Sources Sought and Pre Qualification Notice - Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to support parcel and bundle sorting automation equipment

General Information Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Solicitation Number: TBD Posted Date: TBD Archive Date: Original Response Date: Current Response Date: Classification Code: 99-- Miscellaneous SetAsides: NAICS Code: 491110 - Postal Service Contracting Office Address United States Postal Service (USPS) Material Handling CMC 8403 Lee Highway Dewey Bldg Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150 FedBizOpps Notice Type Sources Sought and Pre Qualification Notice - Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to support parcel and bundle sorting automation equipment. Amendment This is an update to correct the following: a. Read rate requirement is 80% not 60% b. In the - Requirements section the second sentence first paragraph - This recognition platform must accept grayscale images from an industrial camera application and output decoded barcode data, binarized images, and finalized address information based on an address directory database is deleted and replaced with - This recognition platform must accept binarized images from an industrial camera application and output finalized address information based on an address directory database. All other requirements remain unchanged. Description The USPS is considering potential sources to upgrade many of the existing fleet of Small Parcel Bundle Sorter (SPBS) machines. This upgrade will be performed by providing each location with a kit of SPBS upgrade parts which will be installed at each site. The upgraded SPBS will be called the Automated Parcel Bundle Sorter (APBS). The APBS parts will be integrated into the APBS "Build Kit. This FebizOpps announcement is for the sourcing, purchase, aggregation, and shipping of an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system to support parcel and bundle sorting automation equipment. It is anticipated that each APBS OCR System Kit will be customized per USPS needs and will be packaged and shipped within the United States. Background The USPS is increasing productivity of its package processing operations by deploying automated package and bundle sortation equipment. A central focus of this effort is OCR and bar code recognition (BCR) platforms. APBS is designed to perform address recognition, barcode visibility, and revenue protection functions on packages and bundles. The objective of this notice is to gather information from current sources that can meet the requirements specified herein. This is a request for information only and is not a solicitation to purchase equipment or services. The USPS may use information gathered through this announcement to pre-qualify multiple sources for the opportunity to submit a proposals for possible future solicitations. Pre-qualification Process Pre-qualification is a process whereby a supplier's ability to meet specific USPS requirements is evaluated. A purchase team will review and evaluate documentation submitted by interested suppliers in accordance with the evaluation factors listed in this announcement. To receive credit for evaluation purposes, suppliers must meet all the requirements and submit adequate documentation. Failure to address an item or submit the required documentation will reflect negatively in the evaluation scoring. After the purchase team review and analyze supplier responses based on information requested in this pre-qualification process, suppliers may be placed on the pre-qualified list. All qualified suppliers may not be placed on the pre-qualified list if the purchase team decides (1) a smaller group will provide adequate competition, or (2) that some suppliers are considerably more qualified than others, thereby precluding opportunities for the less qualified. During this process, each prospective supplier can be assured of the following: 1. All suppliers will be treated fairly and objectively 2. The inclusion or exclusion of a particular supplier will be based on business decisions alone and will be judged solely on the predetermined pre-qualification criteria. 3. A sufficient number of suppliers will be placed on the list to ensure adequate completion for subsequent purchases. 4. Any sensitive business information provided by a supplier will be sufficiently protected from disclosure. The pre-qualification process does not constitute an assurance that a subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued. However, when, or if a RFP is issued, it will be provided to those suppliers on the pre-qualification list. Those pre-qualified suppliers will be required to agree to a Non Disclosure Agreement prior to receipt of the potential USPS RFP. Should an RFP be issued, it may or may not result in an award, and the Postal Service reserves the right to make more than one award to procure the services required. The USPS may elect to use the information received in the responses to this pre-qualification process to satisfy subsequent business needs. Late Submissions Any document received at the office designated in the pre-qualification package after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered unless it is received before the evaluation takes place, and: a. It is the only submission received; or b. Consideration of the submission is determined by the contracting officer to be in the Postal Service's interest. Requirements Potential sources must have the ability to provide an address recognition platform utilizing OCR and BCR capabilities in a real-time environment. This recognition platform must accept binarized images from an industrial camera application and output finalized address information based on an address directory database. This platform must be capable of integration with third party camera systems and arbitration systems using either open interfaces or USPS-proprietary interfaces. An estimated 200 mail processing machines will require local integration of this platform. The Supplier must show the ability to obtain, provide, and support this image recognition platform. The ability to provide technical support after deployment must be demonstrated by the Supplier. The platform must be capable of meeting minimum performance requirements, including minimum recognition required accept rate of approximately 80% of non-barcoded mail and error rate of 1.0 % or less of accepts within a time limitation of less than 1,000ms from image acquisition. Schedule & Deliverables The pre-qualification process is not a solicitation. Pricing is not an evaluation factor in the pre-qualification process so therefore business packages must not include any pricing information. To receive credit for evaluation purposes, suppliers must meet all criteria and submit all adequate documentation. Supplier must address each of the requirements listed under Evaluation Criteria independently and in-depth. Statements to criteria such as - will comply, - the equipment complies, or the like, will reflect negatively in the evaluation scoring. For standardization, please address and tab each individual criterion separately by the number listed under Evaluation Criteria. Section headings must match the evaluation criteria. Please clearly mark each sheet containing confidential and proprietary information. Pre-qualification submission is limited to 10 pages (8.5 x11- single sided, minimum 10 point font). This does not include the table of contents page, past performance references, financial information or screen print items (limit screen print items to 2 pages per criterion). Interested parties shall submit a total of six (6) hard and six (6) soft data copies of their response to Mr. Darryl L. Mattocks on or before 11:00 AM EST, Monday Jun 21, 2010. Questions regarding pre-qualifications should be directed to Darryl Mattocks, (703) 280-7431, darryl.l.mattocks@usps.gov. Submissions are to be delivered to: Darryl L. Mattocks Purchasing & Supply Mgmt. Spec. Material Handling CMC 8403 Lee Highway Dewey Building Merrifield, VA, 22082-8150 The Postal Service will not be responsible for incomplete submissions as a result of Internet failure and will only rely on the hard copy Business Package received at the Material Handling CMC in Merrifield, VA on or before the specified time and date above.