U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Room N-5416, Washington, DC 20210

70 -- CHARACTER RECOGNITION SYSTEM SOL RFI T.N. 96-15 POC Phyllis R. McMeekin, Contracting Officer, (202) 219-6445 Charles E. Greer, Jr., Contract Negotiator, (202) 219-6445. The U.S. Department of Labor's, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) seeks information about existing scanning, intelligent character recognition systems, and electronic filing (or alternative technologies) which are capable of receiving and machine processing data (alpha-numeric) from approximately one million information reports annually. PWBA currently relies on manual key-entry and microfiche modalities which it intends to replace. The information reports which are the subject of this inquiry are Annual Reports (Form 5500, Form 5500-C and Form 5500-R) required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). A typical Annual Report contains identification information and financial data regarding employee retirement or health benefits provided by employers who are covered by the ERISA provisions. A typical Annual Report is 8 pages but page length may contain up to 1,000 pages in complex reports. PWBA seeks information on systems and technologies that are capable of scanning each hard copy filing into a computer data base via an imaging system with the formatted portion of the filing converted into machine code, using intelligent optical character recognition. The computerized optical character recognition should be augumented by computer-assisted manual editing of data items that do not scan properly. In addition, the existing system or proposed technology should be capable or modifiable to perform the following functions: the filer's identity should be verified and linked to past filings and the system should include an automated error detection and filer correspondence system. Filers electing to file electronically (rather than submit paper forms) should be able to file conveniently by on-line transmission, CD-ROM, floppy disk, or tape. This is not an RFP. PWBA is interested in information on the nature of existing systems which approximate the functionality of the above described ERISA Annual Report processing requirement or systems which may be adaptable to the requirement. Vendors who have information as described above are invited to submit the information (in original and five copies) to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avneue, Washington, D.C. 20210. Information must be sent to the attention of Mr. Charles E. Greer, Jr. and must be received not later than 4:45 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on May 10, 1996. All responses which are timely will be considered by a panel of PWBA employees for the formulation or recommendations to a potential solicitation document. Additionally, as comments or information furnished may result in changes in the anticipated procurement action, the Government reserves the right to release or make public comments on information received; however, in doing so the Government will not release the identity of the commentor. All firms/organizations which submit responses will be included in the distribution of any subsequent solicitation. This RFI does not commit the Government to issuing a solicitation document. (0110)

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