Draft_SOO_Dichroic_RD_PreSolNotice.docx

Sensitive But Unclassified

PROCUREMENT SENSITIVE

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

Dichroic Materials Research and Development Services

1. Scope of Work

The objective of this effort is to provide research and development services to identify and develop pigments, inks, or materials with dichroic properties in reflected and transmitted light for potential use in overt, visual authentication features on future generations of U.S. currency. For this application, dichroic materials are defined as those that exhibit a specific color, appearance, or visual effect when viewed under reflected light and a distinctly different color, appearance, or visual effect when viewed under transmitted light. Pigments, inks, and materials are required to maintain their dichroic characteristics when applied to currency, as well as meet Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) durability and Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements.

This contract includes provisions for:

· A base one-year period to perform initial materials research and development.

· A one-year option period to enhance dichroic feature effects and produce prototype materials for evaluation.

· A second one-year option period to demonstrate functioning features integrated on representative test coupons and perform initial durability testing.

The scope of activities to be performed in each contract period includes tasks as specified in Section 3 and deliverables as specified in Section 4.

2. Referenced Documents

2.1. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), latest version

2.2. Security Designation Guide (SDG), latest version

2.3. Test methods for light-fastness (ASTM G155, Table X3.1 Cycle 11)

2.4. Chemical Resistance Test (BEP 93B-09.3-06)

2.5. Laundry Test (BEP 93B-09.3-05)

2.6. Crumple Test (BEP 93B-09.3-04)

2.7. EHS Requirements for Purchased Materials (BEP 75D-07.0-05)

2.8. Restricted Materials (BEP Document 75D-07.0-07)

Single copies of BEP documents are available from the Contracting Officer; Bureau of Engraving and Printing; Office of Procurement; 14th and C Streets, SW; Washington, DC 20228.

3. Contractor Tasks/Requirements

The Contractor shall perform research and development for the BEP related to the development of dichroic pigments, inks, or materials for potential use in security feature applications for U.S. currency. The Contractor shall develop materials and the security features in which they are incorporated that achieve the following requirements:

· Inks and materials shall have one distinctive visual appearance in reflected light and a different distinctive appearance in transmitted light when printed on or applied to currency.

· Changes in appearance when viewed under reflected light vs. transmitted light shall be obvious and easily discernible under most lighting conditions without the use of an external device.

· Ink-based materials shall be printable by offset, intaglio, letterpress, or screen printing methods. Materials that are compatible with cylinder-wipe intaglio inks, dry offset (flexographic) inks, or typographic inks employed in currency production at the BEP are particularly desired.

· Materials shall provide effective counterfeit deterrence against a variety of threats, including traditional printing as well as digital reproduction, and shall be extremely difficult to simulate or duplicate.

· Unique visual effects or color combinations shall be reserved for exclusive use by the BEP. A variety of exclusive visual effects or color combinations are desired for use with different denominations.

· Integration of features in currency shall not result in a significant increase in banknote thickness. The maximum allowable increase in thickness is 35 µm; however, features that are significantly thinner than this are desired.

The Contractor shall deliver the resulting materials and any technical data necessary for evaluation and validation of the materials’ performance to the BEP as detailed below. Development activities will be executed using a periodic review approach to ensure that the project continues to address the needs of the U.S. Currency Program (USCP) throughout the contract period of performance. All work shall be performed and information shall be handled in accordance with the requirements of the NDA and the SDG.

1.0 2.0 3.0

3.1 Base Year: Materials Research and Development

3.1.1 The Contractor shall perform a technology survey of dichroic pigments, inks, and materials that exhibit distinctly different colors, appearances, or visual effects when viewed under reflected light vs. transmitted light and document results in a Technology Survey Report. The Contractor shall deliver the Technology Survey Report to the COR within 10 days after the end of the first quarter of the base year period of performance.

3.1.2 Based on the technology survey, the Contractor shall identify specific pigments, inks, or materials for development of enhanced dichroic properties and effects when applied to U.S. currency.

3.1.3 The Contractor shall select pigments based on their ability to maintain dichroic properties and effects when dispersed in security printing inks applied to currency and select materials based on their ability maintain dichroic properties and effects when applied to representative substrates.

3.1.4 The Contractor shall perform initial research and development efforts to evaluate the potential range of visual effects for the selected materials and propose a technical approach for enhancing their effectiveness when applied to currency.

3.1.5 The Contractor shall identify the proposed approach for integration of dichroic materials as security features on U.S. currency. This approach shall include techniques for reducing the overall thickness of integrated features.

3.1.6 The Contractor shall predict the potential range of visual effects that both component materials and integrated features are expected to achieve.

3.1.7 Materials selected for development shall be capable of meeting BEP durability requirements after integration on banknotes when tested in accordance with the methods and procedures referenced in Sections 2.3–2.6.

3.1.8 Materials selected for development shall meet EH&S requirements as specified in the documents referenced in Sections 2.7 and 2.8.

3.1.9 The Contractor shall identify potential performance or durability issues for the selected materials along with a proposed resolution path.

3.1.10 The Contractor shall deliver a technical report to the COR and present a summary of their technical activities and results for the year at an annual project review meeting with the BEP no later than 15 days prior to the end of the base year period of performance. Information provided in the report shall be sufficient to permit the Government to assess each material’s potential to function as an effective security feature when applied to currency. The Contractor shall include the following information in the technical report:

3.1.10.1 Description of dichroic materials selected for potential application to U.S. currency with corresponding technical data and predicted range of visual effects.

3.1.10.2 Proposed integration approach for the selected materials, performance predictions for integrated features, and description of any potential performance issues identified.

3.1.10.3 Initial assessment of material durability and EHS compliance relative to USCP requirements in documents referenced in Section 2.

3.2 Option Year 1: Continued Materials Development to Enhance Feature Effects

3.2.1 The Contractor shall update the technology survey of dichroic pigments, inks, and materials performed during the base year and document new findings in a revised Technology Survey Report. The Contractor shall deliver the Technology Survey Report update to the COR within 10 days after the end of the first quarter of the Option Year 1 period of performance.

3.2.2 The Contractor shall perform additional dichroic materials development efforts to incorporate additional or enhanced visual effects into materials selected during the contract base year. Visual effect enhancements could include the following:

· Extending the range of colors, contrast values, or other visual attributes achieved when materials are viewed under reflected vs. transmitted light.

· Enhancing the conspicuousness of visual effects when materials are applied to currency paper.

· Increasing the number of unique effects that can be achieved for use with different denominations.

3.2.3 The Contractor shall produce prototype feature component material samples for initial testing and evaluation. Ink-based materials shall be compatible with the following:

· Offset, intaglio, letterpress, or screen printing inks (required).

· Cylinder-wipe intaglio, dry offset (flexographic), or typographic inks employed in currency production at the BEP (desired).

3.2.4 Pigments and other ink-based materials shall maintain dichroic properties and effects when dispersed in printing inks. Inks and materials shall maintain dichroic properties and effects when applied to representative substrates.

3.2.5 The Contractor shall perform testing to quantify the range of visual effects produced by the prototype component materials and compare measured data with expected results predicted during the base year.

3.2.6 The Contractor shall submit samples of prototype component materials to the COR for evaluation no later than 15 days prior to the end of the second and fourth quarters of the Option Year 1 period of performance.

3.2.6.1 For ink-based materials, the Contractor shall supply three Prufbau prints or an equivalent material sample having a minimum of 40 cm2 of ink coverage for each ink material submitted to the BEP. The strips shall include a blank area of a minimum of 4 cm2 as a paper reference region.

3.2.6.2 As an alternative to Prufbau prints of ink-based materials, the Contractor may supply a 100-g sample of each material dispersed in a representative ink packaged at the Contractor’s discretion to guarantee the integrity of the contents with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) as specified in Section 5.

3.2.7 The Contractor shall provide supporting technical data for each material sample submitted to the BEP to the COR at the time of sample delivery.

3.2.8 The Contractor shall update the proposed approach for integration of dichroic materials on U.S. currency and predictions of the potential range of visual effects the integrated features are expected to achieve based on measured results for prototype component materials.

3.2.9 The Contractor shall update potential material performance or durability issues identified during the base year and their proposed resolution path.

3.2.10 The Contractor shall deliver a technical report to the COR and present a summary of their technical activities and results for the year at an annual project review meeting with the BEP no later than 15 days prior to the end of the Option Year 1 period of performance. The Contractor shall include the following information in the technical report:

3.2.10.1 Updated description of dichroic materials selected for potential application to U.S. currency including methodology used to produce prototype component material samples.

3.2.10.2 Summary of prototype component material test data including visual effect measurements and comparison to base year predictions.

3.2.10.3 Updated integration approach for the selected materials, performance predictions for integrated features, and description of any potential performance issues identified.

3.2.10.4 Updated assessment of material durability and EHS compliance relative to USCP requirements in documents referenced in Section 2.

3.3 Option Year 2: Feature Integration and Durability Testing

3.3.1 The Contractor shall update the technology survey of dichroic pigments, inks, and materials performed during Option Year 1 and document new findings in a revised Technology Survey Report. The Contractor shall deliver the Technology Survey Report update to the COR within 10 days after the end of the first quarter of the Option Year 2 period of performance.

3.3.2 The Contractor shall build on component material development efforts performed during Option Year 1 to further optimize material properties for potential integration on U.S. currency.

3.3.3 The Contractor shall integrate component materials developed during Option Year 1 to produce fully functioning feature exemplars. Exemplars shall be incorporated into test coupons using substrates that are representative of materials used on U.S. currency.

3.3.4 The Contractor shall perform testing to demonstrate that the feature exemplars provide the expected functionality. The Contractor shall obtain test measurements to quantify the range of visual effects produced by the integrated features and compare measured data with predicted results.

3.3.5 The Contractor shall submit feature exemplars to the COR for evaluation no later than 15 days prior to the end of the second and fourth quarters of the Option Year 2 period of performance. Exemplars shall be produced using representative substrates and delivered as banknote-sized coupons.

3.3.5.1 For ink-based materials, the Contractor shall also supply three Prufbau prints or an equivalent material sample having a minimum of 40 cm2 of ink coverage for each ink material submitted to the BEP. The strips shall include a blank area of a minimum of 4 cm2 as a paper reference region.

3.3.5.2 As an alternative to Prufbau prints of ink-based materials, the Contractor may supply a 100-g sample of each material dispersed in a representative ink packaged at the Contractor’s discretion to guarantee the integrity of the contents with SDSs as specified in Section 5.

3.3.6 The Contractor shall provide supporting technical data for each feature exemplar submitted to the COR at the time of exemplar delivery.

3.3.7 The Contractor shall prepare additional test coupons required to conduct initial durability testing of feature exemplars. The Contractor shall conduct testing in accordance with the following methods and procedures:

3.3.7.1 Light-fastness in accordance with ASTM G155, Table X3.1, Cycle 11.

3.3.7.2 Chemical resistance in accordance BEP 93B-09.3-06.

3.3.7.3 Laundering in accordance with BEP 93B-09.3-05.

3.3.7.4 Crumpling in accordance with BEP 93B-09.3-04.

3.3.8 The Contractor shall perform further development efforts to address materials durability issues identified in testing and conduct additional durability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts.

3.3.9 The Contractor shall provide copies of durability test results to the COR upon completion of testing. The Contractor shall also deliver a final set of durability test coupons to the COR for verification testing no later than 15 days prior to the end of the Option Year 2 period of performance.

3.3.10 The Contractor shall deliver a technical report to the COR and present a summary of their technical activities and results for the year at an annual project review meeting with the BEP no later than 15 days prior to the end of the Option Year 2 period of performance. The Contractor shall include the following information in the technical report:

3.3.10.1 Updated description of dichroic materials and integrated features selected for potential application to U.S. currency.

3.3.10.2 Description of process used to produce integrated feature exemplars and test coupons.

3.3.10.3 Summary of integrated feature exemplar test data including visual effect measurements and comparison to predictions.

3.3.10.4 Summary of durability test results.

3.3.10.5 Updated assessment of material durability and EHS compliance relative to USCP requirements in documents referenced in Section 2, including a description of each issue identified, durability testing failures, and efforts performed to resolve issues and improve material durability.

4.0 Deliverables

4.1 Monthly Progress Reports

The Contractor shall provide a status update to the COR within 10 days after the end of each month of the contract period of performance consisting of the following:

4.1.1 Vendor status report\presentation summarizing activities for the month

4.1.2 Conference call with the COR

4.2 Quarterly Technology Summaries

The Contractor shall provide a status update to the COR within 10 days after the end of the first, second, and third quarters of each year of the contract period of performance consisting of the following:

4.2.1 Vendor summary report summarizing activities for the quarter

4.2.2 Technology Survey Report delivered at end of first quarter of base year and each option year in accordance with Sections 3.1.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.1

4.3 Option Years 1 and 2: Semi-annual Material Sample Delivery

4.3.1 Option Year 1: Component material samples in accordance with Section 3.2.6

4.3.2 Option Year 2: Feature exemplars in accordance with Section 3.3.5

4.3.3 Technical data in accordance with Sections 3.2.7 and 3.3.6

4.4 Annual Project Review

4.4.1 Technical report in accordance with Sections 3.1.10, 3.2.10, and 3.3.10

4.4.2 Project review meeting in accordance with Sections 3.1.10, 3.2.10, and 3.3.10

4.4.3 Option Year 2: Durability test results in accordance with Section 3.3.9

4.4.4 Option Year 2: Durability test coupons in accordance with Section 3.3.9

5.0 Environmental, Health, and Safety

5.1 The Contractor shall provide the SDS of all chemicals that are to be delivered to BEP for review and approval by the BEP EHS office (OEHS) prior to shipment of materials.

5.2 SDSs shall be submitted to the COR at least ten (10) business days prior to shipment of all materials in order for OEHS to have sufficient time to review and approve the materials for shipment and use at BEP.

5.3 BEP retains the right to reject any material which OEHS deems to have any adverse health effect upon its employees. In addition, all chemicals supplied by the Contractor shall meet the requirements of the documents referenced in Sections 2.7 and 2.8 above.

6.0 Milestones

Security feature technologies, materials, effect responses, and feature characteristics are developed in accordance with the USCP Technology Development Process (TDP) milestones listed below. The scope of Contractor tasks and requirements detailed in Section 3 above entails the Feasibility Phase activities identified in Section 6.2. Other TDP phases are described below to provide a contextual framework for research and development efforts performed under this contract.

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

6.1 Concept Phase

6.1.1 Define current technology state

6.1.1.1 Provide optical theory of feature effect/functionality

6.1.1.2 Conduct market research of existing materials

6.1.1.3 Describe the current state of the market

6.1.1.4 Conduct market research on related application materials

6.1.1.5 Define research potential of the proposed features

6.1.2 Define technology ability to address:

6.1.2.1 Feature users

6.1.2.2 Feature inspection methods

6.1.3 Define feature concept criteria

6.1.4 Define a quality plan for feature R&D

6.1.5 Define a quality plan for feature production

6.1.6 Define feature selection/acceptance criteria

6.1.7 Define technology development scope and objectives

6.2 Feasibility Phase

6.2.1 Functionality

6.2.1.1 Exemplar demonstrating a specific feature functionality

6.2.1.2 Exemplar demonstrating multiple feature functionalities

6.2.1.3 Exemplar demonstrating a different version of feature

6.2.1.4 Basis of evolving feature over time and/or for denomination purposes

6.2.2 Integration

6.2.2.1 Demonstration of effect materials in experimental test apparatus

6.2.2.2 Demonstration of effect materials with support/application media

6.2.2.3 Demonstration of effect materials as a feature applied to paper substrate

6.2.2.4 Demonstration of feature exemplar with thickness relevant to banknotes

6.2.3 Proof of Technology Feasibility

6.2.3.1 Proof of Concept: Feature exemplars with function and integration

6.2.3.2 Initial Durability: Feature exemplars pass battery of durability tests

6.2.3.3 When a feature concept possesses exemplars which demonstrate Proof of Concept and Initial Durability, that feature concept has passed the Feasibility phase of technology development.

6.3 Test and Optimization (T&O) Phase: With completion of Feasibility phase requirements, feature concepts may move forward to the T&O phase of technology development upon the direction of the BEP, which may provide the additional requirements for that phase of technology development at that time.

6.4 Project Pipeline

6.4.1 Feature concepts continue to populate the project pipeline as additional potential feature versions to address the future needs of the project with regards to alternate feature effects, alternate feature application methods, advanced feature versions, market relevance, technology maturity, banknote deployment strategy, and denomination stratification.

6.4.2 Multiple feature prototype versions and/or alternate feature concept prototypes may be necessary to pass Feasibility requirements for the project as a whole to be considered to enter the T&O phase of technology development.

6.4.3 Multiple feature prototype versions and/or alternate feature concept prototypes may continue to be in the Feasibility phase of development while other feature concepts have already entered the T&O phase of technology development.