PCID 1096 March 2026.pdf

Inspection Stickers; Annual Inside, Semi-Annual and Emissions PCID NO. 1096

Inspection Stickers; Annual Inside, Semi-Annual and Emissions

(This item description supersedes PCID 1096 dated 28 Nov 2016)

PCID NO. 1096

Eff. 23 March 2026

This Pennsylvania Commercial Item Description (PCID) covers requirements for inspection stickers used for identification purposes and placed upon vehicle windshields. The stickers shall be pressure-sensitive containing an anti-counterfeit, tamper resistant material with security features that utilize the latest technology and are difficult to duplicate yet easily detected with the unaided eye. The stickers must be affixed to the vehicle windshields by inspection stations approved and licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or in the case of school buses, by the designated unit of the Pennsylvania State Police, in a manner prescribed by law.

This PCID shall be considered a performance specification. The product outlined in this document must perform as specified, or it will be considered non-compliant and defective. Independent product testing may be necessary; however, the ability to properly adhere to the surface to which it is applied, while meeting all of the other requirements in this PCID, will determine the product’s conformance to specification.

1.0 Classification - Inspection stickers covered by this specification shall be:

1.1 Annual Inside (AI) - to be affixed to vehicles including, passenger vehicles and light trucks with a registered gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 17,000 pounds or less, emergency vehicles, farm vehicles with a gross weight rating of greater than 17,000 pounds for which a Type D biennial certificate of exemption has been issued, private noncommercial vehicles used to transport students, and motor carrier vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 17,000 pounds.

1.2 Semi-Annual Inside (SI) – to be affixed to school buses, vehicles which are under contract with or owned by a school district or a private or parochial school, including vehicles having chartered group and party rights under the Public Utility Commission and used to transport school students; passenger vans used to transport persons for hire or owned by a commercial enterprise and used for transportation of employees to or from their place of employment; and mass transit vehicles.

1.3 Emissions (IM) - Affected Emission Vehicles

2.0 Requirements

2.1 Material - Inspection stickers shall consist of the highest quality material that will produce a pressure sensitive "sticker" conforming to the requirements of this specification and containing visually identifiable features for non-destructive verification of authenticity by an observer. AI, SI, and IM stickers shall be printed on an engineered paper of not less than 3.3 mil in thickness, and treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive that will be compatible with the adhesive of corresponding inserts covered in PCID 1097. The back side of the

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

PENNSYLVANIA COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION (PCID)

material shall withstand routine windshield cleaning without damage to the sticker as well as accept writing from a ballpoint pen.

2.2 Size - Unless otherwise prescribed by the Commonwealth, individually the stickers shall measure 3" wide by 2.2" high.

2.3 Design - Inspection stickers shall be of a design, including color, lettering, size of printing, an Optically

Variable Security Device (OVSD) pattern, OVSD integration, etc., on the face and color, lettering, design, and size of printing on the back, as indicated and approved by PENNDOT by the means of proofs prior to production.

2.4 Writing Surface - Writing with ballpoint pen (non-erasable ink) on the reverse (back) side of the sticker must adhere securely and resist smudging and removal. The writing must remain securely anchored, clearly legible and free of smudging.

2.5 Opacity - One side of the paper shall be coated in such a way that writing or printing on the back of the sticker shall not distort the features of the front of the sticker when viewed in normal position under average daylight conditions.

2.6 Adhesive - The face side of the sticker shall be coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that will assure adhesion to a vehicle windshield for a period of fifteen (15) months, requiring no moisture, heat or other preparation prior to application. The adhesive shall coat the entire area of the face side of the sticker smoothly and uniformly and shall contain such additives as are necessary to insure flexibility during storage life of the sticker. The sticker shall show satisfactory adhesion as indicated by no delamination, separation or any other type of product peeling not indicated, between the sticker and the surface to which it is applied.

2.7 Facing (Slip) Sheet - The facing (slip) sheet shall be easily removable by hand for a period of eighteen (18) months from date of receipt without damaging the pressure-sensitive face of the sticker, and shall be sufficiently translucent so that the calendar years and the serial number are legible beneath it. The facing (slip) sheet shall be easily removable over a temperature range of 0°F to 120°F without damage to the sticker.

2.8 Perforations - Where an individual sticker requires perforation there shall be no blocking or oozing of adhesive causing edge sticking of the sticker. Perforations shall cause no damage to the sticker upon removal of the facing (slip) sheet.

2.9 Security Features - A primary security feature shall be incorporated into each sticker so that any attempt made to remove the sticker from the windshield will result in disintegration, defacement, or visible damage to the sticker rendering it unusable.

2.9.1 An additional security feature for AI, SI, and IM stickers shall incorporate an Optically Variable Security

Device (OVSD), which is clearly visible when observed at various angles with the unaided eye, while the sticker is affixed to the interior of a vehicle's windshield. This optical image shall be made integral within the sticker in such a way that would make unauthorized sticker reproduction extremely difficult and shall consist of a minimum of three levels (Public, Private, Forensic) of security as follows:

2.9.2 Public Security Level (Easy-To-Recognize) – Shall be comprised of a computer generated diffractive image of the PENNDOT logo. The dot of the logo shall be a visually kinetic feature that zooms in and out with changing light and viewing angles. This feature shall be easily recognizable with the unaided eye from a broad range of distances and angles under various daylight conditions. Holographic image, diffractive image of

PennDOT logo and kinetic dot, and public security feature and print need to be in register.

2.9.3 Private Security Level – Shall be comprised of a covert feature that is easily identified with a handheld viewer. The covert feature is designed for non-destructive, visual verification of authenticity. This feature is verifiable before and after application of the sticker to the vehicle. This type of covert feature shall be available from a qualified anti-counterfeit security vendor and not commercially available to the public. Holographic image and/or private security feature and print need to be in register.

2.9.4 Forensic Security Level – Shall be comprised of an evaluation of the optical signature of the OVSD. This measurement shall not change from one manufacturing run to the next. It shall not be affected or changed by paper, ink, or adhesive properties, nor affected or changed by any of the machine settings that are employed in the manufacturing process. This covert feature is designed for verification by the qualified anti-counterfeit security vendor and shall consist of a unique optical signature. Forensic security feature and print need to be in register.

2.9.5 Color – Shall be mutually agreed to by contractor and requisitioning agency, in accordance with contract requirements. Colors will be determined by using the Pantone Matching System (PMS) when possible. Once determined, colors must remain consistent from one manufacturing run to the next for the entire campaign year.

3.0 Serial Numbering - Inspection stickers shall have a serial number consisting of a prefix and a seven-digit number. The font size of the serial numbers shall be 4.6mm (+/- .3). All stickers shall be consecutively numbered, in accurate sequence, for the total quantity required for individual inspection periods and sticker types designated.

3.1 Inspection stickers shall have a serial number prefix containing the following information: For AI, SI, and

IM stickers the prefix shall consist of two alpha characters which will be designated by the purchasing agency, followed by the last number of the year for which the sticker is issued (e.g., 2 for the year 2002).

3.2 All inspection stickers types shall be numbered beginning at 0000001 for each yearly campaign and continue sequentially until the purchase order quantity is satisfied. In the event the 7 digit number of 9999999 is reached on a sticker type, the manufacturer shall request approval of a new prefix to be determined by the requisitioning agency prior to continued production of that sticker type.

4.0 Quality

4.1 The quality of these stickers is very important. The quality philosophy and methods of the selected supplier must be “zero defects”. Each bidder must submit their plan for accomplishing the “zero defects” quality philosophy along with their bid.

4.2 Acceptable quality levels for these products are no more than one (1) defective sticker per 100,000 delivered stickers to the purchasing agency per contract year. Defects include, but are not limited to, duplicated or missing serial numbers, out of sequence numbering of stickers, stickers failing to adhere to vehicle windshields for the specified time, stickers not meeting the required security features, stickers damaged or removed by routine windshield washing, blistering, peeling, fading, and variation of sticker color. Products not meeting this standard will result in application of the provisions of the “Defects” clause.

4.2.1 No over-runs against purchase order quantities will be allowed.

4.3 Workmanship - In preparing the sticker for application the sticker shall not tear and there shall be no separation of the adhesive from the sticker.

4.4 Longevity Period - Inspection stickers shall have a minimum longevity period of eighteen (18) months from date of receipt and fifteen (15) months from date of application to a vehicle. All performance requirements, including but not limited to, sticker color, adhesive properties, and security features must conform to this longevity period.

5.0 Packing, Marking, and Palletizing

5.1 Packing - The packing and packaging shall be in accordance with the industries standard practice in a manner to insure carrier acceptance and safe delivery to destination.

5.2 Individual Sheet – Unless otherwise prescribed by the Commonwealth, an individual sheet shall contain ten

(10) stickers formatted two stickers wide by five stickers high with a finished sheet dimension of 6” wide by

11” high. Inspection stickers shall be sequentially numbered from left to right, top to bottom. The individual stickers shall be perforated in a manner, which allows for easy separation without rough or damaged edges.

5.3 Packs – Unless otherwise prescribed by the Commonwealth, individual packs shall contain 1,000 stickers

(100 sheets) flanked on either side by a cardboard separator to prevent damage and curling to the stickers and poly-wrapped. Packs shall be stacked with the starting serial number on top and ending serial number on bottom. These packs shall be labeled on the outside clearly identifying the starting and ending numbers contained within.

5.4 Boxes – Individual boxes shall contain a maximum quantity of 10,000 stickers (10 packs). Packs shall be arranged in the box with the starting serial number on top and the ending serial number on the bottom. These boxes shall be labeled on the outside clearly identifying the material number, starting and ending serial numbers, purchase order number, and quantity of stickers contained within. Serial numbers shall be labeled with a minimum font size of 24 and the ten thousandth digit place shall be bolded, i.e A17 0050000. Each box of the production run shall be sequentially numbered starting with one (1). Example if a production run consists of 200 boxes the boxes will be numbered 1 of 200 through 200 of 200. Boxes shall be sealed with tamper resistant tape.

5.5 Palletizing - All boxes shall be shipped on pallets, with a maximum 600,000 stickers, unless agreed upon with the Commonwealth.

5.5.1 Pallet Construction – Pallets shall comply with the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association

Uniform Standard for Wooden Pallets. Pallets shall be stringer type, constructed of hardwood that is sufficiently dry so as to not cause moisture damage to the product. Deck boards shall be minimum 3/4 inch thick and minimum 5-1/2 inches wide. Each pallet shall have three stringers 1-5/8 inches thick and minimum 3-5/8 inches wide. Stringers shall be notched to allow easy entry by a forklift. The pallet dimensions shall be minimum 44 inches and maximum 48 inches in the direction of the deck boards, and minimum 36 inches and maximum 40 inches in the direction of the stringers. Four nylon or plastic straps, two in each direction, shall tightly secure the load. Corner edge posts shall run the complete height of each load corner, so that the straps do not damage the boxes or their contents or the center layer does not “pop“ out. Plastic stretch wrap may be used as an alternate to straps. The entire skid-load shall be wrapped with plastic wrap or poly-pak so that the center layer does not “pop“ out and the load does not shift on the pallet. Boxes shall be constructed and packed so as not to collapse when two pallets of similar material are stacked on top of each other. Pallet and load shall not exceed four feet in height. Boxes shall not extend beyond edges of the pallet. Boxes shall be arranged on the pallets in such a way that allows for the lowest serial number to be removed first with the highest serial number to be removed last.

5.6 Marking - Unless otherwise specified each shipping pallet shall be clearly marked with the words

"PRINTED MATTER", the PCID Number and type, the beginning and ending serial numbers (including prefixes), the quantity, the name of the contractor, the name and address of the consignee, and the words

"STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE". These markings must be on two sides and correspond with the open ends of the pallet.

6.0 Sampling, Inspection and Testing (post-award)

6.1 Samples – The manufacturer shall retain 100 samples of each sticker type consisting of finished product or raw material suitable for testing from each production lot. Samples shall be retained for a minimum of six months after expiration date of the life of the contract. The manufacturer shall provide to the Commonwealth, 100 samples of each sticker type consisting of finished product or raw material(s) suitable for destruction testing from each production lot. The Commonwealth reserves the right to examine and approve production samples and perform “press checks” at the beginning of each production lot.

6.2 Testing – Prior to shipment of initial finished product to the Commonwealth, it shall be incumbent upon the supplier to either conduct their own in-house testing or acquire testing by an independent lab to ensure that the product meets the performance requirements of this specification. Testing shall be performed in accordance with ASTM or equivalent accepted standards. Written results of this testing shall be submitted to the

Commonwealth upon shipment of the initial finished product. If the Commonwealth experiences performance or quality issues, subsequent testing of stickers and inserts (separately and/or in combination) by an independent lab, at the expense of the supplier, may be required at the discretion of the Commonwealth. If subsequent testing is required the test results shall be submitted to the Commonwealth for review.

6.2.1 OVSD Feature - A visual test shall be performed under magnification to ensure the optical signature of the

OVSD matches the approved design as supplied to PENNDOT. Forensic security details of the OVSD such as pattern, dots per inch (dpi), pixel shape, etc., shall be consistent in all stickers and shall not vary in any way with changes in production lots, ink colors or other sticker characteristics.

6.2.2 Acceptance Testing - An acceptance test may be performed on each shipment received by the requisitioning agency. The requisitioning agency may sample each shipment. The inspection stickers shall be reviewed for, but not limited to, accurate sequence of serial numbers, consistency of color, uniform size, printing, spelling, and packaging. The requisitioning agency shall have 30 business days to perform acceptance testing.

7.0 Material Masters – This PCID encompasses requirements for the following material masters:

There are no material numbers associated with this PCID

Quality Assurance Supervisor: Brian Vulgaris