This announcement is an RFI and is for planning purposes only; it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information requested herein will be used within the Army/DoD to facilitate decision making and will not be disclosed outside the agency. This restriction does not limit the government's right to use information contained in these data sources if it has been obtained from another source without restriction. A contract may not be awarded as a result of this RFI. The US Army Contracting Command, Fort Dix, NJ, on behalf of U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) is interested in gathering information to further its understanding of the current available technology that could enhance the Army's Logistics Business Process by improving the current unit level Change of Command Inventory business processes. An army unit has 30 days to complete this inventory and LIA is exploring ways to decrease the amount to as few as 3 days by use of a more advanced technology rather than the legacy manual and/or barcode methodology. This technology must have the capability of increasing asset visibility and decreasing time and needed resources to conduct these inventories. Technology of interest is the Passive Radio Frequency Identification (pRFID) tags and labels. The pRFID must be applied to selected equipment (200 major end items with 3,000 associated components) within an Army unit. Vendor must provide: subject matter expertise in the recommendation of AIT device selected, placement, installation, code pRFID with unit data from the Property Book Unit Supply Enhanced (PBUSE) operating system, and testing; have experience with various types of Army equipment and associated components, technical manuals, supply catalogs; have experience in Army property accountability and inventory procedures and regulatory guidance; provide the Intermec IP30 RFID reader, pRFID tags and labels, RFID printer, materials needed to affix pRFID to assets; MIDDLEWARE APPLICATION; ability to download the IP30 RFID Scanner firmware and RFID Resource Kit from equipment vendor's website. In addition to the use of pRFID, the Army's PBUSE operating system will be used as the property management system. A thorough working knowledge of this system is required. The PBUSE system currently has an Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) kit associated with it. Components include the Intermec CK61 Scanner with docking station and the Intermec PM4I printer. The goal is to add an Intermec IP30 RFID reader to the CK61 allowing RFID read capability. Middleware software will be required in order for the CK61 to interface with the current PBUSE software loaded on the scanner. This middleware should transfer PBUSE data into a pRFID standard format. This data will then be transferred to the CK61 via the docking station. This middleware software must NOT interfere with the current operating procedures but only enhance the ability to read RFID tags and labels. This project will include multiple Test Case Demonstration to stakeholders and VIPs and a six month observation period used to assess the durability of the applied pRFID. Replacement/maintance of contractor inoperable pRFID will be required. It is requested that your firm submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than 10 pages, single spaced, 11 minimum font size) demonstrating an ability to provide the capabilities identified above. A generic capability statement is not acceptable. The capabilities statement package should be sent via e-mail to:
[email protected] no later than 10 June 2013, 1630 EST. This RFI does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or any obligation on behalf of the Government. The responses to this RFI are not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No contract award will be made on the basis of this RFI. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this RFI, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing the information. Vendor participation is not a promise of future business with the Government. Any information provided in response to this RFI will be used for informational purposes only and will not be returned. All proprietary information should be clearly marked as such. All information submitted by respondents to this RFI, including appropriately marked proprietary information, will be safeguarded and protected from unauthorized disclosure. IF A SOLICITATION IS ISSUED IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this announcement.