RFI_70SBUR26I00000012_NCAR.pdf

1 | P a g e 7 0 S B U R 2 6 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Office of Information Technology (OIT)

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (SS-RFI) - 70SBUR26I00000012

National Certificate Automation Redesign (NCAR) Printer Replacement FY26-01

General Information:

Document Type: Request for Information (RFI) RFI No.: 70SBUR26I00000012 Description: National Certificate Automation Redesign (NCAR) Printer Replacement FY26-01 Posted Date: March 27, 2026 Response Date: April 14, 2024, at 2:00 pm ET Product / Service Code: 7E20 – IT and Telecom – End User: Help Desk; Tier 1-2, Workspace, Print, Output, Productivity Tools (HW/Perp SW) NAICS Code: 334118 – Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing

541519 – Information Technology Value-Added Resellers

Background:

This notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposal, or Request for Quotations. No solicitation is being issued at this time and the Government makes no assertion that a solicitation will be issued. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract, nor do they affect a potential offeror's ability to respond to any future synopsis/solicitation, which may or may not follow or restrict the U.S. Government's eventual acquisition approach. Additionally, the U.S. Government is not obligated to, and will not provide reimbursement for any information that may be submitted in response to this notice. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this request for information. Respondents will not be notified of any results derived from a review of the information provided; however, information gathered may be used for future technical and acquisition purposes.

Scope:

USCIS processes applications and petitions for immigration and citizenship benefits, promotes an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensures the integrity of the United States immigration system. These functions and processes include employment authorization, asylum, resident alien processing, and citizenship naturalization. USCIS OIT provides information technology (IT), expertise, and the strategic vision necessary to enable USCIS to deliver effective, efficient, and secure immigration services and products. OIT leads USCIS in the design, development, delivery, and deployment of IT services and solutions that are transforming the nation's immigration system.

USCIS OIT has a requirement for replacement printers to use under the National Certificate Automation Redesign (NCAR) program for production of Naturalization Certificates. NCAR documents are secure and include a number of physical security attributes. One of those is that all NCAR printers must have identical physical characteristics in terms of the printing method. This printing method and Original Equipment

2 | P a g e 7 0 S B U R 2 6 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

Manufacturer (OEM) pigmented ink create a forensic document signature that is recorded with the Custom Border Patrol (CBP) Forensic labs. This information is used for validating documents suspected of being fraudulent. It is possible that different printers in the same family will be able to meet this requirement, but it is not possible to use printers from multiple manufacturers or even normally from different printer families from the same manufacturer.

The objective of the NCAR Printer Replacement is to provide replacements for all existing NCAR printers and mechanism to provide additional printers as requirements increase. The NCAR printers are replaced every 5 years due to age and increased maintenance issues. This will be the 4th replacement of the NCAR printers. The intent is to create a procurement vehicle that will include a number of options:

• Base purchase of 5-10 units for use in USCIS labs for integration and testing

• An initial deployment of 300 printers to 100+ USCIS locations

• Ongoing purchase options over the next 4 year period of up to 25 additional printers per year

• Provisions may be included for the purchase of the required ink through the contract vehicle to insure forensic consistency

The primary purpose of this SS-RFI is to identify sources that currently have capabilities that can meet the technical requirements to deliver equipment with the following functional specifications:

• NCAR Color Certificate Printer:

o The NCAR program requires a single forensically consistent printer to be used for all sites.

• Forensically secure printing method:

o Printing must be shown to permanently penetrate or bond with the security paper.

o The color must be permanent and withstand chemical and mechanical attempts to change or remove the printing. Removal that results in obvious damage to the document is considered successful.

o All text must be printed using separate black ink, not a combination of colors.

o Must have a high resistance to fading under long periods of exposure to sunlight.

o Printing must not damage or obscure UV security features included in the certificate paper.

o Proposed unit shall pass testing by a USCIS selected forensic laboratory.

• Pigment based ink printing method.

• Separate supplies per color.

• Support for USCIS custom produced paper – Paper is a secure media and samples cannot be provided outside of USCIS control.

o ~28 Lb bond o Paper is green tinged with security background. Vendor shall work with the USCIS development program to identify any required adjustments in the printer color management o Paper includes raised printing o Paper includes a raised gold embossed seal

• Driver is required to provide adjustments horizontally and vertically to allow for small variations in the preprinted information.

• Minimum 500 sheet paper tray capacity.

• Minimum 28 ppm color print speed.

• Duty cycle of sustained use of minimum 3,000 pages per month with surges up to a minimum of

10,000 pages per month.

• Minimum USB 2.0 Interface.

3 | P a g e 7 0 S B U R 2 6 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

• Minimum 3m USB interface cable, USB Type A on one end (for connection to the USCIS Workstation, notebook or docking station) and compatible with the proposed device on the other.

Multiple connected cables may be proposed for the total length but must clearly identify how they interconnect. The ports on the proposed device and the connections on the cables must be clearly identified and able to be validate.

• Fully support paper after printing.

• Any supplies needed for preventive maintenance or cleaning shall be included with the device.

o Average use of 2,000 certificates per month.

o One year of supplies included with the initial delivery.

o Replacement supplies for years 2-5 provided automatically (These may be provided with the printer, if they have a shelf life of at least 5 years).

• All ink shall have a minimum shelf life of 12 months.

• Initial supply of ink:

o 1 Largest capacity black o 1 Largest capacity cyan o 1 Largest capacity magenta o 1 Largest capacity yellow

• 5Yr next day on site or advanced exchange warranty.

Questions to Industry:

Information is requested detailing your company’s capabilities and experience delivering equipment that may meet these requirements and potential adjustments that may be made to the requirements.

Interested parties are encouraged to respond to this SS-RFI. Please provide feedback in the following areas:

1) Please identify any equipment that you believe may be able to meet or be modified to meet these requirements. Please provide the following information for these devices:

a. Standard manufacture technical literature or web link to technical details of the device

b. List or other market pricing information

c. Specific information on the device paper handling

d. Specific information on the ink that could impact the forensic signature of the final product

e. List or market pricing on the ink cartridges for the device

f. Approximate number of pages that each ink cartridge supports.

g. If the device requires modification, please identify the specific details of the modifications, approximate cost per unit and any issues with providing additional modified units over time.

2) USCIS is looking at moving some Naturalization Certificate production to a centralized facility.

This will require a higher capacity device that is compatible and uses the same base technology as the filed unit.

a. Please identify any devices that can provide or be modified to provide the same capabilities to support the following modified requirements:

i. 70+ PPM

ii. 1000 page or larger input paper tray

4 | P a g e 7 0 S B U R 2 6 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

3) Identify any other devices in the same family that use the same printing core and ink (the cartridge may be a different format, but the ink in the cartridge being the same formation). There is a potential that these would have the same forensic signature of the final product.

4) Any alternative technology to pigmented ink that you may provide that would provide a unique forensic signature to the final product and still meet the other forensic requirements

a. Permanence of the image

b. Penetration and bonding of the image with the custom paper.

c. Describe how this alternative to pigmented ink will support the specific security requirements identified above.

Response Instructions:

Responses are due by April 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

1) Respondent Profile; Responses to this SS-RFI shall include a one (1) page cover letter. The cover letter shall, at a minimum, include the following information:

a. SS-RFI 70SBUR26I00000012;

b. Respondent’s Company Name, Address, Contact Person Information (including telephone number and email address);

c. Respondent’s UEI Number;

d. Business Size and Size Standard / Classification relative to North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) code of 334118 and/or 541519;

e. The Government is considering NAICS codes 334118 or 541519 as the correct classification for this requirement. Please indicate if you concur with this NAICS code selection. If not, identify what NAICS code(s) you believe is the most appropriate for this requirement. Identify your company’s size/socioeconomic status as it relates to the NAICS codes indicated (both the ones identified by the Government and any NAICS that you propose be used instead of the Government’s selection, if applicable); and

f. Respondents are encouraged to identify all current federal contract vehicles and the contract numbers associated with those vehicles (ex: GSA Schedule 874 GS-00X-1234Z). This may include DHS-specific, or a Government-Wide Acquisition Contract, which could be utilized to obtain this type of system. Responses should also include the business size status under each contract identified. If no contracts are currently held, please indicate size status in NAICS 541519 or others that may be applicable to this requirement.

2) Interested parties are requested to respond to this SS-RFI, 70SBUR26I0000012, with responses to questions posed by the Government. Responses should be no more than five (5) pages (excluding the one (1) page cover letter). Provided vendor technical literature is excluded from this limit.

All responses shall be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) via email only to Amir.Hrnjic@uscis.dhs.gov and Sieanna.R.Seward@uscis.dhs.gov and should include in the title of the emailed response “70SBUR26I00000012 – NCAR Printer Replacement – Respondent Name”.

Please note that the collection of this data does not obligate the U.S. Government to the incorporation of the comments in any future procurement action nor does it obligate the Government to the procurement of any services or products related to this notice. USCIS may publish answers to questions and comments received in response to the SS-RFI. The questions and comments published WILL NOT identify the source.

mailto:Amir.Hrnjic@uscis.dhs.gov mailto:Sieanna.R.Seward@uscis.dhs.gov

5 | P a g e 7 0 S B U R 2 6 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

Proprietary information should not be included in the responses. To the maximum extent possible, submit Non-Proprietary Information. All information received in this SS-RFI that is appropriately marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed.

1. Submission of Responses

Responses submitted in response to this notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the following:

Contract Specialist:

Sieanna Seward Sieanna.R.Seward@uscis.dhs.gov

Contracting Officer:

Amir Hrnjic Amir.Hrnjic@uscis.dhs.gov

Use of Information:

The Government anticipates using the results of this SS-RFI to help the acquisition strategy for the future of this requirement. USCIS may engage in further market research activities, including one-on-one meetings, with highly qualified respondents.

mailto:Sieanna.R.Seward@uscis.dhs.gov mailto:Amir.Hrnjic@uscis.dhs.gov