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U.S. Department of State Backup and Redundant Digital Color Press– Sources Sought

General:

This is a Sources Sought Notice Only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This Sources Sought Notice is issued for information and planning purposes only as part of U.S. Department of State (DOS) market research and does not constitute a solicitation. This requirement is covered under Category 532420LC (Office Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing). The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified manufacturers/authorized reseller companies to provide a Digital Press that meets the DOS requirements (small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran owned small businesses; woman owned small businesses; and small disadvantaged businesses).

Introduction:

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Administration (A), Global Information Services (GIS), Global Publishing Solutions (GPS) must acquire an additional color digital press intended for back-up and redundancy at its State Annex- 7B facility located at 7958 Angus Ct, Springfield, VA.

The machine will be acquired under an operating lease plan for a period of 60 months.

Specifications:

Technology Specifications Required, Backup Digital Press (1):

Engine Requirements:

• Belt fusing system instead of rollers to eliminate streaks/blemishes on print when switching from 8.5x11 to 11x17 or larger print pieces.


• Minimum paper sheet capacity is 4,000 sheets with ability to expand to 12,000 sheets utilizing air separation vacuum technology.


• 6 pick points for up to 6 stocks in 1 job.


• Allow loading of dry toner and paper simultaneously while printing.


• Allow operator to adjust color settings on a page level basis within a job.


• Automated fuser belt cleaning to remove artifacts and defects causing blemishes.


• Operator replaceable high frequency service items to control downtime and ensure maximum productivity per shift. Operator replaceable service components to be included to keep the press operational in emergencies or after hours.


• Maximum space envelope available to accommodate the secondary press: 394” Width x 134” Depth.


• Include an in‐line de‐curling system for lay flat, room temperature output.

Copying & Scanning Requirements

• Support printing on tabs and crack and peel.


• Adobe PDF Print Engine to print PDF files natively to avoid problems with drop shadows and background effects.


• PDF workflow and accept output to capture all job ticketing attributes and avoid operators re‐ticketing jobs at the press.


• Variable data ready, support dynamic document composition, and be upgradable to support future multimedia applications.


• Operating system can automatically detect color and b/w pages in a document and print these documents with the correct color settings (color prints vs. black and white prints). Prints “true black” instead of a process black when needed.


• Have the option to accept various data streams including PS, Opt. PS PCL, PDF, Opt. PDF, and PPML 2.1 GA Feature Set.


• To support production of high‐ volume commercial quality color or black and white with benchmark color management enabled by intelligent automation, on the widest variety of stocks with predictable, accurate front to back registration.


• Excellent print quality with 16-Beam image technology with 3600x2400 dpi resolution minimum rasterized Minimum sheet size of 3.937” x 5.5”.


• Sheet size no less than 13” x 36”.


• Image area of 12.6378” x 35.5” or greater.


• Dry toner for consistent gradations, flesh tones, skies, and sweeps.


• Support media/stocks of 52 g/m² to 400 g/m².


• Print speed of 90 ppm or greater for 8.5”x11” paper sizes for all supported paper weights up to 400 g/m² (no speed drop for heavier weight media).


• Front to back registration minimum +/‐.5mm.

Finishing Requirements

• Support various in‐line finishing equipment including, multi‐position stapling up to 100 sheets, 2–3‐hole punch.


• Automatic tray switching for different stock types and sizes within the same job (mixed media and tabs) i.e., press can print a PDF that has 8.5” x 11” and 11” x 17” pages and tabs intermixed on the same run.

Server Requirements

• Memory: 16 GB


• Hard Drive: 1 TB


• OS: Windows 10


• Must run at least a FS400 Pro System Software


• Must process jobs using the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE)


• RIP then print, print while RIP, streaming multi job processing.


• Streaming - ability to print, receive, and erase jobs at the same time.


• Must support PostScript level 3, PDF 1.7, PDF/X, PPML, and PDF/VT PDLs.


• Must have the ability to manage jobs in a hold and print queue, edit job parameters, and optimize system and color settings from a single application.


• Must have the ability to intuitively preform gang up and booklet imposition.


• Must have the ability to intuitively add mixed media commands, insert tab stocks, add inserts, and organize pages.


• Must come with an integrated interface which includes a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and stand.


• Must have the ability to create, edit, and optimize spot and named colors.


• Must have the ability to allow operators to calibrate and create a media profile for fast, easy, and reliable color management using an internal measurement device on the digital press.


• Must have the ability to automatically recalibrate a media when needed for a job.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to color match pantone colors using in‐line spectrophotometer for enhanced accuracy and consistency.

Operational Training shall include:

• Operator training for at least 4 days onsite, including technical and service training.


• Color Management, file set up, submission and technical service training.

Late-Stage Editing Requirements:

The Global Publishing Solutions Printing Plant (GPS) requires newest software versions of late-stage job set up, scanning, editing, and composition tools:

• Job Set Up, Composition, and Automated Pre‐Press, File Preparation.


• Job ticketing to be stored with file for reprints without reprogramming.


• Software to include a tab wizard for simplification of tab creation.


• Scanning capabilities required to include document scanning and scanning from a flatbed.


• Software to be compatible with pre‐press automation software, seamlessly passing files back and forth between the programs.

SOURCES SOUGHT INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions:

1. All qualified manufacturers/authorized resellers (small) with the capability to provide an operating lease plan for a Digital Press that meets the Department’s requirements (Refer to Attachment 1 – Springfield Backup Digital Press Sources Sought) shall articulate their capabilities in a document that does not exceed 12 pages (excludes the lease terms and conditions). As a minimum, the capabilities document (concise and focused) shall provide the manufacturer, market code, and model number for the recommended digital press; a comparison of the recommended product description/specifications with the DOS requirements; and a copy of the lease terms and conditions.


2. The qualified manufacturers/authorized resellers shall identify the availability of the identified digital press on U.S. Government contractual vehicles, if available (e.g., General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules, NASA SEWP, other, etc.) and provide the contract number.


3. The qualified manufacturers/authorized resellers shall provide an estimated date of delivery for the identified digital press in calendar days.


4. The qualified manufacturers/authorized resellers shall present other applicable information that will benefit the acquisition of the Operating Lease Plan, if applicable.


5. Cost or price information is not solicited and will not be reviewed.


6. Interested businesses shall submit an electronic copy of their submission via email to Crystal Brooks, brookscc@state.gov and Michael Mickaliger, mickaligermj@state.gov. The due date and time for submission of responses is 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) [April 11, 2023].


7. No phone calls related to this Sources Sought will be accepted. All correspondence shall be via email.


8. Companies responding to this Sources Sought shall be registered in the System for Award Management under Category 532420 - Office Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing.

All responses must include the following information:

1. Company name.


2. Company address.


3. Company business size (Respond: “Small” or “Other Than Small”).


4. Unique Entity Identifier.


5. Point-of-contact name, telephone number, and email address.

Attachments/Links