Specialty_Paper_Specifications.pdf

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Attached to
RFQ 1637 - Bank Note Paper
Solicitation number
2026-RFQ-00120
Issued by
San Mateo County, California

About this file

This document details specialty paper specifications for producing highly secure vital records documents with multiple anti-counterfeiting and anti-fraud features. The specifications outline comprehensive security requirements for a paper product designed to prevent unauthorized reproduction, alteration, or forgery of official vital record documents. The proposed paper must incorporate numerous advanced security elements including engraved intaglio printing, hidden latent images, micro-printed lines, watermarks, security fibers, and chemically sensitive components.

The technical specifications require the paper to have complex security attributes such as a two-tone Fourdrinier watermark depicting "Stars & Stripes" and "OFFICIAL VITAL RECORD", embedded security fibers that fluoresce under ultraviolet light, and chemically reactive surfaces that reveal tampering attempts through noticeable stains when exposed to agents like bleach, acetone, or sulfuric acid. Additional features include prismatic color printing, sequential numbering and barcoding, erasure-sensitive inks, and laser toner retention technology that fuses printed text to prevent scraping or removal. These specifications are designed to create an extraordinarily robust document security system that can protect the integrity of vital record documentation against sophisticated counterfeiting attempts.

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Specialty Paper Specifications:

The following outlines the required Security Features and specifications of the required paper product to meet the required specifications:

• Engraved Intaglio Printing

• Engraved Intaglio Latent Images ("V" and "R")

• Engraved "Vital Record" Micro-Print Line

• Engraved State Name & Certification Of Vital Record Outline Text

• Engraved State/County /Departmental Seals

• "Void" Copy Background

• Prismatic Print

• Screened State/County /Departmental Seal

• Erasure Sensitive Inks

• Sequential Control Numbering & Barcoding

• Watermark Paper

• Security Fibers

• Optically Dead, Chemically Sensitive Security Paper

• Paper Treated with Laser Toner Retention

The Sample numbering and barcoding formatting being provided below are simply examples only and do not reflect the final product:

Sequential Control Numbering- 1 2 3 4 5 6

Sequential Barcoding- , , 123456 123457 123458

Engraved Intaglio Printing: The proposed Paper shall have fine line border printed via the intaglio process as used in currency and other high security printing through the use of steel engraved plates. Intaglio printing has a recognizable raised, tactile property that cannot be replicated by any other printing method or electronically reproduced by photocopiers or scanners.

Engraved Intaglio Latent Images (“V” and “R”): The letters “V” (Vital) and “R” (Record) are to be hidden in the corners of the top border of each page. These shall be a part of the engraving and viewable when laying the document flat at eye level in natural light.

Engraved “Vital Record” Micro-Print Line: The paper forming shall be a part of the engraving and shall be continuous, and a repeated micro-line of the legend “VITAL RECORD” shall be evident along the interior of the bottom border. This micro-line shall only be legible under a magnifying glass and shall only appear as a straight blurred line when copied.

Engraved CERTIFICATION OF VITAL RECORD Outlined Text and State Name (optional):

As an integral part of the engraved border the proposed product shall outline text enhances document recognition and authenticity.

Engraved State/County/Departmental Seals: The proposed product shall have the ability to include as part of the engraved border State Seals, County Seals and Departmental Seals.

The applied seals shall be applied as a raised feel of these seals assist in document recognition and authenticity. These are recommended in preference to embossed seals that are easily replicable.

“Void” Copy Background:

The proposed product shall have the word “VOID” hidden as part of the anti-photocopy background. When color copied, the word “VOID” must be capable of popping to become prominent to be able to determine if the document has been forged to identify or attempting to use copied documents as counterfeits.

Prismatic Print:

The proposed product must be capable of dividing the press inking fountain by color, so that the printer can create a background of varying colors which shall merge gradually from one to another.

Screened State/County/Departmental Seal:

The State, County or Departmental name shall be imprinted as a screened image on the face of the proposed product.

Erasure Sensitive Inks:

The proposed product must be done with erasable ink and sensitive to mechanical abrasion.

The product shall also have the ability to manage any attempts to mechanically remove data so that any printed ink will also be removed, thereby showing tampering of the product.

Sequential Control Numbering & Barcoding:

The proposed product must be capable of being sequentially numbered or sequentially bar-coded for inventory control, audit purposes and stock tracking purposes.

Watermark Security Paper:

The proposed product shall have a two tone Fourdrinier security watermark depicting “Stars & Stripes" flag and the words “OFFICIAL VITAL RECORD” in repeated and continuous format running diagonally down the proposed product left to right.

Security Fibers:

The proposed product shall be produced so that imbedded Security Fibers are impossible to reproduce. The security fibers shall be embedded in the paper during the manufacturing process and fluoresce under ultraviolet light.

Optically Dead, Chemically Sensitive Security Paper: The proposed product shall be produced with optically dead security paper to permit the inclusion of ultraviolet (black light) reactive security features. In addition, the proposed product shall be sensitized to the following families of chemical agents such as oxidants (i.e. bleach), solvents (i.e. Acetone), alcohol (i.e. Methanol), and acids/bases (i.e. sulfuric acid) which are commonly used by forgers to alter personalized information. The proposed product shall be produced so that the use of these agents will cause noticeable stains to appear the instant anyone attempts to alter any document produced using the proposed product.

Paper Treated with Laser Toner Retention: The proposed product shall be produced with its surface treated to significantly enhance toner adhesion during laser printing. The proposed product shall utilize the heat from the laser printer to activate a chemical reaction that fuses the toner to the paper. This required feature shall be capable of protecting documents against fraudulent alteration by identifying attempts to remove or scrape the printed area.

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