US Postal Service, Headquarters Automation Purchasing, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, Virginia 22082-8150

36 -- PARCEL AND BUNDLE SORTING EQUIPMENT -- US POSTAL SERVICE APPLICATIONS DUE 051098 POC Ms. Paulette Scott, (703)280-7815 or FAX(703)280-8412 The US Postal Service is seeking contractors capable of providing a Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter prototype for evaluation at a Postal facility. The contractor must demonstrate that the sorter design they propose is representative of currently deployed equipment and adaptable for use in a highly automated environment. This contractor should present how the equipment will conform to US Postal Service specifications and meet design goals to sort using Bar Code Reader or Optical Character Reader technologies as well as adding other automation features. The contractor will provide support of the equipment in a postal facility and expect to implement modifications to improve automation of their machines. Interested firms are requested to submit the location(s) of their deployed machine(s), the date that a machine would be available for demonstration, and any written material, drawings, photographs, and VHF videos. The contractor must demonstrate that the equipment can meet the following requirements: Equipment must be modular in design and have a footprint not larger than 4000 square feet for a 101 separation machine. The machine must be capable of processing parcels and bundles with a minimum size of 3 1/2" x 5" x 0.010" up to a size of 13" x 16" x 12" and weighing from 1/2 ounce up to 20 pounds. The sorter must have a demonstrated mechanical capacity of 11,000 pieces per hour based on a four input station machine and a sortation accuracy rate in excess of 99%. The equipment must be capable of adding the following capabilities: The sorter will sort into all existing USPS containers and sacks and have 100 outputs and 4-6 inputs. The sorter will use image processing to automate sorting using bar codes, online video encoding, and/or optical character reader. The sorter will measure volume and weight of mail pieces in motion for manifesting and operator notification of full containers. This announcement does not in any way commit the US Postal Service to test or purchase any equipment. Qualified firms should sendthe information to the address listed above not later than four weeks from the date of issue of this announcement. All inquiries will be in writing with no telephone requests accepted. (0100)

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