USDA, Office of Operations, Room 1547-South Building, 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250

70 -- HIGH CAPACITY MAINFRAME CPU PERIPHERAL PRINTER AND AN AUTOMATED CARTRIDGE LIBRARY SYSTEM POC Contact Point, Beverly Brown, (202)720-8614 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has two (2) requirements for which it is seeking competition: The first requirement is for high capacity mainframe CPU peripheral printer systems (SIC 3577) that meet or exceed the following performance specifications:(a) production capability of at least 20 million images/mo., 120 images/minute (b) Combined simplex and duplex printing, (c) Portrait two-across and landscape print, (d) Cut sheet and continuous feed, (e) text and forms overlay, (f) Non-impact technology with minimum resolution of 240 dpi. (g) BAR code readability minimum grade ''B'' (per ANSII specification 3.182X), (h) integrated print-to-mail capability with four existing Pitney Bowes series 9 mail inserters (10,000 pieces/hr) and two Pitney Bowes series 8 inserters (5,000 pieces/hr.). Software must provide piece tracking (host- to-post) and automated postage accounting. Maintenance required 24 hrs/7days/week. The second requirement is for an automated cartridge library system (SIC 3572) including stackers to support eighteen (18) track tape drives, library modules to increase mount capacity, thirty six (36) track tape drives to increase capacity and access speed, controllers to support the thirty six (36) track tape drives, and helical scan units which increase capacity through data compression, software and maintenance 24hr/7days/week. Of specific interest to USDA are potential source(s) which have U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) eligibility in these industries. A live test demonstration (LTD) or Benchmark may be required at the production facility. Interested parties must submit descriptive literature which demonstrates manufacturing, product and maintenance capabilities needed to meet these requirements. No solicitation exists. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not receive a reply. Firms submitting information will be added to the bidders list if and when an RFP is announced. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their information within 15 days from the date of this notice to Ms. Beverly Brown, USDA, Office of Operations, Rm 1547-South Bldg., 14th & Independece Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250. (0254)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0276 19950912\70-0020.SOL)