Enterprise RFID Technology, Installation, and Azure WIMS Integration

United States Census Bureau (USCB) Enterprise RFID Technology, Installation, and Azure WIMS Integration REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) This RFI is solely for information and planning purposes it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Further, the USCB is at the early stages of market research and is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Interested parties are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. 1.0 Purpose The U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) issues this Request for Information (RFI) for market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 to understand current business practices and identify industry capabilities for furnishing, installing, configuring, testing, and integrating radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with the USCB s existing Warehouse Inventory Management System (WIMS). The USCB seeks industry input on these types of services and expertise in achieving the desired objectives in accordance with federal requirements. To date, the USCB has already developed a scalable WIMS platform using Microsoft technologies in its Microsoft Azure environment. This RFI does not seek a replacement warehouse management platform. The USCB s primary interest is to acquire industry recommendations on RFID equipment and supporting software, facility deployment and integration services, and secure delivery of RFID event data into the existing WIMS environment. The USCB believes industry has the best knowledge of current offerings and how to plan for, acquire, and integrate evolving technology trends. Vendors are encouraged to provide recommendations and describe innovative, commercially available, and proven approaches that address the objectives detailed within this RFI without being constrained by a prescriptive equipment design or configuration. 2.0 Background and Operational Environment The USCB manages survey forms, printing and mailing materials, shipping supplies, and other inventory supporting demographic, economic, and decennial programs, including preparations for 2030 Census tests. Inventory is received, stored, moved, issued, transferred, and shipped through multiple facilities. Automated identification and transaction capture can reduce manual inventory handling and improve the accuracy and timeliness of enterprise inventory records. Potential locations include National Processing Center operations in Charlestown, Indiana; Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland; a warehouse in Franconia, Virginia; Regional Offices; and other Government-designated facilities. Actual locations, installation scope, sequencing, and site access would be determined by the Government. These locations may have different layouts, physical security restrictions, network conditions, and operating requirements. 3.0 Objectives and Mission-Critical Capability Areas The USCB intends to leverage industry knowledge, feedback, recommendations, and expertise on proven approaches and best practices that achieve the objectives listed below. 3.1 RFID identification and multi-level tracking The USCB is interested in tracking at the item or box, pallet, and rack or storage-location levels. Industry recommendations may include passive or active RFID, hybrid approaches, or complementary identification methods where appropriate. Recommended solutions should support reliable identification and location/movement events during receiving, putaway, internal transfers, picking, shipping, cycle counting, and reconciliation. Input is requested to address read accuracy, interference, duplicate or missed events, and the practical limits of location precision. 3.2 Equipment pro…