D -- USPS POSTECS OUTSOURCING ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY/PREQUALIFICATION ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice Date

October 19, 2001

Contracting Office

United States Postal Service, Supplies and Services Purchasing, Alliance and Innovations Group, Room 4541, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC, 20260-6230

ZIP Code

20260-6230

Solicitation Number

TBD

Response Due

November 2, 2001

Point of Contact

Mark Guilfoil, Manager, Alliance & Innovations Group, HQ Purchasing, Phone 202-268-8951, Fax 202-268-3677, Email mguilfoil@email.usps.gov

Description

United States Postal Service (USPS), PosteCS Outsourcing Acquisition Opportunity, Prequalification Announcement. Prequalification Notice: This notice serves as public announcement that pursuant to USPS Purchase Manual (PM) Secti on 3.5.2, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking to prequalify sources for participation in a competitiv e acquisition for selection of a contractor to operate and provide PosteCS Product Services (PPS) for our existing P osteCS Internet messaging offering. The USPS anticipates providing for a single competitive award resulting from th is acquisition process on or about March 12, 2002. The resulting contract anticipates providing for compensation to the operating contractor based on a limited base fee structure and a negotiated sharing percentage of product reven ues. Product Information: The USPS seeks a firm to operate and manage under USPS direction our PosteCS web application p roduct. PosteCS is a communications methodology that provides an internet-based secure content delivery service whi ch transfers important or sensitive documents from enterprises and individuals to anyone in the world with an email account and a web browser. Our PosteCS service sends any type of electronic file over the Internet in a fast, relia ble and secure method, and takes advantage of widely adopted Internet standards to provide a reliable and secure ele ctronic business solution. Additionally, PosteCS provides a variety of security options such as encryption, passwor d protection, secure sockets layer (SSL) connections, and the ability to set document expiration dates to help prote ct important, competitive, or sensitive information. The PosteCS service's flexible architecture allows seamless integration into existing systems. Integrated Adobe Acr obat Portable Document Format technology (PDF) supports the exchange of documents between a variety of computing sys tems, helping to avoid the problems of viewing files without the original application and fonts. Tracking and traci ng, account management, and email list features provide a comprehensive delivery solution. The PosteCS service also integrates the USPS Electronic Postmark digital authentication system that combines tamper detection with an offici al time-and-date seal. The PosteCS system platform currently uses the Integrated Messaging Exchange (IME) software built by the Tumbleweed Communications Corporation, and is hosted by the USPS. Process Information: The USPS is seeking and intends to prequalify sources with a proven track record of providing IT hosting services, integration, software testing, and customer support services to act as the outsourcing contract or for PPS . A Request for Proposal (RFP) will only be provided to those firms determined to be prequalified in acc ordance with the supplier specific review criteria provided below. The USPS plans to issue the RFP at a public meet ing with the participating companies in late November 2001. Firms will be requested to submit technical and pricing proposals for evaluation to provide the subject PosteCS Product Services (PPS). Prequalification Criterion: The USPS will evaluate the submitted pre-qualification statements based on the followin g factors: (1) demonstration of existing IT service experience and management of electronic messaging product offer ings of like complexity to the PosteCS product, (2) extent of existing IT hardware resources as measured by storage and transactional capacity, (3) firms financial strength and net revenue totals for the last three years (include co mpanies most current financial statements), (4) strength of listing of IT related postal/federal or commercial contr acts performed within the last 3 years including a brief description of the efforts performed, the contract number, dates of performance, customer's and Contracting Officer's name and phone number, and the dollar value of the contra ct, (4) suppliers adherence to current quality and reliability standards; and (5) past performance. Past Performanc e: The supplier must supply pertinent information such that the USPS can evaluate Past Performance (ref. PM Section 2.1.7.c). Past Performance information is based on the following: (a) Quality; (b) Timeliness of Performance; (c) B usiness Relations; (d) Cost Control; and (e) Supply Chain Management. While the USPS currently hosts PosteCS and ma y consider some limited USPS furnished hardware in performance of the contract, preference at this prequalification stage will be given to firms who can provide independent hardware and storage/server capacity, show an ability to pr ovide customer contacts, have existing marketing resources, and provide proven customer service capability. During the pre-qualification process, the USPS reserves the right to visit an interested firm?s facility to perform a pre-qualification inspection and site visit. Submissions: Firms interested in being considered as a prequalified source for this requirement should provide a su bmission addressing each of the criteria listed above. This announcement does not in any way commit the USPS to the reimbursement of any proposal cost or expense, or otherwise create an obligation on the part of the USPS. The USPS is not obligated to award any contract as a result of this announcement. The discussed acquisition noted herein is contingent upon USPS management approval. Interested firms are instructed to send the required prequalification in formation to Ms. Patricia N. Harris (email address: pharri12@usps.gov), eCommerce Specialist, Product Development, 475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W., Aerospace Building, NPC 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20260-4416, no later than November 2, 2001. Hardcopy or electronic submissions via PosteCS are acceptable. Instructions for electronic submission: 1) a ccess www.usps.com/postecs/, 2) enroll for 30-day free trial, 3) upon receipt of user ID and password (one-day proce ss) go to https://global.postecs.com, 4) address message, 5) attach submission and send to pharri12@usps.gov. The q ualification statement should not exceed 30 pages. One original and two copies of all materials submitted are reque sted. All inquiries must be in writing, no telephone requests will be accepted.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/USPS/SSP/AIHQ/TBD/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011023/DSOL007.HTM (A-292 SN511175)