2031ZA25N00009_Sources Sought_RFI.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

NOTICE

Reference/Notice Number: 2031ZA25N00009

Project Title / Short Description: Color Shifting Ink

PCS or FSC Code: 6810

NAICS Code: 325910

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Response Date: December 10, 2024

Primary Point of Contact: Jacqueline Ambala

Contact Information for Primary Point of Contact: Jacqueline.ambala@bep.gov

Secondary Points of Contact: Susan Dela Cruz

Contact Information for Secondary Points of Contact: susan.delacruz@bep.gov

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) requires a contractor to provide Color Shifting, Cylinder-wipe, Non-heatset, Intaglio, Sheet-Fed Currency Ink with a security feature to be used in the printing of U.S. paper currency. The required ink will be used at BEP’s Washington, DC and Fort Worth, TX facilities.

This is a Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) (hereinafter Notice). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, request for bids or quotations, nor, a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The purpose of this RFI is for the Government to obtain knowledge and information for project planning purposes only. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice are solely at the responding parties' expense.

Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any trade secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential contained within their response. The U.S. Government will neither be liable for nor suffer any consequential damages resulting from any commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential not properly marked and clearly identified. Information received in response to this Notice will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable statutes, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is seeking sources, to promote competition in future acquisitions, with the capabilities to supply materials (herein production materials) for the production of U.S. paper currency or other BEP printed secure documents. From this broad class notice, the BEP is interested in determining potential sources for materials with potential use in printing U.S. paper currency or other BEP printed secure documents.

The BEP is seeking sources that can provide current existing materials or materials with possible minor modifications with the potential to meet the needs for production materials. For this RFI, the BEP is requesting information about capability to manufacture and provide color shifting intaglio inks with a security feature. Specifications for these materials are available upon submission of a written request with mailto:Jacqueline.ambala@bep.gov mailto:susan.delacruz@bep.gov a letter of intent to the point of contact identified below. Companies requesting specifications may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Statement (NDA) before receipt of specifications. The BEP reserves the right to deny the request for copies of the specifications.

Federal law and BEP’s regulation require the use of distinctive paper and distinctive counterfeit deterrents for Federal Reserve notes (FRNs) is as follows: 5 U.S.C. § 301; 12 U.S.C § 418; 18 U.S.C § 474A; 31 C.F.R. Part 601.

SUBMISSIONS: Responses to the Notice shall include the following:

a. General:

• Company Name and address,

• Unique Entity Identification (UEI) and cage code,

• Point of contact for both technical and non-technical questions along with their contact information (name, phone number, and email address),

• Business status (i.e. small or large and include applicable socio-economic status),

• Indicate if manufacturer or distributor,

• Identify if there’s an existing contract vehicle related to Specification and provide the contract number.

b. Specific Capability and Technical/Product Information: A discussion of the company's capability to supply various production materials. Technical/Product information (e.g. literature, documentation, etc.)

for each type of production material for which the company is capable of supplying including on information on where the product will be manufactured.

c. General budgetary cost and delivery information: Cost is a consideration; therefore, the BEP is interested in obtaining general budgetary cost and delivery information regarding the type of productions material for which the company is capable of supplying.

d. Customer list: A reference list of customers currently using the type of production material for which the company is capable of supplying.

The BEP reserves the right to request from companies responding to this Notice additional information as well as to request material samples. Any material samples requested by the BEP and submitted by the company will be reviewed and evaluated for inherent and relative effectiveness as production materials in terms of meeting BEP requirements for such materials and may be further assessed by the BEP for compatibility with design and production factors, durability, environmental acceptability, and other production/processing requirements. However, in these cases companies are cautioned that any such review evaluation, assessment and testing will be scheduled based on the availability of resources. In such instances, the BEP will only consider material samples, for which at least laboratory feasibility has already been demonstrated (i.e., means a proven concept, can provide a sample). The BEP reserves the right not to release submitted material evaluation results.

Brief email responses to this Notice shall be sent to the attention of the individuals listed in this Notice.

Due date for responses is no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time, December 10, 2024.

Terms and Conditions regarding this Notice

This Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. All costs associated with responding to this Notice are solely at the responding party's expense. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Further, the Government may contact the vendor for additional information regarding the information submitted as part of this market research effort. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Government Point of Entry or other similar source (e.g.

GSA E-buy, System of Award Management - SAM). However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative as a result of this notice. Responses to the notice will not be returned. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued.

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in responses to this Notice, unless otherwise appropriately marked by the Respondant. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information received in response to this Notice in any resultant solicitation(s).

Do Not Submit any Proposals/Offers in response to this Notice.