USPS posted a notice last month on Federal Business Opportunities website seeking vendors for Small Footprint Flat Sequencing System (FSS Lite).  Following are questions asked with regard to the Small Footprint Flat Sequencing System (FSS Lite) Sources Sought Notice and the USPS responses:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is currently conducting market research and seeking to identify potential sources for a Phase II of our Flat Sequencing System (FSS) Program.  Our Phase I designed machine currently in deployment is a large system that was primarily intended to accommodate high mail volume processing runs and targeted for our most highly populated flats mailing markets.  Phase II is seeking and envisions a smaller footprint FSS (FSS Lite) machine as a solution to efficiently, reliably, and accurately sort and sequence flat mail to the order in which the mail is delivered on a letter carrier’s route (Delivery Point Sequence or DPS).  The USPS seeks a system which can be deployed nationally and incrementally to provide maximum flexibility and efficiency in the DPS of flat mail within the existing and future Postal Service infrastructure.
1) Question: Are there any preliminary size requirements. What would be too big?
USPS Response: The current FSS phase 1 requires 15,000 sq ft. There is no defined requirement for phase 2 machines but the USPS anticipates a footprint less than 10,000 sq ft.

2) Question: Are there any preliminary volume/time requirements?
USPS Response: The current FSS Phase 1 effective (both passes) throughput is 16,500 pieces per hour.  Due to mail volume declines, the USPS is seeking FSS Lite solutions that can handle a larger number of delivery points but with a lower average volume per delivery point.

3) Question: How sequenced will the mail be that enters this potential process? Is it going to be a 1,2 or 3 pass process?
USPS Response: It is anticipated that mail entering will be sorted to a 5 digit zone level. Depending on the solution proposed, other levels of sorting would be possible with potential price/performance impacts.

4) Question: Is there any requirement for mixed letters/flats sequencing?

USPS Response: Mixed letters and flats processing is not a requirement for the FSS Lite machine.

5) Question: Is there anything against mixed letters/flats sequencing?
USPS Response: Mixed letters and flats is not anticipated for the FSS Lite solution