Request for Proposal for Digital Imaging Services – Middlesex County, NJ (wherever that is!)

Sorry, but unless you already know about this one – or are willing to stay up late tonight to complete your proposal – it’s too late for this one, because proposals are due NLT 11:30 am tomorrow morning!

RFP - PROPOSAL FOR THE FURNISHING AND DELIVERY OF PHOTO- REPROGRAPHIC AND DIGITAL IMAGING SERVICES REQUIRED BY MIDDLESEX COUNTY CULTURAL & HERITAGE COMMISSION

Please note that all proposals must be received by Tuesday, October 4, no later than 11:30 am, which is when they will be opened and publicly read at the Middlesex County Purchasing Agent’s Office, County Administration Bldg., 3rd Floor, 75 Bayard St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Any proposal received after 11:30am on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 will not be given any consideration.

Bids/Proposals (the RFP document)may be downloaded from our website at http://co.middlesex.nj.us/purchasing/publicnotice.asp

Bidders/proposers please submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of the RFP. All submittals must be sealed.

I’ve placed a copy of the RFP document in my Google Docs library; click on this link to access that document:

http://tinyurl.com/6ethb9h

BIM for Facilities Management

Just out on www.aecbytes.com....

"BIM for Facilities Management
"

An AECbytes Feature Article

Article Summary

This article looks at the current status and future outlook of the application of BIM in the field of FM (facilities management), including the BIM integrated modules of leading BIM applications such as FM:Interact of FM:Systems, which includes BIM integration with Autodesk Revit, ArchiFM for Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD, and Bentley Facilities. It also looks at two other vendors that are developing different technological solutions and services for facilities management and lifecycle management: EoDomus and Onuma Systems.

The field of FM is too vast and diverse to be captured in a single article, but hopefully this overview will be helpful to those seeking to have a better understanding of the potential of BIM in FM, and the technologies and services that are currently available to facilitate it.

Article Link

http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2011/BIMforFM.html

Quarterly Index of A/E/C reprographer sales revenues from "plans printed on paper" (Q3 2011 update)

This is the 3rd Quarter 2011 update to the index of the U.S.A. A/E/C reprographics industry's sales revenues of "plans-printed-on-paper".

The A/E/C Repro PPoP Index .....

This index does not attempt to track "total sales" of A/E/C reprographers. It attempts to track only sales of "plans printed on paper," which, traditionally and even nowadays, is the core (main) revenue generator for all A/E/C reprographers.

And, by "plans printed on paper", I mean A/E/C "plans", large-format, b/w and color, unbound or bound, full-size, half-size, whatever large-format size.

There will be a recovery in the A/E/C industry and thereby in the A/E/C reprographics industry. However, some are saying that even though there will be a recovery in the A/E/C industry, the recovery of sales revenues from "plans printed on paper" may not mirror the A/E/C industry's recovery, since some are expecting (I guess I should say, some are saying) that revenues from printing plans on paper are being negatively impacted by customers distributing CD's (or files) instead of distributing "hard copy" plans.

For this index, Q1 2006 is the ground-zero (base) point.

YR-- 2006-----2007-----2008----- 2009-----2010------2011

Q1-- 1.00-------1.09-------1.10------0.65------0.55-----0.65

Q2-- 1.06-------1.18-------0.98------0.65------0.60…….0.61

Q3-- 1.08-------0.97-------0.85------0.57------0.60…….0.62

Q4-- 0.89-------0.93-------0.64------0.49------0.58

A NOTE OF CAUTION TO PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS INDEX! The “index” calculations for periods after Q3 2010 have been slightly adjusted to take into account the effects of an acquisition completed by one of the industry’s supplier/vendors. KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU "PONDER" THE INDEX NUMBERS.

(This index is based on A/E/C Repro Vendor sales to A/E/C Reprographers)

UPCOMING EASTERN REGIONAL REPROGRAPHICS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION - MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND!

REMINDER .....

Eastern Regional Reprographics Association (ERA)

Annual Convention

November 3-5, 2011

Where: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

There will be a vendor trade show at this convention!

For more information, go to www.eastrepro.com

10 GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND THE ERA REGIONAL IN HILTON HEAD

-You can take a long exercise walk around the Hilton Head area. (I don’t know of any of your who can’t use the exercise!)

-You can play golf. (This one is a convention event.)

-You can play tennis. (I did not see “tennis” listed as a convention event, but, just the same, I’m sure they have tennis courts somewhere nearby)

-Or, instead of playing golf or tennis, you can go surfing!

-You can go fishing! (This one is a convention event.)

-Apparently, the convention hotel is located on the beach. So, for those of you who are a bit hard up, rent a metal detector and look for left-behind jewelry and coins on the beach. Nice way to relax and get a good exercise walk.

-You’ll get to hear Suri give his opinions on the future of the reprographics business and industry. (He’s the “keynote” speaker at this year’s convention.)

Keynote Speaker, Friday November 4th morning

The Future of Reprographics

Presented by K. “Suri” Suriyakumar, Chairman, President and CEO of ARC

The ongoing economic conditions and dramatic downturn in construction activity has drastically altered the reprographics industry. In many cases, once vital businesses have shrunk to less than half their size, and others have simply closed their doors. In addition, our industry is being challenged with disruptive changes in technology, customer workflow, a growing desire for "greener" products and services, and of course, significant pressure to reduce costs while increasing efficiency.

-You’ll have the chance to network with friends, competitors and industry vendors. Networking more important, nowadays, than ever before. You can never tell when a “connection” will lead to an opportunity.

-You’ll get to participate in this year’s “educational” program. (We are never to old to learn something new – always keep an open mind, none of us “know it all.”)

-and, finally, you might get a chance to meet the author of Reprographics 101 live and in-person! Wow, now that’s an opportunity no one wants to miss. (My wife has a different opinion on that.) I’ve been granted a press pass to attend the ERA Convention. If I can make it, I’ll be there.

Procurement opportunity from Dart.org – Dallas (TX) Area Rapid Transit

DART: It's all connected

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) gets you around Dallas and 12 surrounding cities with modern public transit services and customer facilities tailored to make your trip fast, comfortable and economical. Our extensive network of DART Rail, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and bus services moves more than 220,000 passengers per day across our 700-square-mile service area.

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY!

REPROGRAPHICS OF ENGINEERING (documents) Solicitation Number: B-1021039
Contact:	Reginald Valentine (rvalentine@dart.org or 214/749-3452)
Procurement Type:	Invitation for Bid
Offers Due:	10/20/2011
Anticipated Conference:	10/11/2011
Offers due time:	2:00 PM
Description: DART IS SEEKING FIRMS WITH THE ABILITY TO PR0VIDE REPROGRAPHIC SERVICES IN SUPPORT TO RAIL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS. Vendors who’ve already downloaded the IFB documents (as of 10/2/11): Vendor BEST PRESS FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN, LLC IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS RICOH AMERICAS CORPORATION TODAYS PRINT RESOURCE