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

A -- AUTOMATIC/ROBOTIC TRAY UNLOADING SYSTEM (A/RCS UNLOADER) POC Pauline McTeer, Purchasing Specialist and Mark Guilfoil, Contracting Officer, FAX 703-280-8412 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the purchasing specialist via, pmcteer@email.usps.gov. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is commencing a market survey and prequalification process in accordance with USPS Purchasing Manual (PM) Section 3.5.2 for potential competitive sources for an Automatic/Robotic Tray Unloading System (A/RCS Unloader). Prequalification materials, associated response criteria, and supplier-specific performance factors required for submission will be provided to identified automation and/or robotics firms, as well as all firms requesting the same through this announcement as directed below. The A/RCS system should be capable of unloading sleeved and strapped letter mail trays and tubs from pallets, as well as sleeved and strapped letter mail trays and flats tubs from various other types of mail containers (GPMC, ERMC, and OTR's). Considering available technology, the USPS currently anticipates that there are two different acquisitions systems/solutions required, one for unloading pallets, and one for unloading containers. The pallet unloading system would be required to singulate, face, and present mail trays and tubs in a single file orientation to feed the processing operations located at USPS Bulk Mail Centers (BMC), Mail Consolidation Centers (MCC), and Hub and Spoke Processing Facilities (HASP). A second solution would be used at USPS Processing and Distribution Centers (P&DC's) for both container and pallet unloading and would singulate, face, unstrap, unsleeve, and present mail trays and tubs in a single file orientation to feed the P&DC mail processing operations. These two A/RCS unloading systems are anticipated to be made up of a system of contractor provided components/modules, or a single solution with equivalent capabilities, to achieve each of the separate functional requirements. The USPS has developed at its own expense some A/RCS components, and may uniformly provide such USPS owned designs for contractor review and technical enhancement upon the completion of this market survey. Specific performance parameters for the A/RCS system are under review and have not been finalized as of this date. However, the USPS anticipates that the net throughput of the A/RCS system would operate in a range of up to 24 trays per minute for pallet unloading, and up to 16 trays per minute for container unloading. A draft statement of work for the A/RCS system(s) are anticipated to be available in late 1999 and will be provided for public comment prior to finalization. Through the subject prequalification opportunity and process noted herein, the USPS intends to prequalify firms for the development of in-plant prototype systems which would be partially funded by the USPS. Systems which successfully complete in-plant requirements would proceed to field testing with supplying vendors being issued a formal production solicitation (RFP). The prototype system(s) would be deployed to selected USPS sites for a live mail testing and evaluation within the requirements of the RFP and an associated cost model. The anticipated performance and evaluation period for such a field test would be approximately two months. A single production source award is contemplated. Any production contract resulting from such process is anticipated to be for a minimum of 50 systems. The USPS reserves the right to award satisfactory components or modules of the A/RCS without having to commit to the entire unloading system from one supplier. Parties should provide a written notice of interest to the USPS, R&D Automation Purchasing, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, Virginia 22082-8150, Attn: Ms. Pauline McTeer, within 30 days of this notice. The USPS is not obligated to award any contract as a result of this announcement. Posted 10/20/99 (W-SN393364). (0293)

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