SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Request for Information - Stamps on Consignment Program Support
- Notice Date
- 7/12/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 491110
— Postal Service
- Contracting Office
- United States Postal Service, Supplies and Services Purchasing, Travel, Retail, & Temporary Services CMC, 3300 S Parker Rd Ste 400, Aurora, CO, 80014-3500
- ZIP Code
- 80014-3500
- Solicitation Number
- 2BRPSR-04-A-1408
- Response Due
- 8/20/2004
- Archive Date
- 10/4/2004
- Point of Contact
- Kathleen Hamilton, Purchasing & Supply Management Specialist, Phone (303) 369-1255, Fax (303) 369-1251, - Caroline Conway, Category+Manager+and+C.O.%2C+Retail+Products+and+Services, Phone 303-369-1204,
- E-Mail Address
-
kathleen.hamilton@usps.gov, Caroline.Z.Conway%40usps.gov
- Description
- UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ? 2BRPSR-04-A-1408 STAMPS ON CONSIGNMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT Request for Information Process The United States Postal Service (Postal Service) desires to engage in discussions with qualified companies interested in serving as a national supplier for its Stamps on Consignment program. The Stamps on Consignment program has been an effective and efficient means for making postage stamps available to millions of customers where they work and shop. However, the Postal Service is seeking to enhance this already successful program by soliciting new ideas and new approaches from potential suppliers. By responding to this Request for Information (RFI), interested companies have an opportunity to share their qualifications with the Postal Service and their concepts for providing the requested service, which do not contain information which the supplier would not be willing to share with other potential suppliers. Interested companies that meet program requirements may be contacted by Postal Service representatives and may ultimately be asked to attend a supplier workshop or to submit a detailed proposal, based upon those discussions. A retail agreement, in a form provided by the Postal Service, or, a Request for Proposal resulting in a contract, are possible results of this RFI. However, the Postal Service does not guarantee that a retail agreement or an RFP will be issued as a result of this RFI process. The Postal Service does not intend to pay for the information solicited. Background Under the Stamps on Consignment program, the Postal Service currently distributes primarily U.S. postage stamp booklets to approximately 40,000 commercial retail outlets, located in all 50 states. These retail outlets include grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores, and bank ATMs. The stamps are distributed by a national supplier, under contract with the Postal Service. The stamps are sold at no more than face value at both retail and through ATMs. Orders are fulfilled either on a subscription basis with a set monthly stamp volume or on demand with required minimum quantities ordered. Retailers receive no commission or payment from the Postal Service, but instead provide stamp sales as an adjunct to their business and as a convenience to their customers. Retailers do not pay Postal Service or its distribution supplier up front for the postage, but instead pay for stamps generally within 30 days (hence the term, ?consignment?). Besides distribution and replenishment, the Postal Service Stamps on Consignment supplier is responsible for soliciting new retailers to participate in this program and increasing the volume sold by current consignees. Retailers, or ?consignees,? place orders with the supplier who in turn requisitions new stamp stock from the Postal Service supply center. Distribution is then made to the retailers. Shipments to participating retailers of all stamps and materials, including marketing displays and supplies, are made using Postal Service services. Information Requested Responses to this RFI should address the following capabilities. However, respondents are also encouraged to identify additional capabilities, opportunities, and achievable innovation for Stamps on Consignment program enhancements. 1. Company Capability Demonstration of a marketing plan and strategies to expand the channel volume significantly, reduce Postal Service costs and increase value. Description of plans to provide security, warehousing, and timely shipment of stamp stock to each participating retail location. Identification of the means proposed to re-supply stamp stock to ensure that all materials are continually stocked and orders received. Demonstration of the ability to identify, segregate and transmit payments by electronic funds transfer to designated finance sites. Demonstration of the ability to provide revenue reports to the Postal Service within a specified period from the close of each month. The examples of such reports include: shipped Value report (weekly amount of stamps shipped, returned etc.), inventory report (weekly forecast and churn), and sales report (current consignees, sales and sales forecast etc.). 2. Revenue-Sharing Proposal The Postal Service is particularly interested in translating the value of this channel and its presence in retail locations across the United States. Consequently, the Postal Service may desire to enter into a revenue-sharing relationship with the selected company based on the agreed upon marketing strategies. Respondents are asked to propose a revenue-sharing strategy in which the Postal Service shares in the revenue generated through marketing this program through the Stamps on Consignment network. The Stamps on Consignment program must be at a minimal or no cost (no out of pocket expenses) to the Postal Service. 3. Financial Capability Some respondents may be asked to submit financial statements for the past two years. 4. Contact Information Responses must include the company representative?s name(s), title, business phone, fax, email and mailing address. Interested companies should submit 5 copies of their response package to this RFI, by August 20, 2004 to the following address: Kathleen Hamilton RFI 2BRPSR-04-A-1408 Retail Products & Services Category Team 3300 S Parker Road, Suite 400 Aurora CO 80016-3500 Responses to the RFI should not exceed 20 pages. Questions regarding the content, objectives, or nature of this RFI must be submitted in writing, by email to Kathleen.Hamilton@usps.gov or by fax to Kathleen Hamilton at 303-369-1251. Telephone inquiries will not be entertained. Questions must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the response due date in order to allow sufficient time for the Postal Service to provide an answer. By responding to this Request for Information (RFI), interested companies have an opportunity to share their qualifications with the Postal Service and their concepts for providing the requested service. Interested companies that present concepts that meet program requirements and present promising business opportunities may be contacted by Postal Service representatives and may ultimately be asked to attend a supplier workshop or to submit a detailed proposal, based upon those discussions. The Postal Service?s decision to pursue discussions with respondents to this RFI will be based upon a judgment of those companies that offer the best business opportunity. The Postal Service may engage in discussions with multiple respondents. Based upon the Postal Service?s assessment of responses to the RFI and the business needs of the Postal Service, we may choose to pursue a retail agreement, in a form provided by the Postal Service, issue a Request for Proposal that could result in a contract or may continue with services provided through the existing supplier, via an existing contract option. All companies that respond to this RFI will be informed of the Postal Service?s decision.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Nationwide Program
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN00619469-W 20040714/040712212737 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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