Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Feasibility Study
The USPS seeks to identify if RFID could introduce a more passive scanning process and increase Surface Visibility (SV) scan compliance to assist the organization to achieve the goal of 100% product visibility (PV).
Peak Air Transportation and Ancillary Services
The United States Postal Service is seeking to purchase air transportation, ground handling and deicing services for the peak offshore operation as well as a peak west coast to east coast operation. The dedicated offshore operation will provide point-to-point air transportation service, defined as segment transportation between Memphis, Tennessee (MEM), and the following destinations: Anchorage, Alaska (ANC), Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL) with a diversion into Los Angeles, California (LAX) on the return trip into MEM, and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU). The ANC aircraft maybe required to divert into Seattle (SEA) during the return trip back into MEM. Additionally, the LAX leg on the return trip from HNL may be removed and the aircraft would go straight to MEM. The dedicated west coast to east coast operation will provide point-to-point air transportation service, defined as segment transportation from two separate locations, one being between LAX and MEM, while the other is between San Francisco, California (SFO) and MEM.
Extended Capacity Delivery Vehicles
The United States Postal Service is issuing Solicitation No. 3D-15-A-0129 for the purchase of Extended Capacity Delivery Vehicles. This solicitation is separate from the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) and the USPS Intermediate Walk-In Body Delivery Truck requirements.
Alternative Funding Models for the Universal Service Obligation: The European Experience
The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) intends to award a contract to a supplier who possesses comprehensive knowledge and expertise with the funding approaches of universal service obligation in the European Union (EU). The purpose of this contract is to find a contractor able to support RARC by providing a report discussing the universal service obligation funding approaches in the EU. The report should include a comprehensive analysis of what is currently allowed under the law, what is being used, what is working, what is not working, what are the risks, opportunities, and tensions in the EU’s universal service obligation funding approaches. The report should include four to six country case studies from advanced countries that are relevant to the United States.
Lease of Light Trucks for Parcel/mail Delivery
The U.S. Postal Service has an anticipated need to lease approximately 500 to 1,500 light truck (generally Class 1 & 2 vehicles) for parcel and mail delivery. Lease term will be 1, 2 or 3 years. Vehicle types the USPS is seeking are Dodge Tradesman, Nissan NV1500, Ford E-150 and E250 cargo vans; Mercedes Sprinter, Dodge Promaster 1500, Ford Transit. These are examples of the type of vehicles that are required.
AFSM Camera Modernization
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is considering new technology sources to replace the existing, end-of-life, image capture and image processing equipment (OCR technology) on the Automated Flat Sorting Machine (AFSM). The anticipated contract for the work to be performed under this request for information (RFI) is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type agreement. The IDIQ is expected to have a minimum of one hundred and fifty (150) AFSM systems and a maximum of approximately five hundred (500) AFSM systems updated with new technology. The deployment of the AFSM represented a significant milestone in the Postal Service’s ability to efficiently increase the volume of flats sorted to the carrier route, thereby reducing the manual distribution requirements in processing facilities and in delivery units. Currently, the USPS has approximately 511 AFSM systems in service. Because the AFSM continues to process more flat mail than any other distribution platform, we have continued to seek operational and efficiency improvements. One of these improvements includes upgrading the current OCR technology which consists of an image capture device (camera) and image processing computers. The camera is known as the Accusort AV 1222 Flat Scanner Camera. The image processing computer systems were developed by Siemens and Datalogic (Accusort). This announcement is for identifying sources of potential replacements for the AFSM OCR technology.