SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- RFI - White Paper - Currency Reader Device
- Notice Date
- 6/18/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- 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-12-0201
- Archive Date
- 8/15/2012
- Point of Contact
- Kathleen E Reidy, , Berel Dorfman,
- E-Mail Address
-
kathleen.reidy@bep.gov, berel.dorfman@bep.gov
(kathleen.reidy@bep.gov, berel.dorfman@bep.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Portable Currency Reader Device Request for Information THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The U. S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating portable currency readers that denominate U.S. currency (Federal Reserve notes) produced from 1995 to present. As a follow up to Request for Information (RFI) No. BEP-RFI-11-0014, BEP is issuing a new request for information. This RFI is for both manufacturers and re-sellers of currently available currency reader devices. BEP is issuing this RFI as a white paper request from the vendor community to provide information to assist BEP in developing its meaningful access program. This white paper is part of BEP's market research. 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 to 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. The potential currency reader loan program will be implemented prior to the distribution and full circulation of the currency redesigned with tactile features. 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. Submissions under this white paper may include a working currency reader device which 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 submitted devices will be returned at the end of the market research process. Although the submission of a device is not required, it is strongly encouraged. REQUEST FOR WHITE PAPER: 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 processes, re-seller distribution methods and related cost. Respondents are asked to provide information in response to the following: • A brief description of your company's history and its experience in manufacturing and distributing or re-selling a currency reader device. • Company name, point of contact, email address, telephone number and web address. • Describe how the device denominates U.S. currency. • Describe the features of the device, including any of the following that apply: dimension, weight, voice options, languages, privacy mode, accuracy, speed, power source and other features. • Describe any attributes that improve ease of use of the device by the blind and visually impaired. • What is the current retail unit price for the device, including shipping? (Note: This is a nonbinding price.) • Do you offer bulk rate pricing? What are the terms (quantity, etc.)? • Is the device manufactured in the United States? If not, where is the device manufactured? • Is the device compatible with the Buy America Act? If not, please describe which trade agreement is applicable to the device. • What is the monthly production capacity for manufacturing the device? Is there a strategic plan for scaling up manufacturing capabilities? • What is the monthly capacity for distributing the device? Is there a strategic plan for scaling up distribution capacity? • What operating instructions or other materials do you provide with the device? In what formats are these materials provided (i.e., large print, Braille)? How are these materials distributed to the end user? • Describe what information you have available online. • What customer support do you provide to those who need assistance using the device? What customer support is provided if there is a warranty issue with the device? • Does the device have a unique identifier, such as a serial number? Can the manufacturer/re-seller accommodate this if required? How would this affect the unit price? What are your parameters with applying serial numbers to each reader device? • Do you anticipate enhancements/upgrades to this device within the next 6 months? Within the next year? Within in the next 3 to 5 years? • How do you currently handle customer support for devices that arrive damaged? What are your company's current customer support capabilities for requests for returns, refunds or replacements? • Do you provide a warranty for the device? If yes, please specify the terms (limits, time frame, etc.). • Identify the process you currently have in place to handle customer support for device upgrades when a redesigned U.S. currency is issued. • What reporting methods do you have in place to track serial numbers, monitor and track shipments? • What is the standard timeframe from initial order to delivery of the device? • How many units did you manufacture and distribute in 2011? How many units did you sell and distribute in 2011? Were any of these customers other Federal Agencies? State Agencies? • Is your company currently listed on a GSA schedule? If you are not currently on a GSA schedule, do you plan to bid on a GSA schedule in the next 12 months? • Please list any other Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) by which a government agency can purchase your device, please provide all GWAC details such as agency name, contract number, point of contact, and NAICS code. Submissions to this RFI are due no later than July 31, 2012 2 PM EST. The length of the white paper shall be no longer than 10 pages - including graphics and marketing materials. All responses shall be in Windows compatible format. Responses may be submitted by hard copy or email to: Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Acquisitions Attn: Kathleen Reidy and Berel Dorfman 14th and C Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228-0001 Kathleen.Reidy@bep.gov Berel.Dorfman@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, except for the return of sample currency reader devices. 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-12-0201/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 14th and C Street SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20228, United States
- Zip Code: 20228
- Record
- SN02778514-W 20120620/120618234809-80bc80e15131ee0e1779d410b003b407 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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