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

81 -- PRODUCTION,WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PACKAGING & MAILING SUPPLIES FOR RESALE SOL 102590-99-A-0127 POC Susan Coelus 202-268-7919 WEB: USPS Homepage, www.usps.com. E-MAIL: EMAIL ADDRESS OF PURCHASING SPECIALIST, scoelus@email.usps.gov. The United States Postal Service (USPS) desires to pre-qualify potential sources based on ability to provide products and services associated with packaging/mailing supplies for resale within postal retail locations. Potential suppliers must pre-qualify for all of the required services. USPS encourages the use of partnering or subcontracting arrangements as long as they can assure the USPS of performance accountability, quality, and specific value-added contributions. The USPS intends to award one contract as a result of the solicitation. The best overall value obtained from the performance arrangements proposed by pre-qualified suppliers will determine the resulting contract award. It should be noted the USPS will not split awards based on the different services required. The supplier must be able to perform all the services using its own resources, or through subcontracting arrangements, to present a complete solution. The USPS plans to introduce a consistent, standardized range of retail packaging and mailing products with its own branded image in its retail locations. The purpose of this plan is to provide added convenience to USPS customers while lowering the overall costs of program administration, and generating revenue for the USPS as part of the USPS objective to increase the revenue contribution of complimentary services and merchandise and "create a stronger, more consistent, and positive USPS image via retail." The USPS is looking for a partner firm that can produce and distribute custom packaging products most effectively, delivering directly to each individual postal retail location. The partner firm must also track inventory of postal retail locations, and create reports that allow tracking of sales by item and location. This contract will include as many as 35,000 retail sites across the country. Only those suppliers who wish to be prime contractor, capable of offering a complete solution, need respond to this announcement. Suppliers interested in prequalifying for this item may request a prequalification package via telefax, Attn Susan Coelus at 202-268-3888 or email requests to scoelus@email.usps.gov. The deadline for receipt of requests for the prequalification package is May 28, 1999, 2:00 p.m., EST. Only suppliers that submit prequalification packages in accordance with this notice may be eligible for participation in the solicitation. Not all qualified suppliers responding to this announcement will necessarily be 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 for non-selection so they may better prepare for future prequalification requirements. Posted 05/13/99 (W-SN331112). (0133)

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