39 -- EXTENDIBLE UNLOADING CONVEYOR

Notice Date

September 14, 2001

Contracting Office

United States Postal Service, Supplies and Services Purchasing, Automation Purchasing (HQ), 8403 Lee Highway Dewey B ldg, Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150

ZIP Code

22082-8150

Solicitation Number

102590-02-A-0002

Response Due

October 5, 2001

Point of Contact

Kenneth Woolbright, Purchasing Specialist, Phone (703) 280-7891, Fax (703) 280-8412, Email kwoolbright@email.usps.g ov -- David Beckman, Contracting Officer, Phone (703) 280-7812, Fax (703) 280-8412, Email dbeckma1@email.usps.gov

Description

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking vendors capable of manufacturing and/or installing extendible, unlo ading conveyors. The Postal Service has a need to replace the existing fixed based telescoping extendible truck unloading c onveyors currently installed in the Bulk Mail Centers (BMCs) and Processing Distribution Centers (PDCs). It is the Postal S ervice intention to initially prequalify manufacturers for this product. For consideration, interested firms are requested to submit the following information no later than the date listed above: The vendor must demonstrate that the equipment pro posed can meet the following minimal requirements stated below. The Postal Service will review the vendors submitted inform ation. The vendors that have successfully documented these requirements will receive the extendible conveyor solicitation. Additionally, it is the intent of the Postal Service to have a preproposal meeting for further explanation of this program. The following minimal requirements will be required for consideration for this solicitation.: 1. The newly installed extendible conveyor shall be capable of providing a means to unload bed-loaded products (sacks, parce ls and letter mail trays with a maximum weight of 70 pounds each). 2. The extendible unit must be a belt conveyor unit, minimum belt width of 24 inches. 3. The extendible shall be a telescoping, cantilevered type with each boom telescoping into the boom immediately to the rear , and all booms retracting within the main frame section. 4. The maximum retracted length of the extendible unit will be 27-feet. 5. The extendible unit must be able to reach to within 3 feet of a 55-foot trailer. The unit will be installed with a setba ck of 8-feet from the unload door. 6. Belt speed of the unit must be variable with a minimum speed of 90 fpm with the product. 7. Extend speed of the unit must be 60 fpm. 8. The extendible unit must be able to process the intended mail stream. 9. The extendible shall be capable of supporting a distributed load of 75 ponds per linear feet over the entire length of th e conveyor fully extended. 10. The extendible shall withstand without failure or permanent deformation the impact force of 100 pounds solid packed No.1 mail sack dropped vertically from a height of 5 feet above the conveyor at any location along the bed of the fully extended unit. 11. At a minimum, the extendible must be equipped with a safety bar so that movement of the boom will stop automatically if the boom contacts an operator, the mail, or other resisting objects. 12. The operator shall be able to stop the boom extension or retraction at any intermediate position during the unloading pr ocess. The boom shall hold this position against the reactive forces of the loads on the belt. 13. At a minimum, control stations (including preset, stop/start, extend/retract, and emergency stop) shall be located on on e side of the extendible base as well as both sides of the tail end of the extendible section. Extendible conveyors that provide ergonomic means of unloading the mail (i.e., are able to minimize lifting/lowering and the twisting/turning motions of mail handlers) as well as units that are capable of traversing will be considered for evaluatio n but are not required. The following information must be included in your submitted information: 1. The date and location that a working machine would be available for demonstration to the USPS. Each vendor must be able to demonstrate that their existing conveyor meets the requirements stated in this Commerce Business Daily submittal. The ve ndors local maintenance representatives will be required to discuss maintenance issues with Postal representatives. A site visit for machine demonstration will only be made if the submitted information indicates the manufacturer can meet the Posta l Service requirements. 2. Type of operation and material processed on deployed machines. Include years/hours in service, size and weight limitatio ns of product conveyed; weight capacity in pounds per linear foot over entire length of unit, and means of construction. 3. Safety features of the machine. 4. Spare parts requirements of the machine. Provide details of any components that are not commercially available "off-the- shelf". 5. Any written material, drawings, photographs, and VHS videos. 6. Maintenance information such as mean time to repair and mean time between failure of proposed equipment. 7. Maintenance support and capabilities. 8. Operation and Maintenance manuals and/or handbooks. 9. Installation capabilities. Following award, the manufacturer(s), will be required to provide and deliver the extendible unit(s) to the specific Postal Facility or to a USPS General Mechanized Contractor working in the USPS facility for installation. This announcement does not in any way commit the US Postal Service to test or purchase any equipment. Qualified firms shoul d send the information to the address listed above by October 5, 2001. All inquires will be in writing with no telephone re quests accepted. The USPS is seeking to prequalify vendors capable of manufacturing and/or installating extendible, unloading conveyors.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/USPS/SSP/APHQ/102590-02-A-0002/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010918/39SOL001.HTM (A-257 SN50X6T2)