Alternative Raw Materials for Currency Substrate Production

The Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing is conducting a Request for Information to identify and evaluate currency and security paper substrates manufactured with commercially available and emerging alternative raw materials, with responses due December 11, 2026.

This is market research and planning only; the RFI does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to procure. The Bureau seeks information on paper that could supplement or replace traditional cotton-linen currency paper while maintaining or improving performance, security, durability, sustainability, and manufacturability.

Respondents may propose natural fibers including hemp, cotton, flax, kenaf, abaca, bamboo, agricultural byproducts, wood-derived cellulose, and other renewable fibers, or engineered materials including regenerated cellulose, nanocellulose, synthetic polymers, hybrid fiber-polymer substrates, and other advanced materials. For each substrate, comprehensive technical data must cover material description (composition, fiber sources, manufacturing process, commercial readiness, current applications); performance characteristics (tensile strength, tear resistance, pH, fluorescence, fold endurance, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, expected circulation life, equilibrium relative humidity); security feature compatibility (watermark integration, security threads, embedded fibers, optical security features, machine-readable authentication); printing performance (offset, intaglio, letterpress, screen-printing compatibility, ink adhesion); sustainability considerations (renewable content, recyclability, environmental footprint, water consumption, carbon emissions, certifications); and manufacturing considerations (production capacity, supply chain maturity, geographic sourcing, scalability, processing requirements, estimated costs, compatibility with existing infrastructure).

Responses must not exceed 50 pages and must be submitted in PDF format to Contracting Officer Wesley Rankins at wesley.rankins@bep.gov. The deadline for submitting questions is October 27, 2026, with responses posted November 17, 2026. Follow-up discussions may occur December 2026 through January 2027, with completion of market research review anticipated in February 2027.