U.S. Postal Service, Headquarters Purchasing, Room 4541, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20260-6230

A -- REAL TIME RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFI) POC Susan Coelus, 202-268-7919 WEB: Postal Service Internet Homepage, http://www.usps.gov. E-MAIL: E-Mail address of purchasing specialist, scoelus@email.usps.gov. Radio Frequency Identification (RFI): The US Postal Service seeks to prequalify sources capable of providing an existing radio frequency identification tag and ID tag reader family, to be further refined into a final product for postal applications. The term "existing" and "refined" mean that the offeror's proposed radio frequency identification tag must currently exist in a physical form which will allow it to be inserted into a number 10, business sized envelope. The USPS will not entertain the development of new products, and will limit itself to exploiting an existing RFI product to obtain the desired outcome. The USPS will provide development funding to accomplish several specific goals, some of which include: miniaturization of the selected ID tag; full floor RF coverage, with collision resolution which will allow the USPS to separately detect up to 6500 collocated ID tags anywhere on the workroom floors of postal facilities for which RF coverage is specified; and provide a common family of tag reading devices, including wall mounted tag readers, vehicle mounted tag readers, and hand held tag readers. Prequalification is a process whereby the suppliers' ability to meet specific USPS requirements is evaluated. Prequalified suppliers are companies or individuals whose record of performance in the marketplace (commercial, government, or both) has demonstrated their ability to perform with consistently high standards of quality and reliability. Specific prequalification factors apply for ID Tags and Tag Readers. Instructions to suppliers: Only those suppliers who wish to be prime contractor need respond to this announcement. Suppliers interested in prequalifying for this item may request a prequalification via telefax, Attn Susan Coelus, at 202-268-3888 or e-mail requests to scoelus@email.usps.gov. The deadline for USPS receipt of completed prequalification packages is November 7, 1998, 5:00 p.m. EST. Not all qualified suppliers responding to this announcement will necessarily bwe placed on the prequalified list. The prequalified list may be limited to those suppliers considered most qualified to meet the Postal Service's requirements or to a smaller list that will provide adequate competition. Competition will be limited solely to prequalified suppliers. Suppliers will be notified whether or not they are selected for the prequalification list. Suppliers who are not selected will be provided the rationale so they may better prepare for future prequalification requirements. The list will be published on the USPS's web page. Posted 10/06/98 (W-SN259662). (0279)

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