US Postal Service, Headquarters Automation Purchasing, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, Virginia 22082-8150

A -- AUTOMATED FLATS FEEDER (AFF) FOR FSM 1000 FLAT SORTING MACHINES DUE 010700 POC Pauline McTeer, Purchasing Specialist and Mark Guilfoil, Contracting Officer, Fax 703-280-8412 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via, pmcteer@email.usps.gove. The USPS is seeking to pre-qualify sources capable of providing an Automated Flats Feeder (AFF) for participation in a competitive test at designated USPS Processing and Distribution (P&DC) facilities planned for the May/June 2000 timeframe. The USPS anticipates providing for a six-week test of each prequalified AFF design in the evaluation and selection of a single supplier to provide feeders for installation on FSM 1000 flat sorting machines located in Post Offices nationwide. A Version 1.0 specification for interfacing a participants feeder directly to an FSM 1000 is expected to be completed in January, 2000 and will be provided to those firms determined to be prequalified in accordance with the review criteria provided below. A Version 2.0 validated specification is anticipated to be made available by early April, 2000. The USPS plans to issue a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) in February, 2000 to those firms that are found to be pre-qualified to participate in a competitive test. Such firms will be asked to submit a firm-fixed price (FFP) proposal to provide for the transport and test of their feeder (no development costs will be paid by the USPS). The USPS plans to evaluate these proposals and make one or more test contract awards. The USPS plans to issue a separate production solicitation for approximately 350 Automated Flats Feeders for FSM 1000s in April, 2000. Only those firms (or their licensees) that receive test contracts will be considered for participation in the production award. The results of the competitive test will be used in the evaluation and source selection of the AFF production contract which is anticipated to be awarded by September, 2000. For participation and consideration of inclusion within the competitive test field, an FSM 1000 AFF must automatically feed flats into an FSM 1000 at a minimum rate of 8,000 pieces per hour (up to a maximum of 10,000 pieces per hour), with the bound edge of the mail piece down, and be capable of maintaining a sixteen inch gap between mailpieces, adjustable by machine control software to a maximum of 26 inches. The desired size range and characteristics of flats to be fed by the AFF includes magazines, catalogues, poly-wrapped pieces, and flimsies within the full size, weight, and physical characteristic range of FSM 1000 automation-compatible mail as defined in the USPS Domestic Mail Manual,C820.3. The dimension and weight ranges are as follows: Min Max Length 4" 15.75" Height 4" 12" Thickness .009" 1.25" Weight .01 lb. 6 pounds It is desired that the proposed AFF meet or exceed the following performance criteria: jam rate less than 1 in 1,500 pieces fed; double feed rate less than 2%; rate for damage requiring manual sorting or re-wrap processing less than 1 in 5,000 pieces fed. Interested firms are required to submit the following AFF capability statement information: (1) written material, drawings, floor space requirements, photos, videos, and other operating statistics that demonstrate the machine specifications listed above; (2) thelocation and use of any currently deployed machines; (3) a list of all postal or commercial contracts performed within the last 5 years for similar requirements including the contract number, dates of performance, customer's and Contracting Officer's name and phone number, and the dollar value of the contract; (4) Quality and reliability data relating to the firm's AFF design; (5) company's most current financial statements. During the pre-qualification process, the USPS reserves the right and intends to visit an identified installation site provided by the submitting firm to physically evaluate machine attributes, and to perform pre-qualification testing using USPS test mail decks. The USPS will evaluate the pre-qualification statements based on the following factors: (1) technical capability to meet USPS requirements; (2) quality and reliability; and (3) past performance. Past Performance: The supplier must supply pertinent information such that the USPS can evaluate Past Performance (ref. PM Section 2.1.7.c). Past Performance information is based on the following: (a) Quality; (b) Timeliness of Performance; (c) Business Relations; (d) Cost Control; and (e) Supply Chain Management. This announcement does not in any way commit the USPS to the test of any equipment, or create an obligation to provide for any procurement award. Each discussed acquisition noted above is contingent upon USPS funding approval. Interested firms may send the required information to Pauline McTeer, no later than January 7, 2000. The qualification statements should not exceed 25 pages. All inquiries must be in writing, no telephone requests will be accepted. Posted 12/10/99 (W-SN407606). 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