The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issues this Request for Information (RFI) to conduct market research for information and planning purposes to determine the existing market capability of a label printer and labels which will permanently stick to multiple types of mediums. The Government intends to review all proposed modifications and/or suggestions. With this notice, the FBI wants to obtain capabilities, delivery, or other market information for planning purposes. All interested, capable, and responsible businesses are encouraged to submit a response to this notice. INTRODUCTION The FBI Forensic Response Section (FRS) responds to various types of crime scenes requiring the collection, documentation and tracking of various types of evidence. The FRS is looking to expand their current capabilities by adding label printing capabilities to its current evidence tracking software. This software and associated label making capability will be utilized nationwide by Hazardous Evidence Response Teams (HERTs) and Evidence Response Teams (ERTs) in the field. The FRS is expanding their software development to allow the user to have the evidence information be printed out onto a label with a barcode and placed on all evidence containers. The storage vessels vary significantly in size, shape, and material. The FRS is seeking a small thermal transfer printer that can print labels that will withstand harsh conditions including, but not limited to, prolonged exposure to the elements without fading or falling off of the container. BACKGROUND The FBI has a mission to collect evidence in all types of weather, environments, and hazards. The FRS protocol is for the item of evidence to be placed in a primary storage container. That container must be clearly marked with all the pertinent information pertaining to the particular item. In the event the item is collected within a hazardous environment, the primary container may be treated with a decontaminating solution and placed within one or more additional containers. Each and every additional container must also be clearly marked with all the pertinent information pertaining to the particular item. At present, most of the markings are done by hand with a permanent indelible ink marker. Writing this information by hand is time consuming, has the potential to wash away during decontamination, and can be hard to read. This can potentially slow down the investigation. Expanding the software development to include label printing will speed up the evidence collection process and allow for a 2 dimensional bar code to be placed onto the label which can be scanned. The bar code data will automatically identify the evidence and populate the information in various other software programs utilized by the FBI. "Avery" type labels have been tried in the past, but their successes were very limited. These types of labels do not typically have an adhesive capable of sticking to the storage containers for extended periods of time. Secondly, the medium these types of labels typically utilize are not capable of withstanding exposure to the elements or being treated with decontaminating solutions. The FRS wants to identify a more robust label medium with an adhesive capable of sticking to multiple types of materials. These labels need to stay attached and maintain their integrity while exposed to the elements for a period of not less than 2 years. FRS believes this type of label will allow the collection process to be streamlined, faster, more accurate and greatly reduce human time and error encountered. REQUIREMENTS The following are requirements/features desired by the Government: Label Printer Printer Specifications: • Printer type: Thermal Transfer • Resolution: Minimum of 203 dpi • Min print width 4" • Min print length: 6" • Minimum print speed: 3"/sec • Physical Characteristics: o Maximum Width: 9" o Maximum Height: 9" o Maximum Depth (length): 13" o Maximum Weight: 10 lbs o Operational temps: 40 degrees F to 100 degrees F o Memory: minimum of 4 MB o Electrical: 100-240VAC • Connection: USB 1.1 or 2.0, RS-232, 10/100 Ethernet • Barcode: Must print 1D and 2D barcodes • Symbologies: Must print a minimum of o Linear Codabar o Code 128 o Code 39 o Postnet o Data Matrix o PDF417 o MicroPDF417 o QR Code o Fonts and Graphics • Media Characteristics: o Must be able to print onto multiple label types including, but not limited to, polyester labels. o Must be able to have a resin label put onto labels • Must include all wires to connect to power and to computer • Must include all print drivers and software • Must have the ability to run on a supplied battery pack or be powered through the PC connection Labels & Ribbon Label & Ribbon Specifications: • Adhesive: o Must be able to bond to multiple mediums including but not limited to paper, plastic, tyvek, metal, and cardboard. o Must be able to adhere to surfaces in all weather conditions including but not limited to hot/cold temperatures, rain, snow, high/low humidity, sandy and/or dusty. o Must remain adhered to surfaces for a period of not less than 7 years. o Must be able to withstand temperature variances from -20 degrees F to 120 degrees F • Label: o Must be white in color o Must be guaranteed to last 2 years outdoors o Must not fade when exposed to direct sunlight o Must have a minimum 350 labels per roll o Must accept Thermal Transfer printing o Must be compatible with the printer being used • Ribbon o Must be color black o Must permanently bond to label material o Must not fade when exposed to direct sunlight o Must be able to withstand exposure to the elements for a period of not less than 7 years. The FBI is open to any commercial off the shelf (COTS) labels and printers that could meet the needs of the FBI for this purpose. As a part of this RFI the FBI may ask vendor(s) to allow the FBI to perform an evaluation of products that are included in responses to the RFI. Evaluation of products shall be at no cost to the FBI and may take up to one (1) year to complete. In the event the FBI receives multiple recommendations for same make or model of a printer and/or labels the FBI will randomly select one vendor to provide the equipment and supplies. Vendors selected to participate in the testing and evaluation phase will be asked to sign a no-cost loan agreement prior to submitting any equipment or supplies. Please be advised that the evaluation of any equipment does not commit the FBI to purchase the equipment. IF a decision is made to purchase any of the equipment tested, it will be done in accordance with the applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations, which requires using full and open competitive procedures in the acquisition of goods and services. Note: This RFI is only soliciting information on ways to improve the efficiency of labeling evidence and tracking it. It is not intended to solicit ways to improve the actual evidence collection process All questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted by email to the Contracting Officer at
[email protected] . THIS NOTICE IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposal, a Solicitation, a Request for Quotation, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in this announcement. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement. DISCLAMIER : This RFI is issues solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. HOW TO RESPOND : Firms that wish to respond to this RFI shall provide the following: (1) a brief summary of the specs for the printer, labels, and ribbon, (2) ability to loan a printer (with all necessary wires, drivers, and software), a minimum of 150 labels, and enough ribbon for a minimum of 150 labels for a period of time not to exceed 1 year (labels and ribbon will not be returned since they will be consumed during the testing process) for evaluation purposes at no-cost to the FBI, (3) ability to supply the FBI with the labels, ribbon, printer with all its parts within two weeks of being selected, (4) a cost estimate for the printer, labels, and ribbon, (5) size of labels available, (6) amount of labels on roll, and (7) how many labels can the printer print before the printer head burns out. The government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. *****VENDORS SHALL NOT SUBMIT ANY EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES WITH THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE. DESCRIPTION OF INFORMATION REQUESTED All vendors with an appropriate product are invited to submit a specification sheet and contact information. The specification sheet should discuss the product's capabilities as they relate to the potential requirements. Vendors with a GSA schedule should provide the contract number of that schedule. In your response, please identify solutions that require custom design and those that can be met with commercial off-the-shelf products (COTS). Please include product named and identifying number of COTS products. If multiple firms reply with the identical printer and label system the FBI will randomly pick one of the companies to loan the FBI the materials. Responses shall be limited to no more than 10 pages with 12 point font, not including cover letter, cover page, and table of contents. Responses shall also include company name, size, technical and administrative points of contacts, telephone numbers, and email addresses with your inquiry. Please submit responses via email in Microsoft Office format by 12:00PM July 15, 2013. NOTE : Responses to this announcement will not be returned, nor will there be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in any subsequent solicitation, and the FBI may contact one or more respondents for clarifications and to enhance the Government's understanding. This announcement is Government market research and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses.