RFI - Mail Volume White Paper Support - SAM.pdf

United States Postal Service

Office of Inspector General

Research and Insights Solution Center (RISC)

Request for Information

Projecting Mail Volume: Future Trends and Implications for the Postal Service

UDisclaimer

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and planning ONLY and does not constitute a solicitation. A response to this RFI is necessary to assist the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) in determining the potential levels of interest, adequate competition, and technical capability for a potential, but not certain, future solicitation. The OIG may issue a future request for proposal (RFP) only to those

Suppliers that respond to this RFI. Companies not responding to the RFI may be precluded from participating in any future competitions related to this requirement. Additionally, the USPS OIG reserves the right to conduct a limited competition based on the responses received from this RFI, and merely responding will not guarantee an invitation to participate in the potential future RFP. The Government is not responsible for any cost incurred by industry in furnishing this information.

UOrganizational Background

The USPS OIG is an independent federal law enforcement agency providing oversight to the U.S.

Postal Service (USPS) and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Its mission is to:

• conduct and supervise objective and independent audits, reviews, and investigations relating to Postal Service and PRC programs and operations,

• promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the Postal Service and PRC, and

• inform the Postal Service Governors, Postal Service management, PRC Commissioners and

Congress of problems, deficiencies, and corresponding corrective actions.

UProject Background

The Research Directorate of RISC (Research and Insights Solutions Center), a division within the OIG, conducts research on economic, business, and policy issues related to the USPS. It issues public white papers available on its website (uspsoig.gov).

Since 2006, the Postal Service has experienced declining mail volumes – first in correspondence and transactional mail and, more recently, advertising mail volumes. Over the years, the USPS has used and published multiple mail forecasts in annual integrated Financial Plans, 5-year strategic plans, and, in

2021, in its 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan. The DFA base case scenario projected that in FY

2030, total letter mail volume would be approximately 75 billion pieces, a decrease of 37 percent from

FY 2020.

The OIG has researched the future of mail in several white papers. In 2016, the OIG developed its own scenarios for the future of correspondence mail and advertising mail. The OIG’s Research group has recently completed research into historical mail volume. Building on this past work, the OIG would like to further the discussion about the future of mail in light of ongoing and future trends. The OIG is not looking to develop a long-term econometric approach, rather the overall goal of the project is to develop plausible future scenarios and explore their implications for the Postal Service.

For more information, see the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

UPurpose and Objective

The purpose of this RFI is to perform market research and obtain information on market capabilities able to meet USPS OIG potential requirement for Projecting Mail Volume: Future Trends and

Implications for the Postal Service.

Instructions

The USPS OIG is seeking responses from all qualified, interested suppliers to establish an effective acquisition strategy. Responses must be limited to 10 pages or less and be submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document format (PDF), using Times New Roman, 12-point font. The Government will not entertain telephone calls for this RFI. All submissions must be clearly marked with the following caption: For Official Use Only, Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only.

Responses that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to the subject, may not be reviewed. All information received in response to this Notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. The responses should include the following information:

A. Company Profile, to include:

1. Please provide a brief description of your company; business size (revenue, employees, and customers, if applicable) and points of contact; including name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

2. Please inform if your firm currently possesses a GWAC(e.g. GSA schedule).

B. Technical Capability, to include:

1. Summary of the supplier’s technical capabilities which would support the services described herein. The OIG would also like to see information regarding whether the required capabilities exist in-house or if the company plans to subcontract or team.

2. Answer to the following question:

a. Does your company have prior experience working with USPS, USPS OIG or PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission)?

3. A list of up to three (3) contracts under which the company has previously provided products and performed services similar to those described herein. The list shall include:

a. Agency or company name

b. Contract number

c. Contracting Officer or POC name, email address, and telephone number

d. Dates of performance

e. Brief description of work performed.

4. Please list any other information that would be helpful for USPS OIG to provide for future proposal solicitation.

5. Other information you believe would be helpful in understanding your organization’s capabilities and issues that should be considered.

UQuestions and Answers

Questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer Farzad Afrasiabi via email at fafrasiabi@uspsoig.gov. Questions submitted prior to May 24, 2024 will be considered. Any questions submitted after May 24, 2024 shall be answered at the Contracting Officer’s discretion. Answers will be published within the RFI announcement on SAM.gov.

UDue Date

Responses must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer at fafrasiabi@uspsoig.gov and contracts@uspsoig.gov no later than June 03, 2024 at 3PM EDT.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

To the extent that the information you provide is about an individual, the Privacy Act will apply.

Collection of that information is authorized by 39 USC § 401. As a routine use, the information may be disclosed to an appropriate government agency, domestic or foreign, for law enforcement purposes; where pertinent, in a legal proceeding to which the USPS is a party or has an interest; to a government agency in order to obtain information relevant to a USPS decision concerning employment, security clearances, contracts, licenses, grants, permits, or other benefits; to a government agency upon its request when relevant to its decision concerning employment, security clearances, security, or suitability investigations, contracts, licenses, grants, or other benefits; to a congressional office at your request; to an expert, consultant, or other person under contract with the

USPS to fulfill an agency function; to the Federal Records Center for storage; to the Office of

Management and Budget for review of private relief legislation; to an independent certified public accountant during an official audit of USPS finances; to an investigator, administrative judge or complaints examiner appointed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for investigation of a formal EEO complaint under 29 CFR 1614; to the Merit Systems Protection Board or Office of

Special Counsel for proceedings or investigations involving personnel practices and other matters within their jurisdiction; to a labor organization as required by the National Labor Relations Act; to a federal, state or local agency, financial institution or other appropriate entity for the purpose of verifying an individual's or entity's eligibility or suitability for engaging in a transaction. In addition, the following disclosures may be made to any person: a solicitation mailing list when a purchase is highly competitive and competitions will not be harmed by release, or to provide an opportunity for potential subcontractors seeking business; a list of lessors of real or personal property to the Postal Service; a list of entities with whom the Postal Service transacts for goods or services, interests in real property, construction, financial instruments, or intellectual property; and the identity of the successful offeror.

Completion of this form is voluntary; however, if this information is not provided, we will be unable to process your request.

mailto:fafrasiabi@uspsoig.gov mailto:fafrasiabi@uspsoig.gov mailto:contracts@uspsoig.gov