U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Room 1830, Washington, DC 20212

D -- REPLACEMENT OF THE OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION AND IMAGING SYSTEM SOL RFQ-BLS-01-EHL DUE 112299 POC Edris LaRoche (202) 606-6025 E-MAIL: JACK WEBER, LaRoche_E@BLS.gov. For Information Purposes Only -- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a requirement for the replacement of the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Imaging System located in the Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. This system will be used for the collection of schedule data for the Producer Price Index Program. The Producer Price Index application consist of up to 100,000 schedules per month of 8 1/2" X 11" or 8 1/2" x 14" documents with four (4) scannable lines. Two lines consisting of two handprint boxes each, which may contain either an "X" or a blank. One line of 16 numeric handprint characters which were entered in an uncontrolled environment. Any position in this line may be blank or "0-9". A nine digit serial number shall have the capacity to expand to 15 digits. Serial numbers shall be printed on the document by the OCR system and be emitted on the data record as it is being processed. Scanned documents shall be routed to one of two bins, depending on the data that they contain. Detailed specifications are listed under the RFQ. The entire scanned document is to be stored as a Tagged Image File Formatt (TIFF)and the scanned data as an ASCII. The offeror shall furnish, as required, the equipment, software, maintenance, installation, delivery, and other support necessary for the proper functioning of an Optical Character Recognition (OCR)and Imaging System. Training shall be provided to BLS personnel by experienced instructors that cover all operational aspects of the OCR machinery, including maintenance not performed by the offeror, use of system, software and any application software developed for or provided under this requirement. The offeror shall provide an integrated system consisting of hardware, software, and support services which shall meet all of the salient characteristics shown under the RFQ-BLS-01. Information Technology Scheduled firms may submit documentation a letter of interest and capability along with brochurs and/or other descriptiveliterature for consideration. Non-Information Technology scheduled firms will also be considered but, only if responding with clear and convincing documentation that it is more advantageous to the government price and other factors considered. In response to this notice offerors shall submit there Request for Quotation to the Attention of Edris La Roche, the contractual point of contact and cite number RFQ-BLS-01 FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY. This is a Request for Information Only and Quotations furnished are not offers No solicitation documents are available. Requests for RFQ-BLS-01 may be faxed to (202) 606-6026 no later than November 22, 1999. Posted 11/02/99 (W-SN397352). (0306)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0048 19991104\D-0010.SOL)