Description The USPS is currently seeking information on available technology and supply sources in the area of mail processing address reading technology that can provide products that function to the general specifications described in this notice. The USPS has identified one supplier, RAF Technology, Inc., that fulfills the required technology and specifications and seeks to determine if other sources exist which meet the USPS requirements for the purpose of a potential competitive product/system evaluation. If no other acceptable source can be located, a non competitive award may result. The USPS is seeking to deploy mail reject encoding and processing machines (Reject Encoding Machine – REM) nationwide to automate the processing of Input Subsystem and Output Subsystem (ISS/OSS) rejects, Combined Input and Output Subsystem (CIOSS) Return to Sender (RTS) rejects, and loop mail. The automated processing of the rejects shall result in manual hour savings nationwide. The objective of this notice is to gather product information from current technology sources that can meet the requirements specified herein. This is a request for information only and is not a solicitation to purchase equipment or services. Information gathered through this announcement may be used to pre-qualify alternate sources for a potential competitive product evaluation at the USPS and the opportunity to submit a proposal for this solution. The system description with performance data submission is to be provided to Mr. Tom Raspet, Purchasing and Supply Management Specialist, Automation CMC, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150, Telephone (703) 280-7803 [email protected], Requirements Specification Reject Encoding Machine (REM) Program. Background Optical scanning of mail pieces on the USPS sophisticated mail processing equipment results in a reject or non-read rate that require ten of thousands of man hours expended annually to manually process and reprocess such unreadable mail. A REM system provides a solution for reading reject mail and for enhancing letter mail processing for mail with incorrect or damaged POSTNET barcodes. Additional functionality includes the processing of Return to Sender (RTS) mail and Address Change Service (ACS) detection and holdout. Technical Requirements An acceptable REM system would be a simple, one operator, single pass, small footprint machine that performs many functions and is able to process mail up to 3/8" or better. Its OCR system would enable it to encode rejects or the non-read letter mail from the ISS/OSS machines, Loop Mail and RTS mail. It would utilize a camera and binarization system that produces ideal images for its advanced programmed algorithms. The machine would apply a linerless label over the barcode clear zone, spray a correct POSTNET, verify the POSTNET, and sort for downstream local or destination processing. It would print a human readable alpha-numeric stream using red ink, and update the Identification Code Sorting (ICS) file as needed. The ISS and OSS encode, Finest Depth of Sort and error rates shall be in the range of 55% to 75%, 95% to 99% and 0.5% to 1.5% respectively. It would have the capability to read and print 4State Barcodes, and separate ACS mail. The footprint shall not exceed 90 sq ft and the throughput shall exceed 10,000 pieces per hour. Schedule & Deliverables For purposes of this technology assessment and market survey, potential vendors shall provide REM system descriptions with performance data for USPS review. This information should include a complete description of a working unit which substantiates the vendor’s ability to meet the technical requirements. This written information shall be delivered to Mr. Tom Raspet (address noted above) no later than March 31, 2006. Minor variations to the values expressed within the above technical requirements will be considered by the USPS if such systems are currently in use in other postal administrations or market applications. In the event that a potential vendor currently has or plans to develop a system which will meet the requirements provided herein, such vendor must provide a date by April 03, 2006 when those development activities would be completed and their system be available for USPS review. Following USPS review of the submitted REM system descriptions with performance data, a pre-qualification determination will be made and if appropriate competitive evaluation testing plans will be furnished. The prequalified suppliers will be firms whose record of performance in the market place has demonstrated their ability to perform to consistently high standards. The USPS will not provide funding for development activities associated with meeting the specified requirements. Interested parties shall submit a total of three copies (two hard copy and one soft data copy) of any company promotional handouts, brochures, catalogs, technology performance specifications, and operations manuals of equipment that meets or exceeds these specifications and requirements to the address provided in this announcement. Overly elaborate responses are neither expected nor required. The USPS by issuance of this notice makes no commitment to the acquisition of any REM system technology.

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