USPS RFI 3A-24-A-0054 - Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Sorter_v6.pdf

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USPS Request for Information (RFI) – 3A-24-A-0054 Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Sorter

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only. It provides an opportunity for the industry to verify the reasonableness and feasibility of the program objectives as well as promote competition. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Postal Service (“Postal Service” or “USPS”), nor will the Postal Service pay for the development of information submitted in response.

The Postal Service does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to pay for the information solicited. This RFI is issued for the purpose of obtaining market information to support an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Sorter solution.

Background

The USPS is currently researching an alternative sorting solution of an Autonomous Mobile Robot (“AMR”) to process Non Machinable Outside (“NMO”) parcels that are too large (total volume) or heavy for traditional parcel sorting equipment. This new AMR solution shall be an already developed and proven solution that can be deployed and implemented across the Postal Service with little to no infrastructure requirements outside of electrical and data connections.

Requirements

The technical requirements and objectives of the AMR Sorter solution are described in the attached Statement of Objectives (“SOO”), “Autonomous Mobile Robot Sorter Statement of Objectives (SOO)” dated 07/01/2024. Suppliers should review the SOO and other affiliated documents to understand the technical scope and requirements for this solution.

The USPS is seeking information and responses from suppliers that are capable of providing a technical solution meeting the requirements contained in the SOO. Information provided in response to this RFI will be evaluated, and suppliers who provide a feasible solution may be considered for a potential future formal Request For Proposal (RFP). However, the contracting officer has discretion to extend invitations to compete to additional suppliers if it is in the best interest of the Postal Service.

Responding to this RFI

Please review the attachments to this SAM.gov RFI posting. Suppliers interested in responding to this RFI shall register via the USPS eSourcing portal via the following link: https://about.usps.com/what/business-services/suppliers/becoming/registration.htm. Once registration is complete, please contact Adam Steele at Adam.M.Steele@usps.gov and Andrew Hopkins at Andrew.J.Hopkins@usps.gov to confirm your registration and be added to the eSourcing RFI event. Suppliers must transmit their responses to the RFI via the eSourcing portal by the RFI response deadline.

Respondents to this RFI should provide information that addresses the requirements described in the SOO and shall include, at a minimum, the following:

1. A technical response to the SOO, which is sufficient, in the sole determination of the USPS, in demonstrating an understanding of the SOO requirements. The technical response should include the following:

a. General System Overview: How it works https://about.usps.com/what/business-services/suppliers/becoming/registration.htm https://about.usps.com/what/business-services/suppliers/becoming/registration.htm

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i. In Writing

ii. Video Simulation & Images

b. Product size and type that can be processed

c. Infrastructure requirements

d. Guidance and control method

e. Parcel induction and loading method

f. Parcel discharge method

g. Footprint (in Feet and Inches) of proposed design

h. Estimated Throughput

i. Number of AMRs needed

j. Any limitations

2. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) including the following:

a. Cost elements:

i. Equipment Cost

ii. Installation Cost

iii. Support Cost

b. Leadtime for procurement

c. Deployment/System setup time.

3. Information detailing the supplier’s current and past experience in providing the offered technology/solution.

4. Information to sufficiently demonstrate the supplier’s financial and organizational capability, including relevant past performance and information demonstrating the financial strength (e.g., available annual reports, SEC Filings, 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.

5. Identify the personnel to include Labor category, experience, and description of past programs they have worked related to the offered solution.

6. Company information to include:

a. Company name

b. Any subsidiaries or associated companies

c. Company address

d. Company website

e. Company overview

f. Point of Contact name and phone number/email address.

Additional Information

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.

A purchasing team will review and evaluate information submitted by interested suppliers who timely respond to this RFI. Please note that this RFI does not in any way commit the USPS to make any award.

Any questions pertaining to this RFI should be directed to Adam Steele at Adam.M.Steele@usps.gov and Andrew Hopkins at Andrew.J.Hopkins@usps.gov no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on mailto:Adam.M.Steele@usps.gov mailto:Andrew.J.Hopkins@usps.gov

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Wednesday, August 7, 2024. All questions received timely will be consolidated with the USPS responses and will be provided for suppliers to review as an amendment to this RFI. The USPS will not provide separate individual responses to suppliers’ questions.

Final submissions in response to this RFI must be received via the eSourcing platform no later than 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The requested information must be submitted via email electronically via PDF or PowerPoint to:

United States Postal Service

Purchasing and Supply Management Specialist 8403 Lee Highway – Dewey Building Merrifield, VA 22082-8150 Adam Steele @ Adam.M.Steele@usps.gov

Contracting Officer & Team Leader, Flat & Mail Visibility Technology 8403 Lee Highway – Dewey Building Merrifield, VA 22082-8150 Andrew Hopkins @ andrew.j.hopkins@usps.gov

This RFI does not commit the Postal Service in any way to make an award, to test or purchase any equipment, or to pay for the information requested as a result of this publication and notice. Information received in response to this RFI/market research will be used for internal business case evaluation and to determine the viability of future procurement opportunities. Information submitted under this request will only be used internally by the Postal Service and will not be disclosed publicly unless such information is already determined to be in the public domain.

Applicable RFI Provisions

The following standard USPS RFI provisions apply:

Provision A-1: Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data (March 2006) (MODIFIED)

Responders that include in their submissions data they do not want used or disclosed by the Postal Service for any purpose other than proposal evaluation may take the following steps:

a. Include on the title page or in the introductory material of their submission the following: “This submission includes data that may not be duplicated, used, or disclosed outside the Postal Service

— in whole or in part — for any purpose other than to evaluation. If, however, a contract is awarded to this offeror as a result of — or in connection with — the submission of such data, the Postal Service will have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent provided in the resulting contract. This restriction does not limit the Postal Service’s right to use information contained in the data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets (Responder insert numbers or other identification of sheets).”

b. Mark each sheet of data they wish to restrict with the following legend: “Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal.”

mailto:Adam.M.Steele@usps.gov mailto:andrew.j.hopkins@usps.go

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Provision A-2: RFI for Information or Planning Purposes (March 2006) (MODIFIED)

a. The Postal Service does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI or to pay for the information solicited.

b. This RFI is issued for the purpose of gathering market information to support the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Sorter solution.