ELECTRONIC BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROCUREMENT STRATEGY INTERCHANGE INDUSTRY DAY The Marketing Systems office of the United States Postal Service will hold the first Electronic Business Partnership Procurement Strategy Interchange Industry Day, during the second week of May 1998. The specific day will be provided to all respondents along with the exact time and place. It's anticipated the initial session will run from 1:00PM to 5:00PM (EDT). The Electronic Business Partnership (EBP) program is an outgrowth of the Postal Service's efforts to improve its service and performance. The EBP is focused on forming a partnership between the Postal Service and its business mailing customers. This partnership will streamline mail acceptance, enable access to mailing information via the Internet and other means, enable transportation assignment at the mailer's facility, and provides options for electronic payment. The EBP is a key initiative to improve Bulk Mail Acceptance Unit operations by providing easier, faster business mailing. The EBP incorporates the results of several pilot concepts such as the DirectLink and Mailer Enterprise Integration programs. Based on the results of these pilot concepts, the Postal Service is now getting ready to deploy these concepts on a national basis. Accordingly, the Postal Service is providing an opportunity for early industry involvement in determining the approach for deployment. Several deployment options are being considered such as: (i) Postal Service procurement and installation, (ii) vendors build and sell equipment/services based on Postal Service provided design standards, or (iii) the Postal Service authorizes selected vendors to provide equipment/services. These options are only potential examples and do not represent the full range of options under consideration. The EBP Procurement Strategy Interchange Industry Day provides an opportunity for an open dialogue between the Postal Service and potential vendors to understand the ramifications of the various deployment options. All meetings will be held in the Washington, DC area. This initial industry session is open to all those interested parties responding to this CBD announcement and who confirm reservations with the point of contact below. At this first Industry Day, the US Postal Service will ONLY present the current Electronic Business Partnership program status and future requirements. The second stage of this process, as specified below, will entail the US Postal Service establishing appointments with individual prospective prime contractors to discuss ideas and concepts for the future EBP procurement strategy. The one-on-one sessions will begin to take place approximately 1 week following the Industry Day. With the help of industry's inputs, the US Postal Service intends to establish a formal procurement strategy for the EBP. During the one-on-one sessions, you should take into account the current program status as a departure point for discussion of your concepts/ideas with the Marketing Systems Procurement Strategy Team regarding your proposed EBP procurement strategy ideas and recommendations. The Marketing Systems team is also interested in understanding any perceived difficulties regarding the Postal Service's ability to successfully implement the EBP concept. You will be either notified by May 4 of the exact date, time, and place of the Industry Day Meeting or soon thereafter by direct contact from the Contracting Officer. Attendance is limited to 2 (two) participants from each organization. Participants are requested to provide names and titles of the attendees by April 27, 1998. Individual attendees are responsible for their travel and accommodations. All interested parties must respond to this notice in writing (facsimile is acceptable). The US Postal Service does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the information submitted or presented at the one-on-one proposed EBP procurement strategy meetings solicited through this announcement nor does the Postal Service intend to pay for any information submitted or presented at the one-on-one sessions or solicited through this announcement. Your point of contact for this announcement is Mr. Ted Howard, US Postal Service, Purchasing Room 4541, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20260-6239. Facsimile number is 202/268-3888. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the above individual, thoward2@email.usps.gov.

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