Mailing Address: U.S. Postal Service, Headquarters Automation Purchasing, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA 22802-8150, Delivery address: Ground Floor, Dewey Business Center, 3001 Prosperity Avenue, Merrifield, VA 22082-8150

39 -- POWERED ROLLERS AND REMOTE CONVEYOR CONTROL AND DATA COLLECTION Sol RLA-95-0001 due 101695. Contact: Fred W. Medico, Purchasing Specialist, 703/280-7817, Michael J. Dlugasch, Contracting Officer, 703/280-7820. Description e.g. Sources Sought. The U.S. Postal Service is initiating a program of roller replacement at two P&DC facilities in Illinois. The replacement rollers are 1.9 inches powered rollers. The replacement process is composed of two phases. The first phase limits the number of rollers to be replaced to a manageable number so that installation can be completed by 11-15-95 at both sites. An evaluation period will then follow. Should the evaluation prove successful, the USPS intends to complete the roller replacement at both sites during a phase two. Phase two, however, will utilize a control system which will allow both remote conveyor control and data collection. The new control system will be composed of a distributed I/O system composed of a combination of smart devices (photosensors, solenoids, etc.) and standard components. The system will overlay the current control system and will be managed from the Central Control Room (CCR). Scope of Demonstration: To best determine the most suitable smart distributed control system, the USPS is building a test loop, located in Columbia, MD, which will be made available to contractors interested in demonstrating their product. The system shall utilize 1.9 inch powered rollers with logic used to control twenty-four (24) inch zones using either AC or DC low voltage power source. The contractors shall be composed of a team of ``partners'' composed of a powered roller manufacturer and a supplier of smart distributed systems. Prior to participation, the partners shall supply complete and current non-discounted pricing. The USPS will supply an empty frame configuration (TL-1) and power (115 VAC). The partners will be offered a window to populate the empty frame using their drive and idler rollers, install their control solution and debug the system. The contractors' control system shall also provide a means of data collection and report printout of applicable evaluation elements. Systems will be tested for eight hours (8hrs) for five (5) consecutive days. Each step of the process will be subject to an evaluation that will utilize a point system. Elements to be evaluated include: Roller Operation, Controls Operations, Jam Handling, Error Handling, Slug Mode Operations, Singulation Mode Operations, Merge Operations, Special Features. Minimums: Each team shall demonstrate the ability of their control system to count trays at several locations. The count locations shall be at the entrance to the three-way diverter servicing branches A, B and C and at the head end of branches A, B and C. A controlled test shall be conducted to place a selected number of trays on the main loop and then verify the counting ability at each of the selected locations. For the test, the diverter shall be programmed so that every other tray is routed to a different branch. After verifying, manually, the count of trays at the entry to the three way diverter, this test shall be suspended and the counts checked. The Contractor shall also demonstrate any unique reporting capabilities of this system to detect errors. He may do this by introducing errors, marginal sensors, bad or marginal powered rollers and allowing the system to report them. A hard copy of the results shall be made available. Also, at this time the Contractor may be requested to demonstrate the system under the influence of USPS selected errors. After the counting and unique capabilities of the system have been adequately tested and verified, the Contractor shall run two separate tests, one to singulate trays and the other to slug feed or continuously run trays. Slug Feed: In the slug feed mode, sufficient numbers of trays shall be placed aboard the main line so that the line shall run continuously. At the end of each hours run, a count will be taken and recorded. The test shall be rerun for a period of twenty-four hours over the course of three consecutive days. At the end of the test, the total counts will be accumulated and a throughput judgement made. The Contractor shall make available any reporting unique to his system that would demonstrate the ability of his system to report component degradation-sensors or the powered rollers. Singulation: The singulation mode shall be demonstrated by minimizing the number of trays on the loop so that the full indexing capability of all of the zones may be observed. The system shall operate in this mode for an eight (8) hour period. At the end of the period, the counts will be taken and retained. Counting, in this mode, shall serve to compare overall delays in the release method. Schedule: All testing and evaluation will be completed by 01/03/96. Each partnering team will be offered a window of participation. The times will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. This effort will be at no cost to the Postal Service managed under a No Cost Agreement. (279)

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