BEP-10-0001 Cover letter.doc

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING & PRINTING

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20228

SUBJECT:

Distinctive Currency Paper

SOLICIATION #:

BEP-10-0001

ISSUE DATE:

February 1, 2010

CLOSING DATE:

April 30, 2010 The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) invites you to submit an offer for Distinctive Currency Paper suitable for printing of U.S. Currency in accordance with the requirements set forth in this solicitation. Your proposal shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions set forth in Section L of this solicitation. Offerors are urged to carefully read the specifications and Section L, entitled, “Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors.” Specifically, your attention is directed to Section L-15 which details the requirements for a proposal.

An original and four copies of your offer, signed by an official authorized to bind the offeror, shall be submitted not later than 2:00 p.m., local time, on April 30, 2010 to the following address:

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Office of Acquisition

Materials and IT Contracts Division

Attn: Kathleen Barton

14th and C streets, S.W., Rm: 708A

Washington, D.C. 20228-0001

Material samples are to be submitted separately from the proposal documents; however, these samples are considered a part of each offeror’s proposal and must be submitted in accordance with the instructions set forth in Section L-17, entitled, “Material Samples” not later than 2:00 p.m., local time, on April 30, 2010.

Offerors are advised that no material samples may be manufactured without the review and approval of Interim and Accountability Plans as set forth in Section L.17 (subparagraph (j)). Interim plans are to be submitted within fourteen (14) calendar days after the issuance of the solicitation. Written requests for the watermark artwork and sample watermark images are to be submitted within fourteen (14) calendar days after issuance of the solicitation (See L-17(i)(3)).

For your convenience a listing of submission due on April 30, 2010 for this procurement are outlined below:

A. VOLUME I: Price Proposal shall consist of the following:

(1) Standard Form 33, "Solicitation, Offer, and Award," with blocks 12 through 18 completed by the offeror;

(2) RFP Section B, "Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs," with the offeror's proposed contract line item prices inserted in the appropriate spaces of the pricing matrices;

(3) Other RFP fill-ins, all other solicitation pages with the offeror's proposed fill-ins inserted in the appropriate spaces;

(4) RFP Section K, Offerors are required to complete the Electronic Representations and Certifications as required in Section K, paragraph K-1 and K-2. "Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors", completed by the offeror as required in Section K;

(5) Amendments, signed copies of any solicitation amendments (if any); or completion of block 14 on Standard Form 33;

(6) Small Business Subcontracting Plan (see provision L-16 and Attachment E);

(7) Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Targets (see L-6 and Attachment F);

(8) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL) (see Attachment K), completed by the offeror;

(9) Business Management Plan (Questionnaire), (see provision L-27 and

Attachment L);

(10) Pricing Documentation (see provision L-28); and

(11) Experience and Past Performance Information (see provision L-29).

B. Material Samples (submitted separately - See provision L-17);

C. Volume II: Security Plan (See provision L-18);

D. Volume III: Transportation Plan (See provision L-19);

E. Volume IV: Manufacturing Plan (see provision L-20);

F. Volume V: Quality Assurance Plan (see provision L-21);

G. Volume VI: Accountability Plan (see provision L-22);

H. Volume VII: Material Sample Supporting Data shall consist of the following:

(1) Technical Data Sheet/Report (see provision L-23);

(2) MSDS, a copy of the MSDS submitted prior to solicitation closing (see provision L-24);

(3) Environmental Certifications (see provision L-25); and

(4) Material Sample Certificate (see provision L-26);

Offerors are reminded that the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) are due ten working days prior to the submittal of material samples or not later than April 19, 2010 (See provision L-24). Material samples will not be evaluated without the receipt of the appropriate and complete MSDS.

If you obtained this solicitation from a source other than where the BEP has posted it on the General Service Administration's (GSA) Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), you will not receive notice of any amendments to it. The internet address for FedBizOpps is: www.fbo.gov

You are advised to check FedBizOpps periodically for any notice of amendments to this solicitation. FedBizOpps provides an option for vendors to register for automatic electronic notification when pre-solicitation and post-award notices and their amendments are posted. Please visit the FedBizOpps website for more information.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (Part 4) requires that all Prospective contractors shall be registered in the CCR database prior to award of a contract or agreement. Additional information regarding this requirement may be obtained at the Central Contractor Registration internet site at http://www.ccr.gov/.

This solicitation does not commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the submission of an offer or any other costs incurred prior to the execution of a formal contract unless such costs are specifically authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer. Your attention in invited to the fact that the Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit or obligate the Government to an expenditure of public funds should a contract result by reason of a response to the solicitation.

Prospective offerors are cautioned against discussing the preparation of their offer or asking technical questions with Government technical personnel. Discussions with Government technical personnel concerning the specifications, the documents incorporated by reference, cost and pricing data, or any technical matters are strictly forbidden. Verification of any such improper conduct may result in immediate rejection of the offeror’s offer. Accordingly, all communications prior to award shall be directed to Kathleen Barton, Contract Specialist via email at kathleen.barton@bep.treas.gov and by phone at (202)874-3139 or the undersigned at email catherine.holland@bep.treas.gov and by phone at (202)874-3148.

Sincerely, //signed//

Catherine Holland Contracting Officer