Printshop Continuity of Operations

This requirement is for critical financial enterprise print and mail-handling services supporting the entire Rural Development mission area and the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area that are crucial to effective and efficient program delivery. The services produce and distribute financial and management reports, loan servicing documentation and customer notification correspondence for all program areas. The volume of printed material supports an average of 406,000 pieces of metered mail and collection of over $170,000,000 in customer invoice billing per month. The physical location of the facility is the Goodfellow Building, USDA Rural Development, 4600 Goodfellow Boulevard Federal Center, St. Louis, MO 63120, Building #104. The contractor, United Systems of Arkansas, Incorporated (USA), will provide print shop services essential to the Continuity of Operations (COOP) or other situations and events that require support for RD. USA will be responsible for performing a disaster recovery test at minimum bi-annually and up to a quarterly basis. Disaster recovery testing will consist of a scenario where the Government location of the print services located in St. Louis, Missouri, is unavailable, and the Contractor will start providing print shop services. Government personnel will communicate the disaster to the Contractor. The Contractor will be responsible to follow the tasks assigned in the Disaster Recovery Functional/Operational Testing Plan. USDA recently experienced an issue that disrupted all mail services performed by RD employees at the Goodfellow facility. Until all concerns were addressed, services performed by RD employees were suspended. The suspension period generated an estimated backlog of 500,000 reports and mailings. Fifty percent of the backlog constituted monthly billings, which directly impacted RD’s ability to collect loan payments, which negatively impacted both RD and Farm Service Agency (FSA). As aresult, RD must identify an alternative method to address the need for continual mail services. Several defined events, which include current physical building air contaminates, further heighten the criticality of acquiring an alternative in the most efficient manner possible. Additionally, the contractor's services will ensure adequate support in the instance of a COVID-19 outbreak within the facility, further assisting with the safety of the RD Federal Workforce.