SOURCES SOUGHT
74 -- Social Security Number Card Printer Replacement Project (SSNCPRP)
- Notice Date
- 11/25/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 333293
— Printing Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Social Security Administration, Office of Budget, Finance, and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1st Floor, Rear Entrance, 7111 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21244
- ZIP Code
- 21244
- Solicitation Number
- SSA-RFI-SSNCRP2
- Archive Date
- 12/30/2008
- Point of Contact
- Christopher D Mettee,, Phone: 410-965-9486, Kathleen B Spangler,, Phone: 4109660392
- E-Mail Address
-
christopher.mettee@ssa.gov, kathleen.spangler@ssa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG, in conjunction with its customer, the Office of Telecommunications and Systems Operations (OTSO), is currently performing market research to determine the availability of printers capable of printing Social Security Number (SSN) cards to replace its two IBM 6262 impact printers. SSA is seeking information from interested sources regarding the availability of printer technologies or printers capable of printing SSN cards utilizing its current card mailer substrate with minimal or no programmatic changes required as workarounds for the printer band-controls. In addition to information regarding the printer, SSA requests details regarding availability, security, maintainability, stability, and the capacity to accommodate two percent growth annually. Synopsis Terms and Conditions: • This is a sources sought announcement, a market survey for written information only. • This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and the Government will not award a contract from this announcement. • The Government will not reimburse for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. • The Government will not accept any telephone calls requesting a bid package or solicitation. There is no bid package or solicitation. • In order to protect the procurement integrity of any future procurement, if any, that may arise from this announcement; the Government will not give information regarding the technical point of contact. • The Government will not make appointments for presentations. This synopsis is for planning purposes only, not a commitment by the Government. • The Government will use responses to this sources sought/market research notice to make appropriate acquisition decisions. As part of a past procurement, SSA tested a printer using Flash Fusion technology that was unsuccessful in maintaining the security of the printed character. SSA conducted a secure printer replacement study to develop alternative solutions to the current SSN card print environment. Potential options for replacements identified in the study are UV Cured Inkjet print technologies or technologies that involve physical absorption of the ink by the paper fibers. SSA currently prints an average of 80,000 SSN cards per day. The size of the SSN card is 4 inches by 8 inches, and SSA prints in the 1-up format on 90-pound paper. When printing two SSN cards, SSA uses 8 inches by 9 inches. The 9-inch dimension currently contains tractor feeds that SSA removes during the insertion process. In the future SSA will change this fan fold to roll stock. The solution must be field modifiable from fan fold to roll paper stock. Due to the security of the Social Security Card, SSA cannot provide SSN Card samples to the Vendor. The printing requirements of SSA are: • SSA is not looking for a multiple printer solution. However, SSA is considering the potential for a backup printer. • Each printer must be capable of printing up to 120,000 SSN cards per 8 hour shift. • The print operator needs to be able to start, stop, and restart print jobs as well as control priorities and print order. • The solution must be capable of printing on pin-fed stock and be adaptable to accept roll feed with two-up or three-up stock. • The solution must be capable of printing on the current stock (pre-printed, 90 pound banknote stock). • Due to a proprietary character set, the printing solution must be compatible of receiving an AFP IPDS data stream. • If the print solution is not native IPDS, then SSA would prefer internal protocol conversion as compared to an external device. • The printed character on the SSN card substrate must be recognizable by OCR readers within the current SSA Track and Trace system. • The printed character must pass distinctive performance testing in additional to the standard industry tests. Testing will include at a minimum extensive scratch and lift testing, as-well-as chemical spot testing. • Printers must cease printing upon error and must indicate the problem by displaying a visible malfunction indicator or message upon the printer. • The recommended solution should consider hardware redundancy. • Printers must have a visual display showing error messages and/or error codes. • Power requirement: SSA anticipates implementation of printers in the National Computer Center (NCC) located in Baltimore, MD. The electrical distribution infrastructure of the NCC is 480V:208V/120V. These are delta/wye configuration transformers. All three voltages are available in UPS or house power supplies. However, SSA prefers to avoid 120V configurations for this solution unless it is for peripheral support equipment. 3-phase power is available and recommended for solutions exceeding 30A. • The solution must include all hookups necessary to interface with the SSA IPv4 10/100 Ethernet network via an RJ45 connector. • The solution must be IPv6 compliant or a planned implementation of IPv6 must be established. • Only new equipment is acceptable. • Must provide one year of consumables (i.e., Ink, cleaning materials, and any miscellaneous items required by the solution) • Installation services will be included with the delivery of the printers and shall include unpacking and initial set-up (configuration services). • The solution must include an Output Stacker tray. • The contractor shall provide on-call, on-site maintenance for all hardware supplied for a period of 90 days following the delivery of each printer (warranty period). • Optional: a soundproof cabinet or encasement. The workload supported by this secure printing solution is under severe scheduling constrains. If a printer stops for any reason, on site technical support is required within 4 hours, five days a week. The Contractor must provide repair services when any part of the contractor-provided hardware fails to perform properly. The printers will be located in Baltimore, Maryland. This is not a request for proposal, therefore SSA will not honor or respond to written and/or verbal requests for copies of a solicitation, or other information related to this announcement. SSA will use this information in their assessment of capable sources. Interested sources that believe they have the ability to perform the solution and services required should submit a detailed statement of their in writing to Christopher Mettee, Contract Specialist, Division of Information Technology and Maintenance, 7111 Security Boulevard, 1st Floor Rear Entrance, Baltimore, MD 21244. SSA will accept responses submitted electronically via email at Christopher.Mettee@ssa.gov. Please reference SSA-RFI-SSNCRP2 in the email subject line. SSA must receive all responses by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2008.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3631c8d889514696c0f0f0bace4c61c3&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Social Security Administration, National Computer Center, 6201 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland, 21235-2000, United States
- Zip Code: 21235-2000
- Zip Code: 21235-2000
- Record
- SN01710544-W 20081127/081125220405-3631c8d889514696c0f0f0bace4c61c3 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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