SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Request for Information (RFI) currency reader to denominate U.S. currency
- Notice Date
- 3/28/2012
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 423990
— Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), Office of Acquisition, 14th & C Streets, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20228
- ZIP Code
- 20228
- Solicitation Number
- BEP-RFI-12-0005
- Archive Date
- 5/15/2012
- Point of Contact
- Kathleen E Reidy,
- E-Mail Address
-
kathleen.reidy@bep.treas.gov
(kathleen.reidy@bep.treas.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U. S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating technologies with potential application as a device-assisted, user-interpreted portable currency reader to denominate U.S. currency (Federal Reserve notes) produced from 1995 to present. BACKGROUND: On October 3, 2008 the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued its ruling in ACB vs. Paulson requiring the Secretary of the Treasury provide meaningful access to U.S. currency for the blind and visually impaired by the next currency redesign. Even before the Court's ruling, BEP commissioned a study to review and analyze the needs of the blind and visually impaired. The study can be found on BEP's website at http://www.moneyfactory.gov/uscurrency/meaningfulaccess.html. After the completion of the study BEP proposed three recommended accommodations, which the Secretary of the Treasury has approved: 1. Tactile Feature: Adding a raised tactile feature to U.S. currency unique to each U.S. Federal Reserve note that BEP may lawfully change, 2. High Contrast Numerals: Continuing the program of adding large high contrast numerals and different colors to each denomination that BEP is permitted by law to alter. 3. Currency Reader Program: A supplemental currency reader distribution program for blind and visually impaired U.S. citizens and those legally residing in the U.S. BEP will establish a process to loan and distribute currency readers to the blind and visually impaired at no cost to them as an interim solution to provide accessibility to U.S. currency prior to the distribution and full circulation of the currency redesigned with tactile features. In order to develop an effective currency reader distribution program, BEP seeks to better understand the current and potential market for currency readers, including the range of models and features available to U.S. individuals, manufacturing and distribution processes, and costs to produce and maintain these devices. Based on the study findings, the number of blind or visually impaired individuals who found it difficult or impossible to denominate U.S. currency visually was estimated to be 4,371,369. The study projected this number to increase to 4,895,933 individuals by 2020. BEP makes no guarantee as to the number of currency reader devices that may be required under its currency reader distribution program. Submission of actual devices is not required under this RFI, but devices may be provided for consideration by BEP. If provided, they will be assessed for compatibility with current U.S. currency designs and will be reviewed for inherent, relative effectiveness as a currency reader device. All devices will be returned at the end of the market research process. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Respondents are asked to provide information in response to the following: • Please provide a brief description of your company's history and its experience in manufacturing and distributing a currency reader device. • Please describe how your device denominates U.S. currency. • Please describe the features of the device including any of the following that apply: dimension, weight, voice options, languages, privacy mode, accuracy, speed, and other features. • Please describe any attributes that improve ease of use of your device by the blind and visually impaired. • What is the current retail unit price for your device, including shipping? • Do you offer bulk rate pricing? What are the terms? • Is the device manufactured in the United States? If not, where is it manufactured? • Do you ship the device directly to the customer? If so, what percentage of sales is shipped directly to the customer? • Is the device sold through retail channels? If so, what percentage of sales is shipped directly to retailers? • Do you have a website? If not, can you create one and how would that affect the unit price of a device? • What is the monthly production capacity for manufacturing the device? • Explain your company's capability to ramp up production if required. • How is the device powered? What type of battery does it use? • What operating instructions or other materials do you provide with the device? In what formats are these materials provided? (i.e. large print, Braille) • What customer support do you provide to those who need assistance using the device? • Does the device have a unique identifier, such as a serial number? Can the manufacturer accommodate this if required? How would this affect the unit price? • Do you anticipate enhancements/upgrades to your device within the next 6 months? Within the next year? • How do you currently handle customer support for devices that arrive damaged and customer requests for returns, refunds, or replacements? • Do you provide a warranty for the device? If yes, please specify its terms. • How do you currently handle customer support for device upgrades when a redesigned U.S. currency is issued? • What method of shipping do you use, how do you track shipments, and what is the cost to ship a reader? • What is the standard timeframe from initial order to delivery of the device? • How many units did you manufacture and distribute in 2011? • Please explain your distribution methods. Are you the sole distributer? • Is your company on the GSA schedule? If not do you have plans to be? • Please list any other GWACs by which a government agency can purchase your device. • Would you be interested in participating in a Vendor's Day at BEP? Submissions to this RFI are due no later than April 30, 2012 2 PM EST. The length of response to this RFI shall be no longer than 10 pages. Responses may be submitted by mail or windows compatible email attachment to: Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Acquisitions Attn: Kathleen Reidy 14th and C Streets, S.W., Room 708-A Washington, D.C. 20228-0001 Kathleen.Reidy@bep.gov CONFIDENTIALITY: Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Submissions may be subject to public disclosure as required or permitted by law. DISLCAIMER: This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. Respondents will not be notified of the results. The BEP will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative as a result of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/TREAS/BEP/OPDC20220/BEP-RFI-12-0005/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 14th and C St, SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20228, United States
- Zip Code: 20228
- Zip Code: 20228
- Record
- SN02707726-W 20120330/120328235226-47328c4693a2d8c7f8b8b3fb7d0dfdd5 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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