Appendix A Registration and Sticker Specifications.docx

1. The following specifications are for the printing and production of decals and registrations:

1.1. Number format: Each registration that is printed may require number sequencing to be printed on the form. Previous registrations have followed the sequencing structure described below.

Registrations shall be sequentially numbered on the face of each document as shown on the attached sample derived from Mod 10 format shown below. Subsequent years start out with the relevant to the calendar year sticker being printed. Exact sticker ranges will be given to awarded vendor for the initial year and at the beginning of each renewal term. Vendor must use Double add Double Mod 10 to calculate the check digit. The sequence number without the check digit needs to be printed directly below the bar code and to the left of the sticker underneath the sticker instructions on the face of each document. See sample for placement of the sequence number.

Sequence numbers may not be skipped. No duplicate numbers will be allowed.

Example: 000000001 = sequence number without check digit

0000000018 = sequence number with check digit

1.2. Bar code: Each registration shall be labeled with the bar code derived from the Mod 10 calculation shown above including the check digit. The bar code will be scanned with a symbol scanner. The readable Mod 10 number shall be placed below the bar code. The readable number shall not include the check digit. See proofs for locations of bar code with numbers.

1.2.1. Vendor must guarantee the correctness of the registrations. Defective registrations, defined as those that do not conform with all specifications outlined in this solicitation, will not print properly, pressure seal properly or sort through our mail sort machines properly, will require immediate replacement by the vendor at no cost to the Office of the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary of State, at its sole discretion, may also elect to have the remaining unused registrations within the run replaced at no additional cost.

1.2.2. Vendor must guarantee that registrations will function properly when stored in a warehouse temperature environment ranging from 55 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with no effect on adhesive or cohesive.

1.2.3. Stickers: The following specifications are for the printing and production of every sticker (attached to the registration) within this solicitation

1.2.3.1 Color specifications: The following color(s) shall be used as sticker colors. The color must be approved by SOS prior to production. The amount of each color or combination of colors ordered will be confirmed prior to production using any of the following methods of communication: electronic, written or printed registrations upon award of bid.

Additional years and colors will be provided as the contract continues through potential renewals.

1.2.4. Performance: These specifications shall cover the materials, performance characteristics, quality and testing for retroreflective sheeting with verifiable security marks to produce printed validation stickers for license plates.

The Secretary of State’s Office shall consider products for the sticker that meet or exceed the performance characteristics indicated in the following specifications. Vendors submitting proposals for the product MUST identify the manufacturer for the sticker and detailed specifications in a printed format along with the minimum of 100 samples that are required for this bid. Final determination will be at the discretion of the Office of the Secretary of State.

1.2.5. Description: The retro reflective (hereafter referred to as “reflective”) sheeting shall consist of lens elements enclosed within a transparent resin and shall have either two pre-coated pressure sensitive adhesives separated by a liner or a single adhesive layer. The first layer assures maximum adhesion to the license plate, while the second layer is piggyback coated on the liner of the first adhesive. The sticker must be married to the registration in such a way to facilitate sheeting and processing through the Illinois Secretary of State printing system while assuring maximum adhesion to the license plate when removed from the registration and adhered to the plate.

1.2.6. Retro Reflective Characteristics: The unprinted reflective sheeting shall have the minimum coefficients listed below of retro reflection expressed as candlepower per foot-candle per square foot of material (candelas per lux per square meter). The coefficient of retro reflection shall be measured in accordance with ASTM E-810 (or more recent version) Standard Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of Retroreflective Sheeting with the exception that only one reading shall be taken at each position. The sample shall not be rotated 90 degrees.

Observation Angles: 0.2 degrees Entrance Angles:

1.2.7. Rainfall Performance: The coefficient of retroreflection of the same sheeting, totally wet by rain shall not be less than 90% of the above values. Wet performance measurements shall be conducted at 0.2 degrees observation and –4 degrees entrance angle in accordance with ASTM-810 and using the test set up described in FHWA Specification FP-96, the latest revision of AASHTO M 268 and ASTMD 4956.

1.2.8. Durability: Processed and applied in accordance with recommended procedures, the reflective material shall be weather resistant. Following cleaning shall show no appreciable discoloration, cracking, crazing, blistering or dimensional change and no less than 50% of the specified minimum brightness values shall be lost when subjected to accelerated weathering for 1,200 hours in accordance with the most up to date Federal Test Method Standards 141/6151 or ASTM D82286 and ASTM G2388 Type EH weatherometer.

1.2.9. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive: The reflective sheeting shall have a protected, pre-coated, pressure sensitive adhesive on the backside for attachment to the background surface of license plates and/or the surface of another sticker.

a) The sticker shall be applied to the surface of license plates or stickers now on the license plate without the necessity of additional adhesive coats on the reflective material, application surface of the plate, or the use of water, other solvents, or heat techniques.

b) The pre-coated pressure sensitive adhesive shall become adhered by pressing it in contact with a clean, dry surface. It shall registration a durable bond to clean, well-painted surfaces or to unpainted corrosion proofed metals. The adhesive shall permit application to the prescribed surfaces and clean license plates at temperatures as high as 125 degrees F, as low as 10 degrees F and remain adhered at all temperatures for a minimum of five (5) years under normal conditions of use.

c) The adhesive coated sheeting, after 48 hours of aging at 75 degrees F shall be tough enough to resist scuffing and marring during normal handling, elastic enough at low temperatures to resist breaking off when struck with a spatula at 10 degrees F. The pre-coated adhesive shall have no staining effect on the reflective material and must be mildew resistant.

d) The validation sticker shall not be removable intact, in one piece, without the use of a tool after it has been adhered to the plate or previously applied sticker(s) at moderate temperatures for a period of 24 hours or more. The Contractor shall state in writing to the Director of the Vehicle Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State the number of hours it takes for the sticker to set or permanently adhere to the plate.

e) The Contractor shall forward to the Director of the Vehicle Services Department of the Office of the Secretary of State, a letter from the manufacturer of the pressure sensitive adhesive used in the manufacturing of the validation sticker sheeting stating that they are completely familiar with the intended use of the validation sticker material covered by these specifications and guarantee their product for the use intended.

1.2.10. Adhesive and Liner: The pre-coated pressure-sensitive sticker shall be removed from the registration by peeling and the adhesive shall bond to clean, dry, properly painted or reflective sheeting license plate surfaces or sticker surfaces of the same material. The pre-coated pressure sensitive sticker label shall be removed from the registration by peeling.

The adhesive shall not exude from sheeting edges when processed into finished stickers so as to prevent pieces from sticking together during printing, handling or while packaged in shipment and distribution. To ensure registrations do not stick together during printing, handling or while packaged in shipment and distribution, the registrations need to have special features incorporated to account for possible adhesive that will seep from under the edges of the finished stickers.

1.2.11. Diffuse Daytime Color: Through instrumental color testing, the diffuse daytime color of the reflective sheeting shall conform to color requirements as determined spectrophotometrically in accordance with ASTM E-1164 and E-1349, utilizing either 45/0 or 0/45 degree illumination/viewing conditions as described in E-1164 and E-1349 for retroreflective materials. Chromaticity and the Luminance Factor based on CIE Tristimulus values for the 2-degree observer and Illuminant D65 shall be calculated in accordance with ASTM E-308 with a deviation of +/- .020.

Color X Y Y (%)

1.2.12. Security: The manufacturer must apply a secure coating over the top of the sticker to deter removal of the toner by scraping via a sharp object. The sticker must show signs of wear or alteration if the toner is removed or tampered with.

The sheeting shall have protective security marks that are an integral part of the sheeting, and which make unauthorized sticker reproduction extremely difficult. The security marks shall be of a design mutually agreed upon by the state and the sheeting manufacturer and shall meet the following additional requirements:

a) Stickers properly applied to a vertically mounted license plate shall provide effective security marks.

b) The security marks must be visible on the sticker and be verifiable in diffuse daylight and by retroreflected light at night.

c) The security marks shall be removable by chemical or physical means from the sheeting validation sticker, applied or unapplied, without irreparable damage to the reflective system. Please see section 1.2.1.15 for the type of printers that S.O.S. is utilizing at this time.

1.2.13. Cleaning and Performance Life: The sheeting processed into finished stickers and applied in accordance with the recommendations of the reflective sheeting manufacturer shall be readily cleansed of normal dirt accumulation by washing with water and mild detergent.

The surface shall also be sufficiently solvent-resistant after printing on Secretary of State designated laser printers utilizing OEM toner to permit cleaning with solvents commonly used to clean vehicle finishes. Accordingly, the surface printed colorant shall show no wear after exposure to 50 cycle rubs (one cycle equals one rub back and forth) with a “Q-tip” type cotton swab with gasoline, methyl alcohol, kerosene, mineral spirits, VM & P naphtha, 409 cleaner, window cleaners, or any other common cleaners used to clean automotive paint finishes.

Finished stickers, including surface printed colorants, shall remain clear and durable and shall provide a compatible surface for direct application of additional annual stickers of the same material. Stickers and their print shall remain durable when exposed to outside elements for a minimum of two (2) years. Finished stickers shall show good wet abrasion resistance after 1,000 cycles of “Wet Scrub” testing. No appreciable wear shall be observed.

1.2.14. Dimensions: The individual stickers are each to be 1 1/2" wide by 1" high with a lip around the entire sticker measuring approximately 1/16” to 1/8” to allow the sticker to be removed from the single layer liner.

1.2.14.1 It shall be the vendor’s obligation to replace, without cost, those registrations/stickers which fail to meet the effective performance standards previously outlined. Vendor must destroy any spoiled registrations in a secure manner on their premises.

1.2.15. Required Samples with bid: At the time of the bid, all bidders must include a minimum of 100 (print ready) test samples for Pressure Seal Renewal with Sticker Registrations for each proposed sticker construction. SOS reserves the right to utilize an outside independent testing facility to assure compliance with the specifications and requirements of this bid. This testing may require up to six weeks in order to complete. Upon testing completion and acceptance, SOS shall post the notice of award to the lowest bidder who successfully meets all tests and bidding requirements. Only upon contract execution shall the awarded vendor be authorized to proceed with production.

After the initial test run, vendor will be allowed only one (1) additional opportunity to test. The second test documents must be received within 5 business days of the request. Failure to meet all of the above specifications, delivery instructions and performance expectations or needs with test documents and/or registrations will result in forfeiture of vendor’s bid.

1.2.16. Proofs: There are four proofs required. Two, one-piece color proofs with the sticker attached of each sticker color and two, one-piece color proofs of the non-glued version. These proofs must adhere to the exact specifications listed in Section 1.2. Proofs must be received 10 business days after the bid has been awarded. SOS may review the proofs for a minimum of 10 business days before returning 1 set of proofs to the vendor. The successful vendor must guarantee the proof process will not compromise the scheduled delivery date.