USPS Request for Information (RFI) – 3A-20-A-0032 -Robotic Induction and Singulation Background The United States Postal Service (USPS) seeks information for a robotic induction and singulation solution for various package sortation systems used in USPS Operations. The solution shall provide the technology to automate the pick and place of incoming parcels onto the existing belted induction of a package sortation system. The solution is expected to upgrade existing parcel sorters and may be used in place of conventional singulation systems on future parcel sorters. Requirements The technical requirements and objectives of the Robotic Induction and Singulation system are described in the attached Statement of Objectives (SOO), “Robotic Induction and Singulation,” dated January 27, 2020. Suppliers should read the SOO document for an understanding of the technical scope and the USPS intended approach to evaluate suppliers’ responses to this RFI. This RFI will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will involve the USPS evaluation of RFI responses offering a technical solution and providing company information. From the Phase 1 evaluation, the USPS will select suppliers to be invited to participate in Phase 2, a System Demonstration and Evaluation using USPS-supplied test mail. Suppliers must provide the information requested in the RFI for USPS evaluation (Phase 1) to be eligible to receive an invitation to participate in the Phase 2 System Demonstration. Responding to this RFI Interested suppliers responding to this RFI should provide information that addresses the requirements as described in the SOO and shall include, at a minimum, the following: - A technical response to the Statement of Objectives (SOO). - Video/Simulation of proposed technical solution. - Information detailing the supplier’s current and past history and experience in providing the offered technology/solution. - Information to sufficiently demonstrate the supplier’s financial and organizational capability, including relevant past performance history and information demonstrating the financial strength (e.g., balance sheets or income statements) and resources available to manage and execute the development and production of the solution. Dun & Bradstreet information and rating should be included. - Company information to include: company name, any subsidiaries or associated companies, company address, company website, company overview, and Point of Contact name and phone number/email address. Proprietary information, if any, should be kept to a minimum and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. Please be advised that all submissions become USPS property and will not be returned. Please note that this RFI does not in any way commit the USPS to make any award, or to test or to purchase any equipment. Any questions pertaining to this RFI should be directed to Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected] no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, February 28, 2020. All questions will be consolidated and the Postal Service’s responses will be provided as an amendment to this announcement. AMENDMENT (03/05/2020) : The U.S. Postal Service will continue to accept questions from Suppliers pertaining to this RFI until 5:00 PM ET Monday, March 9, 2020. Questions should be directed to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected]. All questions will be consolidated and the Postal Service’s responses will be provided in a future amendment to this announcement. AMENDMENT (03/13/2020): The U.S. Postal Service's responses to the Suppliers' questions have been provided as an attachment to this announcement. The drawings noted in the responses to Question 1 and Question 2 have also been provided as an attachment to this announcement. Written submissions in response to this RFI must be provided via email to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected] no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, March 16, 2020. AMENDMENT (03/05/2020) : The due date for supplier written submissions in response to this RFI has been extended to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, March 23, 2020 . Submissions must be provided by this date via email to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected]. AMENDMENT (03/16/2020) : The due date for supplier written submissions in response to this RFI has been extended to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, March 30, 2020 . Submissions must be provided by this date via email to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected]. The USPS will conduct a pre-response conference for suppliers interested in this RFI on Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET (10:00 am – noon PST). The conference will be held via WebEx. All suppliers interested in responding to this RFI are encouraged to participate in the conference. During the conference, the USPS will respond to the questions that have been submitted by suppliers. To receive an invitation to participate in the pre-response conference, suppliers must email a request for an invitation to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected] no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, February 28, 2020. AMENDMENT (03/04/2020) : Due to high levels of industry interest, the U.S. Postal Service will continue to accept requests from Suppliers to participate in the Pre-Response Conference until 10:00 AM EST Thursday, March 5, 2020. Requests for an invitation to participate in the Conference must be sent to both Tammi Robinson-Minor at
[email protected] and Andrew Hopkins at
[email protected]. AMENDMENT (03/05/2020) : The USPS presentation materials from the Pre-Response Conference on March 5, 2020 have been provided as an attachment to this announcement. Applicable Solicitation Provision The following standard USPS solicitation provision applies: Provision A-2: Solicitation for Information or Planning Purposes (March 2006) a. The Postal Service does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to pay for the information solicited. b. This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: gathering information to assess market capability for robotic induction and singulation of parcels for sortation. RFI Amendment Tracking List AMENDMENT 03/04/2020: 1) Extended date for supplier requests to participate in the Pre-Response Conference from 5:00 PM ET on Friday, February 28, 2020 to 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 5, 2020 AMENDMENTS 03/05/2020: 1) Extended date for supplier submission of questions from 5:00 PM ET on Friday, February 28, 2020 to 5:00 PM ET on Monday, March 9, 2020 2) Extended date for supplier written submissions in response to the RFI from 5:00 PM ET on Monday, March 16, 2020 to 5:00 PM ET on Monday, March 23, 2020 3) Provided the presentation materials from the Supplier Pre-Response Conference held on March 5, 2020 as an attachment to the announcement AMENDMENT 03/13/2020: 1) Provided the U.S. Postal Service’s responses to Suppliers’ questions as well as the drawings noted in the responses to Questions 1 and 2 as attachments to the announcement AMENDMENT 03/16/2020: 1) Extended date for supplier written submissions in response to the RFI from 5:00 PM ET on Monday, March 23, 2020 to 5:00 PM ET on Monday, March 30, 2020