SPECIAL NOTICE
70 -- Passport Card and Border Crossing Card printers
- Notice Date
- 5/8/2013
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 333244
— Printing Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Office of Acquisitions, Acquisition Management, 1735 N. Lynn St., Arlington, Virginia, 22209, United States
- ZIP Code
- 22209
- Solicitation Number
- RFI_Passport_BCCcard_printers
- Archive Date
- 6/18/2013
- Point of Contact
- Adrienne Y. Bell, Phone: 703-516-1667
- E-Mail Address
-
bellam@state.gov
(bellam@state.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A FULL AND OPEN SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (SS-RFI) ONLY AS DEFINED BY FAR 15.201 (E) 1.0 Overview: The Department of State (the Department) requests that interested businesses provide specific evidence that they are capable of meeting or exceeding the Department's minimum objectives identified below. The Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA), Office of Consular Systems and Technology Services (CST), is issuing this Full and Open Sources Sought/Request for Information (SS-RFI) for planning purposes only in support of the Department's market research. This does not constitute an Invitation for Bids or a Request for Proposals (RFP). The Department does not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this SS-RFI, or any subsequent RFP. This announcement is only a request for information and in no way commits the Department to award a contract. Responses to this notice will not be considered as offers and cannot be accepted by the Department to form a binding contract. 1.1 Background: The Department (in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has developed and implemented U.S. card-format travel cards: the Passport Card and Border Crossing Card (BCC)-credit-card-size travel documents. The Passport Card has been an accepted alternative to the traditional book-style passport at U.S. land and some sea ports-of-entry (POEs) since June 1, 2009. The Passport Card is functional in the DHS ReadyLane system, an integrated, automated border-crossing identification system including programs such as NEXUS, Secure Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), and Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST). The Department also issues a Border Crossing Card (BCC) to qualified citizens of and residents of Mexico. The BCC allows them to enter defined border zones in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas for business and pleasure. When presented together with a valid Mexican passport, the BCC allows the holder to travel for business or pleasure to anywhere in the United States. 1.2 Scope: 1. The Department is seeking detailed information on the commercial availability, pricing, and technical specifications of hardware and equipment to be used in the printing of Passport Cards. 2. The Department is also seeking detailed information on the full-scope maintenance of the hardware and equipment involved in the printing of Passport Cards. 3. The Department is also seeking similar information, as stated above, regarding the potential printing of BCCs. Additionally, the Department may use the existing support infrastructure, such as printers and readers, to create additional types of travel cards. These travel cards would be functionally similar to the Passport Card but would be used to denote other travel privileges. Similar to the PPT and BBC cards, information on printing services associated with the travel, or other, cards is requested. 2.0 Vendor Submission Instructions: Vendors that believe they possess the expertise and experience to fulfill all or portions of the requirements listed in the Statement of Objectives (SOO) section, Attachment A, are invited to please: 1. Provide company name; address; e-mail address, telephone number, points of contact, ; and the size classification of its business pursuant to North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). Please provide your companies level of facility security clearance and also identify if your solution is under any GSA schedule or GWAC. 2. Submit a written description of technical and management capability and experiences. 3. Provide a description of the solutions that deliver the requested components and services or support the development, deployment, and maintenance of the components. As part of your submission, please address the following: (a) solution description and key features; (b) performance characteristics; (c) any security considerations; (d) degree of customization or configuration anticipated to meet the Department's requirements; and (e) cost drivers. 4. Discuss any implementation considerations you believe are relevant to the initiative as a whole. This discussion may include salient risks and mitigation measures, lessons learned from other projects or agencies, contracting approaches, or any other pertinent information. 5. Provide relevant examples of previous work or solution implementations, to include client points of contact (POCs). 6. Do not provide sales brochures, videos, and other marketing information materials. These are not solicited and will not be reviewed. To the maximum extent possible, submit Non-Proprietary Information. All information received in this SS-RFI that is appropriately marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses to this SS-RFI will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. Respondents are requested to format their response with the following sections and adhere to the page limits shown: 1. Proposed technical concepts, products, and deliverables (not to exceed 15 pages) 2. Past performance directly related to the identified products addressed throughout this document (not to exceed 3 pages) 3. Pricing - to the extent practicable, historical pricing related to actual past performance examples, or established catalog, market, or pre-priced agreements. No phone calls related to this SS-RFI will be accepted. All correspondence must be via email. All responses need to be provided in electronic format (.doc or.docx preferred). Font should be Times New Roman, size 12. All packages submitted by email must be free of any computer virus. If a virus is found, the package will be destroyed and a replacement will be requested, which must be provided within three days after notification. Please submit responses no later than 2:00 p.m EST, June 3, 2013, to bellam@state.gov. NO TELEPHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Any questions concerning this RFI should be emailed to Adrienne Bell (bellam@state.gov) no later than 2:00 p.m. EST May 16, 2013. There is no guarantee that any or all questions will be answered. Any interpretation or additional information will be provided in writing by Adrienne Bell.   Attachment A - Statement of Objectives 1.0 Statement of Objectives (SOO): The primary objectives CA/CST expects to achieve include information on the following products and services: Printers • High Volume Personalization Laser Engraving Printer • Low to Mid Volume Personalization Laser Engraving Printer • SDK for Laser Engraving Printers • Replacement parts for printers • High Volume Printer Maintenance Kit for onsite preventative maintenance of Laser Engraving Printer • Low to Mid Volume Printer Maintenance Kit for onsite preventative maintenance of Laser Engraving Printer • Annual SW Maintenance Agreement/Printer • Laser Module Maintenance and Services • Technical Support • High Volume Printer on-call Remedial Maintenance • Low to Mid Volume Printer on-call Remedial Maintenance • Operational Training for Travel Card System Operations • Operator / User Training • Maintenance Options Miscellaneous • Extended Warranties • Laser Diode Warranty 2.0 Technical Requirements: 2.1 Printers Personalization Printer Interface CA proprietary adjudication systems will be utilized for personalization services. DoS has adapted the printing software for Travel Card printing, including the software capability to dynamically manage print jobs, features, and layouts. To enable this integration process, the following shall be required: • USB 2.0 and/or Ethernet interface from Printer to host workstation. • Printer Driver for MS Windows 2003 and XP Operating Systems and Server. • Printer SDK capable of communicating with Printer Driver for passing of card data and print layout, and receiving feedback and control messages from the printer including real-time inventory and tracking information of cards and consumables. • GUI access to generate card print layout, both front and back. This shall include the ability to do the following at the discretion of DoS: o set image size, type, and location, o set text size, type, font, and location, o embed other objects or features, such as variable microprint. • Customizable sample application utilizing MS C++ or MS C#/.NET (preferred) to perform basic print job functions and features to facilitate integration effort as well as rapid Travel Card sample generation upon receipt of integration kit. The following features are preferred, but optional: • Capability to leverage printer SDK to control multiple printer devices from one workstation, described as a "printer pod", where round-robin printing enables one operator to oversee multiple devices for batch printing. This is similar to the current Travel book printing process. • Common SDK for both the High and Low to Mid Volume Printer systems, where like functionality will not require variances in the software to operate. Any modification or upgrade to the SDK shall be made available to the Government at no additional cost throughout the printer lifecycle. Personalization Printer The DoS operating environment demands that the Printer housings shall be secure, and that unauthorized personnel shall not have access to Printer internals or card stock loaded within the Printers. The Department requires details of on-board printer physical security as well as any digital security measures that can be utilized with the Printer SDK (such as sensor and alert mechanism on Printer doors, Input/Output hoppers, or an alert that Cards have been printed off-hours). The Department requires detail specifications for card cleanliness expected for optimum Print personalization results. The DoS environment is a typical office environment and should have no negative effect on print success rate as currently configured. If that environment requires any special printer cleaning/maintenance, Vendor shall describe such procedures and recommended application intervals. The Department requires a description of equipment that meets the following features: High Volume Card Personalization Capability • Size of Equipment: No larger than 8 ft H x 12 ft L x 6 ft D, assembled Weight of 2000 lbs or less • Power Requirements: 110v or 220v Vendor must specify • Printer Card Hopper Input/Output Size: Input capacity (one or more hoppers) of 1,000 cards • Throughput: Meets or exceeds 500 Cards per hour • Maneuverability: Self-contained platform must include wheelbase for maneuvering • Ventilation: Vendor must supply requirements for ventilation space • Card Verification: Printer shall include a method for verification of either the ICC number or Card number, pre-personalization, accessible via SDK interface Low to Mid Volume Card Personalization Capability • Size of Equipment: No larger than 4ft H x 6ft L x 3ft D, assembled Weight of 800 lbs or less • Power Requirements: 110v or 220v Vendor must specify • Printer Card Hopper Input/Output Size: Meets or exceeds 100 cards for both input and output hoppers • Throughput: Meets or exceeds 50 Cards per hour • Maneuverability: Option for a wheeled cart/platform to house printer for mobility • Ventilation: Vendor must supply requirements for ventilation space • Card Verification: Printer shall include a method for verification of either the ICC number or Card number, pre-personalization, accessible via SDK interface Features These features apply to both High and Low to Mid Volume Printers. Personalization capability shall meet or exceed 300dpi but also be adjustable via the SDK. Other features that may be considered for personalization printing include: • Variable micro printing • Graphics or other photo printing (other than Applicant standard photo) • Steganography, as long as printing throughput requirements are met • Other alternatives supplied by Vendor will be considered 2.2 Maintenance and Services The Department requires the vendor to submit typical maintenance plans for both High Volume and Low to Mid Volume printing and associated equipment offered by the vendor, and DoS's existing stock of 6 high volume and 17 low volume printers. These plans shall include routine maintenance required on the printers, as well as long-term care and a statement of life expectancy for each equipment model submitted. This information shall also include: • Description, maintenance requirements, life expectancy, and cost of replacement laser module and other major components of both High Volume and Low to Mid Volume Printers • Complete list of personalization printer components requiring routine or periodic replacement and expected replacement frequency and cost • Training information and appropriate documents for DoS staff to perform maintenance and Firmware/SDK upgrades in the field • Hourly support rates and response times of Vendor engineers for any non-warranty work 2.3 Miscellaneous Extended Warranties- Laser Diode and Card Printer System Laser Diode The extended warranty available on the laser module in the MX6000 system will cover the beam train assembly (MX6000 system = 566787-001) in the laser module. (The entire module will not be covered under this extended warranty.) The beam train assembly includes many of the major and most expensive working components of the laser module including: • Laser head assembly • Fiber cable • Laser diode assembly Card Printer System Vendors are requested to provide a copy of their standard warranty provisions, including extended warranties not to exceed five years in duration. Respondents are reminded to follow explicitly the instructions provided in the SS/RFI. Your cooperation and compliance will ensure a prompt and thorough review and analysis of your submission.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/RFI_Passport_BCCcard_printers/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03056351-W 20130510/130508235059-9741e523e5fb7b2aa742902ba3cc4a96 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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