice. The US POSTAL SERVICE is seeking to deploy an equipment - Postage Due Automation (PDA), that will automate the manual weighing, counting and reporting of various types of postage due mail. Automating the manual and very labor intensive postage due mail operation shall result in work hour savings nationwide. The intent of this notice is to gather product information from current technology sources that can meet the requirements specified herein. This is a request for information only and is not a solicitation to purchase equipment or services. Information gathered through this announcement may be used to pre-qualify suppliers for a potential competitive product evaluation at the US POSTAL SERVICE and an opportunity to submit a proposal for this solution. The system description with performance data submission is to be provided to Mr. Tom Raspet, Contracting Officer, Automation CMC, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150, Telephone (703) 280-7803 thomas.m.raspet@usps.gov Requirements Specification Postage Due Automation (PDA) Program. BACKGROUND : Many business mailers subscribe to the Postal Service Business Reply Mail (BRM) service, wherein postage due mail in the form of BRM letters and flats are sent back by responding individuals to the BRM subscriber. Sometimes, the weight of the BRM mail piece varies, requiring distribution clerks in Post Offices nationwide to manually weigh and separate each mail piece into weight categories. Each weight category is then manually counted and recorded to determine the correct postage due for that type of mail. That postage due is charged to the business mailer account subscribing to the BRM service. Another scenario in processing BRM is when the mail pieces weigh the same. In this case, the activities of the distribution clerk are limited to manually counting each mail piece and calculating the postage due on the total piece count for that mail type. The Postal Service is looking for an automated process that will eliminate and/or reduce the time associated with the individual manual weighing, counting and reporting of mail pieces for postage due mail and any other type of mail that may fit similar processing requirements (e.g. address correction). TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS : An acceptable PDA system shall be a simple, one operator, single-pass, and small footprint machine that performs many functions (including weighing, counting, reporting and data archiving), and is able to process mail up to 3/8 inch or better in thickness and up to 13 ounces or better in weight. The spaces available at Post Offices for the PDA system is 84 inches long, 24 inches high and 36 inches deep; the system shall be able rest and operate on top of regularly built table(s) of those dimensions. The system shall be self feeding, rather than having an operator feed one piece at a time. Its in line scale shall be capable of operating in at least 3 modes: a) weigh and count all mail pieces as they move across the scale; b) weigh only the first piece and count subsequent pieces that weigh the same; and c) only count mail pieces without weighing. The system shall be able to visually tag counted mail in order to identify non-counted mail to the operator. The system shall have a minimum throughput of 100 pieces per minute. Jam rate should be less than 0.5%. The system shall be configurable allowing data inputs of the following: rates for each mail type and customer account profile (up to 50 accounts). The system shall be able to send data to a report module, processed pieces and postage due amounts, by each customer account, by mail type, by weight, and by rate category. The system shall have data security features categorizing user access. The system shall be able to store data for at least 90 days. The system shall have flexible features to allow future capabilities to transmit data to other systems as well as interface with other systems. SCHEDULE & DELIVERABLES : For purposes of this technology assessment and market survey, potential vendors shall provide PDA system descriptions with performance data for US POSTAL SERVICE review. This information shall include a complete description of a working unit which substantiates the vendor's ability to meet the technical requirements. This written information shall be delivered to Mr. Tom Raspet (address noted above) no later than March 30, 2007. Minor variations to the values expressed within the above technical requirements will be considered by the US POSTAL SERVICE if such systems are currently in use in other postal administrations or market applications. A question and answer (Q&A) period is designated between March 12 through March 23, 2007. All supplier questions must be received by March 16, 2007. The Postal Service will provide official responses by March 23, 2007. US POSTAL SERVICE prefers to deal with companies that have existing equipment which is available for demonstration and testing purposes. Following US POSTAL SERVICE review of the submitted PDA system descriptions with performance data, a pre-qualification determination will be made and if appropriate, competitive evaluation testing plans will be furnished. The pre-qualified suppliers will be firms whose record of performance in the market place has demonstrated their ability to perform to consistently high standards. The US POSTAL SERVICE will not provide funding for development activities associated with meeting the specified requirements. Interested parties shall submit a total of five copies (three hard copy and two soft data copy) of any company promotional handouts, brochures, catalogs, technology performance specifications, and operations manuals of equipment that meet or exceed these specifications and requirements to the address provided in this announcement. Overly elaborate responses are neither expected nor required. The US POSTAL SERVICE by issuance of this notice makes no commitment to the acquisition of any PDA system technology.
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Postal Service, Attn: Tom Raspet, Automation CMC, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrified, VA
- Zip Code: 22082-8150
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 22082-8150
- Record
- SN01258431-W 20070325/070323223236 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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