Provision of Warehouse Digitalization Solutions to the UNGSC, Brindisi - Italy

1. Introduction The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to provide the UN Global Service Centre (UNGSC) with the latest knowledge and capabilities of the market with respect to newest technologies, solutions, systems, potential vendors on warehouse digitalization. The gathered information will be used to determine the technologies feasibility, scope, cost estimate, timeframe, and resources required by the UN. UN expects to follow this RFI with a Request for Proposal (RFP) for warehouse digitalization solutions that will be able to meet the operational requirements of the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC). All costs for preparing a response for the RFI must be covered by the vendor. The requested information will only be used by the UN for internal planning purposes, be kept strictly confidential and only authorized personnel will have access to it. The response to this RFI will not be used to pre-qualify vendors. The provided information will not be contractually binding to the vendor. 2. Use of Information a. All costs for preparing a response for the RFI must be covered by the vendor. b. The requested information will only be used by the UN for internal planning purposes, be kept strictly confidential and only authorized personnel will have access to it. c. The response to this RFI will not be used to pre-qualify vendors d. The provided information will not be contractually binding to the vendor 3. RFI Response Delivery As the objective of this RFI is to both gather information on the latest technology and find potential vendors, your willingness and ability to reply will be of mutual benefit. Please email your response to unlb-procurement@un.org, additional material can be delivered and addressed to: UNGSC Procurement Piazza Del Vento, 1 Brindisi 72100, ITALY Marked: RFI for warehouse digitalization. 4. Background information The UNGSC acts inter alia as a depot of strategic goods in support of United Nations Field Operations. The assortment of such goods varies between high value fixed assets such as specialized plant and equipment such as transport or engineering kits, life support supplies such as furniture or medical equipment, or consumables of all sorts. The portfolio consists of approximately 8,000 SKU. The UNGSC facilities are made up by 16 different types of warehouses and considerable outdoor yard space where containers (approx. 1,500 TFE) are stored. Only a minority of goods are shelved with the majority stored in containers or on the ground (outdoor yards or inside hangars). UNGSC is predominately a distribution center for goods to be forwarded to centralized warehouses in field entities for fulfillment. Some products are being customized or enhanced (e.g. vehicles) others being assembled or kitted (e.g. communication shelters) prior distribution. Turnover of goods varies between categories, but it is anticipated that a new concept of operations will accelerate inventory rotation in most categories and hence the workload of logistics activities on the base will therefore increase proportionally. Currently all activities in the warehouse from receiving to outbound shipping are performed manually with electronic transactions (data entry) recorded in SAP post facto with the related disadvantages of delays and inaccuracies caused by the gap in time between physical activity and electronic recording and disjointed processes. 5. The UNGSC objective The UNGSC objective is to enhance and expedite its inventory/warehouse management, increase accuracies, and create real time visibility by means of technology. All solutions must be compatible with the available ERP system (SAP). The desired output is automatization of warehouse activities and digitization or processes with an outcome of enhanced accuracies and visibility throughout the supply chain. 6. Your Organization Please provide the following information on your organization: a. What makes your company stand-out as a solution provider for warehouse digitalization? b. Provide a brief description of your company’s experience in designing, deploying and provisioning digital solution in warehousing. c. Describe how your company would approach the design and implementation of the digitalization project? d. Please elaborate on the technologies and techniques you would consider appropriate to use in the design. e. What would be the minimum required time to submit a comprehensive proposal? f. Which information would you need to formulate a proposal? g. Please provide a cost structure mechanism and if feasable a break down of cost: proccesses analysis and improvement, software and hardware etc. 7. Risk management / Mitigation Having reviewed and answered the above listed questions, what do you consider to be the highest risk factors? a. During system design b. During implementation c. How are these risk factors mitigated / managed? d. In your experience, what have been the biggest issue faced on similar projects and how have you resolved them? As a result of this RFI UNGSC might need to contact you to obtain additional clarifications. In addition UNGSC might appreciate your willigness to provide presentation on line or on site of your experience and eventually solutions which your company has already implemented or designed for similar environments. Please confirm your willngeness to be contacted and present such solutions. Please note that UNGSC will not be responsible for any associated costs related to the above. Please ensure full contacts details are enclosed in your response. 8. Important – Registration as a United Nations Vendor a. Please note that companies willing to participate in a potential RFP solicitation will have to be a registered vendor with the UN. b. Please access the Vendor Registration Application Forms and follow instructions at the website: http://www.un.org/Depts/ptd/register.htm Please submit applications as soon as possible.