U.S. Postal Service, Automation Purchasing, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, Virginia, 22082-8150

39 -- IDENTIFICATION TAG (ID TAG) READER SOL AP008. DUE 080995. Contact Point, Evelyn Hunt, Fax: 703-280-8412. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is presently deploying letter mail automation equipment as part of the Remote Bar Coding System which utilizes a bar code reader to read a fluorescent bar code, the identification (ID) tag. This ID tag is printed on the back of the mailpiece in a defined location. The information contained is used for mail processing and tracking. The USPS is seeking sources to produce readers for future automation procurements. Please note that this is not a Request for a Proposal (RFP) at this time, the USPS is seeking sources only. It is estimated that approximately ten thousand units will be required. It is anticipated that, in production, the readers shall not exceed two thousand dollars. The readers would have to be available for testing on or before January 15, 1996. The present ID tag is a fluorescent 62 bar, bar/no-bar code. The USPS anticipates expanding this to 76 bars. The reader must be able to process both codes in an intermixed mail stream during the phase-in of the expanded code. The code(s) are printed by ink jet printers using commercially available ink, Videojet 16-5420 ink. The ID tag will be printed on mailpieces processed through automation, including mail that does not meet automation compatibility requirements. The mailpieces may include dark backgrounds of various colors, fluorescent backgrounds, and interfering printing. Since the ink is aqueous based, when the ID tag is printed on a glossy mailpiece the resulting bar code may not conform to specifications. The reader must be able to correct two bit errors and detect 3 bit errors. A minimum accept and error rate will be determined prior to an RFP being issued. Final acceptance will be based on price/performance after an extensive competitive test using live mail. The reader must be compatible with all of the mail transports. As such, to meet the form factor on the transports, the reader may utilize a remote detector/sensor from the processor. Various transport designs are utilized by the Postal Service. The reader must accommodate fixed transport speeds ranging from 118 inches per second to 183 inches per second. The following are brief printing specifications: 62 bar bar code, pitch=1.66mm, 0. 065 in., nominal; 76 bar bar code, pitch=1.427mm, 0. 056 in., nominal; bar width=0.5mm, 0. 020 in., nominal; Ink specifications: emission wavelength, 590 nm., nominal; excitation wavelength, 388 nm., nominal. All interested parties must respond in writing to Evelyn Hunt at fax no. (703)280-8412, or by mail at USPS Automation Procurement, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA 22082-8150, Attention: Evelyn Hunt. Additional information packets containing specific information regarding the code content, bar code location, interface requirements, form factor, etc. will be distributed to those interested parties, with additional instructions. Responses must be submitted no later than August 9, 1995. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. (202)

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