Questions - Joint Military Mail Terminal X-ray Device.pdf

RFQ

W912D122Q0004

Section/ Page

Question/Comment Response

NA Can it be assumed that the required X-ray machine is for standalone application, where there is no integration with existing automated material handling equipment (MHE)? The RFQ is silent on this matter.

This is correct. The machine will be a standalone requirement where there is no integration with existing automated material handling equipment.

NA Are non-mechanized gravity roller tables acceptable, interfaced with the X-ray machine's belt-driven conveyor at the tunnel entrance/exit? Parcels would be manually fed onto the conveyor belt from the entrance roller table, and would exit the conveyor belt on to the exit roller table. What roller table length is acceptable?

Yes, non-mechanized gravity roller tables are preferred, as equipment is hand-loaded into the machine. The table length on existing equipment is approximately 72 inches on either end of the machine. There is significant room for longer roller tables, though 72 inches for the roller tables at the entrance and exit should be considered the minimum.

6 "Tunnel opening must be able to fit parcels at a minimum from 600mm- 700mm wide and 550mm-600mm high and at maximum 1800mm -1800mm (width - height).

What is the average and maximum parcel length?

The average parcel that is received at the mail terminal is approximately 12inX12inX8in, standard priority mail. The maximum package size is said to be no greater than 121 inches in length, and no greater than 121 inches in girth (circumference) including length measurement. Please refer to the International Mail Manual for specific maximum limitations.

6 Will mail parcels be loaded into the X-ray machine as individual flats, postal tubs, or bags?

That is correct. Mail parcels will be loaded into the X-Ray machine as individual packages, not in bundles of packages

6 "Must be compatible with a 215 - 230 volt/10amp outlet."

Voltage ratings for our X-ray machine are as follows.

400 Volts AC +/- 10%, 50Hz 3ø Phase + Earth, (Europe); 480 Volts +/- 10%, 60Hz 3ø Phase + Earth, (USA); Current rating: 32A Please confirm if this is acceptable.

During the electrical survey conducted the current XRAY unit is single phase 230 Volts 10 Amps. The new unit would be a 400 Volts AC +/- 10%, 50Hz 3ø Phase. There is a existing wire tray which we can run our extra upsized wires for 32 amps , a three pole 32 amp breaker will have to be installed which is doable being there are plenty of spares within the breaker panel.

6 It is stated that machine "Must be ECAC Standard 3 Certified, and TSA certified to ensure automatic detection of explosives (solid and liquid), drugs, alcohol, and weapons." ECAC Standard 3 approval and TSA ACSTL Approval apply only to Explosives Detection. Other dangerous or prohibited items such as guns and large knives, narcotics, and contraband are not part of current ECAC or TSA approval.

We are in the process of developing algorithms for Dangerous Goods, weapons and narcotics, but these will not be ECAC or TSA approved as ECAC and TSA apply to explosives only.

Any machine must be ECAC Standard 3 and TSA Certified, and must be able to assist in the detection of drugs, alcohol, and weapons, as these are prohibited items.

6 High throughput is typically 1800 packages per hour. Recommend changing salient characteristic stating "2,500 to 3,000 packages per hour" to "1800 packages per hour". Note that while the X-ray machine has the capability to scan approx. 2500 pph, this is dependent on a number of factors. including average parcel length, gap between parcels, whether mechanized material handling equipment (MHE) is employed and, if so, type of MHS (conveyor speed).

This is acceptable. Following review with current operators of the equipment, 1,800 packages per hour should be considered the absolute minimum in terms of the machine's maximum capabilities, however extreme influx of packages are anticipated around normal gift-giving holidays, such as those in November/December, and capabilities of the machine should be able to keep up with the Mail Terminal expectation process up to 20,000 packages in an 8 hour period as a maximum, which is 2,500 packages per hour

6 Will parcels be loaded automatically from existing Material Handling Equipment (MHE), or will parcels be loaded manually?

Note that use of manual conveyors and/or non-mechanized gravity roller tables will not achieve the required throughput.

Negative, per the first RFI response, however it is already anticipated that the existing machines will be used to supplement the new machine in the event of an exceptionally high-throughput time period requiring

6 It is stated that "Machine must have contraband Detection Success Rate between 90% and 100%". We recommend that this requirement be re-worded to "Must comply with TSA 5.8 detection standard and ECAC Standard

3.0 for EDS Detection Rate / False Alarm Rate.” ECAC and TSA approval/certification apply to explosives detection only.

Agreed, as noted above. The macine must comply with TSA 5.8 detection standard and ECAC Standard 3.0 for EDS Detection Rate / False Alarm Rate. The machine must be able to detect blades/weapons, alcohol, and other prohibited items by a trained technician observing the feed provided by the machine.

6 "Must provide operator training for students." There is no mention of supervisor certification training. Is this required?

Yes. Training must be provided for the end-user of the system as part of the award.

NA No maximum footprint (L x W x H) is specified in salient characteristics.

Suggest that machine dimensions should not exceed L x W x H of (205" x 90" x 90").

The absolute maximum footprint for the machine must be no greater than 408" x 120" x 138" (L x W x H)

NA There is no requirement specified for Service/Maintenance Area. We recommend that this be stated as 36" on each side of the machine.

The area around the machine will be free of obstructions for services/maintenance.

NA Can you provide details of the Concept of Operation (CONOP)? Will parcels be fed into the machine by pre-existing automated Material Handling Equipment, or will parcels be hand-fed into the machine?

A full Concept of Operation may be provided after award. For the purposes of solicitation, the parcels are fed into the machine hand-fed, and parcels move quickly through the machine for the process. Presumptive Positive screenings are removed from the mail line for verification.

NA Is there a remote screening room to view the X-ray images or will X-ray images be viewed at the machine installation location? If a remote screening room is employed, please provide details of the distance of the screening room from the machine installation location, in order to establish if Single or Multimode Fiber Network is required. If fiber network is required, will this be provided as GFM?

The X-Ray images will be viewed within the same facility as the machine installation location, tentatively inside of an office approximately 50 ft or less from the actual machine itself. Currently there is no plan in place for off-site viewing of the images, however if that capability could be available, there is currently a fiber ring in place at the installation that images could be sent on to another destination.

NA How many workstations are required? Two work stations are required as a minimum for this requirement.

NA How many printers are required? Two printers are required for this requirement.

NA Are barcode readers required? Negative.

NA Is an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) required as part of system delivery?

If so, what is the run time of the UPS?

Yes. The current system has UPS with a run-time of 3 hours in the event of power loss. The same is expected of the upgraded system as a minimum.

NA What are the X-ray machine interface requirements with the Mechanical Handling Equipment (MHE), if MHE is currently employed?

See above answers; no MHE

NA Can you confirm the operational temperature environment? Normal temperature of the facility is between 75 and 80 degrees Farenheit, however temperatures within the facility can rise up to approximately 120 degrees Farenheit with the cargo bay doors open during the summer months.

NA

Is the equipment to be installed on one lever or on a platform with metallic carpenter ?

The equipment will be installed on the concrete floor of a warehouse, with no integration into any other devices or MHE. Please see above.

NA

Is the equipment integrated automatically to a processed system for luggage?

If yes, what's the requested interface?

No

NA

Does the equipment needs to an integrated multiplexing of operator images?

If yes, how many operator positions are requested?

There will be two operators of the system, one primary operator observing all parcels scanned, and one secondary operator to confirm any presumptive positive screenings for contraband or dangerous items.

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