2031ZA26N00005 RFI -Hidden Machine Readable Security Features.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20228

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Type of Notice: Request for Information (RFI)

Notice Number: 2031ZA26N00005

Short description of supply or service: Research and Development RFI for Hidden Machine-Readable

Security Features

PCS or FSC Code: AJ13

NAICS Code: 541715

Response Date: 2:00 PM Eastern Time, November 15, 2026

Primary POC: Kevin Ibershoff, Contract Specialist, Kevin.Ibershoff@BEP.Gov

Secondary POC: Falcon Albino, Contracting Officer, Falcon.Albinot@BEP.Gov

Program Office POC: Chris Dollberg, Ph.D., Division Manager, Christopher.Dollberg@BEP.Gov

Description: This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes only and it should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to a contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties` expense. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). If so, respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and identifying such information within their responses.

The U. S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating novel emerging technologies and/or materials with potential application as hidden machine-readable counterfeit deterrent / authenticating features on future generations of U. S.

currency. Proposed counterfeit deterrent feature / system should be novel and that are not otherwise in commercial use or the public domain.

Proposed features may become distinctive counterfeit deterrents incorporated into the banknote or applied to the notes. An effective hidden machine-readable feature should be:

1. difficult to discover on a banknote even by subject matter experts

2. difficult to elucidate the functionality or detection mechanism of the feature

3. readable by a highly discriminating standalone detection system

4. resistant to simulation or duplication, both in terms of material and response

Technologies and/or materials submitted for consideration will be reviewed for inherent and relative effectiveness as a security feature and may be further assessed for compatibility with design and production factors, durability, environmental acceptability, and other processing requirements.

For initial screening purposes, interested parties are requested to submit the following items to the BEP

R&D technical lead, Chris Dollberg:

1. preliminary samples and

2. a brief technical description to:

Bureau of Engraving & Printing

Office of the Technology & Development

Attn: Chris Dollberg

301 14th Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20228-0001

The Bureau may submit offered technologies to outside technical experts under government contracts for their evaluation subject to the approval of the submitting party. Previously submitted materials or technologies need not be resubmitted.

Email responses to this Notice shall be sent to the attention of Kevin Ibershoff, Kevin.Ibershoff@BEP.Gov, Falcon Albino, Falcon.Albino@BEP.Gov, and Chris Dollberg, christopher.dollberg@bep.gov. Respondents are requested to submit the capability statements no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Time, November 15, 2026.

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. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. 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.

Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The BEP will not be obligated to pursue any 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 your response. The

Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). If so, respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and identifying such information within their response.